Michael Phelps, His Bong and the Hypocrisy of Kellogg
Michael Phelps, His Bong and the Hypocrisy of Kellogg
Seeing as today is Bob Marley’s birthday, I though it would be fitting to give ya my two cents on Michael Phelps, his bong and the ridiculous reaction to his toke because thanks to Michael Phelps, the entire world now knows what a bong is. Yes, Phelps was at a party where some bozo snapped a photo of him taking a hit from a bong. Yes, bongs are used to smoke weed. No, it’s not the monster-piece of drug paraphernalia rampantly portrayed in the media. It’s a pipe. That’s all. Its not going to turn you into a drug addict and it certainly doesn’t’ mean Phelps has a drug problem. More importantly, it doesn’t mean that he’s a bad guy. (I do suspect if he were photographed smoking a joint there wouldn’t be so many starry-eyed fans gasping at the thought of their Golden Boy getting high.)
But alas, Phelps does smoke weed just as several of our Presidents have, most of our ballers do, and just about any artist with a gold record does. We’ve come a long way since Reefer Madness and I believe Phelps can usher in a little bit of understanding when it comes to the herb-if only the hypocrites would open their minds. First of all- respect for several of Phelps’ sponsors: SPEEDO, OMEGA and PURE SPORT have all said they support Phelps. Aside from the fact the he’s made gazillions of dollars for them-they get “it.” It being – it’s no big deal.
Perhaps the biggest hypocrisy comes from “cereal and snack maker KELLOGG.” The company has reportedly said it will not renew a sponsorship contract with Phelps on the grounds his behavior is “not consistent with the image of Kellogg“. Let me rephrase that- the makers of POP TARTS and FROSTED FLAKES don’t feel that smoking weed and their products mesh well. I’ll give yall a million bucks if you can find a box of Pop Tarts not located within arms reach of a bong. And what about the KEEBLER elves? Are you telling me they weren’t conceived by someone who was high? Pa-leeze. And do I even have to mention that the amount of sugar in most Kellogg’s products are far more deadly than smoking weed?
I also wonder if Kellogg’s had any issues with the fact the Olympics were held in a county which supplies weapons to rebels who are hacking off the arms and legs of children, raping women and burning villages. Yet I don’t see Kellogg’s supporting any of the athletes from Team Darfur? In fact-its looks as if Kellogg’s will soon be opening a manufacturing plant there? If they actually cared about something more than making money, they’d be sending those Keebler Elves to Africa instead of indirectly funding a war.
I’m also a bit miffed about the gratuitous ‘three month suspension from competition’ dolled out by USA Swimming. The sport’s (US) governing body said no “anti-doping rule” had been violated but they wanted to send “a strong message” to Phelps because he had disappointed so many people. HUH? Disappoint how? He still has 8 Gold Medals? You still enjoyed watching him swim, didn’t you? If the photo came out before the Olympics and he still won 8-what would the reaction be? Would you have ignored race number 7? Doubt it…When I young and got too starry eyed about someone- my mother was always quick to remind me: ‘They wake up in the morning with bad breath just like the rest of us.’ While her words were quick to kill many a fantasy-it always kept me in check. Michael Phelps has a god given talent in the pool. He is loved, adored and worshipped for these talents. And he also wakes up with bad breath just like the rest of us. He also gets smelly and showers just like the rest of us. And yes, he just happens to be one of the world’s greatest athletes who was dumb enough to get photographed while getting high…Phelps ridiculous ban from who-knows-what will end in time for him to get wet at the US Championships on 7 July-which act as a trial for the World Championships in Rome two weeks later. Hopefully, Phelps will behave himself and NOT get photographed drinking a glass of Chianti while there.
Let me remind everyone too, that Phelps laid down the $1M post-Olympic Speedo bonus to start his own foundation. “Thanks to a lot of hard work, some good fortune, the inspiration I drew from so many supporters around the world, and incredible teammates, I was able to achieve that dream by winning eight Gold Medals in Beijing,” said Phelps. “Now, my goals reach beyond the pool, to helping others realize their dreams, and continuing to grow the sport I love so much. I feel it’s only appropriate that I continue the momentum that Speedo helped to create, by committing my bonus to the establishment of the Michael Phelps Foundation, which I hope will help me inspire others to achieve their dreams, and give back to the sport that has given me so much.”
And that, my friends, you can put in your pipe and smoke.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Michael Phelps Smokes Weed
Michael Phelps Smokes Weed
Michael Phelps is heating up the newswire with some wonderful news…he smokes weed. Yeah, stop the press right? Our Olympic poster-child got caught smoking out of a oh-god-NO- bong! (I pegged him for a joint kinda guy) Someone at the party snapped a photo, Phelps admitted it was him and then apologized: “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.”
His favorite artist is Lil Wayne and your surprised he enjoys the herb? Regardless of what side of the bong you smoke from, smoking weed is a victimless crime…more people are killed by drunk drivers every year than by stoned drivers. But you don’t need a lecture. The only person losing out here is Phelps. He’ll lose some sponsors and some fans, but come on people, he’s as close to godly in the water as one can get, he’s physically close to perfection, he’s a nice guy, STILL has 8 Olympic gold’s and he’s still the same babe you LOVED yesterday when he was making you money. The only bad judgment by Phelps was smoking around people with cameras…
Who knows, maybe he’ll pick up a new sponsor? I mean, Michael Phelps just could be the answer NORML has been looking for.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Michael Phelps’ Final Lap for Charity, Right to Play at Olympics, And an Inspiring Baseball Book for Kids
TWENTY SECONDS
Yesterday, five members of Students for a Free Tibet lit up the skies near the National Stadium and spelled out ‘Free Tibet’ with blue LED lights in English and Mandarin. It took the police just 20-seconds to intervene…three other protestors were detained as they attempted to use lasers to spell out ‘Free Tibet’ on a Beijing landmark. Students for a Free Tibet Exec Dir Lhadon Tethong said “more actions were planned” in Beijing in the coming days…(NY Times).
PHELPS TAKES LAP FOR CHARITY
While protestors were busy raising awareness for Tibet, Michael Phelps enjoyed meeting some of our NBA’s hotties before taking his final lap-number 6,250- of the ‘Hilton Swim to Beijing Relay.’ The charitable event contributed $100,000 to the USA Swimming Foundation to fund swim education programs across the U.S. Hilton Hotels is one of Phelps’ sponsors, and in celebration of the Olympics, they partnered with the USA Swimming Foundation with each of the 6,250 laps symbolizing one of the miles between Los Angeles, the relay’s starting point, and Beijing.
“After representing my country and competing in the Olympics, Hilton gave me another great reason to get back in the pool,” said Phelps. “By being a part of this campaign I’m able to help support swim education programs across the nation and give young people the chance to experience the power of the sport. Swimming is much more than a fun activity and great form of exercise. It teaches self-discipline and dedication—two important qualities that one can draw on to succeed both in and out of the pool.”
More love came from the Olympians yesterday as more than a dozen current and former athletes hit up the corporate hospitality pavilion to support the Right to Play. The humanitarian organization landed heavily on the map after the 06 Turin Games when speed skater Joey Cheek donated his bonus money to them. This time, its different though- thanks to IOC sponsor Johnson & Johnson, donations are being made on behalf of the athletes. J&J is donating $20,000 per gold medal, $15,000 per silver and $10,000 per bronze won by those who have signed up to be Right to Play athlete ambassadors. “There has been a lot of criticism for having the Olympic games here,” said U.S. swimmer Natalie Coughlin, “but it has made a wider audience aware of issues that they otherwise might not have known about.” (Coughlin with her six medals won here, is responsible for $80,000 for the organization.) Any athlete can become an ambassador, yet only about 40 Olympians representing 13 countries and 25 sports have signed up, notably absent as an ambassador for Right to Play? Michael Phelps.
Coughlin said she spoke to Phelps about it last week in the Olympic Village, “He wants to do it,” Coughlin said. “He’s going to do it. I have mentioned to him that his eight gold medals would mean 52,000 children would be enrolled in the program and 1,600 coaches would be able to get involved.” If Phelps does indeed become an ambassador, it would bring a whopping $160,000 donation from J&J to Right to Play.
FOR THE KIDS
Ya’ all know I don’t cover many baseball related events, but there is a little book coming out that I gotta give props to. The book, ‘A Glove of Their Own’ has already got some endorsement love from several players: Craig Biggio, Sean Casey and Jack Hannahan have all stepped up to support the children’s book aimed at teaching kids the value of sharing what you have with those in need. Charity partners include Good Sports, Sports Gift, Pitch In For Baseball, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Cheerful Givers, and the Sunshine Foundation. From the back cover: “Few things in life are ever as good as the smell of your own glove, the crack of the wood. Or being with friends at that one special spot and sharing what you have… with those who have not.” The picture book personifies the “paying it forward” mentality via a group of underprivileged boys’ childhood experience, and how their love of the game is not defined by the equipment they don’t have but rather the passion and dreams that they do have. The book was inspired by a birthday party held for one of the writers’ kids- in place of gifts, guests were asked to donate baseball equipment for children who normally do without. A Glove of Their Own comes out in October, and those wishing to get their hands on a copy need to reserve now! Go to the website to reserve your copy.
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As always, thanks for reading.
Delinda Lombardo
delinda@athlebrities.com