Phelps: Bong seized and eight arrested..

ok everyone criticizing him, shut up. you talk about your kids looking up to him...well some of the singers and actors they look up to do obscene things while piss ass drunk. think of that. every day you turn on the tv and someone is doing something stupid while drinking. yah your kid may only be 12, but isnt underage drinking just as illegal as smoking pot. get over it. hes still the same guy who won 8 gold medals, wether you knew he smoked pot or not.

By anonymous. Posted April 8 2009 at 11:18 PM.

ok people calm dow. he made a mistake, and apologized for it. lets move on with our lives and stop obsessing over what everyone else is doing.

By random person. Posted February 19 2009 at 4:40 PM.

Phelps is 23, and as a fellow swimmer I know what its like to not have a life. Swimming is the sport that consumes your life more than anything. More than any sport in the world, there is never time off and no breaks. Coming home from the biggest victory in his life, the guy deserves to get out and have some fun. Let the man be, he represented our country and did it in World Record Time and style.

By Jsexy. Posted February 18 2009 at 2:44 AM.

he is stupider than i thought he was

By john. Posted February 18 2009 at 2:44 AM.

I don't smoke weed, but I say if you can hit a bong like that and win like 8 olympic medals...more power to you...just because he's an icon doesn't mean he can't live a normal life! America is screwed up and we shouldn't hate him for being a bad influence because we aren't that great at representing ourselves anyway!

By StephanieP. Posted February 17 2009 at 11:16 PM.

So, that's pretty sexy.
No lie ;)

By RoseB. Posted February 17 2009 at 10:20 AM.

Do any of you even know what this man did? He is an American hero who has done great things for his country!!! What in God's name does this have to do with him cleaning out the swimming competition at the Olympics?? As Jesus said "he who is without sin cast the first stone", "he who has won 14 gold medals chastise Michael Phelps." Have any of you nay-sayers ever stopped to think that this man has won the most gold medals in history. Maybe it isn't so bad that he hit a bong in private setting. Maybe what is bad is the misdirection of publicity for Phelps.

By EJ. Posted February 16 2009 at 11:28 PM.

This makes me so happy!

By Jack. Posted February 16 2009 at 7:42 AM.

I think the few of you saying "we all did it" are ridiculous. Not everyone did it. I didn't. I know several didn't. He's ridiculous for doing it and I'm appauled.

By Bree. Posted February 16 2009 at 3:13 AM.

Yes, he should be held to a higher standard because of his status.
He knows that kids look up to him. It may come as a surprise, but it is a proven fact that children imitate their heroes. This is why parents are expected to act as role models, as are those who make it a point to become a role model, as Michael Phelps has. I don't care what he does in his spare time, but he should know that there is always someone watching. Whether it be a kid looking up to him, or a friend snapping a funny picture at a party. You wouldn't smoke a bong in front of your kids... be discreet please.

By Christie. Posted February 15 2009 at 11:32 PM.

Everyone and their drama... please it's just weed. I don't agree with what he did but I think he is now a true role model for everyone.

1. he is real
2. it is ok to make a mistake and learn from it

Everyone's crap about "oh my dream is shattered" "think of the children" "omg how can he..." put a sock in it. I think kids should see this and realize that there will be mistakes in the world and some you can't fix and some you can. This is something you can fix so let him fix it and move on. Now everyone has a reason why not to do something. There is physical form that kids can wrap around why not to do the drug. There will be consequences.

Everyone's freaking out and it was only smoking. I'd like to see what everyone will do if he hit someone or drove impaired. How would you react then? Be reasonable and don't over react.

By anonymous. Posted February 13 2009 at 4:22 AM.

you have one life to live, live it how you want.

------------
but don't break the lows.

By DaemonHunter. Posted February 12 2009 at 5:27 PM.

what did you do when you were 23??n jeezeeee

By anon. Posted February 12 2009 at 3:20 AM.

As a swimmer it's sad, but many of the top swimmers in my city have done the same. It's not correct, but he's still amazing despite of one mistake.

By Isabella. Posted February 11 2009 at 6:54 PM.

We still like Phelps very much,he is a real person.he is a great Champion,no one is perfect.I believe he will do better,he will get greater achivement.

By ppd. Posted February 11 2009 at 2:43 PM.

I can´t believe in the future he broken my hopes I am so sad depressed after this picture. He´s stupid
and a vicious too.

By vanderley. Posted February 11 2009 at 5:25 AM.

All right well, I see that a majority of the crazies sending messages on this thing are so compassionate in regards to their hate for such a thing as smoking. Come on!!! Like you yourself haven't ever done anything illegal!! Ever drank underage? I'm sure you have! What is the difference? You're talking about him being held to a higher standard because of his status... he worked hard to get there and we should not be as judgmental towards him. Though I do not agree with smoking weed, I don't believe it devalues him as an individual. Hes in his early 20s! If it had been an average person of his age having done the same thing at a college they most likely would not have the same convictions as he has had because of this! Yes, I do believe people in the spotlight should hold themselves to a higher standard but really?? All of a sudden everyone in the world hates him because he did something that is lawfully considered a "no no." Yes it was a mistake but we should not cast him out of society! Sheryl, I'd like to see you try and get an Olympian medal! Honestly, 3 team medals yes, but oh wait... he had to be ON the team. Wait wait wait, what am I saying.. oh yea he has TALENT. Everyone needs to calm down about this situation. Yes it's Michael Phelps, no he didn't kill someone. Just because people are famous doesn't make them perfect.

By Hannah T.. Posted February 11 2009 at 1:51 AM.

We love a person not means we love all the things that he/she has done, but we hate a preson for one thing that he/she has done,just need one! I want to say,Phelps,you still have the right to choose what kind of pepole you want to be! To try your best,We still supported you,but just for your sports.

By lmj. Posted February 11 2009 at 12:30 AM.

dont hate. i still respect the dude. you have one life to live, live it how you want.

By LK. Posted February 10 2009 at 7:49 PM.

Phelps will have to pay for his actions, but I don't see how this in any way tarnishes his performance in the Olympics. If anything I am more impressed, any smoking causes harm to your lungs and he is still the best in the World.
Pay your fines, do your time and go back to being a champion!

By Doug. Posted February 10 2009 at 4:30 PM.

that was a very bad choice and i used to be your fan at butterfly and now i am very sad about what you did

By friend. Posted February 10 2009 at 4:14 PM.

I support Micheal Phelphs right now, i dont think smoking pipe makes him a bad person or that he deserves to have his endorsment taken away, just as much as he "suppose" to be a role model for kids but he also has a social life he has to live....Reaching where he is right now takes as as much work as it takes talent and I support him for the hard work he has put up and not fo the bong he had 1ce.......You are a true champion to me Phelphs!!!!!!!!!

By Eloge Kalubi. Posted February 10 2009 at 5:59 AM.

i knew it!!!! it was to good to be true
if i were him i woudn't play even though i admire him lots thugh i wondn't because all yhose little kids out their are goingh to be wonderingwhat the beeeeeeep that my idol, i'll take and wow get suspenede for three much wow
good job wierdo!

By whats up . Posted February 10 2009 at 4:47 AM.

Listen, if a normal person gets caught for smoking dope or gets a DUI they are going to be cited, fined and possible jail time. There should be no difference for Phelps. Was it wrong of him? That's for him to decide. Is he a role model to thousands of young athletes? Yes. Whatever sentence comes down, he should not be exonerated for being a media Olympian. He's human like all of us. He made a mistake, but he must take his medicine, and pick the pieces back up and move forward. That's it in a nutshell.

By MacG. Posted February 10 2009 at 2:46 AM.

He's still an amzing person, he still lived out his life dream, you folks need to look in the mirror before you point that finger.... Look long and hard folks....

By danielocean12. Posted February 10 2009 at 2:30 AM.

if a normal person smoked pot they would get in trouble for it. he should as well

By bryan b. Posted February 10 2009 at 2:08 AM.

I think he didi something very wrong. kids looked up to him as an idol and know the can't event thow they don't know what drugs are. I think he schould go to jail for a week and feel the effect. I feel sorry for his mom

By Billy Borkis. Posted February 10 2009 at 1:25 AM.

Michael Phelps is an amazing person. He won 8 gold medals (my mistake, 5 individuals and 3 team!). Get over the fact that he smoked pot!! Yeah it is illegal, only because the government cannot tax a plant, but are you people going to sit here and say you have NEVER broken the law? Seriously, Michael Phelps is a BA. He was having fun and made a 'mistake'. Don't you think he deserves to have a good time? And for those of you that say don't give him a break because what if everyone got breaks... MANY people get breaks ALL the time.

By Lauren. Posted February 10 2009 at 12:56 AM.

O Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals! How does that have anything to do with him breaking the law??? If he hadnt have gotten in trouble then it sends the message that its okay to smoke pot every once in a while. Well guess what, people look up to Michael Phelps and if you see pictures of him smoking a bong then you lose a lot of respect for him. I know i have. Lots of kids look up to him as their role model, well parents dont want their kids having a rold model that smokes weed!! ITS ILLEGAL!!! It doesnt matter what you say like O it okay every once in a while, and O everybody does it! Well if you are a profesional athlete and an olympian YOU SHOULDNT BREAK THE FREAKING LAW! All im saying is that Michael Phelps is no longer the "American boy who is a great persosn and has worked all his life for his dream". He screwed up and there is no going back!!

By Sheryl Bonter . Posted February 10 2009 at 12:52 AM.

ok so what he smoked pot... but people seemed to have forgoten that he won 8 olympic meddles and he also was told as a child that he wasnt going to go far cause he had ADHD... but look where he is and now that there was a picture of him smoking.. and all of a sudden people forget the amazing things he did. thats bull.

By J. Fritz. Posted February 9 2009 at 8:32 PM.

All I can say is wow to the people who think this is such a big deal. The reason the government made this "drug" illegal is because it would be much to difficult to tax the drug as it already operates outside the law. But come on, it's weed. I have to agree with justin in that anyone who looks up to Phelps as a role model shouldnt let this effect what they think of him. If he jumped off a bridge and some of his "fans" saw it would they jump too? everyone sets their own goals and has their own set of moral rules. Give the guy a break!

By Paul. Posted February 9 2009 at 8:28 PM.

The double US standard. If he was standing there with a martini in his hand and drunk out of his mind it would be socially acceptable. Make it pot and most people go insane. Unbelievable BS.

By Fred G. Posted February 9 2009 at 7:11 PM.

It's true he is just like anybody else, we all make mistakes. Its like what chuck said, I bet it's true all these other athletes get I high or do drugs too. lol. Micheal phelps is still the man in my eyes.

By Kamal. Posted February 9 2009 at 6:49 PM.

Of coarse it’s matter!
He may be always a great athlete on a personal level, no matter what he does illegally in his life. But as an athlete in a public eye, even more – an Olympian, he knows better – he is held to a higher standards in everything he does, as soon as it is becomes public! When people mention his 8-gold medals it more and more make me fill sick, - this is not excuse to do ANYTHING illegal! Also please remember that 5 medals where individual event and 3 – team events! He always gets credit for 8golds– like a swimming god…that smokes pipe…;0) Would be nice to mention that 3 medals where given to him by his TEAM efforts. And in some of these team swims – he did not do as great as his other teammates either! Also would be nice to mention that every successful athlete at the Olympics usually expresses his filling of honor representing his country… Should not this honor extend to his civic life, especially when it is in a public eye?! What a honor…. That is a dishonor and disservice to the people of the country that sent him to represent them! Personally I like Michael. I know many of Michael’s defenders say – smoking pipe is nothing serious –we should not pay attention to it! FU. If it is law in this country and you deliberately breaking it – you must pay for it. Who wants to live in the chaos of lawlessness??? If you don’t like the law – work on changing it as much as you want – this is the right that you have to exercise lawfully!

By Andrey. Posted February 9 2009 at 5:41 PM.

He was just plain stupid! We all got high on the weekends. I would bet other athletes get high when off the field. No big deal.
He just got caught! Now he is accountable for his actions in the public eye like any other professional athlete. chuck

By chuck c. Posted February 9 2009 at 2:03 PM.

I agree with Kara. Sure he's a great athlete but everyone is saying give him a break and that he's one 8 gold medals from the Beijing Olympics. So? It depends on the actions he takes not how many medals he's won.

If smoking illegal drugs wasn't bad and you can give the person a break then why did the Government make it illegal? Plus if you could give everyone a break then what would the world be like?

By Courtney. Posted February 9 2009 at 1:25 PM.

Oh come on give him a break, i bet half of the other olympians have smoked pot at least once in their life. Im also a competitive swimmer, and this isn't going to change the way i look at him one bit.

By Spinelli. Posted February 9 2009 at 11:39 AM.

its not like he was on steroids its a pipe this makes him no less of an athlete, people expect that because he is a good athlete he doesn't do anything wrong, he is only human and humans make mistakes

By Justin L.. Posted February 9 2009 at 4:49 AM.

I agree with Nick, big deal! How does this change him as an athlete? And as for the role model thing, people need to set their own goals, not try to be someone else.

By Nate. Posted February 9 2009 at 4:22 AM.

Anyone who has a problem with Michael Phelps smoking weed, can atempt to win 8 olympic gold medals over a two week time period. If they succeed, then they can complain.

By Kara J.. Posted February 9 2009 at 4:31 AM.

i am very disappointed. as an active teenager involved in sports he was a very good role model for me to look upon. but after this event his purpose as a role model has definitly faded.

come on man :\

By Nick R. Posted February 9 2009 at 3:57 AM.

The bloke had a bong. Big deal. Hardly performance enhancing is it!!!

By H Marks. Posted February 8 2009 at 9:46 PM.

Fans of him will hide, some will praise.
I see him as that American that won those 8 Gold Medals in Beijing.

By David P.. Posted February 8 2009 at 7:28 PM.