Michael Phelps' Bong Picture Causing Quite a Stir (If It's Him)

Michael Phelps, Olympic hero, has allegedly been busted smoking out of a bong (which is a large glass pipe used to smoke marijuana). Presuming the accuracy of these photos, the "Michael Phelps Bong Incident" will become the latest in a line of events that have moved Phelps away from "Olympic hero" status and into the dreaded "sketchy athlete" realm.

The photo, which you can view here, comes from News of the World and it apparently portray Phelps at a University of South Carolina house party, following Cypress Hill's advice.

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."

News of the World is obviously making a big deal out of this -- they stand to make a ton of money in name recognition and Web site traffic once the word of this gets front and center. But really, is it that surprising that a 23-year-old uber-celebrity likes to party? I say -- emphatically -- "no."

However, that doesn't make Phelps' decision to throw down in public at a major university (in this day and age of camera phones, etc.) any less ridiculous.

And while advertisers can certainly forgive his tabloid-friendly romances, a shoddy SNL performance and even his bringing home a cocktail waitress for Thanksgiving, if these photos prove to be Phelps ripping tubes, you better believe that his market value is going to take a tremendous plunge.

Did You See That?

The field clears a fence during the New Season Handicap Steeplechase during the at Ludlow Racecourse on September 16, 2008 in Ludlow, England.

Emanuele Canonica of Italy helps his caddie in the rescue of a pigeon from the water around the 18th green during the first round of the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 16, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.

A multiexposure image showing Britain's Andy Murray returning to Croatian Marin Cilic during a last sixteen tennis match at the Madrid Masters in Madrid on October 16, 2008. Andy Murray won 7-5, 7-6.

English football fans dressed in armours and tunics play in a friendly match against Belarus fans in Minsk on October 15, 2008 before the start of the Belarus vs. England 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier of European group 6 match.

Travis Brigley (R) of Hamburg fights with Matt Keith (L) of Ingolstadt during the DEL match between Hamburg Freezers and ERC Ingolstadt at the Color Line Arena on October 14, 2008 in Hamburg, Germany.

Russian Nikolay Davydenko returns a ball to US Robby Ginepri during a second round tennis match at the Masters in Madrid on October 15, 2008.

A golf ball which has been enveloped by the tree over many years is pictured during the pro-am for the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 15, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.

Andy Murray of Great Britain plays football during his training session prior to his thrid round match tomorrow at the Madrid Masters tennis tournament at the Madrid Arena on October 15, 2008 in Madrid, Spain.

Samuel Peter from Nigeria gets a punch from Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine during their WBC heavyweight boxing world championship fight in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Klitschko won the fight after round nine due to technical knock out.

Herbert Knosowski, AP

Japan's Kyoko Hamaguchi (lower) fights with China's Hong Yan (red) during the semi-final of the 72kg class of the Women's Wrestling World Championships in Tokyo on October 13, 2008. Hong defeated Hamaguchi and will face Bulgaria's Stanka Zlateva in the final.

Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP/Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)

1-31-2009 @ 7:45PM

andrew said...

Who cares?

1-31-2009 @ 7:52PM

one45onthedash said...

pass that

2-04-2009 @ 12:48AM

Ron said...

They should definitely leave him alone.

1-31-2009 @ 8:01PM

jmuledeer69 said...

At least he isn't smoking pole.

1-31-2009 @ 8:26PM

diplobrat said...

Thanks! In light of what my life has been of late, I needed a giggle...Kudos!

2-04-2009 @ 12:36AM

organizedkaos76 said...

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

cahad56441 said...

he's had a DUI in the past.

2-01-2009 @ 9:25AM

hockeyfan39 said...

So?

1-31-2009 @ 8:12PM

stratohog said...

You can't tell if that's him from that lousy picture.These scumbags will do anything to try and ruin someone.Even if it is him,the guy spent his whole life swimming,24/7/365,now he's finally seen some reward for all of his hard work.he deserves a few tokes off of a bong if he wants to.At least the guy has done something with his life instead of sitting on his ass and watching american idol and passing judgement like most people,who are nothing more than pissed off,armchair critic wanna' be,never been and never will's.

2-01-2009 @ 8:31AM

the2swansons said...

I could not have said it better. Leave the guy alone. So what, he smokes a little weed. Big deal. It's not steroids. Pot should be legal. We have wasted more money fighting a losing battle on pot and for what? Pot is no worse than drinking a beer. Heck more people die from drinking and drinking related causes than all drugs together. We should legalize it and tax the heck out of it like we do Cigs. Pot is the largest business in this country. If we taxed it we could help pay down our national debt in no time.

2-01-2009 @ 11:52AM

gd said...

Well said Strats, well said

2-01-2009 @ 9:22PM

Josh said...

amen to that
and people better not make a big deal about this
we all so easily looked past Obama's drug years. this should be no problem

2-04-2009 @ 1:07AM

j0rdanhang said...

DAMN STRAIGHT!!

1-31-2009 @ 8:46PM

Okay class, it's time once again for another episode of "Reality Check". IF, and I repeat if this is indeed Mr. Phelps (I doubt it, the facial hair and bone structure aren't right) he is using an herbal preparation that is anything BUT a performance enhancer (as a former soccer star, I know). As to the 'legalization issue', fuggetaboutit. The amount of money for black budget operations relies heavily on the illicit sale of drugs, and the money sucked out of our taxes for prevention of same is a porcine project of monumental proportions. Just as FDR repealed the Prohibition act, corporations will eventually find a way to profit from this benign herb. Conclusion: Methinks a look-alike is laughing his ass off at the gullible fools who believe him to be Mr. Phelps, and taking advantage of them at every turn. If I am wrong (it's been known to happen) then kudos to you Michael, for breaking free of the leash. I know (being the former soccer star that I was) how the regimen of your training is worse than prison. Aloha!!!

1-31-2009 @ 9:09PM

AmericanMade08 said...

i cant tell if its him in the picture, but there are witness accounts. first off, screw the people who are ratting him out, thats messed up. second, WHO CARES? its marijuana, big freaking deal. i dont smoke anything but i do think its ridiculous that its illegal, yet alcohol and cigarettes are legal. anyway, the dude has 14 freakin medals and is LOADED with cash and records, ya really think this is gonna hurt him much? if there is no punishment, the world will forget within 2 weeks and hell be back in the pool, loved by everyone. the dudes just a kid, remember that, let him enjoy his life.

1-31-2009 @ 10:28PM

Robert said...

Good morning Mr Phelps if you decide to smoke this bong as always, and are caught the others will disavow any knowledge of your actions.
This bong will self destruct in five seconds

2-01-2009 @ 11:56AM

lmao