Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps is just the latest sports figure to get caught doing something stupid that could cost him his career–he was photographed at a house party smoking pot shortly after his Bejing win. This is the swimmers second brush with public embarrassment. In 2004, the then 19-year-old was busted for DUI.
Phelps has apologized for his behavior, chalking it up to just poor judgment:
“I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment,” Phelps said. “I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.”
So what do you think? Do you think he’ll lose his big money endorsements from Mazda, Speedo, etc? Should he become an advocate for the legalization of marijuana? Discuss your thoughts with other Beliefnet members or in the comments section below.
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posted February 3, 2009 at 2:18 pm
He should lose 1/2 of his contract price with all of these endorsements, with the addendum that one more irresponsible act, and he will lose all endorsement money.
Secondly, he should become an advocate for NOT legalizing marijuana!
Eileen Stephenson
posted February 4, 2009 at 9:39 am
Look at it this way . That young man worked extremely hard getting in shape and training for years. He accomplicshed what has never been done before by another human being. I beleive that he deserves a break to let his hair down a bit ?
Back off .
Good job Michael !! Now go and enjoy the fruits of your labors.
posted February 4, 2009 at 10:33 am
you people need to lay off of michel
so what… he smoked a little pot
who cares?
hes a 23 year old young man
and like most people he experimented
get off his back
its just pot
KEEP ON TOKIN MICHEL!!!!!!!!
posted February 4, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Michael Phelps, whether he likes it or not is a role model for young people and as such, he should act accordingly. he can’t ascribe it to youthful indiscretions he’s 23 and should act more mature than a high schooler. I’m hoping it is bad judgement and it really won’t happen again! If it does remove him from being a spokesman where he can’t be looked up to by impressionable young people.
posted February 6, 2009 at 2:18 am
Boy this is really the two-strikes-and-you’re-out crowd! Tougher than even California’s legal system.
He smoked pot. Allegedly. He apologized. Kellog’s is already going to let his contract expire when it’s up. And myriad other consequences shall befall him.
Now if he wants to do it again…he’ll make sure it’s out of the public eye like everyone else in the country does.
And lie about it like everyone else does, too.
Yay for honesty being a virtue!
posted February 6, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Apparently, wooing the world wasnt enough of a high. He sacrificed his medal for a little toot. Contrast that with the story of American sprinter Shawn Crawford who gave up his silver medal to Netherlands Antilles sprinter Churandy Martina, who initially had won the medal but was disqualifed for a lane violation.
Two Olympians — two stories of faded glory. Because of one’s cocky pride, it was stripped away. Another, out of humility, willingly gave it away.
Read a blog post about this here:
http://redletterbelievers.blogspot.com/2009/02/giving-away-your-glory.html
posted February 8, 2009 at 9:18 pm
What if it was crystal meth instead of pot?
We all make or have made mistakes. We just don’t all live under the microscope of media.
posted March 3, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Hello. And Bye.