Article Title: The naked truth: Beard not hurting sports by Michael Rosenberg [Link]The author sets up a "straw-man" argument stating that critics believe Amanda Beard is hurting women's sports by posing nude. Then the [...] author knocks his "straw-man" down with an anemic conclusion which summarily concludes that since Amanda will not be the prettiest model in Playboy, individuals will buy the magazine because Amanda Beard has been a sports star for the past 11 years, ergo, her sport is the focal point not her nudity.
I am one of the few out in the wilderness of public opinion who feel this is nothing short of a "skanky" business decision on her part. I think it will distract attention away from Kate Ziegler', Natalie Coughlin, Katie Hoff' and other US Olympians in 2008 since the focal point in Beijing will be Amanda Beard's nude body in Playboy rather than the accomplishments of the US Women's Swim Team.
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