After initially stating, in essence, that his smoking marijuana was the result of mere youthful indiscretion, Phelps apparently studied his birth certificate, learned he was breathing hard on his 24th birthday and spoke, instead, of sorrow and remorse.

This is called ‘fessing up, which is good for the soul . . . not to mention multimillion-dollar relationships with sponsors.

It’s also a demonstration of the recognition of the obvious: Michael Phelps, who won eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympics this past summer, has come to the realization (publicly, anyway) that he is no kid. As if, of course, being “a kid” has anything to do with acting in a foolish manner.

Please. Stupid is stupid, no matter the age. To suggest that folks who haven’t crossed some chronological bar should be excused for inappropriateness and that those who have will forever conduct themselves as if their moms were watching them is . . . well, ridiculous. You can be right as rain at 15, and wrong as stripes-and-plaids at 50.

But the subject here is maturity. And to believe that maturity kicks in only at 18 or 21 or, as Phelps initially indicated, sometime after 23, is a bit too convenient for my tastes.

Charles Darwin, in the role of naturalist, was already at sea in the Galapagos Islands at 22. Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Computers at 21. Charles Lindbergh learned to fly at 20. Richard Leakey, the paleontologist, was searching for human fossils at 19. Franz Schubert had already written three symphonies at 18. Walt Whitman was teaching school at 17. And so on and so forth.

None of them, and many others, waited for the calendar to turn to tell them it was time to be responsible. And none of them pointed to the calendar before it did turn and said, “See? It says right here that I can be an idiot.”

Michael Phelps? Let’s see . . .

He’d already been arrested on charges of drunken driving (for which he was only too eager to don a hair shirt) and now he’s caught on camera doing the cannabis thing at a campus party. This is not good. And youth, or supposed youth, is not an issue.

But he knows that. Or at least, Phelps claims to know that. And that is progress. Knowledge, you see, is not beholding to age, either.

(Bud Poliquin’s on-line commentaries are freshly written every weekday at syracuse.com. Additionally, his column and “To The Point” observations appear regularly in The Post-Standard

source:http://www.syracuse.com/poliquin/index.ssf/2009/02/the_new_lyrics_of_michael_phel.html

Michael Phelps got back in the training pool on Tuesday but he isn’t out of hot water yet. South Carolina’s The State newspaper reports that criminal charges may be filed against him after British tabloid News of the World published a cover shot of the 23-year-old Olympic superstar sucking up a bong hit of marijuana.

The photo was allegedly taken at a University of South Carolina house party — and they don’t take kindly to dope smokers in those parts. A rep for the sheriff’s office told The State:

The bottom line is, if he broke the law, and he did it in Richland County, he’s going to be charged.”

Many people — like Ashton Kutcher — are calling it no big deal, and the sponsors who pay him $100 million to be a role model have indicated he won’t be penalized.

We think that sucks. Because it’s not just about a little pot.

Michael Phelps needs to man up and stop trying to palm off his repeated bad behavior as “youthful and inappropriate,” as he characterized it in his public statement.

His party-time girlfriend, Caz Pal, was featured in sexy nude photos all over the Internet (not to mention soft-porn model shots for Beverly Hills Pimps & Hos). That’s not “youthful and inappropriate.” That’s just plain sleazy.

Plus he has a history of drunk driving, for which he was busted in 2004. He was 18. That’s not “youthful and inappropriate.” That’s extremely dangerous. He’s lucky he didn’t kill anybody.

And coddling him won’t make it any safer.

We think he should be treated like anybody else and pay the price for his behavior. What do you think?

source:http://www.examiner.com/x-264-Celebrity-News-Examiner~y2009m2d4-Poll-Should-Michael-Phelps-face-criminal-charges-for-pot-smoking?comments=true

Michael Phelps’ life would be easier if he took the attitude of Charles Barkley, who famously told us not to expect athletes to be role models.

Phelps is different, though. He has talked like he wants the job of role model.

That is why it is fair to expect more from a man who was picked up for drunk driving in 2004, and has now been caught on film, sticking his head down a marijuana pipe.

It is also why we should give him a third (and final) chance, but not simply whitewash his most recent goof.

To his credit, Phelps does not whitewash himself.

“I promise to my fans and the public it will never happen again,” he said.

What won’t happen? It is an important, unanswered question.

Is Phelps promising never to smoke pot again? Or simply not to be so careless as to get caught again?

The first is a far-reaching promise, easier made than done. The second is a mere public relations ploy that is all about image, whether the image matches the truth or not.

How people look at this episode depends on how they feel about marijuana. Some will never be OK with it; to others, who look at pot as casual recreation, Phelps’ only problem was getting caught.

But it is a problem. Even after Massachusetts voters decriminalized possession of small amounts, Springfield and other cities are considering tougher local laws.

In less liberal South Carolina, Phelps could face criminal charges.

Until now, Phelps has said he accepts the price of his fishbowl existence. This is more admirable than Barkley’s way, but much harder.

Of course, Barkley made multi-millions off his NBA contracts. There is no pro swim league for Phelps.

His payoff relies heavily on endorsements, which require him to be admired.

The public scrutiny has caused Phelps to say he’s not sure if he will compete in the 2012 Olympics.

That could be a hasty reaction to an embarrassment. But if Phelps skips the Games, it will show he’s decided the price of being a star is too high after all.

I hope he does not do that. Phelps’ image is far from beyond repair.

It’s the adults who demand perfection from their heroes. The kids who relate to Phelps generally accept we are all heroes in life sometimes, and screw-ups at other times.

If Phelps can avoid another blunder, he can tell those kids, “I messed up. You might, too, but keep trying to be better, because tomorrow is still in your control.”

That is a great message. A lot of kids would relate to it, much more than they would to Mr. Perfect.

The trick is, Phelps is out of do-overs. I hope he doesn’t give up on being a role model.

I’m rooting for a guy who has run out of wiggle room at age 23, but still has a lot to offer the public, as long as he avoids strike three.

source:http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2009/02/michael_phelps_deserves_anothe.html?category=Columnists&category=Ron%20Chimelis

Cereal and snack manufacturer Kellogg’s has announced that it will not renew its sponsorship contract with Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps

The reason? According to AP, because Phelps  acknowledged smoking marijuana in a bong pipe. Duh.

The company claims that Phelps’s behavior — caught on camera and published last Sunday  in Britain’s News of the World — was “not consistent with the image of [Kellogg's].”

The company has already put Phelps’ picture on boxes of its Frosted Flakes and Corn Flakes.

And so it begins….

Breaking News Update: Michael Phelps has been suspended for three months by USA Swimming!

Although no anti-doping rule was violated, the Colorado-based federation said: “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”

He’s also lost their financial support for three months.

Phelps has kept the backing of many sponsors since the photos surfaced showing him inhaling from a marijuana pipe. However, this decision – and Kellogg’s reaction – may affect  Phelps’ other endorsement accounts.There has been no comment from Phelps’ agent.

Kellogg’s said its contract with Phelps expires at the end of February.

What do you think about Kellogg’s decision? Is it fair? Will others follow? Should they? What about the USA Swimming’s slap on the wrist? Was it a good idea?

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/02/kellogs-dumps-m.html – source

AP

Kim Kardashian thinks the curvier the better!

Add Kim Kardashian to the list of friends, family, and random celebrities who think Jessica Simpson looks just great, thank you very much.

“Call me crazy, but when I saw the picture, I was like, ‘Oh my God, Jessica looks hot!’ “
the curvy Kardashian told People.com, refering to photos taken of the singer performing Jan. 25 in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

PHOTOS: Click to see the photos to which Kardashian refers.

Not only that, Kardashian even thought the 28-year-old’s ensemble was spot-on.

“I actually love the outfit. I think she looks amazing. I love high-waisted jeans, I loved that belt, and her hair looked fabulous,” she said.

RELATED: Click to People.com for more from their exclusive Kim Kardashian interview.

Earlier in the day, Jessica’s little sister Ashlee posted a note on her blog calling out Fox News specifically for reporting on the photos.

“I am completely disgusted by the headlines concerning my sister’s weight. A week after the inauguration and with such a feeling of hope in the air for our country, I find it completely embarrassing and belittling to all women to read about a woman’s weight or figure as a headline on Fox News,” she wrote.

But the elder Simpson sister’s shape may be the least of her worries, according to Star magazine, who quote a source saying that Simpson’s boyfriend, Tony Romo, cheated on her in her own home.

And Radaronline.com is reporting that the singer is being sued for $10 million in relation to a fitness video that she shot four years ago, but was never released.

And the week probably seemed so promising on Monday.

Kim Kardashian is coming to Jessica Simpson’s defense – one curvy girl to another – following a slew of reports ridiculing Simpson’s fuller figure.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE Wednesday, Kardashian, 28, said, “Call me crazy, but when I saw the picture [of Simpson performing Jan. 25 in Pembroke Pines, Fla.], I was like, ‘Oh my God, Jessica looks hot!’ “

Kardashian, whose E! reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians returns in March, says she has no issues whatsoever with Simpson’s outfit, which many critics slammed. “I actually love the outfit. I think she looks amazing. I love high-waisted jeans, I loved that belt, and her hair looked fabulous.”

Adds Kardashian, who’s attending the Super Bowl this weekend with football player beau Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints, “I get that she does look curvier, but to me, there’s nothing wrong it.”

No stranger herself to barbs about her own curvy physique, Kardashian says, “It doesn’t really bother me anymore. I love curves. Being super skinny just isn’t attractive to me. When I saw that picture, I knew everyone was going to say something. And I thought, ‘You know what? Leave Jessica alone!’ She’s fabulous, she’s a really sweet girl, and I admire her for putting up with it.”

source:people.com/people/article/0,,20255504,00.html

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz defends sister Jessica’s fuller figure

Singer Jessica Simpson is seen backstage at the 99.9 Kiss Country 24th Annual Chili Cook Off at CB Smith Park on in Pembroke Pines, Florida. More Jessica Simpson photos (Logan Fazio / Getty Images / January 25, 2009)

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz is firing back at Fox News after a recent report titled ” Jessica Simpson Shocks Fans With Noticeably Fuller Figure.”

“I am completely disgusted by the headlines concerning my sister’s weight,” Simpson-Wentz blogs on MySpace, adding, “Is this something you would say to your wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, or even a friend? I seriously doubt it.”

Simpson-Wentz, who has had her own problems with the media, including a 2004 lip-syncing scandal, also poses the question: “How can we expect teenage girls to love and respect themselves in an environment where we criticize a size 2 figure?”

source-.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0129-ft-ashlee-simpsonjan29,0,3847372.story

Sources close to Britney Spears tell E! that despite U.K. tabloid babblings to the contrary, Britney did not fly off to Jodhpur, India, to spend a few days around Christmas with a new Indian boyfriend.

“Britney is not in India,” says one Britney source, while another dubs the report a “total fabrication.”

Among the erroneous info being shoveled, the U.K. tabloid noted that the Circus singer’s supposed new boyfriend, Sandip Soparrkar, choreographed her “Womanizer” video. In fact, the video was choreographed by her longtime choreographer Andre Fuentes.

Sources tell E! News that Britney, who on Dec. 23 wished fans a “Happy Holidays” on BritneySpears.com by sending out a holiday card with her two boys, spent Christmas at home in Los Angeles.

Britney reportedly left L.A. via private jet on Sunday afternoon and headed to Kentwood, La., where, a Britney fansite reports, Sean and Jayden are with mom.

Though we haven’t been able to confirm it yet, Britney is expected to stay in Louisiana for the reported Dec. 31 New Orleans wedding of her brother, Bryan, and his fiancée, Graciella Sanchez, Jamie Lynn’s manager.

Sources close to Britney Spears are telling E! Entertainment that U.K. tabloid reports about Brit taking up with Bollywood stud Sandip Soparrkar are only so much chicken curry.

No, Britney did not fly off to Jodhpur, India, to spend a few days around Christmas with a new Indian boyfriend.

No, Soparrkar did not choreograph her “Womanizer” video. In fact, the video is the work of longtime choreographer Andre Fuentes, which makes sense because it is like all her other videos.

No, they have not been dating for three weeks, which means that Soparrkar is not really a steadying force in her life, which means Brit is still as crazy as ever. Oh well.

Sources tell E! News that the pop star spent Christmas at her home in Los Angeles. “Britney is not in India,” says one source; another dubs the report a “total fabrication.”

Britney reportedly left L.A. on Sunday afternoon for Kentwood, La., reportedly with her two children, Sean and Jayden in tow. Britney is expected to stay in Louisiana for a reported Dec. 31 wedding in New Orleans between her brother, Bryan, and his fiancee, Jamie Lynn’s manager Graciella Sanchez.

DAVID Beckham has unveiled a new tattoo … and it’s one wife Victoria begged him not to get.

The tattoo, inside his left arm, could be seen as he trained with Italian giants AC Milan for the first time at a camp in Dubai.

Britain’s Daily Mail reports today that the tatt – a biblical proverb – caused angry scenes in the Beckham house, with Victoria reportedly furious that her husband ignored her pleas not to add to his already considerable body art.

The design – created by Beckham’s regular artist Louis Malloy – is a Hebrew translation of My son, do not forget my teaching but keep my commands in your heart.

It accompanies another Hebrew phrase on the same arm which reads: I am my beloved and my beloved is mine.

The Mail said it was told by a source: “Victoria doesn’t think David should have any more tattoos and tried to stop him having another.

“She likes them but wants a bit of his skin to be left, but David went ahead with it anyway.”

Tension in the Beckham household also peaked earlier this year when the couple decided not to fly home for the 60th birthday of David’s father, Ted, just  after his near-fatal heart attack.

But Victoria, 34, tried to end the feud by holding a family Christmas at their mansion in Hertfordshire – which is when Beckham fitted in his visit to the tattoo parlour.

Milan arrived in Dubai yesterday to start their winter training camp in the Gulf emirate.

It will culminate in the Dubai Football Challenge match against German team Hamburg.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24858847-2883,00.html

Britney Spears and Paris Hilton may not be BFFs, at least not anymore, but that doesn’t mean they don’t share a similar in men!

According to In Touch Magazine, Britney is reportedly dating rocker Benji Madden, the brother of Joel Madden and ex boyfriend of Paris Hilton.

The mag reports that the pair was seen at the in Beverly Hills. This news comes just days after Benji and Paris Hilton split.

Paris Hilton, who apparently remains friends with Benji, has not commented on the rumor.