What a dumb fuck

[Stinky The Clown]

The story isn't about pot laws or anything except the ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE STUPIDITY of one dumb fuck jock.

He owned the endorsement world.

Now he's going to be asking if you want fries with your burger.

(And has anyone ever bought a Rosetta Stone??

[BlooInBloo]

1. " Now he's going to be asking if you want fries with your burger." - BWAHAHAHAH!

Um, not.

[Maru Kitteh]

2. It's stupid on so many levels. It's a dumb law to be sure, but just as dumb of him to do it.

With so much on the line. He won't be poor, but he most certainly will be affected negatively.

[onethatcares]

3. maybe he was just drinking the water,

you know, after a hard night studying a cool drink certainly is refreshing.:nopity:

[L0oniX]

53. Bong water ....eewwww

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. He's already a millionaire.

[Myrina]

5. Bingo.

The endorsement money's already in the bank. They can cancel his contracts going forward, but I doubt they'll ask him to pay it back.

So he's set - unless he develops a really expensive drug habit like cocaine. ;)

[Southpaw07]

14. What does he endorse?

I don't really watch any TV so he may be all over it and I would not know. What is his big endorsement?

[Myrina]

39. "Rosetta Stone" -- that foreign language learning system ...

... and for some reason I think some kind of shoes or sports gear. I recall seeing ads but never pay close attention.

:shrug:

[Liberal_in_LA]

40. He was on a bunch of commercials after the olympics. Can't remember what.

[ima_sinnic]

6. that picture proves nothing

who can prove what he is even doing in that picture, let alone whether pot is being smoked? where's the smoke? if he IS "snoking," what is he smoking? for all I know, he's got his lips on a plastic tube. is that illegal?

[Lex]

7. The appearance alone kills his endorsements.

nt

[Stinky The Clown]

9. He issued a statement. No denial. He was doing what he appears to be doing

[Southpaw07]

12. I think he has already admitted that it is him

and he is engaging in "inappropriate behavior" (don't remember the exact quote). Now I probably would have denied it since I don't think it looks like him at all.

[devilgrrl]

8. What a bunch of hooey. People's attitudes toward marijuana use is whackier than marijuana itself.

:smoke:

Go Michael Phelps!

[Stinky The Clown]

11. No comment on pot laws. .... the 'dumb fuck' part has to do with being so stupid as to allow ......

.... himself to photographed as he was.

His endorsements, I would be anything, have escape clauses for hit like this.

Again, the OP was not about pot laws. They are beside the point. The issue is HIS being so stupid as to get caught.

[devilgrrl]

15. I don't see what he's photographed doing as wrong, endorsements or not.

:shrug:

[Stinky The Clown]

17. He issued a statement saying he was doing a bong

You need more?

[devilgrrl]

23. What's wrong with doing a bong?

:smoke:

[Stinky The Clown]

24. Did I say there was?

Re-read the OP. This wasn't about pot.

:eyes:

[devilgrrl]

33. I'm making this about you.

:spank:

Here. Have a bong hit. :smoke:

[Stinky The Clown]

34. Now why are you doing that?

[hfojvt]

35. yes, you clearly implied it

"I don't see what he's photographed doing as wrong"

your reply: "He said he was doing a bong"

Your OP is about the squares freaking out and ruining his career, or at least costing him his potential future millions. Some parts of DU feel more disgust at what the squares will do than about what Phelps did. Sure, maybe it's dumb to not anticipate the reaction of the squares, but what if they reacted that way to him coming out of the closet? What if he was gay, and came out of the closet in the 1980s. Would you think he was dumb for ruining his career, or would you think the squares were a$$holes for ruining his career?

[Stinky The Clown]

38. Oh.My.God

The squares?

Like Wow, Daddy-o.



And then there's this about your ramblings .....



..... you really should try to get closer to the actual point.

(Gay????? :eyes:)

[hfojvt]

42. you don't like me very much, do you?

Do you think you have disproven anything by calling me names, or calling my statements 'ramblings'?

The actual point? So, you are a hostile control freak? Any discussion of one of your posts must be "on topic" as I define the topic, or I am gonna post a picture of a rabbit with a pancake on its head or some such. Okay, so you have proven that you have no respect for me. Maybe you should try to stay on topic instead of going for a personal attack.

Maybe you'd be a nicer person if you smoked another blunt.

[Stinky The Clown]

44. I didn't call you names

Your statements are, in fact, way off the topic of the OP.

And yes, it is my thread and i set the topic. If you don't like that, start your own thread. That seems pretty fair, doesn't it? I can then ignore yours and you can ignore mine and you can think anything you like and so can I.

Easy, huh?

Now ..... and this NOT rhetorical ....... please quote where I call you a name.

[hfojvt]

49. sorry, but you do not set the topic

you write something and I respond in the way I see fit.

"Like wow, daddy-o"

Ah, no, that is not a name, but it is quite similar, and I did say 'or'. It's a way to say "I do not respect you". I try to make a point or an argument, or maybe just a semi-humorous rambling comment, and your response is disparagement.

It may be annoying to respond to what seem like strawman arguments, but people ARE responding in their own way to your theses. You are attacking Phelps for your reasons and they are defending Phelps for their reasons. The topic, as I see it is pretty general - Phelps, marijuana, and advertising are all on topic.

[Stinky The Clown]

56. .

[devilgrrl]

50. Hey! Leave me alone - I'm stoned - okay?

:smoke:

[polmaven]

55. Being gay is not illegal.

You are correct about the reaction that some of the assholes may have had to a celebrity coming out of the closet in the 80's, but this is NOT the 80's anymore, and again...being gay is not illegal. Pot is still illegal in most states.

[hfojvt]

26. I think her point was that some DUers

also do bongs, or have done so at some point. Is doing a bong "wrong" or not?

[Stinky The Clown]

28. Take that up elsewhere. It is none of *my* business.

Put my name in the "Who gives a shit" column.

This thread is not about pot laws or who, besides Phelps, does or doesn't do them. This thread is about being a dumb fuck. Getting your picture taken while doing that and while being a sports star with huge endorsement deals and the potential for even more is being a dumb fuck.

[hfojvt]

36. ah, but it IS about who does them

IF I was a pot smoker, even infrequently, then I could easily be at a party smoking a bong and somebody could take my picture. Thus I would sympathize more with Phelps than with a) the a$$hole who took the picture, and b) the squares who will freak out - "omigod, it's the heathen devil weed, protect the children, gather some stones for casting. Everybody must get stoned. Crucify him! Crucify him!" or c) the guy on the internets pillorying Phelps for stirring up a hornet's nest of squares with his bong.

[Stinky The Clown]

47. Hahahaha

a) whoever took the picture is not necessarily an asshole. Giving it to a sensationalist newspaper prone to publishing crap is despicable.

b) while you (and me, to be honest) think the people who get all nuts about a guy doing a joint do not belong on your Christmas card list, the fact that they exist and control the purse strings for celebrity endorsements should come as no surprise. Especially to young Mr. Phelps and others fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of their endeavor to use (squeaky clean) celebrity to sell soap (or Rosetta Stones).

c) the internet is full of assholes (obligatory disclaimer that this does not refer to you). Some are in their shorts typing one handed. Some are in their shorts typing with flared nostrils. Some are just in their shorts typing. None of them matter.

You are arguing a point not made with someone who may agree more with you than you know.

[polmaven]

54. The fact remains

that it is ILLEGAL in most states....Right or wrong, it IS illegal.

To allow himself to be photographed breaking the law, stupid law though it may be, is just plain stupid.

The companies behind the products he endorses will not want a spokesman who is stupid enough to allow himself to be photographed breaking the law!

[customerserviceguy]

16. Really, you've got a point there

The last time I heard marijuana legalization bandied about was when we were expecting President McGovern in 1972. Jimmy Carter wouldn't touch the issue, he used up all his political capital on pardoning those avoiding the draft by going to Canada. Bill Clinton didn't seem to care for some unknown reason. And the Repuke administrations were all rabidly anti-drug, especially that of Raygun, where we first started "drop your zipper for the Gipper", also known as drug testing for employment.

Barack Obama has admitted to smoking pot, and I don't recall it being an issue for anybody. Even the late night comedians didn't try to make anything out of it, because most of their audience has tried it.

Maybe Michael Phelps can be the poster boy for legalization. Unless you think that was the first time he tried some, he illustrates the idea that a person can have a joint or a bong toke and still be very, very successful. We can help this by buying products that he's still allowed to endorse, and by emailing companies who refuse to pull his contracts, and thanking them for not doing so.

Sometimes our leaders are not always on the ballot, sometimes they're in the swimming pool.

[stuntcat]

45. for reals

ooo let's all waste a billion dollars busting pot buyers :eyes: Who cares about all the real big shit going wrong in the world?

We can use hemp for ALL KINDS OF GOOD too.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. How am I a dumb fuck?

He's a dumb fuck for having allowed himself to get caught. He will end up as having greatly diminished endorsement value.

That picture cost him millions of dollars.

I call that dumb fuck.

Now ... what was **your** point?

[hfojvt]

21. so it's dumb, really dumb to not value lots and lots of money

even when you already have lots and lots of money?

[Stinky The Clown]

25. Do you have an actual point?

[hfojvt]

29. yeah, that maybe it's okay to no longer value money so much

once you have lots of it. Too difficult to understand? But I am just the dumb fu$% who gave up a $75,000 a year job because I didn't want to be part of the military industrial complex. Now I work as a janitor, but at least I am not unoriginal (to paraphrase Will Hunting).

[Stinky The Clown]

31. Wow ......

.... there are at least four thread topics in those short few words.

Why did you post all that here? Where the topic is about one person's being stupid.

[hfojvt]

41. maybe because it helps to explain my perspective

that I did something 'stupid' too, threw away a good paying career. What's more important - money, or being true to yourself? Or, even less nobly, doing what you want to do when it does not hurt anybody. Joan Jett, for example, said that she turned down endorsement deals when she had made a couple hit records. Is that 'stupid' - to not sell out? She could have made some decent money. That seems similar to Phelps' case. He did not directly choose to not go after the money, but the result is the same. I just don't think a pile of money, no matter how large, is the arbiter between foolishness and wisdom.

[Stinky The Clown]

48. That's all wonderful and I am sure heartwarming ..... but .....

..... it has absolutely nothing to do with the OP.

And I'll tell ya what. If Phelps **chose** to get caught and make this an issue of personal principle, then why did he apologize instead of sticking his chin out and tell **The Man** to get fucked? Because he wants to keep the gravy train a-rollin'.

He did not intend to get his picture taken. He did not want it in a London tabloid. He does not want this to cost him money.

Trust me. That's true.

[lumberjack_jeff]

18. I'm just glad there was no such thing as camera phones when I was younger. n/t

[Lex]

19. second that

nt

[NashVegas]

20. I Was Going to Disagree With You, Until I Read He Made a Public Apology. What a Bonehead

Willie Nelson, Woody Harrelson, Matt McConaughey are all outspoken advocates and it - even after being arrested - hasn't hurt their careers any.

Phelps' big mistake was engaging in behavior he's not willing to defend.

Bonehead.

[Dukkha]

22. athletes are like rock stars

They are immune to bad publicity. Winning is all that matters and the sports world will turn a blind eye to most offenses, and this is hardly a bad offense. It's not like he's killing dogs for fun.

[4lbs]

27. He's going to be working at a fast food restaurant?!?!?!? Puhleezze.

The US populace has a short term memory when it comes to our star athletes. So do the businesses that pay for their endorsements. Especially when it comes to something relatively innocuous like weed.

In 4 years, after Phelps wins another half-dozen or so gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics, he'll still get millions of dollars in endorsements.

[Duer 157099]

30. What a country of hypocrites

Jeeesus, so the guy tells the truth and we criticize him for that now, too?

WOW.

I admire that he told the truth. What I don't admire is that he says it was a mistake and apologizes. I wish he had said something more along the lines of "yeah? and raise your hands if you've never taken a hit" and then just listen for the crickets.

And with so many camera phones, and NSA wiretapping EVERY thing EVERY person says and does, how is he in control of "letting himself" get caught?

This whole thing just once again demonstrates the stupidity of the human race, all around.

[Stinky The Clown]

32. Wait ......

... here ya go .....



...... now ...... no one is saying he shouldn't tell the truth. No one is saying he should or shouldn't defend his actions. All the OP says is that he says he did it and that it will probably have an affect on his value as an endorser.

I guess I missed the hypocrisy that you seem to see.

[Duer 157099]

37. Yeah, I was just making a general statement

of what I thought of this situation, was not meant as a direct reply to the OP

Frankly I think Phelps should have just flipped the bird to anyone who asked him for a response.

[hfojvt]

43. I have never taken a hit

I get to cast the first stone!! :woohoo:

I wonder how many people there are like me. Probably more than 5%.

[Missy Vixen]

46. I haven't, either

I really don't care if people use marijuana. I don't want to be around it, and God help you if you're stupid enough to "spark up" on our property. What I do object to, though, is how much "cooler" and "sticking it to the Man" they are.

Ooooh. Color ME impressed.

[Blue-Jay]

51. Let's check the Care Meter!

[Stinky The Clown]

57. .

[Ms. Toad]

52. (And has anyone ever bought a Rosetta Stone??)

Yes.

It's actually quite good. I purchased mine on the resale market for my daughter. Her high school couldn't be bothered to try to accommodate its valedictorian so that she could satisfy the foreign language prerequisite for college admission. (All it would have taken was to switch her from one section of a class every student in the school has to take - so there are lots of them - so that she had that period free to attend one of two periods the language class was offered.)

That was before Phelps got into the endorsement biz.

[cherish44]

58. He is dumb

Doesn't he know you don't start inhaling until AFTER you light the bowl? Sheesh

[dendrobium]

59. Marijuana is on the list of banned substances.

If you test positive for marijuana you will lose your medals. This is why this was very irresponsible of him.

This is not about some guy smoking on his porch. As an Olympian, Michael Phelps is held to a higher standard. I have two daughters who have just started to swim competitively and I do not want them thinking that ganja is "ok" or "harmless".