Phelps On The Pot

[Atlas]

With all of the insanity going on in the world today, I really did not expect everyone to freak out as much as they did when they found out Phelps smoked pot. It's also rumored he may not attend the 2012 Olympics due to the incident. He will, though. He better.

. . . sigh.

http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/02/01/michael-phelps-admits-smoking-weed-picture-was-indeed-him/

[Ryujin]

He should've used this as an opportunity to become a proponent of the legalization of marijuana. Tell people it's obviously not a big deal or that harmful if he can smoke it and be one of the world's best athletes. No one would've freaked out if it'd been a picture of him holding a beer, ect. Could've used this as an opportunity to become the champion of a cause and an international posterboy for decriminalization. But noooooooooooooooo.

[Inari]

I expected it. It's unfortunate, and short-sighted of his sponsors to pull his endorsement deals out from under him. In four years this would have blown over, and he would have continued to be the same revenue powerhouse that he was in Beijing.

It's one thing for suburban moms to cry for a couple of months about how he's not a good role model. It's another thing entirely for a company like Kellogg's to essentially validate their stupid backwards thinking. I'm pretty sure that people like Phelps because of his unique athletic badassery in his sport. I'll sympathize with the complaining middle American moms when kids start walking around in swim caps, goggles, speedos, and ripping bongloads left and right.

Edit: It wouldn't have been anywhere near a good idea for Phelps to become some sort of spokesperson for stoners everywhere. First, he would have for sure been giving up his endorsements. Second, I don't know with what regularity he smokes, but I'm pretty sure you get drug tested thoroughly in season. So.. yeah, I don't think he's a big pothead or anything. He probably was just having fun off-season, which he's entitled to.

[Atlas]

Yeah. It is pretty ridiculous. Those SOBs ought to think twice before giving up their sponsorship to Phelps.

And Ryu, do you honestly think him condoning Marijuana would have helped? Eh, I highly doubt that. :P Blue, you're crazy for suggesting the same thing. :P

He said what he said, and for all we know he could have actually MEANT it, too. Even if he didn't, he probably at least felt bad for getting caught. :D

[Ryujin]

Edit: It wouldn't have been anywhere near a good idea for Phelps to become some sort of spokesperson for stoners everywhere. First, he would have for sure been giving up his endorsements. Second, I don't know with what regularity he smokes, but I'm pretty sure you get drug tested thoroughly in season. So.. yeah, I don't think he's a big pothead or anything. He probably was just having fun off-season, which he's entitled to.

Yeah, that's probably a lot more realistic. Still, I think it's kind of ridiculous that he had to apologize. Seriously, who believes that he actually feels bad for not being a good role model by smoking pot?

But yeah, the whole champion of the ganj thing probably would've been a bad idea for him, as far as, you know, endorsements and careers go. But it also would've been totally boss.

[Inari]

Look at it this way. Swimming is his life. Endorsements and olympic medals are the culmination of everything he's worked for thus far.

Do you really think he cares enough about marijuana to champion the cause when the consequence is sacrificing his career? I don't think marijuana's worth that much to anyone that has that much to lose. It's a recreational activity.

That's not to put down people who do put time and effort into legalizing marijuana. But these are the people who care about and are defending those who are being unjustly *prosecuted* for possession. Different situation entirely.

[Inari]

Well I understand that he's a role model, and there's a reason you usually don't see people smoking cigarettes on TV. It's not good for you, and if I had kids whose favorite actors were on TV with a cigarette in one hand and a bottle of Jack Daniels in the other hand I'd probably be kind of concerned. It's not that it's crazy or evil to smoke and drink, but it's not like it's the best stuff for you on earth, and it's definitely not something you want younger people to idolize.

That said, the sad thing about it is that even though he's pretty much a picture of peak athleticism, he's getting hit for doing something in his personal time, off-season, that has clearly not affected his performance. He's an adult, marijuana should be legal, and he should be able to do whatever he wants to during his free time. But when it comes to celebrity, people scrutinize you. If pictures were taken of him smoking cigarettes, and someone said.. hey, you're an athlete, you probably shouldn't be smoking. And he said, uh smoking is legal bro I'm an adult I'll do whatever I want to do. There probably would have been backlash.

[Tenacious P]

I bet he's hilarious when he's stoned.

[Less Than Liz]

I bet he's hilarious when he's stoned.
I bet he's sexy when he's stone.

Oh wait, he's always sexy. Well, from the neck down.

[Trillian]

I don't see what the big problem is. It seems like most celebrities do drugs, and weed is probably the most benign. It's not like weed is anything close to a performance enhancer either, the opposite is probably the most likely effect. Anyway, we wouldn't have to worry about kids idolizing some dude who smokes weed if we didn't throw it in their faces. If any little moron decides to smoke weed because his favourite swimmer did then the only things to blame for that is all the media attention given to this poor schmuck and his one tiny episode with weed during the off season.

[Poofy]

Phelps is a bitch.

[Void]

I'm of the group of thinking that believes anyone who can set a record while smoking pot, is fucking amazing. When I used to smoke it, I'd be too lazy to do anything more than order a pizza. That said, who knows if he even smokes it regularly?

[Atlas]

If I had to guess, I'd say he doesn't smoke often.

If anyone should smoke a little, it's those fucks at Kellogg's.

[Fabs]

I see your point...I just wish we lived in a world where it wasn't a big deal if he was a pot enthusiast. Makes me wonder if and when we'll ever get there.

A world? Amsterdam is still within this world I believe!

[Void]

If anyone should smoke a little, it's those fucks at Kellogg's.

They probably do. I mean, look at the crack ideas they have for cereal.

[Atlas]

Lol. Seriously.

[Silver Ogre]

This just goes to prove that oppression of pot is a bigger deal than the actual use of it. The greatest Olympic athlete of all time likes a bong hit? I can see absolutely NOTHING wrong with that.

[Polygon]

All this kind of shit tells me is that he should have just been more discrete.

I agree that everyone is blowing this way out of proportion. However, he knew what could happen if he got caught doing that. If you're going to do something that could jeopardize your career, do it in private.

[Inari]

Blue's celebrity thread made me think of this:

Conservative letter-writing mothers are all up-in-arms about how Michael Phelps should be a role model for a drug-free youth. Pro-marijuana folks think he should take the position of "hey there's nothing wrong with a little weed" and use his celebrity to bolster their cause.

What exactly is the difference? Either way, you're expecting a celebrity to "choose a side" for the sake of choosing, because he has some sort of magical power to influence the national attitude towards drugs?

[Jarrid]

Too bad there wasn't an olympic medal for ganja smokers. Fastest joint roller or a smoke-a-thon. That would be epic.

[Atlas]

You're quite the idealist, Big Blue. I think a lot of people would have condoned Phelps upholding logic and reason by saying "yeah, I smoked. It should be a person's choice to smoke or not to smoke, not the governments." - You know, something like that.

It would have been awesome if he did do that, but in reality, he was just looking out for himself, which is what most people would have done. Especially with that much on the line.

I think it'll happen though, Blue. Someday.

[moogle]

I had almost forgotten how backwards the views on marijuana still are for a great number of people in the U.S. until I saw the news coverage of this. The only slightly positive spin I'd seen was on SNL's Weekend Update, which was still primarily about pointing out tired old stoner stereotypes.

They keep bringing up how this tarnishes his image as a role model. It's almost hard for me to comprehend how they make a bigger deal out of this than the issue of drunk driving. Marijuana harms no one, not even the individual partaking in its use, while drunk driving harms the individual and endangers many.

It's all very depressing that we remain so puritanical and outright misinformed on certain issues; it's 2009, you'd think we'd have made some real progress for the legalization movement in the last 30 years.

[Ryujin]

you'd think we'd have made some real progress for the legalization movement in the last 30 years.

What are you talking about? We've had TONS of progress. There's medical marijuana vending machines (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22910820/) in Los Angeles, for Christ's sake. Progress has been slow, yes, but it HAS occurred, and seems to be occurring more and more rapidly as time passes. Baby-steps, my friend.

[moogle]

What are you talking about? We've had TONS of progress. There's medical marijuana vending machines (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22910820/) in Los Angeles, for Christ's sake. Progress has been slow, yes, but it HAS occurred, and seems to be occurring more and more rapidly as time passes. Baby-steps, my friend.
Of course there has been some progress, but medical use and state decriminalization are not even close to complete legalization on a national level. Politicians don't want to appear to endorse percieved irresponsible behavior, and that attitude doesn't seem to be going away. Legalization is practically viewed as an endorsement of marijuana. Like I originally stated, I'm talking about real progress. Like you said, these have been baby steps and have only occured very recently. And the pushback is still very strong.

[freeflow^]

I think it's incredibly arrogant to persecute a man who's devoted his waking life to swimming, something that takes a remarkable amount of perseverance, as being a bad role model. What do these critics have on a guy who holds 12 Olympic (I think) gold medals? Yeah it's hard being a housewive, police officer, fireman etc... but billions of people over time have done it. Who's got fckn 12 medals? Fuckin no one! Let the dude smoke a joint, bong, whatever... he sure as hell deserves to enjoy one.

[twerp]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=macgregor/090209


This article makes a lot of sense.