Sign in to wowOwow

Enter the username or e-mail address that you used when registering at wowOwow.
The password field is case sensitive. Click here if you have forgotten your password.

Please register for wowOwow

By registering, you indicate that you have read and agree
with our privacy policy and terms of service.
Home › Politics

Politics | 02/05/2009 9:50 am

Michael Phelps: Toke or Stroke?

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© AP/AP

Is Michael Phelps’ Olympic career going up in flames?

In his first interview since a photo of his smoking pot was released, Phelps said he’s contemplating whether or not he’ll swim in the 2012 Olympics: 

This is a decision of mine that I’m not going to make today and I’m not going to make tomorrow. It’s going to require a lot of time and energy and a lot of thinking for myself — but also talking to Bob and talking to my family and just deciding what I want to do.

Phelps, who won eight gold medals at last summer’s Olympics and has been training since the age of seven, also described the pool as therapeutic. Thus, staying wet may be his best bet:

I’m back to my routine, the thing I love, the thing I care about most. To be able to get back in the water and get back to a normal schedule is what I am happy about most.

wOwers say we should give this young man a break: According to wowOwow.com’s poll, 40 percent of wOw readers agree that Phelps’s public apology, in which he admitted he acted childish and "inappropriate," was enough punishment. Forgiving group … 

Read more about: Beijing, Debbie Phelps, Marijuana, Michael Phelps, News, Olympics, Pipe, Summer, U.S.

30 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

fp1
Haven’t we already done this? He was completely stupid in having his pic taken.
By fp1 on 02/05/2009 9:57 am
DeBrcaobj
He wasn’t stupid. He was high. I would hate to see this guy’s career ruined over this. It’s ridiculous and vindictive. Why must we be such a judgemental, punitive, Puritanical country? God… you’d think there wasn’t a 2nd Great Depression and a couple of wars for us to focus on!
By DeBrcaobj on 02/05/2009 10:55 am
MarjorieC
DeBúrca: Why must we be such a judgemental, punitive, Puritanical country? I wonder, indeed. For some reason, I hold the Olympics to a higher standard than this. They test for all kinds of performance enhancing drugs, steroids, etc. and doping out is going to be okay? Phelps is not a good role model. Period. When the bong was passed around, Michael Phelps should have just said no. Isn’t that what we’re trying to teach our kids? Besides, this is not the first time Phelps has been caught abusing the substances. As far as his career being ruined, it was his choice.
By MarjorieC on 02/05/2009 12:09 pm
DeBrcaobj
H obviously wasn’t smoking pot during the Olympics. They don’t own him, we don’t own him. He has accomplished more in his 20 odd years than most people and that was through a lot of work not just talent. If he loses endorsements, that will be his punishment. I for one am not going to crucify the guy.
By DeBrcaobj on 02/05/2009 12:34 pm
MarjorieC
DeBúrca: I for one am not going to crucify the guy. I agree, he doesn’t deserve to be crucified, but I would never buy anything he endorses. And I would think a bit less of the Olympics if they wink at his behavior.
By MarjorieC on 02/05/2009 2:31 pm
RogerfromOhio
Marijuana is not a performance enhancement drug. It is only a banned substance during training or competition Marijuana is viewed differently from performance-enhancing drugs, according to David Howman, executive director of the World Anti-Doping Agency. An athlete is subject to WADA sanctions only for a positive test that occurs during competition periods. “We don’t have any jurisdiction,” Howman said. “It’s not banned out of competition. It’s only if you test positive in competition.” Personally I think he should lose endorsements because of this… but he should NOT go to jail or have to stop swimming because of it.
By RogerfromOhio on 02/05/2009 5:40 pm
RogerfromOhio
And his perceived good morals and good judgment……. which makes him a paid role model. I didnt hear anyone preaching that he wasnt a role model when he was winning his gold medals…… but after his “fall from grace” now you are saying that he never was a role model. fascinating.
By RogerfromOhio on 02/05/2009 6:30 pm
Nikki1
As long as the media keeps him in the headlines with this, there’s going to be more and more people bored with reading about it. So he smoked, big deal. This obsession with celebs and athletes, and magnifying their every mistake, is a pain in the kiester. Parents and kids may or may not find a different role model - it’s not like they don’t have a bazillion to choose from. Personally, I think Phelps needs to be left alone. I don’t know how many times he has to apologize or explain his every move before people are satisfied. I bet he doesn’t even have to explain this much to his parents, and seriously, those are the ones that have the right to be any kind of angry with him.
By Nikki1 on 02/05/2009 10:32 am
JohnG
He shouldn’t have had to make an apology. What a load of crap! He’s a human being doing human things (and some super-human things, too!). Leave him be… and why should his parents by angry with him??? They raised him to this outcome…
By JohnG on 02/05/2009 10:37 am
Nikki1
That’s a pretty harsh judgment - unless you personally know the parents. My parents did everything they could to keep me from trying drugs, tobacco and alcohol and I did it anyway when I was younger - because I could. That doesn’t make them bad parents, nor does it show that they didn’t raise me right.
By Nikki1 on 02/05/2009 10:39 am
JohnG
Maybe not, but you did see my point… he’s a human, and like you, he gets to do human things.
By JohnG on 02/05/2009 10:55 am
GrandeCamper
I think the media will keep dragging this along until something else comes along.
By GrandeCamper on 02/05/2009 10:48 am
BethWillis
Michael Phelps did not announce that he was ‘A Role Model for the World’ He started out a young boy with FLK Syndrome, ‘Funny Looking Kid Syndrome’, a term we used in middle school to know to watch for victims of bullying. In addition, he struggled with ADHD, which never explained, would reflect he struggled in the classroom. But he did not retaliate against those who teased and worse, he became the greatest swimmer in the world through hardwork and persistence. Michael Phelps is an Olympic swimmer who now presents an opportunity for parents to discuss ‘role models’ with their children and the importance of personal goals. He made a mistake, but we have high level political leaders who have admitted to using stronger drugs as youngsters. The lesson for young people who have chosen Michael Phelps as a role model is that his swimming pursuits, his overcoming childhood problems, his devotion to his sport is inspiring. His potential endorsement deals may be compromised, but those are the consequences he’ll have to face. Kids need to ask themselves is Michael Phelps their role model because he is the world’s greatest swimmer or because he got rich from his gold medal performances? He made a dumb kid mistake; how he deals with it is most important. Peace and grace
By BethWillis on 02/05/2009 10:49 am
CHardy
Beth the answer to your question, get rich or hard work…think about it, all our kids see today in sports is the amount of money our athlets get paid…and that goes for Olympic champions b/c of endorsements. I am not saying that Michael swam for the money b/c I do not feel that is true but when you know ur going to be this good, there are just some things you dont do and one of them is getting caught smoking pot. I mean Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan are more famous then Phelps will ever be and they have not been caught doing drugs, Jordan was busted cheating on his wife (which is really bad in itself)…When you become that famous there is a certain level of integrity you have to maintain and Phelps hasnt met it. There are younger athlets then him that do know better so saying he is 23 and didnt know better… But I am like many others, he did it, there is no going back, he cant rewind time, there is no Superman that will circle the earth backwards…so he has to live with it. I think he should swim again but like he said that is his decision.
By CHardy on 02/05/2009 11:05 am
BethWillis
As a teacher, I saw too many kids who thought they were going to become professional athletes, a totally impractical idea. even often an excuse for not needing to do homework or study. Personally, I still believe Michael Phelps began swimming at 11 because it was something he could excel at and take him away from the bullies. I agree that he should not have been smoking pot, but he’ll reap the consequences of his decision. Thank you for your response. Always grateful for a civil exchange. Peace and grace
By BethWillis on 02/05/2009 12:05 pm
12next ›last »