<p>Oh, NSM that is such shame that you missed the opening of the Olympics in China, and also missed the coronation of Michael Phelps as perhaps the greatest olympian ever. If you have the opportunity to see those events on a DVD, do not lose it. And you will not regret it! </p>
<p>Fwiw, the opening ceremonies in Beijing place the latest Presidential inauguration in its appropriate context, despite all the claims of the latter having been a historical event for the entire population of our planet. Of course, this is not unusual when the United States insists to call the Steelers WORLD CHAMPIONS for winning the Super Bowl and pretend baseball has a … World Series.</p>
<p>“Do normal young adults smoke pot? I have no problem with him enjoying life to the fullest at his young age. I just wish he’d do it without the illegal activities.”</p>
<p>I think normal young people <em>try</em> pot a few times and it doesn’t mean anything deep. And he’s not had a normal life, with all of his training. I think it’s a tempest in a bong, personally. Who cares?</p>
<p>I agree. Oh no, kids might realize that (some) adults feed them a bunch of lies about how if you try pot once you will become a hard-drug addict, or a pile of goo who lies on the couch all day eating chips and never does anything productive, and ruin your life! Then again, kids already have plenty of illustration of this, so it’s nothing new.</p>
<p>(No, before someone decides that I’m a defensive stoner, I don’t smoke pot. Never tried it and don’t plan to. I just don’t like the DARE brainwashing mentality.)</p>
<p>I read this morning that his main endorsement companies, speedo and omega watches, are sticking with him. I have been reading other websites and the majority opinion is that it is not a big deal because most people think it should be legalized. I agree. The revenues from taxes and the hemp products would go a long way and keep lower income minorities out of jail.</p>
<p>Speedo has no choice - Phelps is THE superstar of swimming, and swimming community makes up the lion’s share of its market. Speedo can’t just drop him and sign up some basketball star in his place. Omega, which supplies timing systems for swimming and track events, is in the same boat.</p>
<p>As a family member of someone who was a regular pot smoker and who developed schizophrenia as an adult, I am astounded at how little press these studies have gotten.</p>
<p>intparent - that may be because these studies are classic examples of “correlation does not equal causation.” Using alcohol is even more correlated with schizophrenia, and based on those studies, it defies logic that alcohol could remain legal. Again, does alcohol cause schizophrenia or are people prone to schizophrenia just more likely to drink?</p>
<p>I’m more worried about Phelps’ general display of arrogance and low intelligence- IF what is reported in many of the articles about his social persona is true. When he was dating the stripper, someone on one of my athletic forums said, “She has the brains in that relationship!”</p>
<p>He struggled in school and really only excelled in swimming. His mom, who is a middle school principal, reports that he is hyperactive and was quite the little mess until he found swimming. </p>
<p>I just heard on the news that the sheriff in South Carolina wants to prosecute him for smoking marijuana. Tempest in the bong water.</p>
<p>IMHO I don’t think Speedo and Omega kept him on because they had no choice. I believe it is because public opinion has swayed to the point that this is not such a big controversy to most people anymore. I think more people would have been upset at the sponsors if they fired him for this, and they would have let them know it. The controversy is not relevant anymore. Just legalize it and it will be just as “bad” as photographing someone with a beer in hand.</p>
<p>He didn’t get into an Ivy but he got into the University of Michigan and I would bet a lot that he didn’t have the numbers for them - except in the pool.</p>
<p>I certainly wouldn’t call him a loser. I live in the same town he does and my D’s friends went to high school with him. I had never heard bad things about his behavior locally. It is no secret that he struggled in school - his mom has spoken openly about this. He led a very unusual life and lacks perspective and some judgment, but I don’t think this negates his accomplishments.</p>