Phelps in car wreck

[tapintoamerica]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iu3D0aQwfpVIj1ejvyxeBV5VuQVAD9A2N2500

First of all, a story about a collision was written by Kasey Jones. Somewhere, Jerry Garcia is smiling.

Second thing: The story says alcohol wasn't a factor. This, to me, is good reporting because Phelps has a prior DWI. That question was the first one on everybody's mind when the heard of Phelps being in a car accident. The reporter asked it and got it out there.

This makes me think of Sean Taylor. I'm not saying the situations are identical because clearly they're not. When Taylor died, it seems to me that many readers wondered if his past played any role in the killing. To me, every live news story on the Taylor murder had an obligation to address the issue. Every reporter had an obligation to ask the cops in some fashion if there was any known link between Taylor's past and the murder. Even if you only get a cop saying, "It's too early to know," or words to that effect, it's an important question.
I bring this up because the leaps of a few columnists on this topic, some of which may have been excessive, led the masses to condemn the media in general as racist for daring to wonder. I believe that charge was also unfair. There's a difference between asking (as one might do in a live news story) and leaping (as a columnist might.)

What say you?

 

[Ace]

Asking the cops if alcohol was a factor in a car crash should be standard operating procedure for any wreck that you deem worthy of putting in the paper.

 

[JackReacher]

Asking the cops if alcohol was a factor in a car crash should be standard operating procedure for any wreck that you deem worthy of putting in the paper.

Exactly. I'm not sure the writer should be given an award for doing what he/she is supposed to do. Especially something that "duh."

 

[steveu]

Alcohol and seat belts are the two standards... you could even put in there cell phones with the amount of yahoos that are on cell calls when they crash. Texting, too.

One other question: Was there weed found in the car? Given it's Phelps, it's a routine question to ask.

 

[RedSmithClone]

Damn . . . I was hoping it was Fred Phelps that was in a wreck.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Was marijuana a factor?

 

[93Devil]

I thought it was a train wreck, but that was a few months ago.

 

[tapintoamerica]

Mizzou and steveu: Excellent question re: pot. That should have been asked or otherwise addressed.

Ace: You're right as well. This story caught my eye because the reference was especially high -- no pun intended -- in the story.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Is Ken Phelps OK?

 

[steveu]

Damn, I thought it was Jim Phelps. He could get away and his vehicle could self-destruct in five seconds. (Too old a reference for this board?) :)

 

[exmediahack]

Considering his other 'activities' since the Olympics, they should find out if he was getting, ahem, 'serviced' at the time of impact...

That affects driving, too...

 

[Joe Williams]

No love for me?

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Oooops!

BALTIMORE -- Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps was driving with an invalid, out-of-state license and told police he drank a beer about an hour and 15 minutes before he was involved in an accident, Baltimore police said Friday.

That he didn't cause the accident is irrelevent. He's still drinking and driving. Didn't care enough to learn his lesson. Doesn't care enough to follow traffic laws.

 

[lmcmillan33]

Drinking is irrelevent. He drank so little and enough time passed that he probably had less alcohol in his system than if he had taken cold medication.

It is true that he was careless in letting his license expire again. That is a much more minor offense, but it does show some immaturity.

An update said he also will be cited for not registering his license in Maryland, where he now lives again, after showing police a Michigan license.

The story also said neither offense carries a fine. He just has to go before a magistrate and explain why it happened. It's surprising to me that any state doesn't fine people for driving without a license. It's almost just like you get a scolding and no real punishment.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Drinking is irrelevent. He drank so little and enough time passed that he probably had less alcohol in his system than if he had taken cold medication.

That's what he says he drank, and when.

Considering that he already has an underage DUI, it's incredibly irresponsible to drink just before going out for a drive. Phelps shows that he really doesn't care about drinking and driving.

Apparently he doesn't believe himself from his underage DUI:

"Last week, I made a mistake," Phelps said Monday night, as quoted by The Washington Post. "Getting in a car with anything to drink is wrong, dangerous and unacceptable. I'm 19 but was taught no matter how old you are, you should always take responsibility for your actions, which I will do."

Q&A from Time:

How has your view on drinking been affected--especially now that you're in college at the University of Michigan--since being arrested for DUI [in 2004]? Jeff Braham, CULVER CITY, CALIF.

I'm focused on swimming right now--big, going into the Olympics. Having my DUI happen was a learning experience. Being in a college environment, it's my job to try to help make sure people don't make the same mistake I made.

Wonder what he learned.

None of this had an impact on him either:

(AP) Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps was sentenced to 18 months probation Wednesday after pleading guilty to drunken driving.

"I recognize the seriousness of this mistake. I've learned from this mistake and will continue learning from this mistake for the rest of my life," Phelps told the judge as more than 100 spectators packed the courtroom, mostly to see the famed Olympic champion.

Under the terms of his probation, Phelps must give speeches to students at three Wicomico county schools by June 1, advising youngsters about making choices and warning them about the dangers of alcohol.

Whitehead also ordered Phelps, 19, to abstain totally from alcohol and illegal drugs during his probation and attend a victim impact panel meeting sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. He was fined $250 and ordered to pay $55 in court costs.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Drinking is irrelevent. He drank so little and enough time passed that he probably had less alcohol in his system than if he had taken cold medication.

That's what he says he drank, and when.

Considering that he already has an underage DUI, it's incredibly irresponsible to drink just before going out for a drive. Phelps shows that he really doesn't care about drinking and driving.

Apparently he doesn't believe himself from his underage DUI:

"Last week, I made a mistake," Phelps said Monday night, as quoted by The Washington Post. "Getting in a car with anything to drink is wrong, dangerous and unacceptable. I'm 19 but was taught no matter how old you are, you should always take responsibility for your actions, which I will do."

Q&A from Time:

How has your view on drinking been affected--especially now that you're in college at the University of Michigan--since being arrested for DUI [in 2004]? Jeff Braham, CULVER CITY, CALIF.

I'm focused on swimming right now--big, going into the Olympics. Having my DUI happen was a learning experience. Being in a college environment, it's my job to try to help make sure people don't make the same mistake I made.

Wonder what he learned.

None of this had an impact on him either:

(AP) Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps was sentenced to 18 months probation Wednesday after pleading guilty to drunken driving.

"I recognize the seriousness of this mistake. I've learned from this mistake and will continue learning from this mistake for the rest of my life," Phelps told the judge as more than 100 spectators packed the courtroom, mostly to see the famed Olympic champion.

Under the terms of his probation, Phelps must give speeches to students at three Wicomico county schools by June 1, advising youngsters about making choices and warning them about the dangers of alcohol.

Whitehead also ordered Phelps, 19, to abstain totally from alcohol and illegal drugs during his probation and attend a victim impact panel meeting sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. He was fined $250 and ordered to pay $55 in court costs.

So what's your proof that he was drunk? Because he said he had a beer? Any field sobriety tests? Any BAC levels? Or just your incredibly informed assumption?

 

[lmcmillan33]

I take him at his word on what he drank because the police said he didn't show any signs of drinking. He probably could have said he had nothing and this wouldn't have been an issue, but he was honest.