Michael Phelps is finally showing his face again in public after scandal broke this past weekend in the wake of a leaked photo of the 14-time Olympic Gold Medalist puffin’ on a humongous marijuana pipe (more commonly referred to as a bong). One day after the photo hit the Internets, Phelps released a statement thru his representatives that expressed his regret over the behavior exhibited in the aforementioned photo. Today, for the first time since the photo came out, Phelps showed up at a Baltimore swimming complex with a beefy bodyguard in tow:

As you might imagine, Phelpsie wasn’t really in a talking mood … he refused to respond to questions that were thrown out at him by photogs and had to be quickly escorted into the building by his husky minder. It remains to be see what, if any, consequences will come from that image damaging photo … but one thing’s certain, for now, Phelps ain’t got nothing to say. Which is OK … his photo has already inspired 1,000+ words on his behalf.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Yesterday morning we saw a pretty amazing photo of 14-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps puffin’ on, by all accounts, a humongous marijuana pipe (more commonly referred to as a bong). After some speculation on the Internets by anyone with an opinion as to what damages could result from a photo like that in regards to his Olympic career (ie. what could be proven, what could not), Michael Phelps released an official statement admitting wrongdoing (while never expressly discussing specifics of that wrongdoing) which makes a solemn vow to fans that he will never transgress in such a manner ever again:

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps admitted to “regrettable” behavior Sunday and vowed it wouldn’t happen again after a British newspaper published a photograph of the swimmer smoking a marijuana pipe. “I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment,” the record-setting American athlete said in a statement issued Sunday. “I’m 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me,” Phelps said. “For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public — it will not happen again.” Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, four years after he won six gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He has received numerous corporate endorsements totaling millions of dollars. His statement was also posted on his Facebook page, followed by comments of both support and admonishment from fans. In a separate statement, the U.S. Olympic Committee said it was “disappointed in the behavior recently exhibited by Michael Phelps.” “Michael is a role model, and he is well aware of the responsibilities and accountability that come with setting a positive example for others, particularly young people,” the committee said. “In this instance, regrettably, he failed to fulfill those responsibilities.” However, it added, “Michael has acknowledged that he made a mistake and apologized for his actions. We are confident that, going forward, Michael will consistently set the type of example we all expect from a great Olympic champion.” The picture, billed as an exclusive by the tabloid News of the World, showed Phelps using a water pipe during what it said was a November party at the University of South Carolina. In 2004, Phelps was arrested on charges of driving under the influence in Salisbury, Maryland. Phelps pleaded guilty and received 18 months probation in that incident, issuing an apology afterward. “Getting into a car with anything to drink is wrong. It’s dangerous and it’s unacceptable. I’m 19, but was taught that no matter how old you are, you take responsibility for actions, which I do,” Phelps told ESPN. The Olympic swimmer is one of 12 Olympic athletes that have pledged to “My Victory,” an initiative launched last year by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to keep competitive sports clean of cheating and drug use.

Honestly, this was his best course of action … to deny and play around with admittance of guilt would’ve been foolhardy, I think. And you gotta love that every time he apologizes publicly he has to remind folks of how old/young he is, as if that were enough of an excuse. He was 19 when he got arrested for drunk driving, he was 23 when he got caught using drugs. Whatever your feelings on marijuana use is (ie. whether it’s dangerous and illegal or harmless and “no big deal”), I think the fact that Phelps made a very public vow to join My Victory (which is STRICTLY anti-drug use) is what painted him into the corner. I’m bothered also by his promise that “it will never happen again”. That is the surest way to get busted in the future, should this ever happen again. Personally, marijuana use is not that big a deal to me … but considering the role model title that he took upon his self (as evident by his public endorsement of My Victory) I contend that getting busted with a bong was in very bad form. I’m sure he will not suffer any consequences from this action … but he does seem a bit tarnished, at least to me, as a result … no matter how old/young he is.

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14-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps is finding himself in hot water this weekend as new party photos of the Olympian have made their way to the Internets … the most damaging photo seems to show the überathlete smokin’ down on a humungo water bong. It is widely known that bongs of this nature are used to smoke marijuana, cannabis, mary jane, dope, etc. — which is disallowed by the Olympic Games governing body. Tsk, tsk. Here, courtesy of News of the World, is a photo of Michael Phelps that appears to show him puffin’ down on said bong:

THIS is the astonishing picture which could destroy the career of the greatest competitor in Olympic history. In our exclusive photo Michael Phelps, who won a record EIGHT gold medals for swimming at the Beijing games last summer, draws from a bong. The glass pipes are generally used to smoke cannabis. And after sporting chiefs announced laws which mean four-year bans for drug-taking, Phelps’ dreams of adding to his overall 14 gold medal tally at the 2012 games in London could already be OVER. Those dreams seemed the last thing on his mind when he puffed from the bong during two days of partying with students last November, a quiet time in the swimming calendar when athletes would not expect to get tested for drugs. One party-goer who witnessed the star’s behaviour told the News of the World: “He was out of control from the moment he got there. “If he continues to party like that I’d be amazed if he ever won any more medals again.” Phelps’ aides went into a panic over our story and offered us a raft of extraordinary incentives not to run the bong picture. It was on November 6, weeks after his Beijing triumph, that 23-year-old Phelps surprised students at the University Of South Carolina in Columbia by showing up unannounced at a house party. He was visiting Jordan Matthews, a girl he was secretly seeing who was a student there. Our source revealed: “Michael came to visit Jordan but ended up just getting wasted every night. “He arrived with a group of girls hanging all over him. Jaws hit the floor when he walked in. You don’t get many celebrities in Columbia, so when Phelps comes to your party it’s a very big deal. “He didn’t know many people so you’d think he’d be a little shy. But he was loud, obnoxious and slamming beers from the get-go. “Every girl wanted a piece of him and every guy wanted to be his best buddy. He couldn’t get enough of all the attention.” As he basked in his hero status, Phelps knocked back beers and shots of spirits. And when a student offered him the glass bong engraved with red writing, he did not hesitate, says our source. The 6ft 4ins athlete, in a white T-shirt and navy cap worn back to front, clasped the device in his huge hands and inhaled deeply. Our source said: “You could tell Michael had smoked before. He grabbed the bong and a lighter and knew exactly what to do. “He looked just as natural with a bong in his hands as he does swimming in the pool. He was the gold medal winner of bong hits. Michael ended up getting a little paranoid, though, because before too long he looked like he was nervous and ran out of the place.” But the next night, Phelps was out partying again. The source added: “He was right back at it at Pavlov’s bar. “Like the night before he was holding court, throwing back shots two at a time and pouring drinks to every cute girl.” Drink has got Phelps into trouble before. In 2004, aged 19, he got 18 months probation for driving while under the influence. His wild behaviour is in stark contrast to the grim regime which took him to the top of his sport. He once described his life, saying: “All you do is eat, sleep, swim; eat, sleep, swim; eat, sleep, swim.” Last night Phelps’ management team and the sporting world closed ranks over the scandal. The US Olympics Committee, who have pledged to clamp down on drug use, refused to comment, as did USA Swimming and Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman. More surprising still was the World Anti-Doping Agency’s refusal to comment, given that they introduced the four-year ban on sport’s drug users. Phelps, who earned £4million last year in endorsements, has resumed training for the 2012 games. But there were fears about his commitment when, weeks after the bong incident, he began dating former stripper Caroline Pal. Phelps is represented by marketing giant Octagon, which works with huge brands such as Mastercard and HSBC. They admitted proven cannabis use would be “a major taint” on Phelps’ character. Spokesman Clifford Bloxham offered us an extraordinary deal not to publish our story, saying Phelps would become our columnist for three years, host events and get his sponsors to advertise with us. In return, he asked that we kill Phelps’ bong picture. Bloxham said: “It’s seeing if something potentially very negative for Michael could turn into something very positive for the News of the World.” He stressed that the swimmer had taken 1,500 drug tests and never failed one. Until now?

To me, it really does look like Michael Phelps in this photo … especially if you compare it with a photo published by Star magazine that was taken at the same party, showing him face on (see that photo HERE). To be honest, I am not at all surprised that something like this might happen … with all the partying Phelps was SEEN doing in the weeks following the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, I’m actually relived that it’s only a bong that he got caught with. I’d safely wager that some of his celebratory behavior goes even beyond the alleged harmless use of marijuana. I’m sure we’ll be hearing from Phelps and his representatives about this matter very soon. I’m also sure we’ll be hearing from the Olympic committee in charge of drug testing on this new scandal. As far as missteps go, this one seems to be a fairly minor one (and much less damaging than his arrest for drunk driving) overall but depending on how the Olympic committee and the public at large views this infraction … it could turn out to be a very costly mistake for Michael Phelps.

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Earlier this week we saw a bunch of photos of Michael Phelps and his unruly eyebrows as they partied the night away in Miami Beach, FL and I have to admit … he wasn’t really lookin’ his best. Today we have a new batch of Phelpsie photos (shirtless, this time, which helps) that seek to rectify his unsightliness and replace it with genuine hawtness. Here are a few pics of Phelps playing a bit of beach football with some of his bros in Florida:

I think y’all can agree that he looks HEAPS better in these photos. The shirtlessness helps, as do the sunglasses (to hide the shaggy brows). He looks happy, rested and relaxed … a much better sight to see!

[Photo credit: Wireimage]

14-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps made his way down to Miami Beach, FL for the New Year and was spotted making a grand exit from a local eatery last night sportin’ a healthy new tan and a whole lotta facial hair … and I’m not even referring to the stuff on his lip and chin … behold:

I’m all for a hairy man but I have to draw the line at the eyebrows … when those things get thick enough for small children to get lost in, it’s time to do some pruning. Again, I love me some Phelpsie but he really doesn’t need another strike against him in the beauty department. Just a gentle tug of the tweezers or a quick rip of wax and he’ll be right as rain.

[Photo credit: Wireimage]

14-time Olympic Gold-Medalist Michael Phelps is featured on the cover of the new issue of ESPN magazine … kinda. While Phelpsie is featured on the mag, his cover is only an alternate cover to the main coverphoto which features Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan who has been voted by ESPN magazine readers as the NEXT big thing in sports for 2009. Here is Phelps’s magazine coverphoto, in honor of the ESPN 100 list, and a brief description of the two available covers out this month:

The Magazine asked. The fans voted. Matt Ryan is NEXT. ESPN The Magazine polled fans to select the athlete destined to make the biggest impact on sports in the coming year (and years to come). In the double covered NEXT/ESPN 100 issue on newsstands Friday, December 5, this year’s choice and cover athlete is Falcons QB Matt Ryan. Ryan is NEXT – but not for the potential of his golden arm or for the steely temperament that earned him the nickname “Matty Ice” in high school and comparisons to Tom Brady as an NFL rookie. Ryan is NEXT because he is NOW. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year in Atlanta; get a few extra Ws over last year’s 4-12 season and rebuild the squad’s character besmirched by the off-the-field actions of its previous QB. Ryan wasn’t expected to orchestrate last-second comebacks nor was he expected to earn NFC offensive Player of the Week nods … The alternate cover of The Magazine features a tricked out Michael Phelps and The ESPN 100, The Mag’s annual list of the biggest achievements, letdowns and sports controversies of the year. The flip side also includes the “Year in Sports Test” – 100 questions on the 2008 sports year. Who threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Rays beat the Red Sox in Game 7 of the ALCS? During the telecast of the Giants’ Super Bowl upset over the Pats, what was the first thing announcer Troy Aikman said following David Tyree’s helmet catch? True or False: Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer in the longest men’s final in Wimbledon history… and much more!

Haters be damned, this coverphoto of Michael Phelps looks really very cool. At first, it looked to me like the photo was a representation of the machinery inside Phelpsie’s body but I then realized that the embellishments are merely artistic additions. Hahahaha … it gives us a feel for how Phelps would look with a bunch of tattoos. There is no question, Michael Phelps had an amazing year this year and is absolutely deserving of all the accolades that continue to rain down on him. Arguably the greatest Olympian of all time, I’d say that Michael Phelps deffo deserves the cover of The ESPN 100 issue magazine … even if it is only an alt cover. He looks great, no?

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Not to be outdone by Jason Mraz and his NY booksigning last night, Olympic Gold-Medalist Michael Phelps was on hand at the Barnes & Noble on 5th Avenue in NYC also last night to sign copies of his new book No Limits: The Will to Succeed. Here are a few pics from his in-store appearance last night:

From the Amazon.com book description: No Limits explores the hard work, commitment, and sacrifice that go into reaching any goal. Whether it is on the starting block during an Olympic swim meet or in the weight room on a typical day, Phelps’s dedication has led him to unparalleled excellence. Filled with anecdotes from family members, friends, teammates, and his coach, No Limits gives a behind-the-scenes look at the makings of a real champion. One of Phelps’s mottos is “Performance Is Reality,” and it typifies his attitude toward achieving his goals. It’s easy to get bogged down by doubt or to lose focus when a challenge seems out of reach, but Phelps believes that you can accomplish anything if you fully commit yourself to it. Using the eight final swims of the Beijing Olympics as a model, No Limits is a step-by-step guide to realizing one’s dream.

While I am not particularly fond of autobiographical books written by sports stars (especially with ghost writers, like Alan Abrahamson who is also credited as an author of this book), I am a bit curious to read this book about Michael Phelps. His determination to achieve his goals is very inspiring … I think I’d like to know about about how he has been able to achieve many of his dreams at such a young age. I dunno … something about Phelpsie is so compelling to me.

[Photo credit: Wireimage]