Key sponsors Speedo, Omega back Michael Phelps after apology for marijuana pipe photo

Two of Michael Phelps' leading sponsors expressed support for the Olympic great Monday, a day after he apologized for being photographed in a British newspaper inhaling from a marijuana pipe. Luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega termed Phelps' actions a private matter and "nonissue." Swim wear manufacturer Speedo called the 23-year-old American a "valued member of the Speedo team."

Phelps acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after the photo appeared Sunday in the tabloid News of the World.

Speedo gave Phelps a $1 million bonus for his record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. Phelps joined Speedo in 2001, a year after making his Olympic debut in Sydney. He dominated the Beijing Games in the company's high-tech LZR Racer suit.

"In light of Michael Phelps' statement yesterday, Speedo would like to make it clear that it does not condone such behavior and we know that Michael truly regrets his actions," Speedo, which is based in Nottingham, said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Related links PHELPS Photo "Michael Phelps is a valued member of the Speedo team and a great champion. We will do all that we can to support him and his family."

Omega said it was "strongly committed" to its relationship with Phelps, calling his Beijing accomplishments "among the defining sporting achievements in the history of sport."

"The current story in the press involves Michael Phelps' private life and is, as far as Omega is concerned, a nonissue," the company said.

The News of the World said the picture was taken during a November house party while Phelps was visiting the University of South Carolina. Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, an athlete is subject to sanctions only for a positive test during competition periods.

"Michael Phelps is a great Olympic champion," the International Olympic Committee said in a statement to the AP. "He apologized for his inappropriate behavior. We have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model."

I don’t believe God punishes us for our actions on Earth. We have Saints that did horrible things before they was saved. What I believe what God does is show us what we did on Earth and how they affected others and judge us from how we react. If you discovered that a joint you bought years ago indirectly got someone killed and you was very regretful in your heart for your action then I believe God forgives.

On the other hand “Well it isn’t my fault, the government should of legalized it” I don’t think will fly.

**I know how supply chains work, so I don’t merely think but KNOW that the murder example you’re using is at least six degrees separated from the guy smoking a joint.**

I am really interested on how you “KNOW”. I don’t recall drug dealers setting up their system based on Harvard Business School tactics.

But no joint I bought ever indirectly caused anything, not to the layers you’re looking at. I bought from some guy, who bought from some other guy, on and on until you get to some drug cartel that might or might not have been in some war with some other drug cartel. I didn’t tell them to get into a war, and I didn’t make the drugs illegal which created the black market that spawned the cartels, I spent $1 on a joint.

Supply chains work the way they work for reasons that have nothing to do with Harvard Business School. The cartels that get into wars can’t ber bothered with selling dime bags to high school kids. They sell hundreds of kilos to smugglers, who then sell to some guy that’s going to part them out into smaller units for resale, and smaller units again, and again, and probably again, and then finally some high school kid is buying a joint. Million dollar guys aren’t interested in $10 sales, and $10 sales guys don’t have the resources to participate in million dollar sales.

If you’re going to eat all the guilt for everybody on every supply chain in your life you’re going to be doing a lot of praying. Because every supply chain for everything you have ever purchased, has some immoral SOB doing nasty things to kids in it. There’s bad people in the world with legit jobs too, they don’t just work for drug cartel. Collective guilt, like all other forms of collectivism, is just silly.

"...how many of the joint smoking Freepers and general population really grow their own?..."

Dude, it's so easy a caveman could do it. And to do it really well requires only the caveman and a little Miracle Gro. Not that I've ever done it, mind you, but if you can master the concept of "lights on for 12 hours, lights OFF for 12 hours", you can easilyhave prize-winners come spring. Envision the equivalent of the giant pumpkin competition in Half Moon Bay, CA.

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