[hellinahandcart]

so I’ll ask you, why YOU think it probably isn’t him?

Hope you don't mind if I answer too.

Guy in the photo looks beefier than Michael Phelps. Yes, I'm aware everyone is saying he "gained weight" after the Olympics, but I don't know too many guys who gain a lot of weight in their necks that fast.

The guy in the photo is darker-complected. If Michael Phelps was pasty-white at the end of the summer, why would he have a tan on November 6 (when this photo was supposedly taken)?

None of his identifiable facial characteristics are on display in that photo. His forehead and hairline are covered by a cap, his mouth's inside the bong, his chin is tucked in and down. Yes this fellow in the picture has ears that stick out. But since they're in profile, you can't really say for sure that those are Michael Phelps' ears.

My husband said "Check out his hands, the guy has really freaky hands" (which I had never noticed), but he and I both looked at the BIG pic available at the NOTW website and didn't see anything particularly freaky about the hands.

Don't even get me started about whether I think the story is plausible. "Secret girlfriend?" Give me a break. If I were going to keep a girlfriend secret, I think I'd keep the STRIPPER a secret, not a college girl.

There you go. Just a few reasons why I'm completely unconvinced. Now, if someone can prove he wears a tacky blingy watch like the one in the photo, I'll think about changing my mind.

[Netizen]

Hope you don't mind if I answer too.

Not at all.

Guy in the photo looks beefier than Michael Phelps. Yes, I'm aware everyone is saying he "gained weight" after the Olympics, but I don't know too many guys who gain a lot of weight in their necks that fast.

He didn't need to gain a bunch of weight in his neck. He already had a big neck.

The guy in the photo is darker-complected. If Michael Phelps was pasty-white at the end of the summer, why would he have a tan on November 6 (when this photo was supposedly taken)?

The following picture is from Us Magazine, with their caption:

Michael Phelps attends a press conference as part of the Olympic Handover ceremony on August 24, 2008 in London.

Notice the date, August 24, 2008. He is NOT pasty white and this is right after the olympics. He has a tan in late August.

There you go. Just a few reasons why I'm completely unconvinced. Now, if someone can prove he wears a tacky blingy watch like the one in the photo, I'll think about changing my mind.

Why do you think the watch is blingy? It looks like one of those watches that have chrome ridges going around the dial. Very much like the watch he happens to be wearing in the Us magazine pic above.

[Hot Tabasco]

I thought it was bogus too but on NBC's pre-bowl game they announced that Phelps had issued a press release admitting to the story and apologizing to literally everyone for his stupid behavior and promising the such childish behavior will never, ever happen again.

A Very Class Act considering he could have ignored it all then denied it all..........

I think he probably just learned the most important lesson of his life. He's ok in my book.....