Quote:
Originally Posted by gettysburgfreak
I havent, and I am soon to be 23. Hes got a reputation to uphold. Stupid thing to do IMO. Why risk your rep and or lots of money worth of endorsements?
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He does not swim for endorsements and never asked to be a role model. Just as some companies won't want to be associated with Phelps, there will be a whole bunch of companies that will want to. The persona that he has now created also has cache.
Phelps is an international icon, and there's plenty of World and Euro brands that aren't concerned about his private matters at all. Some sponsors are using his past time as reason to sever their relationships, while it is really that they want to cut costs and this is a good excuse to save.
He is a swimmer first, and he should not lose sight on that. I would be more concerned with his drunk driving as that is way more serious than smoking pot at a party.