Libby Trickett and Janet Evans are none to happy with Phelps!

Libby Trickett plays moral policeman much like Janet Evans did on CNN and tears into Michael Phelps a bit which is odd since she supported Amanda Beard when Beard posed naked in Playboy. Trickett had this to say about Phelps. From AFP:

"Personally, I think he's extremely lucky and if it had fallen under anti-doping laws, the penalty could have been double and that would have cost him a spot at the worlds," Trickett told the Daily Telegraph.

"He's got to face up to the responsibilities that come with being a role model and this is simply unacceptable behaviour from someone with his stature and profile in sport.

"Hopefully, he can learn from the mistake and it's a pretty big fall from grace after what he achieved in Beijing" at the 2008 Olympics, where the American won an unprecedented eight gold medals.

"It takes some of the shine off his spectacular performances in Beijing and this behaviour simply isn't okay."

[Link]

If I could I would like to ask Libby these questions: Can a Playboy Bunny be a role model to age-group swimmers, and which is a bigger moral transgression, posing naked for a soft-porn magazine with great articles in it; (read that as Playboy), or harming yourself with illegal drugs?

Note, Amanda Beard publicized the event whereas Phelps certainly did not want it publicized.

Cyndi Gallagher knew what it took to get Amanda Beard to her fourth consecutive Olympics!

Remember when I was trash-talking Amanda Beard last year about how slow she was? I predicted she wouldn't make the team; (Remember, I am always wrong too.) She rarely finished in the top two but at trials, she certainly found a way and she credits her coach, Cyndi Gallagher!

A profile on the contributions of female swim coaches in the New York Times: "... Gallagher is nurturing, but without her nudging, Beard is convinced she would not have qualified for her fourth consecutive Olympics. “Cyndi is the whole reason I’m on the team,” said Beard, who placed second in the 200-meter breaststroke at the United States trials in Omaha on July 4. “She’s just a stud.” ..." [Link]

Here is her coaching profile over at UCLA: [Link]

Amanda Beard has a nice freestyle! - Check out her PSA spot for "Save the Sharks"

If you didn't catch the Tara Kirk PSA for the same group, here is a link: [Link]

"The Magnificent 13" will compete in the 41st Toyota Santa Clara International Grand Prix, starting Thursday in Santa Clara

Bumped into this by accident and I am glad I did. From the Mercury News: "... U.S. national teams members expected to compete include Olympians Kaitlin Sandeno, Erik Vendt, Kara Lynn Joyce, Amanda Beard, Jason Lezak, Peter Vanderkaay and Margaret Hoelzer, USA Swimming announced today. The field also includes Kim Vandenberg of Moraga and world record-holder Kate Ziegler. ..." [Link]

Available Cowboys and Cowgirl include: Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and Natalie Coughlin.

'Sports Illustrated' has a solid recap of the 'Toyota Grand Prix of Swimming' at the Belmont Plaza

Here are some quotes that stood out:

Michael Phelps on his goggles getting filled with water after a dive: "... "I was struggling to see the walls. You have to deal with trying things that come your way," he said. ..." Of course he won. [I thought I was the only person that happened to; now I there are two of us.]

Amanda Beard being quite gracious about finishing third to a 16-year-0ld, Caitlin Leverenz, and Tara Kirk in the 200 breast: "..."I try to keep quiet about the younger kids because I was 14 once, but I definitely feel older. I look over and the 16-year-olds are going, `Woo!' I got a ways to go," Beard said. "Thank goodness, I'm injury-free. ..."

My favorite quote of all by Tara Kirk: "..."It is different training when you're a 20-something than a teenager," she said. "I like racing against these girls. They bring back why I'm doing this, I love swimming."

And how about that Tara Kirk? A very strong win in the 200 breast with a time of 2:07.94!

Then there is local grrrl, Kaitlin Sandeno, who stormed her fourth title in the 400 IM with a time of 4:05.8.

Again, Sports Illustrated did the heavy lifting on this blog post and you should go read the article. [Link]

The Guardian Unlimited: "Italian swimmer, Luca Marin, has denied putting explicit pictures of his former lover Laure Manaudou on the internet"

Snippet: "...I know nothing about the video and have only seen the photos. Yes, it looks like it's really her but it is ridiculous to think that it was me who put them there," Marin told Tuesday's Gazzetta dello Sport... ." [Link]

Now, what can I say without getting sued in some international court? Hmmm, how about this: Yeah, Luca Marin didn't post these photos but the person that paid for them, or the person acquainted with the owner of these photos certainly did. So, the big question is, were these Luca Marin's photos?

Laure might want to consider pulling an "Amanda Beard"as distasteful as that sounds so as to to at least have a better product out there and to better manage her reputation. (Well, that is to say if the French care in the first place for they are pretty understanding of the human condition.)

Per the Website AskMen.com: Kate Moss "...During her pregnancy, ... posed nude for a near life-size portrait called "Naked Portrait 2002," which sold for approximately $6.5 million at Christie's auction house. [Link])

Laure should consider something similar and either donate the money to charity or use the money to chase down her non-sanctioned photos and 'out' the original poster and distributor and consequently sue from there.

The photo above comes from Chauffeur-de-Buzz [Link]

'GoDaddy' Airs New Amanda Beard Commercial This Weekend

GoDaddy is a domain name registry. From TopHost: "...The ad will debut during the ESPN2 Saturday Night College Football Primetime.

Beard opens her bathrobe for a revealing plot twist in the new commercial titled Shock. The ad also features a cameo appearance by swimming icon Mark Spitz. ..." [Link]

The internet version can be seen here. It appears all cheesecake till the end: [Link]

In South Africa, Ryk Neethling, is a 'rock star' and Ryk sites training in the US and the culture therein for his success

I hope the title does not come off as jingoistic or frantically patriotic for I hate it when a politician or a political party takes credit for a good economy or burgeoning culture as a result of their particular policies. America is great because of the people, the culture, and the innovation herein that we the people have created. It is NOT due to any politician's or political parties contributions.

Ryk Neethling acknowledges the American culture in a speech he gave to the Women In Business Support Initiative in South Africa recently.

Ryk Neethling, gold medalist in the 4x100 free relay at the Athens 2004 Olympics, 9-time NCAA National Champion, Arizona Athlete of the Year and PAC-10 Athlete of the Year for four consecutive years, 1999 NCAA Swimmer of the Year, then there was the University of Arizona Athlete of the Century award and he got to date Playboy Bunny, Amanda Beard, for 6 years according to Wikipedia.

Note that the bulk of his accomplishment happened on the American continent where these sublime accomplishments are mostly under the pop-culture radar but in South Africa, Ryk is a "rock star." From an article I found while searching up Yoga and swimming:

"...Olympic gold medalist Ryk Neethling found himself in the midst of a storm of women begging to have a picture taken with the South African swimming hero. ...

Ryk, South African’s Olympic gold medalist in swimming, was reflecting on the difference between South Africa and the time he spent in America where everything works well. Now that he is back home, he is positive about the change that people can effect in the lives of the less fortunate. Ryk was the guest speaker at the Women In Business Support Initiative (Wibsi) in Lynnwood...

He pointed out that the difference between America and South Africa is that people there know how to dream big and are therefore successful. ...

After his remarkable achievements in the previous Olympic games, Ryk hopes to be successful at the next Olympic games in Beijing in 2008. Until then, he is training hard and swimming at least 10km a day, he does spinning and even has time for yoga in preparation for his final Olympic games. ..."

His shared Advice can be read here: [Link]

I love that photo above of the two fans posing with Ryk. It was located at Flickr.com in escolme's photostream. Here is a direct link to the photo: [Link]

Since March, Kate Zeigler, has been the most searched for swimmer on this blog with 1,863 searches but globally it's all about Amanda Beard!

The next swimmer is Amanda Beard followed by Katie Hoff. I then went to Google Trends to see who are the most searched for swimmers globally in 2007 and there were some surprises. Ian Thorpe is more popular than Michael Phelps searches but Amanda Beard is the top search of all with Laure Manaudou a possible second. Laure and Amanda do not make 30-million-a-year like Michael Phelps is rumored to make.

This surprises me greatly. It means that female swimmers are in more demand than their male counterparts but yet the male swimmers seemingly have the biggest contracts. Madison Avenue is usually is quite amoral about the sexes preferring to go with the "unit" that has the most "constituents." In this case it appears to be female swimmers yet Amanda Beard does not make nearly as much as Michael Phelps and Laure Manadou probably makes only 10% of what Phelps makes.

Amanda Beard and Laure Manaudou are being poorly represented in the marketplace. I recommend that they switch to more Hollywood driven representation. These girls should should be selling perfume and high end clothing rather than Red Bull for Beard and Lancel hand bags if you're Manaudou. But what do I know? I was told I was "F-ing clueless" by an Amanda Beard fan with a USC ip address. [Link]

P.S. Come to think of it, when it comes to swimming, I'm told I'm "F-ing clueless" a lot!" 0_o

Some fast swims in Paris right now.

Therese Alshammar of Sweden nearly set another world record in the 50 fly in a time 25.60. Look at her set the world record in the 50fly above. Her technique is so sublime that her shoulders and gluteus maximus are practically dry throughout the race. Her bones must be made of cork or something.

Britta Steffen won the 100m free with a 53:80. I can't wait to see Couglin, Lenton and Steffen together in the 100 free. I predict Steffen.

" ...Ukraine's Yuliya Pidlisna held off the United States' Amanda Beard, 2:28.65 to 2:28.68, for the bronze. ..." Amanda Beard is swimming faster now as compared to her 2:34.03 set a couple months ago. It's comparable to Recca Soni's prelim time of 2:28.37 set a a couple of days ago but she has some work to do. I wouldn't say her time is anemic but they certainly will not be a top three time at US Nationals either.

Lane 9 News for the full wrap-up [Link]

I have to put more undulation in my breaststroke - Take note of Amanda Beard underwater

I find butterfly such an easier stroke to do because if you do it wrong, you get punish whereas breaststroke is so detail driven. Note the undulation of "Miss July's" body and the timing of her kick.

The stats for the site today went ballistic and it certainly has nothing to do with my typos, bad grammar or infectious personality!

A cover was sent out by Playboy to news organizations such as Sports Illustrated and such so as to create buzz or interest about Amanda Beard's naked body therein. Hence, men all over creation have been looking for leaked Playboy photos of Beard just to see just what kind of conversationalist she really is. So, If you are here looking for naked photos of Beard, just go away!

If you are here to check out some swim stories, get some aquatics info, maybe get a free swim workout or evaluation, please come on in! Your are very appreciated here and I want you to go swimming. Seriously!

The reasons why I hate this whole soft porn stunt by Beard are twofold: If she makes the US Olympic team for Beijing 2008, I guarantee you that her breasts or lack thereof will be the media focal point of the women's team rather than the accomplishments and/or the world record swims of the US women's team. Consequently, I feel their Olympic moments will be cheapened and their endorsement fees reduced!

The second reason is that there is a subtext to those actresses or celebrities who pose for Playboy that I wonder if people notice? When Playboy seduces an actress like Daryl Hannah, Kim Bassinger, or the "Women of Starbucks, Wallmart, Enron, or add-male-fantasy-here, a subtext emerges that ultimately states, Playboy can buy any women in any occupation or circumstance whatsoever. In this case it is an Olympian and she had a price and... (See where I am going with this?)

Both reasons disgust me. I know I am alone in the wilderness on this one. My friends even think I am nuts and they point to my sketchbook and ask me if there is a contradiction, but I don't care. This is how I feel.

Gary Hall and Amanda Weir are swimming next weekend at the 'Ultra Swim USA Swimming Grand Prix'

It would be so cool if Gary Hall swam a 21.6 for the 50 free. What a statement that would make; a world record in an off meet. I think Gary Hall is the most under rated Olympian ever. He has more medals than Ian Thorpe or any other American Sprinter yet you hear all Popov or Jaeger.

Then there is Amanda Weir who has two silvers from Athens, holds the American record for the 100m free in a time of 53:58. She obtained this record after beating Natalie Coughlin for it by 1/2 a body length at Conoco Phillips Meet. [Link to Google video] She is only 21-years-old too and is another underrated Olympian who will surprise at Nationals.

Here is an article about the event and who is swimming in it: [Link]

Aaron Perisol and 'Playboy Bunny' Amanda Beard will blow off US Nationals for an International meet in France.

Lane 9 News is reporting that Aaron Perisol and "July Playmate" Amanda Beard will skip US Nationals in Indianapolis this August and swim in the French Open EDF (Go to the site, it has amazing photos.)

Here is a link to what the pool looks like: [Link]

Lane 9 does not give a motive and I can't figure it out why either. Could it be to swim against or intimidate international swimmers? I don't know. They suggest other swimmers may skip nationals as well. Lane 9 News article: [Link]

SWIM NEWS, TIMED FINALS very generous with their rhetoric towards Amanda's comeback.

At the Speedo Grand Challenge, Olympian Amanda Beard managed a third. I consider this a flop!

Amanda's best finish thus far was a third in the 200m IM; (2:20.16), behind Elaine Breeden (2:18.75) and Julia Smit (2:15.01). The American record was set at Nationals last Summer; (2.10.05), set by Katie Hoff.

In her signature event, the 200m breaststroke, she scratched in the final. Amanda's prelim time was a 2:34.03 versus the winning time of 2:27.66 clocked by Keri Hehn.

She flopped and I am not convinced that she has enough time to swim well at Olympic trials next year. This is what you get for placing business before your craft. The above screenshot is Amanda Beard hawking Red Bull; (of all products for an athlete to promote), at the official Red Bull site: [Link]

However if you read the swim press such as Timed Finals you would think she was still in the game:

Last night Amanda Beard made her first return to competition since 2004 and seems to be a bit rusty…but still solid. ..." [Link]

Swim News called it the "Comeback of the month." (Perhaps there is something lost in translation.) [Link]

Speedo Grand Challenge Day 3 Prelim Results

Amanda beard swam a 2:34.03 for the 200m breast in Day 3 of the Speedo Grand Challenge. That is 13 seconds slower than her American record and 15 seconds off the world record. Granted this is just prelim results but three other swimmers swam seconds faster. Placings below:

1. Rebecca Soni, 20 - TROJAN-CA: 2:31.49
2. Keri Hehn, 26 - TROJAN-CA: 2:31.60
3. Tara Kirk, 24 - UN-PC/Stanford: 2:32.35
4. Amandea Beard, 25 - TROJAN-CA: 2:34.03

Prelim Results: [Link]

As of this meet, Amanda Beard may have qualifying times for Olympic Trials but she is seemingly not prepared enough to make the Olympic team. This is very precarious for her since she has to make the Olympic Team team to add equity to her sexualized, "Amanda Beard," brand and for her licensing agent, Stone America who wants to cut deals.

Last month in Australia we saw world records threatened and a world record fall by seconds in the 200 fly. We saw motivated swimming from all over the world. These swimmers were prepared, they races, and then hit the pool the day after World Championships. We have seen these swimmers compete in such events as the Duel in the Pool, The Eric Namesnick Memorial Grand Prix etc. etc..

I havn't seen any motivation from Amanda Beard whatsoever to race since Athens 2004. A sprinter like Gary Hall can take a 100 days to prepare for the Olympics, a specialist in the 200 anything needs 2-years-plus at least and more like four.

Speedo Grand Challenge Day 1 Results

Here are the Day one results for the Speedo Grand Challenge. As I thought, Amanda Beard is swimming faster than her seed times: Prelims [Link] Results [Link].

Amanda Beard's 100 breast was slow for a world class athlete. Her time was 4-and-a-half seconds off the meet record, 5-and-a-half seconds off the American record, and 6-seconds-plus off off Leisel Jones World Record. She scratched the final heat.

She swam the slowest 50's in the heat and was trailing from beginning to end, but, she did swim faster than her seed time.

Amanda Beard has presumably put down a false seed time for a meet this weekend! - Ringer!

Not only is Amanda Beard posing in Playboy but she has presumably put down a false seed time for the, Nova Aquatics SPEEDO GRAND CHALLENGE, set for this weekend in Irvine, California.

Amanda Beard holds the American record for the 200m breast in a time of 2:22.24. This record was set in July of 2004 just before Athens. (To the right is a picture of her doing just that at Olympic trials.) For the meet this weekend she put down a seed time of 2:38.09. That's more than 16 seconds slower! Now, either Amanda has gotten really slow or she wants to clean water to win her heat with. I didn't bother looking at her other times.

For seed times for the meet, here is a link to the PDF: [Link]

Google Trends: Amanda Beard is as big or bigger than Michael Phelps in some cities and regions

Google has a tool called Google Trends and you can compare one trend; (or trends), against the other or others just by typing two or three trends together and separating them with a comma. Such as this trend search: "Britney Spears, Paris Hilton".

Google Trends will tell you who is being search for the most and then provide a comparison graph for different regions, cities and languages.

In our imaginary search of Britney and Paris, Britney is huge in Latin America whereas Paris is big in Los Angeles. (Who knew!?!)

Next, I did a trend-search comparing Amanda Beard to other notable female swimmers such as Natalie Coughlin, Kate Ziegler and Katie Hoff and on a lark I threw in Michael Phelps in the mix for an extreme trend result.

I did this trend-search to see if it would validate my premise that Amanda Beard's decision to pose nude in Playboy will put media attention upon Beard's naked breasts or lack thereof instead of the accomplishments of the US women's team.

Though the trends favor Michael Phelps, Beard is searched for more than Phelps in countries like Australia, Spain, and Italy, and even in cities like Tucson, and Indianapolis. The only other swimmer that registers is Natalie Coughlin and she is barely a blip. It is a de facto shame because Natalie has proven to be a better swimmer this past year.

Upon viewing these stats, I now wonder if Beard's soft porn stunt will hurt both the brand equity or even the integrity of the US women's team since Beard will be the focal point rather than the women's team accomplishments. Obviously Beard disagrees or does not care.

The trend graph can be seen here: [Link]

Amanda Beard Signature Collections?

I started my art career officially in '83 after I did the Ironman. My first real job was at Peter Green Design where I learned the basics of both design and business. (Thank you, Peter!) My first lesson was learning that the company OP or Ocean Pacific, which was one of the first surf clothing related companies, didn't really exist!

That is to say that they had no factories or assembly lines making surfboards or clothes and that they were really nothing more than a logo and a marketing division.

OP would go to OEMs or the Original Equipment Manufacturers would go to OP and say, "Hey, let us put this logo on these sunglasses, teeshirts, surfboards or anything that fits the OP brand and sell it!" OP would then market the brand, or the OEMs would market the brand for them, and OP would get a portion of the profits. Disney does this too and now Amanda Beard wants to do it as well. [Link]

Amanda Beard has signed with a company called Stone America. They are a brand licensing firm that takes a name like Amanda Beard, Hang Ten, Laura Ashley and then they find the OEMs who want to put their names or brand names on their products. Since humans are social animals, a brand name creates a social recognition with the buyer and thus differentiates itself as part of a particular "tribe" or social network.

Amanda Beard plans on licensing her name to any and all parties interested in leveraging her name recognition into various collections of products. I wonder how Speedo feels about this?

With Playboy, Stone America, and other business endeavors Amanda has her foot in, I see a swimmer here who is more interested in her career post Olympics rather than her swimming career at present. Subsequently, I don't believe she has the focus to make the Olympic team. I am seeing shades of Ian Thorpe here!