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Celt
~~~~~~~~~~
Member since 4/08 7758 total posts
Name:
colette
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Say high to Michael Phelps...
Yikes his sponsors aren't going to like this:
PHELPS' SEA 'WEED'
By TIM PERONE
February 1, 2009 --
The competition isn't the only thing he's been smoking!
Olympic hero and 14-time gold medalist Michael Phelps was caught puffing on a glass bong at a raucous col lege party - a scene so potentially damaging to the phenom's career that his representatives al legedly tried to buy off the British newspaper News of the World in an attempt to kill the story, the paper reported.
The winner of a record eight gold medals last summer in Beijing showed up unannounced to a house party at the University of South Carolina in Columbia on Nov. 6.
There, the superstar swimmer, who partiers said was knocking back shots and chugging beers, inhaled deeply after one reveler passed him the water pipe etched with red writing, the paper wrote.
"He grabbed the bong and a lighter and knew exactly what to do," a witness said of Phelps, 23, who was in town visiting a gal pal, South Carolina co-ed Jordan Matthews.
"He looked just as natural with a bong in his hands as he does swimming in the pool. He was the gold-medal winner of bong hits," the witness said.
The report allegedly made Phelps' handlers so paranoid that they offered the paper an eye-popping deal to keep it from seeing the light of day - having the athlete pen a column for the paper for three years.
Phelps' camp also allegedly offered to host parties for the tabloid and push his sponsors to advertise with them.
"It's seeing if something potentially very negative for Michael could turn into something very positive for the News of the World," Phelps' spokesman, Clifford Bloxham, told the paper.
The scandal could be a major buzz kill for Phelps, whose agent, Peter Carlisle, has said the pool prodigy could bag up to $100 million in endorsements.
The world record holder's deals with Visa, PowerBar, AT&T Wireless and Speedo may all go up in smoke.
During the two-day stay, the normally reserved Phelps - described by one witness as "out of control" - was spotted partying hard with a flock of females.
"He arrived with a group of girls hanging all over him. Every girl wanted a piece of him, and every guy wanted to be his best buddy," a student told the paper. "He couldn't get enough of all the attention."
The next night, the water wizard was back on the scene, partying at Pavlov's, a bar near the college.
"He was holding court, throwing back shots two at a time and pouring drinks for every cute girl," the source told News of the World.
This isn't the first scandal for the pool golden boy who was supposed to appear at Friday night's pre-Super Bowl Leather and Laces party in Tampa, Fla.
Phelps was arrested in 2004 for driving under the influence when he was 19. He was sentenced to 18 months' probation and fined $250.
Phelps' spokesman did not return repeated requests for comment.
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Posted 2/1/09 7:53 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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MrsYank
She's here :)
Member since 4/07 3238 total posts
Name:
Mrs. Yank
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
yikes but is it just me or does that picture look photoshopped?
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| Posted 2/1/09 9:02 AM |
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mosh913
baby boy coming spring '11
Member since 5/05 3133 total posts
Name:
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
I don't know, that doesn't look like him to me 
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| Posted 2/1/09 11:10 AM |
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MelToddJulia
Love my Family!
Member since 7/05 29064 total posts
Name:
Mel
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
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| Posted 2/1/09 11:41 AM |
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Kate
*****
Member since 5/05 7557 total posts
Name:
Kate
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
I don't think you can tell from that picture who that definitely is. It might not even be him.
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| Posted 2/1/09 12:04 PM |
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Shelleybean11
Mommy of 2!
Member since 12/08 11013 total posts
Name:
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
Posted by Kate
I don't think you can tell from that picture who that definitely is. It might not even be him.
True
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| Posted 2/1/09 12:26 PM |
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Celt
~~~~~~~~~~
Member since 4/08 7758 total posts
Name:
colette
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
I think the article has more/better pics but it's him, his "people" have been trying to squash the article...
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| Posted 2/1/09 1:21 PM |
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MrsYank
She's here :)
Member since 4/07 3238 total posts
Name:
Mrs. Yank
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
nope, you are right Colette:
source
I can't imagine why someone who has the world by the b@lls would make such a foolish mistake. I mean, everyone makes mistakes, but at least make a better effort to not get caught!
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| Posted 2/1/09 1:56 PM |
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MrsKellyBride
Mommy of 3!
Member since 8/06 1617 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
He was also arrested for a DWI a few years back
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| Posted 2/1/09 3:01 PM |
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YeahBaby
LIF Adult
Member since 8/08 922 total posts
Name:
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
It's also in newsday today/
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| Posted 2/1/09 3:31 PM |
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yankinmanc
Happy Days!
Member since 8/05 18208 total posts
Name:
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
Big Deal, he is young.
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| Posted 2/1/09 4:09 PM |
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JennyPenny
?
Member since 1/08 12702 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
Posted by racheeeee
Big Deal, he is young.
I agree.
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| Posted 2/1/09 4:10 PM |
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DayDay
Livin' the Good Life....
Member since 9/06 5939 total posts
Name:
Dayna
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
What a dumb@ss
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| Posted 2/1/09 4:21 PM |
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MrsYank
She's here :)
Member since 4/07 3238 total posts
Name:
Mrs. Yank
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
Posted by JennyPenny
Posted by racheeeee
Big Deal, he is young.
I agree.
I see what your saying, but the kid has multi million dollar deals with several sponsors- that he could lose. Never mind the millions of kids who look up to him.
He's 23, he's an adult that should know the repercussions of his actions.
Message edited 2/1/2009 4:24:06 PM.
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| Posted 2/1/09 4:23 PM |
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seaside
LIF Adult
Member since 6/08 3101 total posts
Name:
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
No way. He's a role model. Little kids worship him. That comes with responsibility---that makes me so
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| Posted 2/1/09 5:06 PM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11486 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
Posted by Kate
I don't think you can tell from that picture who that definitely is. It might not even be him.
Something about the watch, which he has worn in other pics, is how they IDed him.
I think big deal, he is young, but I wouldn't want to endorse him. Like someone said, young people look up to him.
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| Posted 2/1/09 6:30 PM |
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jewels
Stop and smell the flowers
Member since 7/06 1538 total posts
Name:
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
so irresponsible of him....curious to see how many endorsement deals will fall through
ETA
his statement from BBC News:
"I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," he said.
"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."
SNY just said that he could face up to a 2 year ban from competition
Message edited 2/1/2009 10:34:16 PM.
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| Posted 2/1/09 10:28 PM |
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JenniferH
LIF Adult
Member since 8/07 1109 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
I can't say I'm surprised...but, he's going to regret this one big time!!!!!
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| Posted 2/1/09 11:18 PM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: Say high to Michael Phelps...
Oh grow up Michael!
What a shame -- so many kids look up to him.
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| Posted 2/1/09 11:19 PM |
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