Bitten and Bound » Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps Car Accident (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Meg — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:30:50 +0000

Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps, driving a late model Cadillac Escalade, was involved in a traffic accident in Baltimore last night at the intersection of Calvert and Biddle Street. One of the vehicles reportedly went through a red light, causing the two car collision.

The other vehicle involved in the crash was a Honda Accord. The female driver, Amanda E. Virkus, was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center with neck and arm injuries. She was treated and later released. Police charged her with failure to obey a red light.

Police questioned Phelps following the crash and allowed him and his two passengers to leave the scene. Phelps was not given a breathalyzer test, though he did admit that he had consumed a beer approximately one hour prior to the accident. According to police official Anthony Guglielemi,“There was no need. He was completely coherent. He was cooperating with police. He gave a witness statement as to what occurred.”

Phelps pleaded guilty in 2004 to driving while impaired by alcohol in Wicomico County. He will be required to go before a judge once again to explain why he was driving with a suspended Michigan drivers license. According to police officials, his license is no longer valid because he failed to pay an earlier fine – the result of having no proof of insurance.

View video coverage of the crash scene below.

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Michael Phelps Apologizes To China At Mazda’s Urging (Video)

Meg — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:55:16 +0000

Michael Phelps has issued a second apology for his recent bad behavior. First he released a written statement, apologizing to his fans throughout the world for the “regrettable” bong incident. Now he has filmed a formal apology to the people of China.

It appears it isn’t so much about his continued remorse as it is an opportunity to cement a new $1 million deal with Mazda that prompted the video apology. The automaker is solidly behind the 23 year old athlete and corporate executives are moving forward with their decision to have him promote their products, with one proviso. They felt a taped message to Phelps’ Chinese fans was the right move for the athlete and good for the brand.

Mazda released the following statement: “His expression of remorse and his determination to make amends, and especially his video apology and expression of thanks to the Chinese people, give us confidence that Phelps can make a healthy return to the pool and have even more brilliant achievements.”

Check out the new apology video below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2xm8nRpMkE[/youtube]

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Michael Phelps Suspended, Dropped By Kellogg’s

Meg — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:56:10 +0000

The recent firestorm surrounding Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps continues to have fallout for the hero athlete. He admitted over the weekend that he had smoked marijuana at a party in November 2008.

Phelps found out yesterday that he has been suspended for three months from competitive swimming by its governing body, USA Swimming. They have also withdrawn their financial support for the athlete.

In a statement yesterday, they said:

“This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero. Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to earn back our trust.”

Earlier in the day Thursday, the Kellogg Company said it will not renew Phelps’ advertising contract. “Michael’s 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 it.”

To add further to Phelps’ woes, the Richland County South Carolina sheriff’s department is looking into whether Phelps smoked marijuana on the University of South Carolina campus. They plan to file criminal charges if it is determined that he did.

Phelps has endorsement contracts with a significant number of top branded companies. No word yet on whether they will follow Kellogg’s lead and sever ties with the winner of 14 Olympic gold medals.

More photos below.

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Michael Phelps Apologizes For “Regrettable” Behavior

Meg — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:24:50 +0000

Michael Phelps landed in some very hot water earlier this week after controversial photos of the Olympic phenom smoking a marijuana pipe ended up on the front pages of a British tabloid.

The champion of the Beijing Olympic Summer Games, with 8 gold medals, has acknowledged that the shot is the real deal. He released a statement on Sunday saying, “I’m 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect of me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public – it won’t happen again.” Check it out on his Facebook page here.

The US Olympic Committee, in their own statement, expressed disappointment but seemed to cut Phelps some slack. “Michael has acknowledged that he made a mistake and apologized for his actions. We are confident that, going forward, Michael will consistently set the type of example we all expect from a great Olympic champion.”

There has been no word yet on whether any of his endorsement contracts will be terminated by disgruntled corporations.

Check out the photo that caused the firestorm in a CNN video below.

See pics of his girlfriend Caroline ‘Caz’ Pal here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Didd4dE74Ho[/youtube]

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Caroline “Caz” Pal: Michael Phelps Girlfriend

Andrea — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:38:33 +0000

Caroline “Caz” Pal, Michael Phelps‘ girlfriend, spent Thanksgiving in Baltimore with the Olympic champ and his family.

Caroline Pal is a 26-year-old cocktail waitress at the Moon Nightclub in the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

“She’s there [in Maryland] meeting his family for the first time,” a source close to Pal told People magazine.

Phelps has been spending time in Las Vegas working on his poker game and hopes to participate in the 2009 World Series of Poker.

Some people think Caz is the cocktail waitress Phelps was groping in the infamous photos that made the rounds on the net a few months ago. ‘Memba those?

I haven’t been able to dig up much on Caz, however, I did note that there was an event at Moon Nightclub on October 16, titled “Champagne Seduction – A Birthday Celebration for Caz,” which was touted with the promo below.

I also found a Facebook profile for a Caz Pal in Los Angeles. Not being on her friend’s list, I was only able to see the thumbnail picture, but after enlarging it a bit, I have to say, I still can’t tell much.

Could the Caz in the birthday celebration photos be the same as one of the girls in the Facebook pic? And if so, then it definitely doesn’t look like the same girl in the aforementioned groping photos…

UPDATE: Seems I was right. Photos of Caz have now hit the net, and she is definitely the girl in the pics above. (see many more pictures below)

One thing I have learned is that cocktail waitresses at Moon Nightclub apparently have one up on the rest of us in meeting and dating celebs. George Clooney’s ex-gal pal, Sarah Larson, also worked at the club when the two met.

More photos of Caroline Pal below.

Just Jared has many more photos of Caz, and some are quite naughty!

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Michael Phelps Captured in Wax (Photos)

Meg — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 23:18:25 +0000

Michael Phelps likeness has been captured in wax but not by any of the world’s famed Madame Tussauds wax museums. The National Museum Wax Art Exhibition in Beijing has unveiled their best effort at American Olympic swimming champion and eight gold medal winner Michael Phelps.

The new exhibit of Olympians has reportedly been very popular. We have only one problem with wax Michael – he’s got ears that would rival Dumbo. We’re just saying….

Check out a closeup from another view below.

Photos: WENN

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Michael Phelps Snags SNL and VMA Gigs (Photos)

Meg — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:39:46 +0000

Michael Phelps, still basking in the glory of 8 Olympic gold medals, is busy with any number of television opportunities. He will make his acting debut on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live on September 13. Appearing as the musical guest will be one of Phelps personal favorites, Lil Wayne.

Also announced today is that Phelps will appear on MTV’s Video Music Awards on September 7, live from Los Angeles. His role at the VMA’s is not yet known but speaks to the athlete’s sudden popularity.

The swimming phenom has a new love interest that came to light following his epic performance in Beijing. Australian swimmer and gold medalist Stephanie Rice has reportedly hooked up with Phelps. Check out photos of the couple here.

Check out photo gallery below.

Top Row Photos: WENN

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