Ok, so :wtf: is the big deal???? This guy stoned, could still out-swim anybody. Besides if I had a 4 year off-season, a-ton of cash, and any girl I wanted, I would be partying my ass off too. Party on Wayne!!!! :cheers:
That don't make him a bad kid.
So, do you think all his endorsements be taken away? That's the big talk.
Endorsements are the big concern......
Hard to convey the squeaky clean all-american boy imagine with this floating around.
And as a swimmer, that's your only hope for income - endorsements.
Lots of sports figures getting shot down in the last few years from supposedly innocent candid photos making their way to the entire world via the internet.....
Couple that I'm aware of:
Larry Eustachy - Basketball coach at Southern Mississippi got whacked as the Head Coach at Iowa State for photos that surfaced of him having some beers at a post game party in Columbia, MO with a bunch of college age young ladies (and men).
Ed Podolak - Former star running back for the Kansas City Chiefs in the '70's (still holds the NFL record for total yards in a playoff game) just 'retired' as a radio broadcaster for the Iowa Hawkeyes Football radio network after photos of him peeking down the top of a willing young lady at a 2009 Outback Bowl party in Tampa surfaced.
Awful easy these days to catch someone off guard doing something they wouldn't want their Momma to know about and spread it around for the entire world to see.
Be careful out there!
my thoughts...
1. Can you imagine how big of a bong hit this guy could take? I mean his lungs are like sleeping bags!
2. He just needs to say "Look, have you seen what I eat for breakfast? How do you think I get that hungry?"
This country's gotten way too uptight...he should have been much more careful though,endorsements prolly in trouble.
Pfft... He could probably recover his earnings by doing a cover shoot for High Times.
Quote from: jigs on February 03, 2009, 04:08:03 PM
This country's gotten way too uptight...
:lmao: Now that's a good one !!! :lmao:
Quote from: jigs on February 03, 2009, 04:08:03 PM
This country's gotten way too uptight...he should have been much more careful though,endorsements prolly in trouble.
Yeah, ok, I think some are a little up tight.
But, on the flip side, a little discretion is pretty easy. Some just like to "do stuff" without care or concern for how it will harm themselves. I call it the "new porn" were people air out their dirty laundry and stupidity in public. Goes along with the idea that even "bad press" is "press".
As for his salary from companies, certainly, they had contracts written to allow them an escape from him if he does anything that is outside of what might be considered good for that company. This might be one of them, certainly. One can argue whether it is criminal or not, but there are certainly some that choose not to use that substance and feel that an athlete would be one that wouldn't themselves either.
He can do what he wants, sure, but his lack of discretion with his choice of friends when he did what he did is a giant risk to his own financial well being. In the end, it's pretty dumb. And for bein' dumb, I guess I'm less impressed with him overall now.
No one said you had to be smart to swim like a fish!
Quote from: proechel539 on February 03, 2009, 05:11:26 PM
No one said you had to be smart to swim like a fish!
Yeah, but if you want to make money doing it, it would help to be brighter than a fish.
Agree'd...not too smart with that much on the line...not to mention,beeing in the spot light,a little responsibility towards the young ones,who idolize people like him.I didn't mean when I said we're too uptight,to condone grug use and rampant immoral behavior,I was mostly referring to the comment about the having a beer with young women and other students.Funny,right now it seems we're too loose AND uptight at the same time...wierd times we live in.Thank God we get to go race bikes with people like us and get our faith restored in humanity..race track is the most "normal" place I know of other than a 12 step meeting!! LOL
Quote from: GIGOLO on February 02, 2009, 11:05:57 PM
Ok, so :wtf: is the big deal???? This guy stoned, could still out-swim anybody. Besides if I had a 4 year off-season, a-ton of cash, and any girl I wanted, I would be partying my ass off too. Party on Wayne!!!! :cheers:
With all that going for you, why would you need to do drugs? Not to mention his drunk driving arrest in 2005.
Quote from: Jeff on February 03, 2009, 02:40:41 PM
my thoughts...
1. Can you imagine how big of a bong hit this guy could take? I mean his lungs are like sleeping bags!
2. He just needs to say "Look, have you seen what I eat for breakfast? How do you think I get that hungry?"
:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:
Speaking from experience, being subjected to drug use doesn't necessarily mean that you in turn will become a user. I grew up in much different household than all of my friends, most of which are now users in one way or another. I drank all the time in high-school, now I can count on one hand how many times I get drunk in a month. If someone is going to use, they will, regardless if they have seen drug use before. Its really about how a drug or drugs can complete a person in their own eyes. Everybody has dirt, you just have to dig. Like that book everybody poops. My kids aren't old enough to understand any of this, but if they were....................." Hey Daddy, Michael Phelps smokes weed, why come I can't??" Well son, when you win 8 gold medals in the Olympics you can smoke as much weed as you want.
Quote from: Cowboy 6 on February 03, 2009, 06:18:47 PM
With all that going for you, why would you need to do drugs? Not to mention his drunk driving arrest in 2005.
Because, having sex while stoned is fantastic.
Quote from: jigs on February 03, 2009, 05:51:26 PM
Thank God we get to go race bikes with people like us and get our faith restored in humanity..race track is the most "normal" place I know of other than a 12 step meeting!! LOL
+1
Quote from: Cowboy 6 on February 04, 2009, 07:42:19 AM
+1
+1 on that too John, whenever some pathetic customers of mine screw with me or people try and take or get something they dont deserve. I play with my kids, and all the anger goes away.
I saw today that Michael Phelps apologized. Why cant people just be honest with themselves? Thats his lawyers and/or his mom's influence. I dont buy for one second that he is sorry. What I hear is " hey look, I am sorry that there was a camera around and that I might lose alot of money" I would lay money that most cops would rather have someone smoke a joint or two than to pound a six pack and hop in a car. Alcohol is almost chemically impossible to quit, marijuana is non-habit forming. Yeah its a gateway drug, a gateway to understanding how a human can ingest an entire bag of doritos and a whole 2-liter bottle of sprite in 15 minutes. Alcohol invokes violence and abortions, marijuana invokes hunger and really gnarly artwork.
Quote from: GIGOLO on February 03, 2009, 06:24:39 PM
Because, having sex while stoned is fantastic.
True dat.
I say weed should just be legalized in an effort to clear the whole thing up. If someone can smoke weed and still blast Olympic and world records, how bad could it be?
Quote from: proechel539 on February 03, 2009, 05:11:26 PM
No one said you had to be smart to swim like a fish!
And do you know the attention span of a goldfish? uhhh..what was the question?
Wow. Good discussion. I can see this on both sides. I can see how many parents would want Phelps removed from his promos. I don't know of any parents who, short of former Dead followers, (BTW- love the band) who would promote marijuana usage. I can also see the other side of it. The "whats the big farkin deal???" side.
Why is it that when a major star, or athlete or politico gets caught with the doobage, they are instantly ridiculed and ostricized as being a horrible person? Conversely, why is also that when a star, or athlete or politico DIES of drug usage, we as a nation, MOURN them and talk about how they were "tortured souls" and the like? Example: Hendrix, Cobain, Belushi, etc etc etc.....
I am completely torn on the whole marijuana subject. Here goes...as a cop (yeah, I am a low life copper) I see the law as the majority of society's wishes, and understand why the stuff is illegal. I see kids using and it saddens me. I see kids smoke out and then start shooting up. I see gang violence based on turf warfare in terms of "seller's rights".....I see all the negatives. (Oh, and BTW, whoever said marijuana doesn't harm anyone else is lying. If there is one drug above all others that begats violence <albeit from distibution standpoint> it is marijuana.)
Now conversely, there's an equal part of me that thinks the shit should just be made legal. Alcohol is....and it is, in my opinion, more dangerous for the user than marijuana. In these turbulent financial times, why don't we let the government just tax the hell out of the stuff, and effectively eliminate a large number of drug runners, gangs, etc.?
One reason it is still not "legal" is in terms of gauging its effects on drivers. See, in DWI law, we a have an effective bastion of tests which can with almost certainty- tell how intoxicated a driver is. We also have the BAC machine to verify the content. When dealing with a driver who is impaired by means of marijuana, we have to verify the content by taking the subject to the hospital for a blood draw in order
to get conclusive, court effective proof.
Until the powers that be can come up with a nationalized, traffic bureau approved field test, I guarantee you will not see it legalized.
Anyways, Phelps is a badass swimmer, and I, as an adult, could care less about him puffing the tube. But as an adult father, I don't want my kids emulating his behavior....
Does this make sense, or am I just babbling? LOL
-Ski
Kellogg's announced that they are dropping Phelps from his promotional contract with the company.
Bad move on Kellogg's part - In addition to great munchy food like Frosted Flakes and Fruit Loops, Kellogg's also produces Keebler cookies, Pop Tarts, Eggo's and Cheez-its.
Don't they realize the market share of munchy food they sell to stoners???
If the Stoner Nation retaliates and boycotts all these Kellogg's products the company is sure to take a major financial hit!!
BAD MOVE KELLOGG's!!!!
Makes sense :cheers:
Ski thanx for taking the time to tell the third side of the story, usually that ends up being speculation. Burt, Kellogg is a name brand with name brand pricing, therefore not really stoner food.
Ski, in your opinion is a person more likely to fight, get angry, crash his/her car, have some type of domestic, or the worst throw up on them self while under the influence of alcohol or marijuana? If you boil things down to what they are and what they do, alcohol is the devil Bobby Bouchere. Now as far as the violence involved with marijuana, wouldn't they (gangbangers) just find something else to shoot each other over if it wasn't drugs. People are stupid regardless of race, sex, tax bracket, or RELIGION. For the record I am not a "pot smoker" , I have just seen this debate in other forums and thought it would be good here.
Crereal is good stoner food with suger on it.Gang banger will fight over any vice that there's a demand for,where there's turf issues.I just don't know why Hemp isn't grown for newspapers,clothing etc.It doesn't take any tending really,dirt cheap and we wouldn't have read in the paper how we're decimating the rain forests to make newspapers.
Gigolo-
I agree, man. Pot vs. Alcohol, in terms of which one is worse (IMHO) for the user, it has to be alcohol. I have now "played cop" for 8+ years now, and have fought with too masny drunks to count, and have never fought with a stoned individual. The white, suburbia kid side of pot is pretty non violent, with the only real casualties being drug related deaths in motor vehicles. Stoners- please take note....you folks drive like dumbasses when high! lol
I'm not trying to paint a rosy picture for smoking weed here, as there are negative downsides to its use- especially in that of kids & teens. There are clear cut reports linking learning & developmental problems to kids smoking pot. I def. don't want my kids doing it....
As for adults, I really see it as their choice. If their use does not result in negative results, then who cares? Each to their own,right? The problem is that as long as it is illegal, there will be violence connected to it in some way, shape or form. Yeah, it probably won't be seen by the average dude smiking a joint, but it will be felt somewhere along the line.
As for the thugs, yes, I completely agree that they would move onto the next "get rich quick" trendy drug to come down the pipeline. As long as there are financially depressed, inner cities, there will always be gangs. I worked, for a long time, in a detatched unit where we only went after drugs, gang bangers and guns. I promise you that there are so many of these out there, that it would make your head spin. I've seen shootings that ocurred over something as stupid as an oz. of weed. Its sad. But for some, it is a way of life. A sad, sad way of life, but alot of peeps are born into it.
Anyways, I just thought my oddball opinion as a copper would stoke the fire a bit. Discussion, of course, in a rationale state, is the only way we as a society will progress.....
With that said- discuss.
Cheers,
Ski
Quote from: skiandclimb on February 07, 2009, 09:31:08 PMDiscussion, of course, in a rationale state, is the only way we as a society will progress.....
Therein lies the problem: most discussion and too much legislation is based on emotion rather than rationality.
In New Hampshire, they are trying to pass the decriminalization bill of marijuana, basically it means that it will no longer be illegal to have up to an ounce. Prior to this new bill, if you had a little on you, you went straight to jail. In New York they are trying to repeal the Rockefeller drug act. Which in many peoples opinion is "draconian", its a 35 year old law that is proving to be unnecessarily stringent.
On Obama's campaign, one of the issues I heard him speak on was the drug raids that the DEA is performing on legal medicinal marijuana drug labs. These medicinal marijuana drug labs are doing everything legal under California state law, but federal law prohibits it. Two major raids have happened in the last two weeks, so it doesn't look like the president is living up to his word already. In my opinion, I think all this will have to start at a state level, then escalate into an argument between the fed and states. Instead of between the people, and the states. I think that people are getting smarter about weed, its evident in these old laws being repealed. Basically hippies went and ruined everything by blowing pot smoke in the "mans" face.
Ski, look man, your not lowly because your a cop. You are doing a job. Did you know that in Alaska they are hurting real bad for cops. They start you out at like 75k a year and by your tenth year you are over 110k. I have 3 friends, and an uncle that are cops, we get along all-right. One of my buddies pulled me over every time I drove through his town, after awhile I would just give him the finger and keep driving. I dont do that anymore since the last time it wasn't him. I explained everything to the cops, and it worked out but it was scary having like four cops surround my truck. Cops are the whole reason I started riding bikes, I wanted to get away faster :biggrin:
"I don't know of any parents who, short of former Dead followers who would promote marijuana usage."
Ski, take that one back you naughty copper. Musical taste is irrelevant to promotion of drugs.
Both alcohol and drugs ruin lives. Pot smokers constantly defend themselves by saying it's no worse than alcohol Chemically it may not be but this isn't a discussion in chemistry class is it?
Drugs are a far worse problem since society has chosen to jail many of those offenders simply for using, usually the ones who are lower on the economic scale, and once they get in the system they often don't get out. I've tutored many otherwise intelligent kids locked up for drug and theft/various crimes related to drugs who have wasted any opportunity to build a good life for themselves. There's a whole world of difference between the activities of drugs and alcohol and it pains me to hear people talking about how innocent drug usage is. In our society, with our laws, even pot smoking is not inconsequential and can screw you royally.
Phelps is an idiot on several levels and I have no respect for him.
DRUGGIES SUCK!
:kicknuts:
I also heard he was stopped for underage drunk driving some years ago. But he admits he's made some mistakes. It's hard to be an average person, who makes mistakes, when you're in the spotlight like that.
What's average about him?
He's an incredible athlete. He's making a whole lot of money where his responsibility is himself. Stay in shape, do your best. Doesn't have to clock in and be responsible for building, servicing, or maintaining anything in a line of work. He's not even responsible for supporting a business where others are employed making anything with a profit margin.
He's a celebrity doing athletic work that won't change the world, won't change my oil, won't help my financial well being, nor make me a pizza when I order one.
He has a simple set of responsibilities that revolve only around himself. He's not common. And he's pretty much an idiot for not recognizing how good he's got it. Given the DWI and now this, well, he's got a pattern going on. Maybe a real job would help his recognition.
I guess he visited a kid up here that has cancer just recently, and I can understand that. But, still, it's not so hard to have some reasonable discretion.
Quote from: Hank Reardon on February 09, 2009, 02:31:46 PM
Given the DWI and now this, well, he's got a pattern going on. Maybe a real job would help his recognition.
Because certainly no one on here drinks, smoked pot or got a DUI...
Quote from: Hank Reardon on February 09, 2009, 02:31:46 PM
But, still, it's not so hard to have some reasonable discretion.
Actually, with cell phones that take pics when you have a reasonable expectation of privacy, yeah, it can be hard for famous folk. It's gotta suck when all you want to do is kick back and relax; next thing you know some douchebag has sold pix of you to some tabloid for a few $$ and you lose a good portion of what you've worked for.
For the record, I do not condone breaking the law, (smoking pot), but what people do in private is their biz, not mine nor anyone else's.)
Quote from: Jeff on February 09, 2009, 02:35:46 PM
Because certainly no one on here drinks, smoked pot or got a DUI...
Drinking isn't illegal.
I've never smoked pot. Everyone else will have to speak for themselves. DUI? Never had one. I think most people haven't
But how many of us actually have jobs that we have to be responsible for? I think pretty much all of us. We're common. We make mistakes. He's got the world by the tail. We pay the delivery guy. I bet he pays handlers to take care of him.
Worth $100 million (http://www.hollywoodgrind.com/michael-phelps-is-worth-100-million-who-is-he-dating/)...
Money can't buy him smarts though...
Quote from: spyderchick on February 09, 2009, 02:41:08 PM
For the record, I do not condone breaking the law, (smoking pot), but what people do in private is their biz, not mine nor anyone else's.)
I agree. But I'm sure that his conduct is Kellogg's and other companies' business on the basis of what is probably expected from his contract. It was dumb, until someone can produce his contracts that say he can be "common" in his mistakes.
Quote from: Hank Reardon on February 09, 2009, 03:15:08 PM
I agree. But I'm sure that his conduct is Kellogg's and other companies' business on the basis of what is probably expected from his contract. It was dumb, until someone can produce his contracts that say he can be "common" in his mistakes.
Yeah, he was dumb, yeah sponsors have every right to make contracts null and void.
My point is more about invasion of privacy via cell phones and digital media. If you go to a party in a private home, you should have a reasonable expectation that what occurs there will stay private. However, in this day and age, I guess you should expect to have money grubbing opportunists lurking in every corner.
Sad Really.
Quote from: spyderchick on February 09, 2009, 04:03:23 PM
My point is more about invasion of privacy via cell phones and digital media. If you go to a party in a private home, you should have a reasonable expectation that what occurs there will stay private. However, in this day and age, I guess you should expect to have money grubbing opportunists lurking in every corner.
Sad Really.
Well, it's nothing new, just new ways of doing it.
I had a friend that was a member of a very wealthy family. And he learned very quickly to be wary of people around him as it seemed that people would "get hurt" and other things around them. That cost them money...and made them not so trusting too.
I think I remember hearing stories of Michael Jordan and his wife wanting to go out for dinner in Chicago, and they just buy the entire restaurant for the night. Just for them, as that's the only way to get privacy. Fame and fortune aren't always the life of glamour that they are supposed to be. Some like it like that.
Still, it's not like taking bong hits are something you do at a private restaurant among some "friends" and all. I'm sure he has a manager that could have helped out even in an illegal activity on his time. Would have saved a lot of time, money, and issues. And that just makes it all the more dumb, right?
There is a family member of mine that has worked at a swanky Chicago restaurant for about 40 years, that has told me stories about a famous retired boxer, and a Chicago politician , that would be pretty embarrassing if it was ever revealed. The point is that when these events occurred, in the 80's, that if someone had a camera phone they definitely would have gotten some good footage. Most certainly would have changed the public's outlook on them today. There is dirt on everybody, you just have to dig. Pobodys nerfect right?
As far as Phelps, yeah Dave you are right about having a moral responsibility, but at the same time, he wasn't snorting cocaine off of a hookers ass. I would love to anonymously poll famous and powerful people and see how many have hit a bong/joint. I know, I know the whole tolerance issue. If we tolerate this and that, then eventually we will be characters right out of that movie Idiocracy (which is a funny and poignant movie by the way).
Quote from: GIGOLO on February 09, 2009, 05:02:44 PM
As far as Phelps, yeah Dave you are right about having a moral responsibility...
Actually, I never put into question his moral responsibility except for one thing...
His responsibility is to himself. And that has hurt his value as a celebrity. There ain't no purse for winning the olympics, is there? It's "amateur" competition. The money to make is from endorsements, appearances, etc.
As for the bong/joint thing, I'm sure there are plenty of people that haven't. I can't be the only one of the few.
I know by this thread, who is smoking and who isn't.
I also know who is more concerned about endorsments than what their kids do.
Let me ask a questtion. Who really cares what some 23 year old kid did?
Quote from: GIGOLO on February 09, 2009, 05:02:44 PM
but at the same time, he wasn't snorting cocaine off of a hookers ass.
LMFAO!!!!!!!
When you're a nobody, nobody cares...the minute you become a somebody, then everyone cares.
Quote from: spyderchick on February 09, 2009, 04:03:23 PM
in this day and age, I guess you should expect to have money grubbing opportunists lurking in every corner. Sad Really.
+1, Alexa...when it comes to 'friends', trust but verify.
Quote from: Over-ReActor on February 09, 2009, 11:23:14 PM
I know by this thread, who is smoking and who isn't.
Not really.
If we ever get to vote to legalize marijuana, I will be one of the first in line. You can make no reasonable argument to support the fact that alcohol is legal and pot isn't. In reality, it's non-addictive, does not promote aggressive behavior, and has very few long term effects aside from the obvious fact that inhaling any kind of smoke is a bad idea.
All that said, I don't smoke pot and never will. I've tried it, and I hate the feeling.
Just because people don't condemn the act, doesn't mean that they participate in it.
Quote from: JBraun on February 25, 2009, 01:03:08 PM
Not really.
If we ever get to vote to legalize marijuana, I will be one of the first in line. You can make no reasonable argument to support the fact that alcohol is legal and pot isn't. In reality, it's non-addictive, does not promote aggressive behavior, and has very few long term effects aside from the obvious fact that inhaling any kind of smoke is a bad idea.
All that said, I don't smoke pot and never will. I've tried it, and I hate the feeling.
Just because people don't condemn the act, doesn't mean that they participate in it.
Well said!
Quote from: JBraun on February 25, 2009, 01:03:08 PM
Not really.
If we ever get to vote to legalize marijuana, I will be one of the first in line. You can make no reasonable argument to support the fact that alcohol is legal and pot isn't. In reality, it's non-addictive, does not promote aggressive behavior, and has very few long term effects aside from the obvious fact that inhaling any kind of smoke is a bad idea.
All that said, I don't smoke pot and never will. I've tried it, and I hate the feeling.
Just because people don't condemn the act, doesn't mean that they participate in it.
Well, I said that in jest. I'm not good with the little smiley faces. I think cocaine should be legal. Not that I ever would try it.