Micheal Phelps lost his endorsement deal the other day with Kelloggs' Co. and was suspended 3 months by the USA Swimming team.
Why? Because a picture was taken, on a camera phone, of Phelps smoking marijuana from a bong at a party at the University of South Carolina (the other USC)
Phelps is 23 years old and was on recognized before the home football game at South Carolina that day, he later attended a party where the photo was taken, almost certainly by a friend of a friend.
1. Some creep, certainly a no-name himself, seized on the moment and snapped a sneaky photo of a celebrity in a private moment. Sends it to a British tabloid newspaper and now has something to hang his hat on. Who ever this kid is, he's the real loser in this story.
2. A 23 year-old is smoking a little bit of weed at a college party!! Stop the Presses?
3. I understand he's a celebrity and with that comes an almost complete loss of privacy... but can a guy get a break? I've done plenty of things I wouldn't have wanted caught on camera... and anyone who says they haven't is lying.
4. Let's hope one of Phelps' true friends who was at this party tracks the secret photographer down and deals out some vigilante justice.
5. Whoever this guy is who took the photo has cost Phelps millions of dollars in endorsements and, at least in the eyes of some, permanently damaged his reputation. And for what?
6. Just another example of how 21st century technology means that privacy no longer exists, you can be caught on camera anywhere at anytime. There's a reason why fitness clubs with famous clientele forbid cell phones inside the building.
7. Phelps is the greatest swimmer of all time, totally performance-enhancer clean and he's never done anything to harm anyone. After his bong hit I bet all he did was call the local pizza joint for delivery... stimulating the local economy... and we all know how much that's appreciated.
Fight On,
Nate
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Well, he did get a DUI at the age of like 18 or 19. He caught a huge break from the media and they chalked it up to him being "just a kid." So yes, he can catch a break. And yes, he has done something that could harm other people. Companies are paying this kid millions of dollars, responsible adult money, for his all american image. Now he's looking just normal college american, which is understandable, but as most recent grads are finding out, won't make you rich.
ReplyDeleteNormal college grads don't win 8 gold medals at the Summer Olympics... that does make you rich. A DUI is certainly not a good thing, how many people do you know who have never, not once, driven after having 2 drinks or more? And hey, if Kellogg's wants to pull his endorsement deal, that's their call. Still, the main point remains, who is this scum bag who took the picture, and why did he do it?
ReplyDeleteSomeone's been reading the Verdict
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hulu.com/watch/56636/saturday-night-live-really-michael-phelps
Seth's rant about Kellogg's is classic. His closing thought about the loser who took the photo is right on!
ReplyDelete