Pure Speculation – Is Michael Phelps Headed To Choice Center?
Poker playing Olympian prepares to enter a "program."
Last week, poker playing 22-time Olympic medalist, Michael Phelps, was charged with DUI after what was previously reported as a multi-hour gambling stint at the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore.
Having taken to social media to apologize to his fans, this weekend he announced that after a few hard days that he would be “entering a program” to help him better understand himself.
Could this “program” be the “personal development and leadership education” of Choice Center in Las Vegas?
The Choice Center program has been a fad among poker’s elite for the better part of the past couple years with many high profile players taking their turn and investing their time and money in it. Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, John Juanda, Chino Rheem, David Williams and Kristy Arnett are just a few that have been through and praised the process. As has the Michael Phelps connection – “professional best friend”, Jeff Gross.
Gross, a super high roller tournament pro and cash game player, has always been well-known as being an inner circle friend to Phelps. Phelps, of course, outside of swimming, has taken a shine to playing a little high level poker himself.
Could Gross’ influence perhaps lead Phelps into the leadership program over at Choice Center? It’s no secret that Choice Center certainly encourages their graduates to do whatever they can to spread the word, and it’s likely that Phelps has gotten an earful in the past.
Media beast TMZ, along with a number of other news outlets, say that Phelps is going to “rehab” and that certainly may be true. Heading to rehab after an event like a DUI, would make sense on a personal level and also could cynically be seen as a move to obtain a little leniency in the eyes of the court.
But the above tweet certainly doesn’t say rehab, it talks about better understanding oneself, a property that many of the Choice Center grads speak of when reflecting on their time in the program.
Whether it’s Choice Center or traditional rehab, it looks as if Phelps is dealing with his issues head-on.
The 50/50 Series Is Back at PokerStars With $3.5M Guaranteed!
The 50/50 series at PokerStars offer $3.5 million in guaranteed prizes across 50 tournaments taking place over the space of eight days.
WATCH: Phil Galfond Hunts for WSOP Online Bracelet
Galfond live streamed the action as he entered the world of WSOP No-Limit Hold’em tournaments.
PokerStars BSOP in Full Swing: Day 3 Is in the Books
The Main Event of the 2023 BSOP by PokerStars attracted 685 entries, comfortably breaking the R$1.5 million guarantee set by the organizer.
Finally! The Return of Daniel Negreanu’s Daily WSOP Vlog
As the WSOP gets underway so does the daily dose of DNegs.
Watch Full WSOP Coverage This Summer at PokerGO
Get 15% off your PokerGO subscription and enjoy full WSOP 2023 coverage and much more top-quality poker content.
The Wait Is Over! The WSOP 2023 Starts Today!
The poker world’s most anticipated event begins: The World Series of Poker 2023 kicks off in Las Vegas.
WSOP 2023 Coverage Kicks Off in One Week at PokerGO
Sign up for your PokerGO account today using our exclusive bonus code and receive 15% discount on the annual subscription.
Follow the 2023 WSOP Action With Daniel ‘KidPoker’ Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu’s legendary vlog is back for the 2023 WSOP so make sure to subscribe for daily updates from one of the world’s best players!
PokerStars Explores Parallels Between Poker & F1 in a New YouTube Series
The four-part series is a product of cooperation between PokerStars and the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.
Less Than A Week Until The WSOP 2023 Action Begins
Preparations are well underway to welcome poker players to the ultimate poker showdown, the 2023 WSOP.
Lex Veldhuis Going Once Again for a SCOOP Title at PokerStars
Lex Veldhuis has had an amazing SCOOP so far, but the PokerStars ambassador is still looking to close the deal.
PokerStars Unveils the Full 2023 UKIPT Schedule
The 2023 UKIPT by PokerStars will feature seven stops and will culminate with a £1,000,000 GTD event at Dusk Till Dawn
Meet The WSOP 2023 Thrill Team!
WSOP’s free-to-play social poker app celebrates its 10th anniversary with a star-studded Thrill Team
Who to Follow on Social Media During WSOP 2023?
Discover the best Twitter accounts to follow during the 2023 WSOP for your daily source of news, views, and, of course, gossip!
Team PokerStars Share Their Thoughts on the 2023 SCOOP
Find out what plans PokerStars Team Pro members have for the SCOOP, what tournaments they’re hoping to win, and much more.
Win WSOP 2023 Main Event Packages Online at WSOP.com
WSOP is running several promotions across its US sites, giving players a chance to win a WSOP 2023 Main Even seat and travel to Vegas this summer.
Ready, Set, Go: PokerStars SCOOP Kicks Off This Sunday
The 2023 SCOOP kicks off this Sunday on PokerStars, with seven events featuring three orbits each to get the ball rolling.
Join PokerStars Ontario MTT Action This Weekend: $200k+ up for Grabs
The weekend action at PokerStars Ontario is open to all, with buy-ins starting as low as $10 and going all the way up to $500.
2023 WSOP to Feature a Variety of Live Mega Satellites
Live satellites will be available for the entire duration of the WSOP 2023, offering entries to different bracelet events.
Budget Your Way to PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo Event
Learn how you can travel to PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo on a budget and enjoy the luxury experience without breaking the bank.