Kellogg to Drop Olympian Phelps
Will Let Endorsement Deal Expire at Month's End
Feb. 5, 2009
CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- One bong hit seen around the world and Olympian Michael Phelps is watching at least one contract go up in smoke. Kellogg will let the swimmer's contract expire at the end of the month.
"We originally built the relationship with Michael, as well as the other Olympic athletes, to support our association with the US Olympic team," a Kellogg spokeswoman said in a statement. "Michael's most recent behavior is not consistent with the image of Kellogg. His contract expires at the end of February and we have made a decision not to extend his contract."
One is left to hope that was some really good shit.
UPDATE 02.06.09
Subway Stands by Phelps
Sandwich Chain Likely to Delay TV Campaign Starring Olympian
Feb. 6, 2009
CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- Subway has decided to stand by its man despite his bong antics, but the nation's largest fast-food chain is likely to backburner its first TV campaign starring mega-endorser and Olympian Michael Phelps.
"Like most Americans, and like Michael Phelps himself, we were disappointed in his behavior," Subway said in a statement. "Also like most Americans, we accept his apology. Moving forward, he remains in our plans."
8 comments:
I am sure these kinds of abuses are prevalent - to varying degrees - within many athletes spanning many sports. Speaking from experience, as a subpar division one caliber swimmer, former coach, and 16+ years of experience swimming, it seems that pot smoking is the vice of choice for swimmers. Soccer players, here in the midwest, seem to be the biggest rival to the swimmers status as king of the athletic pothead. I don't have any empirical evidence to back this up, but I definitely think that there is some kind of correlation between swimming and pot use. Out of 42 swimmers, my senior year, 29 were frequent tokers. They were also very talented. Of the 29, the heaviest tokers tended to be mid-distance (200 yard) to long-distance (500 yard) event swimmers. Since I started swimming at an early age and travelled around the US swimming, I have come into contact with many different swimmers from many different regions (one former teammate of mine got denied participation in the last Olympics because of drug abuse). The gut feeling I got from my contact with all these swimmers was that pot was very prevalent no matter what geographical or sociodemographical variable. Is there a traceable correlation? I don't know. I do find it rather fascinating.
hmm... my freshman year at Florida State, word in the dorms was the swim team had agreed to see if they could get loaded every night for a school year. one of my friends dropped in from time to time on the assumption there would always be something to smoke. i can't verify whether the pledge was for real or, if so, whether they succeeded. i don't recall any record-breaking performances that year but i was busy gaining 20 pounds in the dining hall so, really, who had the time to check?
I don't smoke pot but I think I will boycott Kelloggs for being so reactionary about this. Their cereals are horrible anyway.
I think Kelloggs made the right decision, personally. Not just for their brand image but because those in the public eye, like the everso-lovable Phelps, should be held to account for their actions. What kind of example would it set if they had done nothing? The media would have condemned Kelloggs worse than they are condemning Phelps and to our children we would basically be implying, "it's fine to break the law as long as you are famous". I am a firm believer that those in the public eye should be treated *differently* than those *not* in the public eye. Some might call that unfair but this verse speaks in that vein, IMO:
Luke 12:48 (The Message)
"The servant who knows what his master wants and ignores it, or insolently does whatever he pleases, will be thoroughly thrashed. But if he does a poor job through ignorance, he'll get off with a slap on the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!"
Jim, did you swim in college?
well, there is Mr. Phelps' 2004 guilty plea for driving impaired, for which he was fined $250, got 18 months probation and had to attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving meeting. see wikipedia for links to news stories.
i cannot and will not vouch for Kellogg cereals though i hear, "They're GRRREAAAAAT!"
and, uh, no; i did not swim in college (or ever).
:) I picture a smirk on your face + a squint in your eyes as you were quoting Tony. LOL. Makes me wish I lived closer.
Massive Googling has also revealed that Kellogg's is less than honest about their health and nutrition labeling, so shame on Phelps for taking sponsorship from a company with low moral fiber.
low moral fiber in a high fiber breakfast ... brilliant
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