The bong hit heard 'round the world continues to have far-reaching repercussions, as Michael Phelps has recorded the above video to the "Chinese friends" who saw him win eight Olympic gold medals in Beijing last summer.
Phelps looks into the camera and reads aloud the open letter he wrote to Chinese fans:
Phelps never specifically mentions the "behavior that was regrettable," but apparently the photo of him appearing to smoke marijuana has been viewed enough in China that everyone there will know that's what he's referencing.To my Chinese friends,
As many of you know, I recently engaged in a behavior that was regrettable and not what people have come to expect from me.
The past few days have been tough for me, but I've received support and encouragement online from so many Chinese friends.
I will learn from these mistakes, train hard, and make you proud again.
To the young people of China, please learn from this lesson. Be positive in life, and do the right things.
I've had so many great experiences in China over the past few years, and have enjoyed learning about your culture and your history.
But it's the warmth and the forgiveness in the messages I've received from China that has really lifted me over the past few days.
Thanks again for your support and encouragement. I look forward to returning to China soon.
The New York Times reports that the video is being distributed in China by Mazda, the Japanese automaker that is trying to expand its presence in China and has signed Phelps to an endorsement deal.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dear Micheal, PLEASE stop apologizing for getting high. The media is kicking your ass but hopefully you can see that you have done no serious harm to anyone, mostly yourself. Raise your head up high and dont regret your actions
Whats he apologizing for? PWNING everyone in the swimming pool? Other athletes do it, sports writers do it, former (and current) presidents did it. All Phelps did was give the Media a juicy story so they could keep their jobs for a little longer. Toke it up pimp.
Please! How about a word up to the millions of American fans that have come out to support you? Why on earth are you apologizing? Twelve states have decriminalized it, with two more trying to pass sane legislation.Prohibition didn't work in the 30's and it isn't working now.Millions of productive people use it just to relax.Get the facts, hemp has a myriad of uses including biofuels, and it's a WEED! It grows almost ANYWHERE! Therein lies the problem. The corporate fat cats don't want to lose their piece of the pie.
why is Michael apologizing - didthey say "sorry" when they put those 12 year olds in the gymnastics!!!! dontthink so
Will the Chinese apologise for single handedly destroying tiger and rhino populations globally with their barbarous "traditional medicine" witchcraft and quackery?
Will the Chinese apologise for boiling cats alive and eating dog?
How about an apology for gross cruelty to animals and outright savagery to their fellow humans?
Will the Chinese apologise for the hundreds of infants they poisoned with their shoddy milk- one of millions of their half-ass products made purely for profit, no matter the human cost?
What about Chinese single handedly being the worst environmental polluter on the planet?
Chinese ill-founded endemic pompous arrogance, predatory exploitation, xenophobia and blatant racism as per "one white cover one thousand blemishes"?
Chinese have an awful lot more to apologise for than Phelps smoking dope.
Apologize?? FOR WHAT???? Leave the man alone. This is so lame.Just shut up already.
PHELPS IS A KID AND OBVIOUSLY NOT A STREET WISE ONE. SET ASIDE HIS ATHLETIC ABILITY AND HE IS LOST. HE NEEDS A 2 MINUTE DRILL ON INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE WHO SEE HIM AS A DOLLAR SIGN AND WOULD COMPROMISE HIM IN A MINUTE TO ENHANCE THERE STATION IN LIFE.DID SMOKING POT RUIN HIS CAREER? NO OF COURSE NOT BUT HE IS NOT AN ENTERTAINER IN THE HOLLYWOOD MODE WHERE DOING THAT SOUGHT OF THING IS THE RULE RATHER THEN THE EXCEPTION. HE IS A ROLE MODEL.I KNOW PEER PRESSURE AND BEING ONE OF THE GUYS CAN BE OVERWHELMING BUT PHELPS YOU WORKED SO HARD YOU ARE A MAGNIFICENT ATHLETE SO REMEMBER YOUNG MAN IN YOUR CASE DESCRETION IS THE BETTER PART OF VALOR. GOOD LUCK JOE CAPRIO
The War on Marijuana has be going on now for 70 years. More people smoke pot today, by percentage, than in 1937. The only thing wasted is tax money. We are paying far more taxes today because the prohibition of marijuana. All the wasted money on enforcement, judicial, and prison systems. Also all the lost tax monies by not taxing it. Talk about waste in government. It is well known that Al Capone was a big supporter of the prohibition of alcohol. Why? There's a lot more profit to made in the untaxed market. There's so much profit that Capone bribed numerous politicians and law enforcement officials. Presently the drug cartels are controlling the production and sale of marijuana, not our government. The economic crisis today is compared to that of the Great Depression, and what paid for the New Deal that helped pull the country out of that crisis, the end of prohibition of alcohol. Let it also be noted that the baseball great Babe Ruth drink illegal alcohol throughout his career. He played from 1914 to 1935, the prohibition of alcohol was from 1920 to 1933. Isn't he in the Baseball Hall of Fame? Maybe now is the time to end the prohibition of marijuana.
Well I gave him some credit...that is before I read this article. What a baby. The only reason he's apologizing is for money?! You've got to be kidding me.
At least Michael Phelps didn't suck all the sportsmanship and internationalism out of the Olympics.
He's bust'n loose - loose from the hours and hours of practice, loose from his Mother - even though he loves her, loose from trying to be such a great example. No, I do not think the bong thing was good at all - but I can kinda see the need to be a bad boy for a bit.
He apologized because he is 'supposed to be' an example for youth. Partly that's what the Olympics are all about - inspiration for our young. For those who don't get it - you have too many years of pot in your slow brains to comprehend anything this idealistic. Pot bad, clean life good.