Michael Phelps speaks with Matt Lauer

March 16, 2009

Matt Lauer talks with Michael Phelps. Why hasn't anyone come forward to admit they took the picture? At the very least two people know who it is.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cilWSl6T2s]

ErickReyKing91

LAUER: How long before we all saw that picture were you aware of its existence?

PHELPS: Not long. Probably maybe one or two days.

LAUER: But when you first saw the picture, when you first laid eyes on it, and realized what it was a picture of, did you start to think how damaging this could be to you personally and your career?

PHELPS: The contract side of things, yeah, I was disappointed. But, you know, I think the biggest thing is — is who I hurt the most.

LAUER: But you had just come off this remarkable achievement that you had worked your entire swimming career for, and did it cross your mind where you thought, that that image of me on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the all those 8 gold medals across my neck is now gonna be the secomd thing people think about. This image of me is what's going to be is going to be in all the papers for the foreseeable future?

PHELPS: I have no control over that.

LAUER: Did you personally, Michael, attempt to make sure the news of the world did not publish that photo.

PHELPS: Personally, no.

LAUER: Did your representatives, that you were aware of?

PHELPS: I don't think so.

[...]

LAUER: Take me back, if you will, to the party in South Carolina. Who were these people you were with? What was going on that night?

PHELPS: I mean, we were just celebrating, honestly. It was just a small group and we were just sitting around and celebrating.

LAUER: I have to ask you: Were you smoking pot?

PHELPS laughs: It was a bad mistake. I mean, we all know what, you know, what you and I are talking about. It’s a stupid mistake. You know, bad judgment.

Lauer reads the statement Phelps put out and then talks about 2004 when Phelps got his DUI. Of course he has to show the footage and Lauer keeps stressing how he's known Phelps over years.

LAUER: How do you look at your fans now and say, I said it the first time, I'm saying it again, but this time I really mean it.

PHELPS: I'll be the first to admit that I've made a lot of mistakes in my life - in the pool and out of the pool - I've never made the same mistake twice.

LAUER: You don't consider these two things to be the same mistake?

PHELPS: In my eyes no. I think they're both stupid and immature mistakes. For me, I feel my duty is to try to help other people not make this mistake....I should have been smarter.

And mom?

PHELPS: Didn't scream. Clearly showed she was upset. She wasn't reprimanding me.

Brace ourselves for our heroes to disappoint us. Then he mentions aroid. Absolutely no comparison. One used a drug to cheat and win his award and one took a hit of a decidely non performance enhancing drug. Both send completely different messages.

PHELPS: I've come to realize that people want to bring you up, but more people want to bring you down. And that's how our public is. That's definitely something to keep in mind and keep close to heart.

Talks about going to London in 2012.

PHELPS: I'm happy. I'm happy being back in the water. I'm comfortable again.

What about the kids looking up to him?

PHELPS: I want to say that if you do make a bad judgment or if you do make a mistake - make sure you're repsonisble for it. Because that's how you're going to change and that's how you're going to learn.

Michael Phelps is a winner. Period.

The loser who tool that photo needs to be given justice. If sheriff lott is going to prosecute the kids who were arrested in regards to the incident, whoever took the picture is going to have to be involved. Because without that photo - there would not have been an investigation and subsequent arrest. Hope they saved a little money for their defense fund - in and out of court.