Posted on 01/31/2009 3:02:21 PM PST by LucyJo
THIS is the astonishing picture which could destroy the career of the greatest competitor in Olympic history.
In our exclusive photo Michael Phelps, who won a record EIGHT gold medals for swimming at the Beijing games last summer, draws from a bong.
The glass pipes are generally used to smoke cannabis.
And after sporting chiefs announced laws which mean four-year bans for drug-taking, Phelps’ dreams of adding to his overall 14 gold medal tally at the 2012 games in London could already be OVER.
GOLDEN BOY: Phelps at Beijing Those dreams seemed the last thing on his mind when he puffed from the bong during two days of partying with students last November, a quiet time in the swimming calendar when athletes would not expect to get tested for drugs.
One party-goer who witnessed the star’s behaviour told the News of the World: “He was out of control from the moment he got there.
“If he continues to party like that I’d be amazed if he ever won any more medals again.”
Phelps’ aides went into a panic over our story and offered us a raft of extraordinary incentives not to run the bong picture.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsoftheworld.co.uk ...
You just don’t get it. It’s fine that he’s going out and having a great time drinking and dating. It’s the absolute trash he’s hanging out with.
So, if your son won the gold at the Olympics and later decides to hang out with strippers, pole dancers and those in the porn trade, you’re just simply supportive? Unbelievable!
would you consider him to be bingeing? i do.
I can't believe I'm reading this.
I better kill my hydroponic tomatoes. I wouldn't want any DEA drug heroes breaking in my greenhouse and shooting my dog because they hear there's eeevil 'hydroponics' around.
Did you know people are SCARED to grow hydroponic herbs and veggies indoors precisely because of an attitude like yours? I had a not-nice visit to my home by armed police thugs when I used to grow inside. All for some basil.
A bunch of overgrown boys playing Army. They staked out the house from the woods, creeped up and pointed guns at me in unclear uniforms. Some with fingers stroking the trigger and all beaming with such excitement hoping for a 'big bust'. They were convinced the 'dope' was around each corner and wouldn't lower their weapons. Repeatedly yelling 'where's the grow room?' and 'where's the dope' so close to my face that I was being spit on and kicking my shins while dragging me around.
Having guns pointed at me and being treated like trash was so humiliating, I installed cameras that record off-site and hoped for their next visit. My girlfriend at the time convinced me to stop growing anything inside 'for my safety'.
Cannabis is natural and is no more harmful than TV and junk food. I and millions of other respected professionals know the only harm from cannabis is legal issues(aka being shot) and having our careers ruined by the ignorance of people like you. Not only professional athletes, but scientists, engineers, mathematicians and chemists. Just to name a few that I know personally.
I hope Phelps is completely unapologetic and exposes the scam that is prohibition. I guarantee that the only harm cannabis will do him is that ignorant people saw him smoke it.
Two of my kids went to high school with him and he has his “posse” of HS friends that he hangs out with (I know of 2 them fairly well), and theyre big into partying. Towson has a lot of middle class druggies, thats the culture. I am not at all surprised by any of this.
He mostly hangs out ith his high school friends , all in their early 20's who still like to party hardy.
He never grew up, he just got famous.
He should face a lifetime suspension from all events where people are enjoying themselves.
With him representing the U.S., you would think he would strive to maintain a good image. I knew he was a little on the “wilder” side when they said he was celebrating his wins at the Playboy Mansion.
John Wayne sat out World War II to make movies in Hollywood. What you miss are the characters John Wayne played, and the values they represented.
Yes. It puts me in mind of the first moments after the Northridge Earthquake, when I became frozen in a kind of silent panic -- I couldn't think of what to do; I was in a spell. My husband, who remained calm, proactive, and in control throughout, popped me out of my mental doldrum, as I stood there in a long flannel nightie, eyes glazed. All he said was: "Put on some pants." They were magic words. Just that simple instruction, that one essential on which to focus, snapped me back to earth. I slipped on a pair of Levis and was myself again -- a person with a purpose.
I find very much the same back-to-earth immediacy, comfort and purpose in that passage from John that you so wonderfully present. I think maybe some folks here might serve the world better if they focused more on its sweet, simple advice on how to serve God, than on their self-gratifying indignation over the private party habits of an Olympic swimmer.
yes, a lot of very judgmental people are going to make it pretty hard for him now. If he repents truly and helps people to get off of pot it will turn into a blessing. Most young people try the stuff...not a good thing but understandable. I was addicted to it for about a year when I was very young.
that is a very good catch on the watch!
Looks identical to me.
What will the folks from Wheaties say now?
Phelps said: "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. 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."
Wheaties should take Michaels trend under advisement. It works with brownies, doncha’ know.
Well stated...As the old acronym goes:
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid
Follow that and success and happiness will follow one in every aspect of life...Contentment is far underrated in today’s world. If there was more of being content lots of bad things would happen less often.
yo dude.
dayum
“How do you know he didn’t do some boozing and womanizing? “
He absolutely did. I can say that because one of his old girlfriends used to live near me. The John Wayne Marina, owned by his family, is 20 minutes from my house and was one of his favorite harbors. Be that as it may, a generation of youth looked up to him, in fantasy I am sure, as we did many other folks.
Though many of those role models & childhood heros back then had their problems, being a doper was not publicly acceptable as it apparently is today. I see that as a problem.
I don’t think that our favorite swimmer is a lowlife for smoking dope, I see him as a fool and a hypocrite in his actions. Frankly, I don’t give a hoot if folks want to smoke dope until it’s coming out of their ears, I just don’t think excuses or acceptance should be given to them, especially when it is our country’s children that are watching all of this.
He chose the role of setting an example, he gets paid very well for it... he failed in my view, and should suffer the consequences of his foolishness, that’s all.
I am now 60, so maybe it’s all ok now, after all, Obama was/is a crack head, and Clinton smoked dope, and it was even ok for him to rape and make B/J’s ok for children to talk about, or worse.....
I like the world I came from much better that the one created by those in charge of perception building and example setting today.
As for your Saint comment. I hold that ALL men have been in rooms that they wouldn’t have wanted to had died in, myself included, in fact, I have been in many of those rooms, but I am nobody famous, I was nothing in my life...just an honest man and good dad, that’s all.
I don’t believe he’s enhaling.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.