http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=0&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en&ItemId=2354&mid=2943

And has his Kellogg sponsorship yanked. So much for the stoners trying to argue that there would be no negative ramifications.

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ap-phelps-kellogg&prov=ap&type=lgns

oops

This is such crap. MIchael Phelps did nothing wrong. He did something illegal but he didn't do anything wrong. It really pisses me off how harshly this country treats marijuana use. We waste so much money trying to stop it when in actuality they could think of a way to regulate the selling domestically and make billions a year off it. It's a stupid law made by an ignorant group of people a really long time ago. Phelps could smoke all the pot he wants and he'd still be a here in my book.

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He did something illegal but he didn't do anything wrong.

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Let me preface this by saying that I thnk marijuana should be legalized and taxed. That said...

1. He did something very stupid
2. He did something illegal

Whether YOU think it was right or wrong is hugely irrelevant at this point.

i agree with this punishment, but are there even any major meets in the next 3 months? this will probably have no impact on him.

[This message has been edited by S.S.Aggie (edited 2/6/2009 8:46a).]

Phelps was scheduled to race in Austin in March as part of the Grand Prix series. It would have been his first competition of 2009. But now he can't race until May. Worlds are in July and Bowman says Phelps is out of shape. So the suspension isn't a huge thing - but Phelps probably needs racing experience soon.

I do not care whether MP uses recreational drugs or not. I too think the laws about marijuana are overall, stupid.

But that doesn't excuse Phelps from being stupid. Kellog doesn't want a dope smoker on cereal boxes. So Phelps probably just lost a million dollars because of his mistake.

We all do illegal things everyday, speeding is illegal, rolling stops are illegal, turning without turn signals are illegal, not using a cross walk is illegal and on & on & on.......

Give him and me a break with that illegal talk, if you have NEVER broken a law then you can speak up!!!!


This pic was taken in November!!! I wonder what rock the pic taker is hiding under and was it really worth it?!?!?!

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We all do illegal things everyday, speeding is illegal, rolling stops are illegal, turning without turn signals are illegal, not using a cross walk is illegal and on & on & on......

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You're absolutely right, marijuana is illegal, just like all those things. What is the fine for a speeding ticket? And what about for rolling a stop sign, and then turning without a signal, man I bet that one's a doozy. But they're way harsh compared to the small penalties associated with marijuana...oh wait...nevermind, marijuana penalties are WAY worse.

That's the difference. Ya, there are lots of illegal things that loads of people do everyday, but look at the severity of those things.

Don't get this started as an argument of whether marijuana is bad for you or not, or whether it should be legalized or not or whatever blah blah blah all the stoners got there rants in on the other topic already, take it somewhere else.

That's not what this is about. Its about Phelpsy, and how he DID screw up, as an olympian, as a professional, role model, and as an icon.

Well said....

Phelps is in control of his destiny for now. Unless he wants to become a spokesman for NORML - he needs to decide what is important to him.

the punishment does not fit the crime

I think the USA Swimming punishment fits because it is somewhat meaningless while still sending a message. I can't imagine that the Grand Prix meet in Austin can be all that important for him at this point. He just needs to get his training back on track, which apparently he's in the process of doing.

As for any sponsors dropping him, that kinda sucks financially, but it's not like Kellogg's was going to keep him on for all 4 years until next Olympics anyway.

He showed very poor judgement.

He needs to circle the wagons with his family and work some things out.

Young people make mistakes all of the time and hopefully learn from them.

He can either use this as motivation to move on to a more responsible part of his young life or he can wallow in self pity and play the part of the typical spoiled, wealthy sports star.

"He did something illegal but did nothing wrong." Get serious ! And just where is the line drawn in such thinking? Any so-called "victimless" crime or just where?
No doubt that he was beyond dumb to put himself, his rep and his fortune at risk.

Does the punishment fit the crime? Yes

Did phelps do anything wrong? Technically yes, but realistically, no.

As for my kids looking up to phelps? If they want to look up to the best olympian in the history of man, then they can. Just because the man does recreation drugs does not make him a bad person or a "stoner," whatever that means. Just goes to show people that you can use this drug and not become a waste-of-space like the corrupt media tells us.

His punishment for Drinking and Driving should have been for worse than this. Drinking and Driving often does not even get a guy in trouble.

Olympic athletes have their 15 minutes then it goes away. You won't hear much about MP in about a year.

This isn't just any Olympic athlete...

You might not hear much in a year from now, but you'll hear about him over and over for the next 30+ years.

Just saw on the bottom line that one of the kids that was charged from the party claims that Phelps didn't smoke any pot.

wolverine- where did you see this? link?

Having trouble tracking down a link, just saw it flash across the bottomline on sportscenter. It was according to the lawyer of two of the kids arrested. I'll post a link if I find one. Surprised it's not on ESPN.com yet.

I saw something on ESPN bottom line, but it said that they had found 2 kids who rented the house the party was at. One kid wasnt at home the night of, and the other was at the party but didnt know anything about Phelps smoking weed there.