I frankly am more dismayed more of his sponsors didn't drop him. This was not his first offense he had a DUI not all that long ago. I for one am going to personally email Kelloggs and tell them thank you for taking a stand against such deviant behavior and teaching my children that this is NOT the proper way to act nor should it be endorsed or tolerated. I encourage anyone who feels the same way to join me. When I read stuff like the pro-pot group (a marijuana lobby) (who knew we had those!?!?!?!?) is slamming Kelloggs I start to boil. I understand Kelloggs got him after his DUI but I figured he had made a mistake and learned his lesson.. obviously not as he chose to go back to using another substance.
Kristy
"Women should not have children after 35. Thirty-five children are enough." - anonymous (Only 28 to GO!) 1|1|Personally I give him credit for being honest He could have come up with a few things other than saying Yes it was me (M)|teener|teenerzacsneenee@yahoo.com|09:13:10|02/11/2009|
I do think it was right for him to be punished ( loosing backers) but I also think that EVERYONE that is backed by big money should be held in the same standards 2|2|I say, he has been punished, now let him be|mo6g02|crazylady47952@yahoo.com|09:23:10|02/11/2009|
He's a kid, he made a mistake, let anyone of us that lives in a glass house be the first to throw the stone. Kids will be kids & they make mistakes. I think he's a good kid but just didn't use good sense & someone was thrilled to have the chance to take a picture & make a profit from it also, they are just as wrong. He lost his sponsor now let him be & hope that he realizes what he did & takes a huge step to gain back what he deserved but just wasn't smart enough to know it. If you are raising kids & they get to their adult lives without doing something stupid then praise be to you, you are a better parent than I was. I raised 6 of my own & about 20 that just came here & stayed & they've all done something that they shouldn't have & knew better but it didn't stop them. I've seen it all, drugs, alcohol,tickets,truancy,unwed mothers, but you know what most of them are good kids & have grown into pretty nice adults, mistakes & all.
Donna
http://www.freewebs.com/mo6g02/
3|3|Donna you are correct if this had been an average Joe that picture would never had been printed so because he is who he is he is drug|teener|teenerzacsneenee@yahoo.com|09:28:01|02/11/2009|
through the media and crucified for a mistake 5|3|i COMPLETELY agree donna! AND they have arrested some involved (M)|pussecat|pu55ecat@aol.com|09:45:55|02/11/2009|
i was THRILLED to read this article this morning!
they even arrested the person who owns the bong and he tried to sell it on ebay!
what is this world coming too?
this whole thing made me SICK just like the people who tried to extort john travolta with pictures of hius son in the ambulance.
these people should be ASHAMED of themselves!!!!!!!!!!!
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4|1|when you train as hoardas some of these people do|ppe1952|MATWELL3@ROCHESTER.RR.COM|09:33:29|02/11/2009|
you give up normal life as most now it so maybe he was just being a kid for once and not a world class swimmer who trains 10 hours or more every day. peopoe make mistakes. he lost a sponsor. he will get thru this and so shall we.
Remember your manners: when god answers your prayers----- say thank you. 6|2|I personally think the world has gone to s***!|pumamomma|pumamomma@yahoo.com|10:17:49|02/11/2009|
Back in the 80's when I was a teen and in sports and cheerleading we COULD NOT be seen at a party even if we were not drinking, etc..., we COULD NOT be seen skipping school or even get below a C grade, etc...NO misbehaving was allowed. We were the role models of the school. Depending on the circumstance we were either kicked off the "team" or had to sit the bench. Nowdays there is no discipline for these kids. For instance this year at our school 3 of our Homecoming king candidates had DUI's, Open bottle & minor consumption citations. WHAT THE HECK!!! In my opinion they should not have been on the voting ballot because of this. They are the role models of the school. Same goes with sports in schools these days there is no discipline these same homecoming king candidates were players on the football team. Nice school representation.
Anywho back to Phelps, I think all his backers should renig because if only a few do is that really teaching him anything. It basically tells me that oh well only a couple dropped me so that's not all bad.
And here's a kicker, last night on the news they said his bong photo is being sold on ebay, NICE! not
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7|3|He's not a child.. he's 23|Kristy|mi3zons1@yahoo.com|10:35:08|02/11/2009|
Second off... glass houses.. I for one have NEVER NEVER let me be clear NEVER tried any drug or illegal substance. Secondly, if this was a photo of YOUR CHILD would you so say oh well it was just a mistake they are just a kid... Thirdly, and finally I was not saying SLAM Phelps. I was saying Kudos to Kelloggs for setting such a fine example for my children and my family. And I do not like to hear they are being slammed and I plan to write them a letter saying such.
"Women should not have children after 35. Thirty-five children are enough." - anonymous (Only 28 to GO!) 8|4|Kristy first off let me say I wuvs ya lol but as a mother of older children yes I can say that if that was a picture of my son|teener|teenerzacsneenee@yahoo.com|10:49:59|02/11/2009|
I would say that he made a mistake and I'd back him for it but I would also expect there to be problems as a result of his mistake and he needs to learn from it Your children are still young and you may not as of yet had to deal with issues( mistakes they make) with them I'm sure your kids are great but are they perfect? Noone is There will be mistakes made and as a mother ( no matter how old they are) you will be there for them for support even if you agree that they have a punishment coming 9|5|I have to comment on a couple of points|BusterBrown|srfreezerqueen@hotmail.com|10:59:59|02/11/2009|
1-been there, done it, and no regrets.....Everyone is raised differently, and the bottom line is how you turn out at the end. I am not sure where pumamomma(sp) is from...but that is the best example of difference on where you were raised-i was a 3 varsity letter winner who partied all the way thru..and carried good grades....it was not uncommon here in the 80's....we won, and had a good time doing it. I am NOT casting stones at anyone....my point simply is if you turn out all right, and no one gets hurt....then there should not be any long lasting effects.....
I do agree with phelps being dropped by a company geared towards children....but do not feel he should be continually punished....not sure who above posted it, but they are right-international competitors like this, do loose there chance at a normal life....and sense of privacy...for which i feel really bad.....was very happy to see Jackies post about the other arrests....Jodie 11|6|But Jod it was his choice to be an athlete and compete.. no one held a gun to his head and made him..|Kristy|mi3zons1@yahoo.com|11:02:45|02/11/2009|
"Women should not have children after 35. Thirty-five children are enough." - anonymous (Only 28 to GO!) 10|5|No I don't anticipate any of my children will do drugs.. but|Kristy|mi3zons1@yahoo.com|11:01:56|02/11/2009|
in the event they do they will be strictly punished for it. To me it is not right that the new philosphy seems to accept this behavior. Phelps had already been arrested due to an underage drinking issue and DUI issue. I'm sure this was not the first time he was smoking pot and I highly doubt it will be the last. I'm not trying to flame Phelps I just think that this country has too long let things slide and say oh it's ok. I think all the athletes and actors, etc should be held to ask instead of the 'bad' boy image it gives them along with the popularity.
"Women should not have children after 35. Thirty-five children are enough." - anonymous (Only 28 to GO!) 12|5|I have to agree w/ Kristy:|aloha2u|alohamillion@yahoo.com|11:05:33|02/11/2009|
I appreciate Kelloggs taking this strong stand on this situation. I do understand that he made a mistake and I HOPE he learns from it.
But I also think that ROLE MODELS need to take their status seriously and if they choose not to, then they need to be held accountable as such.
We had a local college level football star get busted for selling drugs recently. It was huge news and it affected the local kids- even my preschoolers classmate was asking everyone if they heard about Johnny Gray selling drugs. I mean, my preschooler does not even know what drugs are but he sure knows who this 'star' is. My oldest was very affected by this- he worshipped this guy as did ALOT of kids here. So, I think if you want to be the big star, then you better be ready for to tow the line or face a backlash. Thank GOD for Kurt Warner and him taking his ROLE MODELS status seriously. The world needs more HEROES and less EXCUSES Imho.
I will email Kelloggs today and offer my appreciation for their stance on this situation.
Stacey
13|1|At least he had the sense to wait until after the Olympics|sheliar|sandk95@embarqmail.com|11:10:13|02/11/2009|
When he admitted that he did this, he even said that because of drug testing he would not have been able to do something like this while competing, so he went out and had fun when he was no longer under such testing/scrutiny. I still think he competes clean, and doing this has no bearing on him as a person for me. Athletes are NOT meant to be role models. The public makes them out to be that, then complains if they don't measure up. These are PEOPLE with faults, and their JOB is to play whatever sport, NOT to be a role model.
JMO,
Shelia
"They say that we are better educated than our parents' generation. What they mean is that we go to school longer. They are not the same thing."---Douglas Yates 14|2|Shelia I agree I think it's a parents job to make sur etheir children understand that even asports figures are human and they can make a mistake|teener|teenerzacsneenee@yahoo.com|11:17:15|02/11/2009|
just like everyone else If your child believes that hi/her heroes can do no wrong and then when they do they end up hating/not trusting that person they are in for a long life of not likeing anyone
Mistakes/bad choices are made by people in ever walk of life
15|3|My 6 year old heard about this on the news and asked why his fave athlete|jilda|vze4gj4m@verizon.net|11:28:49|02/11/2009|
Michael Phelps was in trouble.
Our conversation:
Mommy why is MPhelps in trouble?
Me: B/c he made a very big mistake with drugs.
Christopher: what are drugs?
Me: Bad things people take to make themselves feel better but it never works b/c it just makes them do very stupid things and makes them feel worse later on.
Christopher: Not like the medicine you give me when I cough?
me: No , not like that. This stuff doesn't help you with anything that is wrong with you like a bad cold. It just is a dumb thing to make people feel cool and be cool with their friends. It's very very stupid.
Christopher: if it makes them do dumb things why do they do it?
Me: B/c like I said it makes you feel good for a few moments. So that's why but in the end it isn't good at all. Sort of like when you chew gum..it tastes really good for a few moments but then..you can get bad cavities.
Christopher: OH!!! I get it..but Mommy you don't let me chew gum.
Me: that's right and I don't want you doing drugs either.
Christopher: did he get punished? was his mommy mad?
Me: He got punished..and I'm sure his Mommy was mad..you know the people who make the fruit snacks you sometimes eat? Well they said that he was not a good person to put on their cereal boxes b/c he made a very bad mistake that he doesn't want kids to make.
Christopher: Okay. I hope he doesn't do them anymore and do more dumb things.
Poor Kid..didn't get all of what I was saying but he got a little. And unfortunately during our times I have to start teaching him this stuff earlier than I would like but what are you going to do? He asked and we had a nice conversation about it.
Phelps, like alot of people in his situation made a huge mistake and I'm sure he's still making it behind closed doors. I'm glad Kelloggs pulled their deal BUT I don't think the athletic companies should. B/c if they do ..they might as well pull all the accts from 90% of their client list.
18|4|Very well said Jilda~more inside|RebekkaVA|queen_vulture@msn.com|11:39:06|02/11/2009|
I'm not saying what he did was right, but I also think that if they are gonna pull all of his sponsors, they need to do it to about 80 percent of all professional sports people too, there are so many that do things that aren't legal but yet they seem to continually get away with it. Anyways I'm not here to argue or anything, but just had to say what I felt. By the way, Cheyenne is a big Michael Phelps fan and even named her bulldog webkinz "Herman" after his bulldog, but she is very mad at him....Hugs, Rebekka
~*~REBEKKA~*~
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Married to my Soul Mate William
"My husband has cancer, Please pray for him"
Mommy to:
Timothy 5/80
Matthew 10/92
Cheyenne 9/99
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16|3|I was raised in a rural Minnesota small town, population of 600|pumamomma|pumamomma@yahoo.com|11:31:38|02/11/2009|
As cheerleaders we were told WE ARE THE ROLE MODELS OF THE SCHOOL and I would have to say that any persons that used drugs & abused alcohol were not in sports/cheerleader/or candidates for Homecoming & such activities and yes we were held at high standards. It was a priviledge to be a cheerleader and be on the A squad in sports.
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17|4|and I know live in a different rural MN small town, population of 700|pumamomma|pumamomma@yahoo.com|11:37:43|02/11/2009|
and is totally Catholic and this is where the homecoming king canidadatesfootball players had the DUI's etc... so I am just saying it is a change of times and where/when did the world go to the birds.
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19|4|Live in Indiana, small town or maybe 600|mo6g02|crazylady47952@yahoo.com|11:43:37|02/11/2009|
The whole football team & cheerleaders here were caught at a party with drugs & drinking, all were supposedly banned, but guess what next game all were there, nothing said. If anyone thinks I'm for drugs you are wrong, I've experienced it with my kids, it's terrible, its scary, it's shameful & it hurts but kids are kids & unfortunately I would guess that 90% of today's kids will either drink or do drugs, it's just out there. Yes Kristy, I agree, they should be punished, but take it from someone who has been there, you can punish, you can beg, you can scream,cry, put them in therapy or whatever you wish to try but you can only lead them to the water you cannot make them drink. I think I was a good mom, but my kids have all made enough mistakes to make me think maybe I wasn't a good mom. But as they tell me, mom you raised us to know right from wrong & we knew it was wrong, but it was fun!! End of story, kids will be kids & whether you think so or not, a young man of 23 is usually a kid, I should know I have 4 of them, boys just ususally don't grow up as fast as girls. I hope none on you ever experience what I have, but I know, that the hope is small, it's just to easy for kids to get & the pressure is to high & unfortunately they don't think, they just do. All I can say, is love your kids, no matter what they decide to do & know that you did your best. They still need you, even if you think what they did is wrong. Don't judge just love.
Donna
http://www.freewebs.com/mo6g02/
20|5|I agree Donna~*~|RebekkaVA|queen_vulture@msn.com|11:52:51|02/11/2009|
I for one aren't for drugs either and don't condone them. As parents, once our kids reach adulthood, we really don't have any control on what they do, we can do our best as parents raising them to know right from wrong, but once they reach the age of adulthood, they make their own mistakes and sometimes they don't use good judgement. Even as teens they can drive us nuts, believe me I know and you can't keep your eye on them 24/7. My oldest son was good as gold, never gave me an ounce of trouble, everyone use to comment on what a great child I raise, I was a single mother and it was hard, but did my best and he turned out to be a responsible adult (he will be 29 this year), now for my 16 year old, he's given us some problems and we tried and tried to get him to understand his mistakes, but finally I ended up sending him to his father. No I didn't give up on him, he just didn't want to be with us anymore and said I was too strict and gave us alot of problems last year, and we didn't need the stress with Will going through all his cancer stuff. SO I sent him to his dad's and yesterday while talking to him, he told me "Mom I realized I had it made there and I messed up and should've listened" Well hopefully he is understanding his mistakes and he's learning from them. I thought I was a bad mom for sending him to his dad's and that I didn't do a good job raising him, but after alot of soul searching, I realized it wasn't me, it was Matthew, he is the one that chose his path and made the mistakes that he did, and now if he's realizing what he did was wrong, then I'm glad. It's hard for me to put into words how I feel, that is why I usually don't post on these subjects, but I just wanted to try to say how I felt. All we can do is love our children and teach them morals and right from wrong and pray that they choose the right path in life, but like someone said, no one is perfect and we all make mistakes. Hugs, Rebekka
~*~REBEKKA~*~
a.k.a. "Queen Vulture"
Married to my Soul Mate William
"My husband has cancer, Please pray for him"
Mommy to:
Timothy 5/80
Matthew 10/92
Cheyenne 9/99
*EMAIL*: queen_vulture@msn.com
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21|1|He's not being charged.... link inside|maraj|maraj64@hotmail.com|18:03:11|02/16/2009|
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090216/ap_on_sp_ot/swm_phelps_marijuana
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22|2|My two cents for what they're worth|Sara_s_Mom|IClipCoupons@gmail.com|18:18:42|02/16/2009|
Kelloggs wants to portray a squeaky clean brand image. I imagine that Michael Phelps entered into some kind of sponsorship agreement that specifically forbade the activity that he was photographed doing. Violation of contract = loss of sponsorship. I remember reading about some singer years ago who lost their Pepsi sponsorship for getting seen drinking Coke. If Kelloggs chooses to pull his sponsorship, then they have every right to. I can tell you from past experience, I ate Wheaties as a kid and looked up to those Olympians that graced the box. He sought his gold medals (his job at the time) and won them. Seeking sponsors = wanting to be a role model.
As for cheerleaders being a role model.... well sure, times were different then. Back in the 1980s parents didn't sue for "discrimination" when their kids misbehaved and got benched. Nowadays, school districts are hesitant to come down on kids too hard for fear of having to pay out millions for discrimination suits. Worse, parents don't punish their kids enough. I never did illegal drugs either and let me tell you ... my mother told me I never ever wanted to come home drunk or high cuz she'd know and my a___ would be grass & she'd be the lawnmower!
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23|1|I say good for Kellogs....|Quietwaters|Quietwaters39@hotmail.com|21:35:05|02/16/2009|
you forgive someone who does wrong, but that does not mean taking away their punishment. That is how a child learns to be a responsible adult. In my opinion this is a man not a kid, (but it doesn't really matter,) have my own this age, and too often we want to keep covering up for their mistakes instead of letting them feel some of the pain, and letting them grow up. Then we can't figure out why we have 30 year old adult children still making the same mistakes.
************
I have absolutely no sympathy whatsoever for Phelps. He totally lost my respect when he had the DUI and now has been caught doing illegal drugs.
The guy had it made and he blew it.
The guy is a SWIMMER -- he's not a heart surgeon who saves lives. Why anyone would idolize him is beyond me.