Austrian swimmer Markus Rogan could use some advice!"

From USA Today:

Rogan, 27, told the Austria Press Agency that four bouncers beat him up Saturday night as he attempted to re-enter a discotheque in Ostia, on the seaside near Rome, after being ordered to leave "for no apparent reason." The night club said that the swimmer was ordered to leave for security reasons that included dancing drunk with a broken bottle in his hands. The club said that Rogan also fell as he attempted to get back inside the club.

[Link]

From the Globe and Mail:

“When I stepped back inside again, four bouncers jumped me,” he said.

Fabio Balini, an executive with the Shilling club, said that the swimmer was with his teammates when he was asked to leave by the club's personnel as part of standard security procedures. Balini said Rogan could be a danger to himself or others because he was drunk.

Balini said he had interviewed witnesses and reviewed security tapes and that there was no evidence that the personnel had acted improperly.

[Link]

If he does have issues, then get the guy the help he needs.

National Australian butterfly champion, Nick D'Arcy, plead guilty to assault charges today in the beating of triathlete, Simon Cowley!

From the Sydney Morning Herald: "...Swimmer Nick D'Arcy has pleaded guilty to assaulting former Olympian Simon Cowley, an attack that led to him being axed from the Australian swimming team for the Beijing Games.

D'Arcy's lawyer, Jack Leitner, said a deal had been struck with prosecutors and his client had pleaded guilty to recklessly causing grievous bodily harm...."

Simon Cowley, 27, had five titanium plates fitted after suffering fractures to his jaw, eye socket, hard palate, cheek bone and nose in the attack in March, which occurred while D'Arcy was celebrating his selection for the [2008] Olympics. ..." [Link]

Instead he chose a bar and now perhaps jail or probation and it was all his choice!

It's morning in Australia - Today Nick D'Arcy will receive his verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport!

On April 18th, Nick D'arcy was charged with grievous assault which left former swimmer Simon Cowley severely injured with several broken bones to the face, eye socket, jaw lost several teeth in the alleged incident as well. Soon thereafter D'Arcy was removed from the Australian Olympic team which also received the vocal support from the IOC. D'Arcy later filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to be reinstated. Today his verdict will be rendered.

If he is reinstated, I am curious as to what the reaction from the IOC will be?

From ABC down under: "...Swimmer Nick D'arcy will find out this afternoon whether his appeal to be reinstated to the Australian Olympic Swimming team has been successful. ..." [Link]

UPDATE: "... The Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) published its decision in the case on its website at 2pm (AEST) and the Seven reports D'Arcy bid to be reinstated has failed. ..." [Link]

Well, Eamon Sullivan is about to get spanked over D'Arcy comments.

Sunday is almost over in Australia as I write this and I just read comments Eamon Sullivan made regarding Nick D'Arcy which are just sincerely outrageous.

Back ground info: On March 30th 2008, Nick D'Arcy viciously attack Simon Cowley after one report claimed that Cowley extended his hand out to Nick D'Arcy in a congratulatory gesture over his 200 butterfly win at Australian Nationals. While another says Cowley asked him to tone down his bragging.

In the ensuing seconds Cowley's life was irrevocable changed for the worse. He had lost most of teeth, suffered a broken jaw, a broken nose, a fractured eye socket, a crushed cheekbone and fractured palate in the attack and subsequently had to have five titanium plates screwed into his face to repair the injuries.

Of course large amounts of alcohol were involved; ("Fuelled by up to 12 drinks," was what the Daily Telegraph stated), and several members from the Australian national team were also there drinking with D'Arcy and most likely they all witnessed the beating of Cowley as well. Reports say that several members of the Australian team were questioned.

So, the next day the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) gets wind of this and in the ensuing week or so Chairman John Coates forcefully states that though D'Arcy deserves to be presumed innocent, this deed among others is so grievous that he brought not just himself into disrepute but Australian swimming as well. Therefore, he is effectively kicked off the National team. (Apparently D'Arcy had a history of this nonsense whereas he had broken the nose of an Australian triathlete some time before. The AOC does not have to legally presume innocence. They can send anybody they want to the Olympics.)

When Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge hears about Nick D'Arcy and the AOC decision, he backs the decision 100% and makes it clear he will support them.

Now, with all this in mind this is what Eamon Sullivan had to say regarding the beating of Simon Cowley; From the Herald Sun: [Link] "... He's quite young and already broken the record for the 200m 'fly. Sometimes mistakes happen, but I can't really say too much. ..."

"He's a great swimmer, so it would be a shame for that talent to give up..."

"It's unfortunate with a few things that have come up," he said. "But over the years, compared to some other sports in headlines every week, we spend 90 per cent of our time training, 5 per cent competing and 5 per cent having a break. ..."

Memo to Sullivan, when you get yourself into a hole and your coach says, "stop digging," or more accurately to not talk to the press, you do what he says. You have not only allowed yourself to tacitly dismiss D'Arcy's behavior just because he can swim a fast butterfly, but you have embarrassed your coach and yourself by taking a side in something contrary to the AOC, the IOC and have probably alienated at least half of the Australian public as a result.

D'Arcy could be sentenced for up to 10 years over this. His court day is June 17th.

Australian Nick D'Arcy won't be going to the Olympics but a Drunk, Australian, driver who put a person into a 12-day coma will?

What are you guys thinking down under?

From the Sydney Morning Herald: "... CYCLING Australia admits they're heading for a Nick D'Arcy-style controversy with Chris Jongewaard likely to be selected for Beijing despite being charged over a drink-driving hit-and-run that left the victim in a coma for 12 days.

Cycling Australia will nominate its team on July 4 for ratification by the Australian Olympic Committee. President John Coates will have to decide whether Jongewaard, like D'Arcy, should be kicked off the Olympic team. ..." [Link]

Recipe: How to break a victim's jaw, nose, eye socket, hard palate and cheekbone with one punch!

We thank Nick D'Arcy for sending the recipe:
1) Develop arm strength through vigorous swimming and butterfly sets
2) Elevate testosterone levels with a victory at Australian Olympic trials
3) Consume 16 alcoholic beverages
4) Wait for victim to extend a hand in a congratulatory gesture
5) Throw your elbow into victim's face as hard as you can

[Link]

The article states that D'Arcy consumed 16 drinks. The victim, Simon Cowley, should sue not only D'Arcy but the bar as well. No bar should serve 16 drinks to anyone even if the drunk in question has an ambulance team as their "designated driver."

Nick D'Arcy off the Australian Olympic Team!

From TheWest.Com.AU: "... Controversial swimmer Nick D'Arcy has been thrown off the Australian team for the Beijing Games for bringing his sport into disrepute. ...

D'Arcy is facing charges of assault and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm for his alleged attack on Cowley, who suffered a broken jaw, broken nose, fractured eye socket, crushed cheekbone and fractured palate from just one punch. ..."

One punch? One single Punch? He must have a pretty big hand. [Link]

This article from The Australian states that 20 screws and some plates were drilled into Cowley's face to repair it. Yeah, it was more than one punch. [Link]

Link to a video of the announcement: [Link]

Thanks go out to Wendy for all the time and effort she put in to sending me these links!

D'Arcy barred from Olympic camp - Cowley will need surgery!

Note the picture to the right of Nick D'Arcy. He does not even have one bruise to his face. He has been charged "grievous bodily harm." From the SMH: [Link]

Simon Cowley, to undergo corrective surgery - From livenews.com.au: "... Controversial swimmer Nick D'Arcy will not particiapte an Australian Olympic Team Orientation Camp as the fallout from his alleged assault of fellow swimmer Simon Cowley at a Sydney nightclub.

D'Arcy was charged with assault following his alleged involvement in a pub brawl that left Cowley nursing multiple facial fractures, and will miss the camp to be held later this month. ...

D'Arcy has spoken of his "deep regret" over his involvement in the incident and the serious injuries suffered by Cowley, who is due to have surgery tomorrow. ..."

Doctors are waiting for the swelling to subside before performing corrective surgery for numerous facial injuries, including a fractured jaw and broken nose. ..." [Link]

My take: Cowley will probably have scars and perhaps permanent damage to his eye socket as a result of this beating but at least charges have been filed against D'Arcy who goes to court on April 21st. I found NO reference to Simon Cowley being charged, just D'Arcy. Hence, let's see what sort of defense D'Arcy puts up.

But you know what really "blows" for Australia? Some of their best swimmers witnessed this and now they will have to explain to the public, their sponsors and to the police what they were doing when this was all going down and they will do so under oath.

I can only cheer for the Australian women's team now. I can't even cheer for Grant Hackett after he meekly defended D'Arcy. Now I hope Larsen Jensen, Eric Vendt and even Park Tae-Hwan hand him his ass.

Next, Olympic great, Kieren Perkins said the The Age.Com.Au: "... Dual Olympic gold medallist Kieren Perkins said swimmer Nick D'Arcy had failed as a role model and should be banned from competing at the Beijing Games. ... I really can't see how we could possibly take somebody in that scenario onto an Olympic team," the 34-year-old told ABC radio.

"It is a group of people that are representing our country at the highest international level.

"Yes, we're sports people. Yes, we want to win. Yes, we want to see that we're the best in the world - but at what price? ..." [Link]

Nick D'Arcy has a history of violence and/or alcohol according to accusers!

From The Australian: "...Queensland-based Ironman competitor Tim Peach, in Perth for the national titles starting today, told of a clash with D'Arcy at a Sunshine Coast nightclub two years ago that left him with two black eyes and a broken nose.

"He (D'Arcy) knocked me down on the ground," Peach told the Nine Network.

"It was pretty horrible how I looked. I thought he would have learned his lesson from that."

Peach admitted he was "pretty drunk" on the night of the fight, September 9, 2006. He said he was in a line with D'Arcy waiting to get into a nightclub when the pair began "mouthing off at each other".

"We had a bit of history over a girl," Peach said. [Link]

Then there is this conjunctional phrase that stops short of apologizing - from News.Com.Au: "... D'Arcy is due in court on April 21, two days before the swim team gathers at a camp in Canberra, to face charges of assault and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

The swimmer said today he regretted the "unfortunate isolated incident" at the Loft Bar in Sydney.

"I deeply regret my involvement in this incident and the injury occasioned to Simon Cowley," he said. ..."

I pity any girl that marries him. What a handful.

Nick D'Arcy savagely beats up former Australian champion.

This is a few days old but I am posting it now since I didn't know the extent of the harm he caused the victim. From news.scotsman.com: "... A DRUNKEN late-night punch-up has rocked the record-breaking Australian Olympic swim team and left a new star facing a serious assault charge and demotion from the national team. Former swim champion Simon Cowley ended up in hospital with serious injuries, including a broken jaw, fractured eye socket and broken nose. ..." To me, this sounds like kicking to the victim's head or a weapon was involved for a hand would break causing that much damage. [Link]

From the Herald Sun: "... Cowley provided a police statement last night and, according to friends, is in extreme pain.

"He can't eat anything and basically is only on liquids and he's still bleeding from the nose, the source said. ..." [Link]

Here is an article from west.com.au where several quotes of D'Arcy which include words like regret..., sincerely regret..., embarrassed..., and this gem: “... I, like all individuals am entitled to a fair trial and due process through the judicial system.”

Quotes like these certainly make one notice how carefully measured his words are; too measured for my taste, for where were phrases like "I'm sorry" or "I apologize" or "I didn't do it" but instead we get, don't judge me! [Link]

UPDATE: I went to Yahoo Answers to find out what the drinking age in Australia is and it ranges between the ages of 16-years-old if accompanied by an adult in Victoria and 18-years-old nationally. [Link]