Will Bong Hitting Photo Finish Phelps?

Michael Phelps proved once again that it's almost always a bad idea to go to a college party after you've earned your degree. After photos emerged yesterday of Olympic record holder smoking from a bong while at a party in November at the University of South Carolina. Today Phelps released a statement saying, "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." Many are speculating what action may be taken by sponsors and the World Anti-Doping Agency which lists marijuana as one of its banned substances. Phelps pleaded guilty to drunk driving in 2004 at the age of 19 and was sentenced to 18 months probation. Phelps's diet once consisted of 12,000 calories a day and after the Olympics he admitted to not training and getting antsy looking for something to do.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Billy Parker in News on February 1, 2009 4:35 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

Seems like a lot of his sponsors wills stick it out with him. Good for them. They understand that a goofy picture of him sucking another bowl down doesn't diminish his skills and accomplishments in the pool. Now as for the I.O.C...

Nick S

They should add "I won 8 gold medals" to the new "What has weed done for you?" ads.

jibbly

To be fair we only know he hit the bong post-medals, so technically weed has caused him to jeopardize his multi-million dollar endorsement contracts and public image. Not the smartest move. Yet he was obviously dumb enough to decide to smoke it before smoking it, meaning he was an idiot* even before that first pull. If anything weed has made him humble and apologetic...or at least slightly more proficient in math as he counts how much endorsement dollars he is losing.

*I do not think that smoking pot makes you an idiot. However I do think that smoking pot as a celebrity athlete with millions in endorsement contracts on the line is worthy of the title. If you're going to do it, make sure someone bakes a nice batch of brownies as you get stoned watching Cheech and Chong movies on VHS.

KiljoyWasHere

I wonder if he will plead guilty of using performance degrading drugs.

Wza

"Weedies" - Breakfast of Champions!

robingee

God, the kid won 50 gold medals and he can't chillax with some weed? What does a guy have to do to earn a little r&r?

ma bell

i bet he gets some good shit

Amanda Harletsch

It really amusing to read the "beating a dead horse" arguments!

Who fkn cares about him smoking pot? Moralists and on top of it opportunists? aiming a totally wrong target.

S.D.

Well, ignoring the "Morals": Businesses want a "squeaky clean" image.

The only one he screwed, ultimately, is himself.

Jerky

He's sorry for hitting the bong after winning a record number of gold medals??? Are you f*in kidding me? He should waive a big middle finger to the Olympics Committee and the hypocritical American right-wing ass*holes, and declare SO THE F*CK WHAT!?

I respect him more knowing that he's a stoner. Too bad his publicist is a total pussy.

Spirit of 76

Like I've been saying since before the Olympics, Phelps is a one-trick pony. Take him out of the pool and he's a nobody who'll never amount to much. There are many Olympic medalists who went on to real careers outside of sports, like Eric Heiden, MD. Phelps won't be one of them.

NannyState

Why didn't he just eat some fucking brownies? He could just say they were spiked and act all mad about it. Too bad London hosts the next games, not Amsterdam.

ides_of_march

Looks like he's getting ready for his date with Anderson Cooper in that pic.

Thelonius Funk

This is a pretty laughable story. Who cares? He probably drinks alcohol all the time and if he smoked a cigarette no one would care (even though these legal substances kill a whole lot of people). But if he smokes some all natural herb and he's a criminal? I hate double standards like this, they don't make any sense to me.

jt10000

Whitecastlerock - what about Mayor Mike? When asked if he'd every smoked marijuana he said "You bet I did -- and I enjoyed it"

whitecastlerock

Does this have anything to do with New York? Our own Governor was a cokehead... if anything this will make Phelps more popular

zodak

this story ≠ nyc

Clarice City

I'd hit it. Hey oh!

drewo

Not a smart move. For health reasons, he should be using an herbal vaporizer.

jibbly

For monetary reasons he should be not smoking The Pot until his endorsement contracts are over.

Dude, you just lost a couple of millions for 20 minutes of being baked.

S.D.

Finished? No, but I bet he just lost some endorsement deals.

(sigh)

Did he believe that Camera was just for friends??

cool

just think about the message this sends to kids. you can be the world's greatest olympian and smoke weed.

JacqueMehoff

I think he's old enough to use a one hitter now.

Amanda Harletsch

only conservatives care...and that is: the losers.

nicemarmot

I very much hope those anti-doping fascists don't do anything to him. Hello, weed isn't exactly performance-enhancing!

colonelcasey

It won't finish him but will give him a good reason to go back into the training pool and stay there, out of the public spotlight, until 2012.

ed_Extinct

who cares?

effinclassy

For real. Who cares? I get that athletes shouldn't use steroids to make themselves artificially faster and stronger, but smoking weed will, if anything, make him lazier.