"LEGALIZE IT DON'T CRITICIZE IT LEGALIZE IT YEA-AH YEA-AH AND I WILL ADVERTIZE IT "
~Peter Tosh~~
So being the day after the Super Bowl, I decided to listen to sports talk radio while driving home. And what do you think they were talking about? Nope, not the Super Bowl. The chatter tonight was all about Michael Phelps and his his rather zestful hit of a certain....well smoking device. Instead of talking about Santonio's catch, the talk centered around Michael's hit. (Just trying to stay with the football analogy)
"He will lose millions of dollars in endorsement deals now"." The guy is a disgrace". "You mean to tell me he couldn't stay out of those frat houses?" "He is an American hero for crying out loud he has got to be careful". And on and on it went. You could cut the outrage with a knife. Joe Six Pack couldn't have been madder at Michael if he was his own mama. Of course this is the same Joe Sixpack who probably has no problem downing a few after work before heading home to his loving wife and Joe Six Pack kids. The same Joe Six Pack who thinks the guy saying "this Buds for you" in those commercials is playing a doctor who is telling you to try the brew for your health.
Now, to be fair, if you had told me that one of the heroes from this summer's Olympic games would be caught on camera smoking my country's national plant, I would have guessed it would have been my fellow countryman, not the All A-merry-can hero. But apparently it's not that surprising, Michael has had some issues before. Of course you didn't hear about Michael's DUI arrest because apparently driving inebriated behind the wheel of a machine weighing two tons and capable of speeds over 100 mph is cool. Yeah, didn't you know? It's much more dangerous to sit in a dorm room and smoke a bong with some of your frat buddies.
Oh well, here is hoping that Michael doesn't lose any endorsements because of this. And I know that some of you are saying that a man who makes 5 million dollars per year because of his image should be more careful. Field it's easy for you to write on your blog and play the Pontiff while pontificate from your high horse, but you aren't signing his checks. Yeah but wouldn't it be nice if we A-merry-cans weren't so damn hypocritical? Look if smoking the collie weed causes Michael to get the munchies (hey that's what they tell me it does to you) and if he puts on weight as a result of said munchies and start moving in the water like a pregnant whale, that's on him. But Mike must be doing something right, weed or no weed, Mike can straight go get it in the water. And guess what? I am betting that Mike has hit the good collie weed a time or two before, and it sure hasn't affected him the water so far now has it.
So Michael did the right thing. He apologized to all the hypocrites in A-merry-ca and to his fans. He promises to be a good boy now and get back in the pool and start training for the world championships.
Hey Mike, they have some really nice pools in Jamaica.
I am just saying.
71 comments:
I can't believe pp are surprised. He's 20-something and on top of the world and a goofball kid who clearly has not had time to grow up. Why are pp surprised he's enjoying himself now?
Duh.
Though I loved the quote from someone a Fox News piece had:
"He's the gold medalist of bong hits."
LOL
Let's go Michael Phelps! I love this story. I mean, dude's smokin' a BONG! Everyone needs to get over themselves! He's probably got some really good stuff in there, too, with the way he's inhaling. Matter of fact, please, pass me some. Wait, I'm rollin' it up and passing it to the next commenter. Any takers?
No, seriously, it looks like his sponsors really aren't that mad at all, especially the ones with money. I just think people are trying to drum up anger so he loses his endorsements. and they can get their money back. It's dumb. I'm sure everyone after me will agree ... or just smoke the same joint I just passed them.
All of that over a bong hit...
Look, both Kobe and Ray Lewis are doing commercials now. If they could weather those storms, I'm sure Mikey will be able to hawk more cereal sooner than you think.
I've gained so much respect for this guy. After all that swim training, he needs to relax. Legalize it.
szpork
While we're watching The Bong Ripper take over the media today, Bank of America is robbing this country blind.
I see why they needed that 45 million bailout it was to help fund their SuperBowl parties.
~Pissed off I.O.U So Cal resident
America needs to get over itself. Nipples are blasphemy, weed is horrible, and no one cares about the poor. Phelps is golden!
Dude was bangin' Lil Wayne in his ipod before the swims that he won gold for the US.
Please- clearly the drug propaganda isn't all its cracked up to be? Goodness forbid this successful athlete proves that not all drugs are bad. Weed helped me through grad school...
bwwaaahahahaaahaaahaa! LEGALIZE IT!
two pulls and pass, please.
Pots here to stay folks, keeping it illegal has been as successful as Prohibition. Note to President Obama: End the drug war!
OK Field, I smell a bit of a double standard here. Ricky Williams does weed he is roundly criticized and loses millions of dollars, remember when they tried to get Vick with the weed residue in the water bottle thing?
Black athletes are dropped if they do anything mildly illegal why should this guy get a second chance.
Okay, I see we have a bunch of stoners on this site. But what else do you expect from field Negroes? I bet they can't get the shit you get in the house Jose.
"OK Field, I smell a bit of a double standard here. Ricky Williams does weed he is roundly criticized and loses millions of dollars, remember when they tried to get Vick with the weed residue in the water bottle thing?
Black athletes are dropped if they do anything mildly illegal why should this guy get a second chance."
None from me Anon. Why can't the black AND the white athlete get a second chance for crap like this?
"America needs to get over itself. Nipples are blasphemy, weed is horrible, and no one cares about the poor..."
Co-sign with T3FLON.
All of these comments are rather heartening! Maybe we are finally getting close to ending the drug war!
I sure as hell hope so.
I think the only thing Phelps needs to worry about is the IOC. Hopefully, they won't ban him for this.
The End is Near: for old-ass Republicans and those who want to keep weed illegal.
Aren't these ppl one in the same?
All of these comments are rather heartening! Maybe we are finally getting close to ending the drug war!
I sure as hell hope so.
Unfortunately there's not a chance of that happening. Any politican would be crucified for just bringing up a debate on the subject.
02 02 09
They shoulda left him alone. I wouldn't have apologized for a damned thing. It is his RIGHT to do whatever he wants so long as he isn't hurting anyone. Besides nobody would argue that marijuana helped him perform better would they?
You know what would be nice Field (since you have so many damn readers) If I could get a VIP pass to the 1-5 comment sections!
Anywho,
Yeah people you never expect do things you'd never expect so...yeah!!!
We are in a RECESSION the media have to make money too!
Go
But of course, Field, you wouldn't expect those who benefit to shine a positive light on one of their main money makers, right? I mean, if I was getting beyond comfortably rich for locking you up for a small piece of Earth, I'd keep it illegal.
And I TOTALLY agree with T3FLON!
Support your Black poet.
Buy their books.
www.poetbeaudacious.com
A Bong.
Dayum...carry me back to 1972!
I hope he was at least listening to some Black Sabbath or at least some Pink Floyd. A good old bong hit just isn't the same without a little "war pigs" or "dark side of the moon" blasting out of the speakers.
Hell just a few days ago I had to actually explain to my 19 year old nephew what Deep Purple's "smoke on the water" really meant...
Seriously though... I don't think he should have apologized. The greatest swimmer in the world, by far, smokes pot. Big effing deal. At this point, the dude don't have to prove nothing to no-one. If anything, he just proved that pot doesn't hinder an athlete's performance.
It would be nice if science-and-logic Obama took a look at our pot laws...
OK,so let me get this straight. The last three presidents of America smoked pot, a record setting Olympic medalist smokes it currently, and the vast majority of Americans over the age of 15 have tried it ... but pot is bad?
OK, I guess I don't get it.
I don't see this as a bad thing. Omega is sticking with him, and if Mikey gets the munchies he can always get some jack from White Castle like Harold & Kumar.
At least he didn't get busted for a DUI while underage like he did four years ago.
Phelps's apology for smoking pot is about as genuine as Liberace's 1957 libel suit against Hollywood Confidential for reporting that he tried to molest his male press agent. But hey, when money hangs in the balance, you do what you've gotta do, right?
No, our fellow countrymen, e.g., Bolt and Powell, are too darned smart to be smoking your country's national plant. They know that THEY'D lose an endorsement deal over such nonsense; they're not fair-hair frat boys. They know who's buttering their bread. Phelps has the arrogance of knowing that there would be repercussions for such behavior. I wonder what's in his morals clause if he can get away with illegal drug use.
Let the man have some fun with his frat boy friends. Personally I don't get the pot thing but to each his own. I would be much more concerned about him drinking while intoxicated or stoned. He chilling on campus. Whatevs.
Some folks need to loosen up. Perhaps they should do a bong hit and listen to some Led.
I don't know the statistics on who spokes pot in this country, but my guess is the number is probably pretty high.
Did I say "high"?
And I'm sure there are many more who drink intoxicating beverages of one kind or another.
So, I'm not going to condemn Michael for bonging, as long as he doesn't bong and drive, or operate some other equipment that might injure others.
I do wish for the day, however, when we'll stop chewing, drinking, snorting, and shooting up to reach a mind-altering high, that can be had in less mind-bending ways, simply by meditating often.
Further, Michael must have been high when he allowed himself to be photographed putting bong to lips.
Knowing this nation's penchant for destroying its icons, such a picture would surely be his cross.
And in this age, where a camera is attached to everything that is not a camera, a handy cell phone could have captured the moment for some enterprising frat brother.
For his kind of indiscretion, where so much money is riding on his spanking-clean image, in the future, it would probably be best for Michael to get his high alone, remain in indoors, secure his fast, expensive cars under lock and key, and come out of his smoking closet when he wishes the party to resume.
Ignorance is no excuse for ignorant behavior.
And risking millions of sponsorship dollars to get his high on in public, is both ignorant and foolish.
Alcohol legal - pot illegal.
120 million walking zombies on pharmaceuticals.
Yet compare social costs of each - minus legal ramifications.
Reason dictates decriminalization or outright legalization. Just consider the morale boost in this economy...
The only reason Mary-J is illegal is the alcohol lobby has had the Congress by the balls for 40 years and they don't want any competition.
Who cares if Michael Phelps hit a bong? He's a kid, he's rich and he's having the time of his life.
People need to grow up and get over it. Leave him alone.
RJ, it's nice to know that Omega is sticking with him. But let's see if that lasts.
And someone mentioned a morals clause; yes those are in most of these endorsement deals. A friend of mine represented Smoking Joe Frazier when he had his Campbell's soup deal but lost it due to some legal issues
The republicans need to get those broomsticks out of their asses.
If we as a nation are so concerned about the health effects of certain substances, then why do we allow people to smoke cigarettes, cigars, and to consume alcohol? All of which are worse for your health than marijuana.
Totally agree with Christopher.
After all, the really important thing is does he wear a flag lapel pin and does he pal around with terrorists? Oh, sorry, wrong thread. :-)
puh-leeze.
If there were phone cameras when I was twenty-three there would have been several pictures of me doing the same shit.
Phelps has got to realize that he's a celebrity/target now and his every move will be recorded and scrutinized.
Not just by the media but by the very people he's hangs with.
Time to grow up Mike.
Legalize! And pass that over here....
Legalize it!
Yeah. Here in A-Merry-Ca, where you have to piss in a cup to get hired in damn near any job. How much money do the testing labs stand to lose if 'twere legalized? And that's long before you get to the strong-armed goons of outfits like the prison guard unions, the cop unions...
KNOWING how A-Merry-Ca has its collective head up its collective ass over the Holy Herb, the guy who took the photo (and sold it, the bastard) needs a serious beat-down.
He'll be okay. He's white.
Barry Bonds gets and asterisk. But Mark McGwire is revered.
You get the picture.
Time to grow up Mike.
So, UpTownSteve, I want to follow your logic.
The country finally rid itself the 62-year old Motherfucker from Midland, a known drunk and drug user, and that was copacetic but, a 23 year old swimmer is held to a higher standard and needs to "grow up" because he has a few medals, and swims like a fish?
I'm not following.
Christopher
How you are comparing Bush and Phelps is beyond me.
I'm not a Bush supporter, never have been and being a DC area resident, can tell you with confidence that the air actually smells better since he took his funky ass back to Midland.
Phelps has to realize that he is now a celebrity and if he intends to reap the benefits of that status he's got to stop the child's play and get serious.
Now if he doesn't care then go ahead and hit the bong Mikey.
Kiss your endorsements goodbye though.
His endorsements will be okay for the time being. If he gets arrested again, they'll be gone.
I don't favor legalizing marijuana, but I'm tolerant on the issue. I don't see any reason to splash Phelps across the media for this. What I'd be interested in knowing is who took the damn picture. It was in a frat house, right? Well, if it was my frat, the "brother" who took that picture wouldn't be my brother for long.
uptownsteve said...
Phelps has to realize that he is now a celebrity and if he intends to reap the benefits of that status he's got to stop the child's play and get serious.
Willie Nelson, Woody Harrelson, Matt McConaughey. They are all outspoken advocates of pot - even after being arrested. It hasn't hurt their careers any.
He shouldn't have made the public apology. Phelps' big mistake was engaging in behavior he's not willing to defend.
"Willie Nelson, Woody Harrelson, Matt McConaughey. They are all outspoken advocates of pot - even after being arrested. It hasn't hurt their careers any."
Nelson, Harrelson and McConaughey don't rely on corporate endorsements the way athletes do.
There is far more leeway for bad behavior from actors and musicians as long as they still deliver the goods when they step on the set or in the studio or on the stage.
Time will tell, I suppose.
Bong or not, I think Michael Phelps is still the Golden Boy and the potential profits advertisers can make from pimping his image outweighs what he does in the private life.
Bong or not, I think Michael Phelps is still the Golden Boy and the potential profits advertisers can make from pimping his image outweighs what he does in the private life.
I agree with that. I bet his sponsors have essentially told his agent that they're still on board, bu that Phelps had better not screw up again.
Field--better give Barack a toke after this stuff with Daschle et al...
uptownsteve said...
Nelson, Harrelson and McConaughey don't rely on corporate endorsements the way athletes do.
There is far more leeway for bad behavior from actors and musicians as long as they still deliver the goods when they step on the set or in the studio or on the stage.
You are joking just a scoshe aren't you? :)
Of all the celebrity groups...athletes are given the MOST leeway in everything that they can do.
Athletes are like rock stars. They are immune to bad publicity. Oh, the press sometimes will talk a tough game, but when it all comes down to it, winning is all that matters, and the sports world will turn a blind eye to most offenses, and everyone will eventually fold like a cheap lawn chair.
It's not like he's killing dogs for fun or anything.
Barry Roid-Head, Ricky Williams, hell, even pacman was given a few extra chances before he flamed out. Kobe freaking Bryant, the loudest and proudest wife cheating scumbag there is, has got himself right back on top of the game doing commercial after commercial as well.
The president can admit to inhaling and still get elected, so what's the big deal...If it was discovered that Phelps was a murderer, rapist, thief etc. I could understand the outrage.
So much 4 the weed makes you lazy crowd!
Gotta go time for me ''wake & bake morning session!
33 & 1\3 King
Behold, the new "Rosetta Stoner" language program.
Field, I appreciate your point about both black and white athletes getting another chance.
But the narrow-minded Republitarian in me thinks that black athletes are still more heavily (and unfairly) scrutinzed than their white counterparts.
"Of all the celebrity groups...athletes are given the MOST leeway in everything that they can do."
Oh really?
Show me the athlete who got away murder (Phil Spector)
Show me the athlete who got away with child porno (Pete Townshend)
Numerous drug busts and rehabs (Robert Downey Jr. Kelsey Grammar)
Anti-semitic outbursts (Mel Gibson)
Ricky Williams was banned from the NFL for a couple of years.
Pacman Jones did time.
Kobe was aquitted at a trial.
You're all wet dude.
And before you say OJ Simpson remember Simpson spent a year in prison before being acquitted at trial.
Spector didn't spend a day in jail.
How could I forget Charlie Sheen and Hugh Grant?
No damage to their careers.
Funny how drunks are given the by, while someone smokin' a little pot freaks everyone out.
Ethyl Alcohol is an anesthetic...(think hydrated Ether) and it works just the same way general anesthesia works...it shuts down the brain...higher function first, all the way down towards the limbic. IOW, drunks are idiots. And many of them are violent.
But in this Euro-Christianist culture of ours, we're supposed to make allowances for drunks.
THC is not only a kick-ass analgesic and anti-emetic, it has anti-agression properties...IOW, people who smoke pot, don't beat up people. They don't rape children, they don't shoot their wives, or raise vicious dogs. The worst thing you could say about them is that they mix strange foods when the munchies hit. (dipping oreo cookies in guacamole is just...perverted.)
So I say, good for anyone who smokes pot. And I hope that incidents like this will open some eyes...to pot's prevalence. It's time to decriminalize.
Let's put the rapists and murderers in prison, and free the folks with the baggies.
I don't favor legalizing marijuana, but I'm tolerant on the issue.
I hear you, but consider this-- if they can kick in the Mayor's door and shoot his dogs because of marijuana, they can do the same thing to you.
Legalizing will make you safer.
More power to him. He's only human.
Hmmm. I don't know lol I hate to say this but when I heard about this I thought "aren't there more important events going on in the world?"
Marijuana is just a plant. Let it be. If somebody wants to smoke it in the privacy of their own homes, in a frat house, whatever, just let them! As long as they do not harm any one else while doing so.
(Thanks for the shout out Mr. Field! This is a big deal to me because I hold your blog to such a high esteem! I'm terribly flattered!)
I don't have a problem with his actions, he's not my hero. He should apologize to the many that do look up to him, do some community service and next time be smart enough not to get caught.
uptownsteve,
Mel Gipson was in the SuperBowl? That must have been when I went to 7-11 for zuzu's.
rainy
WHAT EVAH!! Who cares? Anyone who thinks Phelps should lose any endorsements for smoking pot must beon Crack. I saw former drug czar Joe Califano in TV this morning going ballistic on this horrible drug use and he just seemed like an anchonistic idiot. I hope the rest of America is moving beyond this ridiculous fear mongering and hysteria about drug use. Mike: Just don't go killing any dogs. That is a capital offense in America.
i say let the man smoke what he wants. Hell, when I was his age, I smoked up a storm. I never had to purchase it, b/c I dated a guy who had the goods -- if you know what I mean. I'm twice Phelps' age now, and I left the stuff alone thirty years ago -- which tells you how old/young I am now. LOL! I've led a productive life, earned 3 degrees -- including a doctorate. Phelps is not doing any more than many of us did at that age. The dumb thing, however, was being in a place where your buddies have phone cameras. And not being private. Other than, there's nothing surprising about what he's done. I say give the fellow a break.
"Mel Gipson was in the SuperBowl? That must have been when I went to 7-11 for zuzu's."
Rainy, I think YOU'VE been hittin' da bong.
We see why he eats 10,000 calories a day.
But in this Euro-Christianist culture of ours, we're supposed to make allowances for drunks.
Oh, don't be a fool. Alcohol has been consumed for thousands of years in all manner of cultures.
THC is not only a kick-ass analgesic and anti-emetic, it has anti-agression properties...IOW, people who smoke pot, don't beat up people. They don't rape children, they don't shoot their wives, or raise vicious dogs.
Wow, if you think all the stoners are about peace 'n love 'n brotherhood, then you need to get your ass out of the house and look around.
"Look if smoking the collie weed causes Michael to get the munchies (hey that's what they tell me it does to you) and if he puts on weight as a result of said munchies and start moving in the water like a pregnant whale, that's on him. But Mike must be doing something right, weed or no weed, Mike can straight go get it in the water. And guess what? I am betting that Mike has hit the good collie weed a time or two before, and it sure hasn't affected him the water so far now has it."
Totally classic. If you didn't have the copyright, I'd steal it! :)
America is not a "free" country. Its drug laws are draconian, if not hypocritical. Prohibiting people from using, ingesting, inhaling, and drinking whatever they want is borderline totalitarianism. Citizens are jailed a lifetime for consuming ounces of "illegal substances." Whatever happened to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
Drug prohibition should end. Just tax it. As long as an adult wants to get high, and doesn't hurt anyone, who cares?
Phelps is a 10-12 year old inside the body of an adult. If this is the worse he's ingesting, it's better than what Ritalin would have done to him.
Y'all don't think Usain Bolt takes a toke or two from time to time?
It's all fun games until somebody gets hurt. What most fail to realize is that the only real documented harm to result from marijuana is the pain and suffering of people subjected to the criminal injustice system and the prison industrial complex as a result of ridiculous and arbitrarily applied controlled substance laws.
The holier than thou attitudes that control most of our national discourse are much more worthy of conversation. The dumbass S.C. sheriff pretends it serves his community to divert his departments resources into creating a case against Phelps, when it's actually nothing more than a publicity stunt. Even in here, people seem to think they are justified in making "moral" judgments on other people's personal behavior. People seem to feel compelled to say "I used to smoke weed, but I don't anymore". Complete bullshyt.
I agree with whoever said that Phelps biggest problem was engaging in activities that he is not willing to stand up for. I don't care what you catch me doing, I ain't apologizing for a dayum thang. If I did it, I meant to do it, and if you got a problem with it you might want to keep that to yourself as long as I am not harming you or yours.
My biggest problem with weed is that I can't seem to find a regular supply in NYC. Next time your police department chief says " we don't have enough officers" think about this. Too many dumb cops making nickel bag cases, means all the murderers, rapists, and robbers operate with impunity. That is truly a dayum shame.
It is seriously time for me to "come back to Jamaica".
I wrote about this, too. They are coming down on him hard. He's lost his endorsement with Kellog and I think I read he's suspended from swimming for 3 months.
At the same time, Miley Cyrus is mocking Chinese in a photo. I know they're 2 different subjects, but they're both people in the spotlight. She's like Miss Nickelodeon and the whole thing is being shrugged off.
I can get over Michael as long as he's sober when it counts, his recreational activities are his business.
the only real documented harm to result from marijuana is the pain and suffering of people subjected to the criminal injustice system and the prison industrial complex as a result of ridiculous and arbitrarily applied controlled substance laws
There is serious, solid research showing a link between marijuana and schizophrenia, especially in young people. The pro-marijuana crowd goes utterly batshit whenever they hear anything negative about their drug of choice.
Haven't smoked MJ in 15 years, but exodus mentality is exactly right. The arbitrary and racist implementation of MJ laws does infinitely more harm than the cons of decriminalization.
Why Michael Phelps Must be Arrested:
http://sportsonmymind.com/2009/02/04/the-real-reefer-madness-why-michael-phelps-must-get-arrested/
I don't think that he should be arrested, there's real crime in the world.
He made his apology, loss a little money and that's enough for me.
His stupidity is his own. He's an adult. Free to make his own decisions, and to endure the consequences.
Alot of things are bad for you...we still do it or eat it or say it...blah, blah, blah
As an adult do what you want to. Just don't quiver/whine/cry/complain when the consequences occur.
wow.
They treatin' him like he was black.
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