A Little Late for Image Control

It looks like the only sponsor of Michael Phelps that is going to bail on him in light of his bong picture from The News of the World is Kellogg, because:

The Battle Creek, Mich.-based company said Thursday that Phelps's behavior _ caught on camera and published Sunday in the British tabloid News of the World _ is 'not consistent with the image of Kellogg.'

Hmm, I've never really thought about the image of Kellogg before, but I don't think a stoner will hurt it:

This would be the same company that for decades has been encouraging children to start the day by inhaling sugar by the spoonful. It's also the company that still proudly bears the name of the man who advocated yogurt enemas and pouring carbolic acid on the clitoris to prevent women from experiencing sexual pleasure.

And that leaves out his fondness for eugenics. What a guy!

It reminds me of an episode of The Simpsons where Lisa disrupts Springfield's bicentennial festivities with the revelation that the town found was, in fact, a notorious pirate rather than a Founding Father. The sponsors aren't happy:

Quimby: You are tampering with forces you cannot understand. We have major corporations sponsoring this event.

Lisa: I hope you know you're sponsoring a celebration of a murderous pirate.

Man: A pirate? Well, that's hardly the image we want for Long John Silver's!