Tabloid Stirs The Pot With Michael Phelps
HEARD THIS ONE?
Phelps' victory lap leaves trail of smoke
At least Michael Phelps wasn't doing anything involving Nazis and hookers. Not much consolation at this point, though.
Sunday, the 14-time Olympic gold medalist acknowledged he was indeed the person pictured in the British tabloid News of the World, apparently smoking marijuana through a bong. He thus becomes another celebrity embarrassed by the rag, a list that includes auto-racing titan Max Mosley (the aforementioned Nazis/hookers scandal), Prince Harry (teenage partying).
"I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in a statement released to the Associated Press by one of his agents. "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."
The tabloid says the picture was taken in November at the University of South Carolina, where Phelps had gone to visit a girlfriend. It included lurid descriptions of his partying abilities; not all that surprising from a Rupert Murdoch-owned paper whose Web site includes a boast that it pays the most for juicy stories. According to the tabloid, Phelps' people offered bribes to keep the photo out of circulation, including having Phelps write an exclusive weekly column leading up to the London Games.
Now that would have been scandalous. The man who can barely carry a three-minute interview has to come up with three years' worth of ideas?
Naturally, the report exaggerated wildly by suggesting the photo could prompt a suspension from the 2012 Olympics. The World Anti-Doping Agency, USA Swimming and the U.S. Olympic Committee all dismissed that idea.
But the aftermath of '12 will be fun. Remember, after winning six golds in 2004, he got busted for DUI as a 19-year-old.
Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_11606923?source=rss
HEARD THIS ONE?
Phelps' victory lap leaves trail of smoke
At least Michael Phelps wasn't doing anything involving Nazis and hookers. Not much consolation at this point, though.
Sunday, the 14-time Olympic gold medalist acknowledged he was indeed the person pictured in the British tabloid News of the World, apparently smoking marijuana through a bong. He thus becomes another celebrity embarrassed by the rag, a list that includes auto-racing titan Max Mosley (the aforementioned Nazis/hookers scandal), Prince Harry (teenage partying).
"I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in a statement released to the Associated Press by one of his agents. "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."
The tabloid says the picture was taken in November at the University of South Carolina, where Phelps had gone to visit a girlfriend. It included lurid descriptions of his partying abilities; not all that surprising from a Rupert Murdoch-owned paper whose Web site includes a boast that it pays the most for juicy stories. According to the tabloid, Phelps' people offered bribes to keep the photo out of circulation, including having Phelps write an exclusive weekly column leading up to the London Games.
Now that would have been scandalous. The man who can barely carry a three-minute interview has to come up with three years' worth of ideas?
Naturally, the report exaggerated wildly by suggesting the photo could prompt a suspension from the 2012 Olympics. The World Anti-Doping Agency, USA Swimming and the U.S. Olympic Committee all dismissed that idea.
But the aftermath of '12 will be fun. Remember, after winning six golds in 2004, he got busted for DUI as a 19-year-old.
Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_11606923?source=rss
