Michael Phelps, Olympic Gold Medalist and sometimes partyier, is featured in a new ad campaign for the Until There’s A Cure Foundation to help raise awareness and much needed funds for HIV/AIDS research. The campaign advertises the sale of specially created bracelets that raise money for charities that exist to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and to help those afflicted with the disease. Here is our first look at Phelpsie’s new Until There’s A Cure campaign ad and some info about the foundation:

Until There’s A Cure® is a national organization dedicated to eradicating HIV/AIDS by raising awareness and funds to combat this pandemic. Our dream is that no one else will become infected with HIV. For those who are HIV positive, we are dedicated on their behalf to educating all people about the virus and the overwhelming need for love and compassion in fighting this pandemic. Our goal is to fund prevention education, care services, and vaccine development using The Bracelet as the tool. The Bracelet will not only serve as a bridge to unite people to fight HIV/AIDS, but will help to increase awareness, compassion, understanding, and responsibility.

You know, Michael Phelps may engage in questionable behavior that lands him in hot water from time to time (I mean, who among us hasn’t?) but I have to commend him for working with the Until There’s A Cure Foundation to help raise HIV/AIDS awareness. He gets kudos from on on this endorsement deal, that’s for sure. If YOU would like to join the fight against HIV/AIDS and would like to purchase your own Until There’s A Cure bracelet (available in a few different styles) then you can order one directly from the foundation HERE.

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Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps was involved in a 2-car accident in Baltimore, MD last night (tho People magazine clarifies that a third parked car was also damaged in the crash) … fortunately, Phelpsie was not injured in the accident. Unconfirmed reports have been swirling that Phelps was speeding and may have run a red light … the accident did take place at lighted intersection, so that bit may be true. Police have confirmed that NO ALCOHOL was involved in this smash-up … it was mostly likely caused by someone’s careless driving. Here’s a pic of Phelpside’s smashed up ride and some deets of the crash:

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps was not injured when the SUV he was driving collided with another car in Baltimore, but the other driver was taken to a hospital. Police said Friday they had no updates on the woman who was driving the other car. She was described as “shaken up” and taken to a hospital as a precaution after the crash Thursday night. Cindy Rivers, a spokeswoman for the University of Maryland R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, said she could not provide any information without the woman’s name, which has not been released. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Phelps has been interviewed by police and alcohol was not a factor. No citations were issued and the accident was being investigated, with a report perhaps available Friday, Guglielmi said. There is a traffic light at the intersection, but when asked for details about how the crash occurred and whether anyone was at fault, police said they were still investigating. Two passengers in Phelps’ Cadillac Escalade were not injured, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. The other car was a Honda Accord. Phelps’ SUV had a crumpled hood and was on a tow truck. The gray Accord had considerable damage on the front driver side.

I suppose it’s worth noting that Michael Phelps has previously been arrested for drunk driving in 2004 and then he got busted again for blowing thru stop signs … oh yes, and we cannot forget his little incident earlier this year with that big ass marijuana bong. Not that any of his prior behavior has anything necessarily to do with this latest car crash but, well, mebbe Phelps should look into hiring a driver. I’m glad that everyone is OK after this scary incident. People just need to pay better attention when they are behind the wheel.

UPDATE: TMZ is reporting that the accident was caused by a failure to stop at that red light but it was the other driver who was at fault. Here is a photo of Phelpsie at the scene of the accident and the deets from TMZ:

Cops say Phelps — who was wearing the jersey of defensive superstar Ed Reed — was not at fault for the accident. The Ravens beat the Washington Redskins at their pre-season home opener around 7:30 PM. The accident occurred around 9:00 PM. A police spokesman tells TMZ a Honda ran a red light and struck Phelps’ Cadillac Escalade, before bouncing off and hitting a parked car. Law enforcement also says Phelps — who was busted for DUI back in 2004 — was definitely not drunk this time. The police spokesman told us “If he was impaired, you can bet your bottom dollar he would’ve been taken in. We don’t tolerate that.”

Glad to hear that Phelps was neither drunk or at fault. Also very glad that no one was injured in this accident.

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You may recall that back in February Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps got caught puffin’ on a big-ass bong (ie. a water pipe that is usually used for smoking marijuana) at a house party in South Carolina … and as a result an infamous photo of the dirty deed made the rounds on the Internets very soon after the party took place. Pretty much as soon as everyone and their mother got to see the photo, Phelpsie got slapped with a 3 month suspension from the USA Swim team, at least 8 people (not including Phelps) got arrested for drug related crimes and a few big name sponsors ended their professional relationships with the embattled swimmer. But that was then … today we learn that Phelps has secured his first new sponsor since that bong photo scandal broke earlier this year … he is now being paid to promote H20 Audio’s new waterproof Surge headphones:

The fallout from Michael Phelps’ infamous bong photo published last winter in a British tabloid appears to be clearing. Phelps is set to announce his first endorsement since the furor over the photo began. It could be the beginning of a comeback for him on Madison Avenue. Remember how the 14-time Olympic champion listened to music in warm-ups before winning eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympic Games? Well, Phelps and H20 Audio are set to announce a multiyear partnership Tuesday for the company’s line of waterproof sports headphones and accessories. H20 will feature Phelps in a summer ad campaign, says founder and chief executive Kristian Rauhala. In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY, Phelps said H20’s in-ear, waterproof Surge headphones have helped improve his training sessions. They’re integrated with the Interval carrying case housing an iPod Shuffle music player. Phelps says he attaches the apparatus to his swim cap with a magnetic strip. Unlike other products he’s tried, Phelps says the headphones don’t fall out when he’s pushing off the wall in turns. “Now I feel like I can incorporate music in my warm-ups. It allows me to warm up better,” Phelps says. “I can push off as hard as I want to — and still hear perfectly clear in the water.” … “The (music) helps me put myself in my own world. I can focus on what I’m doing. And tune out what everybody else is doing — no matter what.” The endorsement came together because Phelps was looking to take his music “into the pool,” says Rauhala. The waterproof headphones can also help runners and other athletes, he says. “The sweat gets inside a runner’s headphone and they break. That’s very common.” Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin and surfer Laird Hamilton also have endorsement deals with the six-year old company. H20 will splash Phelps’s image across product packaging and retail displays at Apple Stores, Target, Sports Authority and Best Buy this summer. Cereal maker Kellogg’s dumped Phelps after the photo surfaced. But other sponsors such as Visa, Speedo and Omega have stuck by the embattled star despite a three-month suspension from USA Swimming.

I mean … it’s great that the headphones stay on in the water … but what I really want to know is do they stay on when you’re puffin’ on a big-ass bong? If so … I’m sold!

[Source, thanks Dino]

Despite the fact that Richland County, SC sheriff Leon Lott found enough evidence to arrest 8 “regular folk” on various charges stemming from that infamous photo of Michael Phelps puffin’ on that big-ass marijuana bong, he has NOT deemed it necessary to arrest and charge Michael Phelps with any crime whatsoever … even tho PHELPS IS THE ONE PHOTOGRAPHED with DRUG PARAPHERNALIA in hand and it was HIS PHOTO that caused this scandal to erupt in the first place:

A South Carolina sheriff said Monday he was not going to charge swimmer Michael Phelps after a photo of the 14-time gold medalist showed him smoking from a marijuana pipe. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said he couldn’t ignore the photo but defended his investigation. “Michael Phelps is truly an American hero … but even with his star status, he is still obligated to obey the laws of our state,” Lott said. The photo showed Phelps smoking from a marijuana pipe at a party in November when he visited the University of South Carolina. Phelps has called his judgment bad and said he would learn from his mistake. USA Swimming suspended Phelps for three months in the wake of the photo, and Kellogg Co. said it would not renew its endorsement deal with him. The photo surfaced in a British newspaper, News of the World, on Feb. 1. The swimmer, who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games, did not dispute its authenticity. News of the World said the picture was taken during a party while Phelps was visiting the university. During that trip, he attended one of the school’s football games and received a big ovation when introduced to the crowd. The party occurred nearly three months after the Olympics while Phelps was taking a break from training, and his actions should have no impact on the eight golds he won at Beijing. He has never tested positive for banned substances. This isn’t the first embarrassing episode for Phelps after an Olympic triumph. In 2004, a few months removed from winning six gold and two bronze medals in Athens, the swimmer was arrested on a drunken driving charge at age 19. He pleaded guilty and apologized for the mistake.

I’m sure those 8 people who WERE arrested after this incident are thrilled that Phelps, an American hero, managed to evade arrest. Utterly absurd. The disparity in fairness of treatment between the famous and the unfamous is SO BLATANT in this case … I’m kinda disgusted. That anyone was even arrested in the first place, just grosses me right out. Leon Lott does not deserve to be allowed to be a meter maid, let alone a sheriff. I hope the folks in Richland County hold HIM accountable for his actions. I, for one, would not want him to exercise any authority in any jurisdiction that I lived in. What a sad ending to a dumb story.

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Oh snap! If you thought that Michael Phelps took a lot of heat for getting photographed tokin’ on that ginormous bong, wait ’til you hear what happened to 8 regular people who were at the party where that photo was snapped. It turns out that local area police, spurned into action by public pressure, began investigating that particular party and ended up arresting 8 people who where present at the party on various charges … including drug charges. So while Phelpsie only got slapped with a 3 month suspension from USA Swimming and suffered the loss of one endorsement deal, these 8 “real people” ended up getting arrested by the police:

New details have emerged about a party where Olympic champion Michael Phelps was spotted. On Feb. 2, a British tabloid published a picture of the 14-time Olympic gold medalist using a water pipe to smoke marijuana. The picture was taken at a party in Columbia back in November when Phelps was here for a visit. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has been taking a lot of heat from people in this country and all over the world. They want to know why Sheriff Leon Lott is going after Michael Phelps. Many are saying the sheriff should concentrate on more serious crimes, or at the very least, not focus solely on the Olympic champion when there were others at the party who were also breaking the law. Now it appears the case has expanded beyond Phelps’ activities. The party took place in November at a house on Blossom Street near Five Points. It was at that house where someone snapped the photo of Phelps taking a hit on a marijuana pipe called a bong. Lott says the picture indicated a law was being broken in his jurisdiction. He said he couldn’t ignore the violation just because Phelps is rich and famous. We’ve now learned that since investigators began trying to build a case, they’ve made eight arrests: seven for drug possession and one for distribution. These are arrests that resulted as the sheriff’s department served search warrants. We’ve also learned that the department has located and confiscated that bong. Sources say the owner of the bong was trying to sell it on eBay for as much as $100,000. The owner, who wasn’t even at the party, is one of the eight now charged. Phelps is not one of those charged at this point, but the sheriff’s department has strong evidence that matches the photo to the house on Blossom Street. That house is in the city, but the Columbia Police Department decided not to initiate or take an active role in the investigation. Governor Mark Sanford is also weighing in on the sheriff’s actions. On the FOX News Channel Sunday night, Geraldo Rivera asked Sanford whether Phelps should be prosecuted. “I don’t see what it gets at this point,” said Sanford. His spokesman told us Monday night Sanford is letting that quote stand.

Sooooo, letmegetthisstraight … the Sheriff’s Department, spurned on by public pressure, thought it would be wise to seek out and arrest 8 people who were at that party — and probably were NOT photographed engaging in drug use — and feels that it is unnecessary to seek out and arrest the ONE PERSON who WAS PHOTOGRAPHED engaging in drug use (or, at the very least, was photographed seeming to be engaged in drug use) … whose photo actually caused this illegal incident to come to light in the first place????? What complete and utter bullshizz! I, personally, do not think anyone needs to be arrested for anything involving this incident, let alone the 8 people including the house owner (who wasn’t even present when the party took place) who were arrested. BUT, for the Sheriff’s Department to arrest some people and PURPOSELY EXCLUDE arresting the sole celebrity in attendance WHO WAS PHOTOGRAPHED WITH THE DRUG PARAPHENALIA IN HAND seems awfully outrageous to me. If this isn’t the absolute definition of preferential treatment, then I don’t know what is. It sucks that 8 people have to pay for Michael Phelps’s mistake … but, apparently in Richland County, SC that’s the way they like their justice. I call bullshizz … what do y’all think?

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Michael Phelps didn’t have a great day yesterday. Just days after the now infamous and very damaging “bong photo” made its way to the Internets, Michael Phelps learned that he has been suspended from USA Swimming for a 3 month period … as if that wasn’t bad enough news, this suspension came just hours after he learned that Kellogg’s decided to drop him from their endorsement deal … Phelps has been relieved of his spokesperson duties for the brand now that he has been deemed “no longer consistent with image” of the company — ouch!

Michael Phelps’ day grew lousier by the hour on Thursday. First he lost a major sponsor, then he got suspended. The Olympic great was suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming, the latest fallout from a photo that showed him inhaling from a marijuana pipe. The sport’s national governing body also cut off its financial support to Phelps for the same three-month period, effective immediately. “This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero,” the Colorado Springs-based federation said in a statement. “Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to earn back our trust,” the statement said. Phelps won a record eight gold medals in Beijing and returned to America as one of the world’s most acclaimed athletes. He made headlines of a different kind, however, in the wake of the photo, published Sunday by News of the World, a British tabloid. Earlier Thursday, cereal and snack maker Kellogg Co. announced it wouldn’t renew its sponsorship contract with Phelps, saying his behavior is “not consistent with the image of Kellogg.” The swimmer appeared on the company’s cereal boxes after his Olympic triumph.

“Michael accepts these decisions and understands their point of view,” said one of his agents, Drew Johnson. “He feels bad he let anyone down. He’s also encouraged by the thousands of comments he’s received from his fans and the support from his many sponsors. He intends to work hard to regain everyone’s trust.” Phelps’ coach, Bob Bowman, said he believes Phelps will emerge from the experience a stronger swimmer and person. “Michael’s been through a lot and he’s learned a lot, hopefully,” Bowman told The Associated Press during a telephone interview. “I support him and I want to see him do better. I’m here, as always, to try to help him move forward. He’s learned some tough lessons and he’s disappointed a lot of people, me included.” Phelps has acknowledged “regrettable” behavior and “bad judgment.” He didn’t dispute the authenticity of the photo, reportedly taken at a house party while Phelps was visiting Columbia, S.C., in November during an extended break from training. “I certainly understand USA Swimming needed to take action,” Bowman said. “We will certainly abide by everything they’ve put down.” USA Swimming provides a $1,750 monthly stipend to national team members to help defray travel and training expenses, plus performance bonuses. However, it’s a small percentage of the millions Phelps makes through endorsements. The 23-year-old has resumed training in his hometown of Baltimore, but his plans to return to competitive swimming will have to be put on hold. Phelps had planned to compete in early March at a Grand Prix meet in Austin, Texas. Now, he won’t be able to compete until early May, which would give him a little more than two months for some racing before July’s world championships in Rome. “This is the result of a poor decision Michael made,” U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Darryl Seibel said in an e-mail. “He understands there is accountability and has pledged to not repeat this in the future. We have offered our assistance to make certain he is as consistent and successful away from the pool as he is in it, and we are confident that will happen.” After the suspension, Phelps would be able to compete at a May meet in Charlotte, N.C.; there’s another Grand Prix competition in Santa Clara, Calif., the following month. The U.S. team for Rome will be chosen at the national championships, which begin July 7 in Indianapolis. “He’s been very good in practice,” Bowman said. “I think he feels good to be back in the water. Certainly, he’s not in very good shape. We’re anxious to get back to a really normal routine and we have,” Bowman said. “We’re moving on.”

Honestly, this 3 month suspension and loss of a major endorsement deal sounds about the right kind of punishment for a mistake like this. Only with real consequences does behavior like this actually have a chance at rectification. Since he acknowledges that what he did is wrong, he seems man enough to pay the penalty. It remains to be seen if he will be forced to lose other endorsement deals but, at this point, the punishment seems fitting to me.

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Extra! is reporting that they have scored a new interview with 14-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps in the wake of the photo scandal that broke out over the weekend which showed Phelps puffin’ on a humungo marijuana pipe (a bong). According to Phelps, he claims that he does not take drugs … despite getting caught with the bong. HMMM:

“Extra” has obtained an interview with Michael Phelps and the swimming phenomenon states, “I don’t take drugs. I get drug tested all the time. You look at the records and you can see.” The Olympic superstar also confesses it was a mistake to smoke marijuana and take pictures, saying, “It’s times like these where you really do get true support. I’ve been able to really find out who my friends and family are through this. By no means has it been easy… it’s a bad judgment and a bad mistake and something I’ll learn from.”

You gotta respect the guy for owning up to his bad judgment. While some may feel that what he did is “no big deal”, I’m sure there are many mothers out there who think it’s a big deal when their children see one of their sports heroes engaging in illegal use of a controlled substance. I absolutely believe that Phelps has learned from this mistake. I’m sure if he plans to continue competing in future Olympic Games, he will now be more careful about what he does and with whom. I absolutely admire that he is publicly admitting his wrongdoing … if he plans to stay a public figure, he’s gonna have to be a good boy. He’s got many years after he retires from competitive sport to smoke whatever the heck he wants ;) This interview with Extra! airs tonight.

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