Rafael Nadal has Michael Phelps' back.
The Aussie Open champ was asked about the record-setting Olympian's current PR fiasco in which Phelps was caught on camera holding a bong though he claims he did not smoke any marijuana. A sympathetic Rafa told the press:It does not portray the best possible image, but everyone can have a slip-up. In the end sportsmen are just not machines. Everyone is free to do whatever they want.
The Spaniard, who met the champion swimmer during his own gold medal-winning run in Beijing last summer, believes Phelps shouldn't be criticized for personal actions taken while on break from competition:He has been on holiday for some time. He has attained all his goals and he is taking a sabbatical leave and he is totally free to be able to do it. He will have plenty of time to get back and prepare for the coming Games.
Agreed. It's troubling from a sponsorship/PR standpoint but that's about it. What he does on his personal time is his choice but he def needs to be more careful about who he hangs out with and what he's doing in front of cameras.
I mean, hello, you're kinda famous.
(image via Getty)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Rafa backs Phelps, "In the end sportsmen are just not machines," says Nadal
Labels: controversy, media, player quotes, Rafael Nadal, tennis
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I didn't watch the Olympics, so the only thing I can say about Phelps is he is butt ugly.
ReplyDeleteBut more importantly...a Rafa pic!! natch very happy. :D
Yeah, I agree with Rafa... It wasn't really a clever move, but it was his own choice.
ReplyDeleteI always wondered why Phelps found it hard to string a sentence together at Beijing :D
It kind of makes me wonder what Rafa does behind the scenes that he thinks he shouldn't be criticized for because he's not a machine.
ReplyDeleteHehe, maybe Rafa has a dark and dirty side, too. Wanna see! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the Rafapic.
*takes hit*
ReplyDelete*inhales deeply*
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...
Glad to see you got party favors here, too, Rich.
*eyes dialate*
Now, erm...what were we talking about?
Smoke mad blunts homey.
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:34, Rafa is right, athletes are not machines. I don't think it means he's getting up to no good behind the scenes as well. Just they can mess up like anyone else.
ReplyDeleteA bit of weed never made a swimmer go any faster so I don't see the big deal, I'm sure he was just smoking it for 'medicinal purposes' 'giggle'.
Sharon
We fly high, no lie, you know this, BALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLIN
ReplyDeletePhelps will swim with rasta hairdo on the next Olympics.
ReplyDeleteIn the USA what he is doing in his off time is illegal!
ReplyDelete