Star athlete becomes disappointment

There is not one of us who is perfect. In this day in age of the internet, cell phones, video cameras, etc. our every move seems to be captured and one mistake, especially from those we admire, is posted everywhere in order to bring them down. At times, we forgot we are all humans, we all sin, we all fall short of the glory of God, we all make mistakes and we all break laws from time to time although hopefully only small ones. We can not put our athletes, politicians or any specific group of individuals on a pedestal as we will end up being disappointed because each of these individuals are simply human. He is 23, made a mistake, admitted it, it is costing him dearly, etc. We should all stay away from drugs, especially those of us with so much to loose. However, personally I find much more disgust for the person who took and released the photograph. They must really be proud of theirselves, their petty jeolousy and sour grapes. So many wish to bring down others in order to make theirselves look better and this is the worst kind of person. It is dissapointing what he did but Michael Phelps is by no means a dissapointment.

Phelps was never my hero, I didn't like the dude during the Olympics (don't appreciate athletes with an ego higher than God), and still suspect something wrong with him (especially his body development -- some say it's doping, I can't tell for sure, but his body shape is unnatural compared to how he was even at 12 [puberty changes folks, but we're talking some Frankenstein skeletal changes here]). So getting caught with pot, just further confirms my suspicions of the dude. With this doping so much in sports today, folks will have to prove to me they are clean, not the other way around. Sports did themselves no great favors (nor it's fans) allowing that junk in, as it's some green light for 12 year-olds to get puffed up like dough boys in Middle School; or to go the lean and mean slim route, to be the next Franken' Phelps. Thanks Kelloggs for dumping the dope.

Wow, so he smokes pot. Sandy, you're on quite the insane rant all over today, aren't you? Get a grip......and some relevance.

This activity comes on the heels of a previous arrest for underage drinking and driving. Michael Phelps is a great athlete and a substance abuser. SAD!

Phelps' accomplishments through concerted effort still exist. Pot smoking hasn't changed that. What? Do you think he went through all of those years of training and sacrifice and never smoked pot? The first toke was that picture? Dang Emma, get a grip. This accomplished young man is not some fantasy. He's a real person with a real life. If you don't like all of his life, find someone new to worship, but don't learn too much about that person's life either. There's bound to be something you don't approve of and then you just lose another demigod.

Sorry, but with all the concerns we have in our society, terrorism, economy, crime, I don't get excited from someone smoking a joint. As long as he isn't flying my plane or driving the bus my kids are on, what he does on his own time is between him, the law, and his God. That doesn't mean I condone this, and if the law wants to pursue this, what's wrong with that?

Light up and blow away, GAC, it's about as good as you'll ever be as some armchair doublewide dopehead, who watches others do what your fat self can't. The greatest thing that can happen is some dope fiend poisons the supply (poetic justice?), and our society is rid of you pests. They're crazy enough to do it, and people like you are insane enough to smoke and eat it. Win-Win for the species, as you can't breed another inbred generation. Until then do the species a favor, castrate yourself, 'K.

Sandy, if your 6:42 is a representation of your thought process, you must be a damn sad person. How shallow you must be. I'll pray for your recovery.

What mistakes did you make at and before age 23? The guy is human, needs to choose his "friends" more wisely, but is still the best swimmer in the world. A lapse in judgment will not change that.

The sooner we learn that everyone is human, the better off we all will be. He should have known better...but you know what? He obviously didn't care. I'm certainly not happy about his tainted reputation because I pulled for him during the Olympics. However, I am grateful for the opportunity to use this as a perfect example to teach my children why we need to keep our eyes focused on God and not on man. Only HE will never let us down. We see over and over and over again where our idols faile to live up to the standards we set for them. We need to teach our children that bad choices are a part of life for everyone, and that bad choices lead to consequences.

He is a dope head, plain and simple. Not a hero or role model.

Not to borrow Clinton's "I never inhaled" excuse, but did anyone else notice that there wasn't actually any smoke in the bong Phelps was holding up to his mouth? Also, notice that he never actually admitted to smoking...just to acting inappropriately. Could it be that he was just goofing around at that party?

Guess this is why there are so few Obama college snapshots around, eh? It's perfectly fine for the POTUS to have experimented with pot and cocaine, yet here's a white sports hero being persecuted. Let's see y'all persecute the vast of majority of NBA drug thugs. Let's see y'all persecute the vast majority of NFL dope heads. To be BLUNT, just another example of why being a hypocrite is being normal in this phucked up country.

Didn't our esteemed President write in his book that he used illegal drugs. He admits to pot, cocaine, and alcohol. I guess he can't be a hero or role model either!!

Substance abuser?!?!?! This guy has probably had every drop of his urine tested for the past 5 years. Idiots!

If smoking pot labels this kid bad, no good, otherwise to be shunned for life I ask what label should be placed our own venerated Pres. O...After all his own use of drugs is a good example of what every rising young person needs to seek out and follow...So with that understanding Michael Phelps needs to be praised for just following Obama's lead right?...Leave the boy alone...He made a mistake...One day when "pot" is legalized he will be just another using a prescribed drug...

justignorethefacts: And W was a cokehead and a drunk, he just wasn't man enough to admit the coke. It's estimated that 42% of Americans have tried pot at least once. Heck, I went to college in the '70s. Trust me, it was more than 42% then. Pot is not exactly a performance enhancing drug, in fact, just the opposite. Babe Ruth drank, smoked cigars, and ate WAY too many hot dogs. So what. Phelps is young, and I like I'm sure most did, made a lot of poor decisions back then. Most, not all, will grow up and and make better ones.

Hey techie, I know about GWB. It wasn't me being critical of Phelps. We actually agree on this subject. That makes me ill.

Scary isn't it?

Tech, I agree with your 8.47. Drug use really isn't a reason to ostracise anyone in today's society. Y'all obviously got this topic covered without my contributions. Good day.

excellent post as it is 12:31 am.how many of us have accomplished in our first 23 years what this guy has?you're right also jim christian,here we go again with guilty until proven innocent crap logic again.our sheriff wants to charge him,is this a priority?with crime out of control,and the court sysyem backlogged for years,are you serious?and further more when did this guy volunteer to be a hero for your kids?america needs to get a grip on it's self, and stop looking for heroes,there are none.if this is pursued and it makes it into the court system,the lawyers will have a field day,and the taxpayers will be left holding the bag,with egg on their faces.grow up america!

Working in EMS for 22 yrs I can say I have seen lives ruined by drugs. Smoking pot was the starting gate to the stronger more enhanced drugs out there. Some never get past the "experimentation" of pot while others dive headfirst into being a pothead and more. Longterm use of pot has been shown to destroy brain cells. The diehard potheads will jump up and deny this just like the smokers will jump up and say smoking does not cause lung cancer. But this has been proven. Hopefully Phelps has learned a valuable lesson and will "grow up", but I have little hope for his type. He appears to be somebody on an ego trip in my opinion and I have not seen true remorse for his stupid act. Only time will tell if he has learned anything from his foolishness.

curly; Smoking anything is not good for you. Perhaps it's all the tv commercials that tell you "if you have a headache,menstrual cramps, stuffy nose,etc. ( and now RA, erectile dysfunction,etc.) then just take this pill" instead of pot that introduced people into the drug culture.

Wow!! He smoked Mary Jane!! Sandy has watched Reefer Madness a few too many times. I guess a bottle of booze would have been cool?

Curly,how many people have you even heard of that died from a marijuana overdose?That's right!None! Now ,how about Tylenol and all OVER THE COUNTER medicines?drugs? There is use and abuse of drugs, food ,etc. As far as "Gateway"....How many people have used tobacco and alcohol before trying pot?Does that make them Gateway drugs as well.As far as destroying brain cells goes...long term LIFE or anything else destroys brain and body cells.

I can tell by the posts which ones are potheads....any narcs reading these?

Curly:But can you answer the question with all your EMS training?

Short term use of pot has never killed anyone that I have known of. Lot's of the patients I know who are in nursing homes disabled from using drugs stated they first tried pot and then went on to other drugs. Pot was always the starting gate to more enhanced drugs to abuse. Long term use and abuse of drugs legal and illegal causes harm down the road.

Thanks Curly!Although you only answered partly,I think you get the drift ! Have a great life!!!