On CNN on Amanda Beard on Michael Phelps
Posted on August 22nd, 2008 – 10:55 AMBy Michael Rand
So apparently Amanda Beard isn’t allowed to express an opinion that she doesn’t want to date Michael Phelps? That’s the gist of what we’re getting from CNN’s panel discussion on Beard’s radio comments from a couple days back in which she basically said, “No thanks” when asked about a romance with Phelps. When we read about the bit on Deadspin, we assumed she said something much worse than what she actually said, the worst of which was this: “Eww, that’s nasty. … Come on, I have really good taste. He’s really not my type.”
Burn!
But seriously, what is so bad about that? She’s supposed to be, what, falling all over Phelps? She’s supposed to say, “Oh my god he’s so hot!!! I love him!!!” It’s possible (picture from 2004, Beard and Phelps on left side) that there’s more to this story than we know. More than likely, though, we read it this way:
He’s rich, fairly muscular, a good swimmer and seems presentable in interviews. Like most elite athletes (see: Tiger, Federer, etc.), Phelps also seems like kind of a dork. That’s what happens when you spend 9 hours in the pool, 8 hours sleeping and 7 hours eating stacks of pancakes every day: you lose social skills. Beard is probably just not into dorks. It’s her right to not be shallow, rare as it might be in our entertainment-fueled culture. The only mistake Beard made was apologizing, which might give a shred of credibility to the sexist Z-list panel put forth by CNN’s way off base entertainment program.
/off soapbox we had no idea we were climbing onto.
20 Responses to "On CNN on Amanda Beard on Michael Phelps"
Maybe the two of them had a fling, and it didn’t end well.
It’s a shame that Beard felt the need to make a retraction. She’s extremely well-built, fairly attractive, and seemingly quite hip. Yet she’s supposed to be interested in Phelps because the both swim? While a deserved American icon of the moment, Phelps is in his mid-20s and has yet to live his own life, apart from his mother and many handlers.
Beard probably prefers a man who at least has his own apartment.
Let’s not weep for Michael Phelps. I’m certain he’ll find a nice gal to settle down with. Like Hope Solo.
I hope for Michael Phelps’ sake (and all of us, vicariously) that he does not settle down anytime soon.
Achieving greatness without reaping the benefit of groupies is not achieving greatness.
“Beard probably prefers a man who at least has his own apartment.”
/All bloggers lower their head in shame and head back to their Mom’s basement.
“Beard probably prefers a man who at least has his own apartment.”
/Single flower I’m holding while outside her home instantaneously wilts.
Yes….maybe, yes, yes.
Hootie, would you be Baker or Mauer?
jama says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
“Beard probably prefers a man who at least has his own apartment.”
/All bloggers lower their head in shame and head back to their Mom’s basement.
Seriously, this one hurts. I think I may be the only one that actually lives in their mother’s basement. At least I was able to get married 
It was a stupid question to ask of Beard to begin with (and nobody’s business who she dates or not) accompanied by a foolish initial answer.
“I hope for Michael Phelps’ sake (and all of us, vicariously) that he does not settle down anytime soon. Achieving greatness without reaping the benefit of groupies is not achieving greatness.”
Amen SCH, Amem. Which sounds better:
1. Hi, I just won 8 gold medals. Want to see the inside of my hotel room? You can teach me the breast stroke.
2. Hi, I just won 8 gold medals. Lets get married, have babies, ruin that playboy body you have, throw away social we somewhat do have, and then get divorced.
All week long I trudge through life, just waiting for Friday when my PEOPLE magazine hits my mailbox. Thanks for spoiling it! Twist the knife a little further, why don’t you, and tell me who designed Ellen’s wedding tux and where To-Ro and Jessica Simpson froliced this week?
AZ Gopher Girl - the frolick was apparently not disrupted by Carrie Underwood’s call
and who names their kid Zuma Nesta Rock?!!?!? really, gavin and gwen … zuma nesta rock
What do you think Ms. Mpls, does the fact that Phelps is double-jointed make up for the fact that he’s a mama’s boy?
P.S. Do we know Stu made it home okay? I hope he didn’t stop at Little Duke’s and run into the wrong crowd with that Nixon shirt on.
CNN covered this like a Minneapolis paper covering the retirement of an out-of-state quarterback.
Also, I read this morning that the NY Post reported today that Phelps was hooking up with Aussie swimmer Stephanie Rice, which is probably the most popular answer to the question, “What would I do now if *I* were Michael Phelps?”
According to the story, apparently Rice just broke up with fellow Aussie swimmer Eamon Sullivan, who was on all three relays that lost to Phelps and the USA. If you’re thinking that this sounds like the plot of a horrible mid-80s movie, you’re right…
If his “training regimen” is any indication, Phelps doesn’t look like he will be settling down anytime soon.
Although he can probably set his sights a bit higher in certain instances…
AZGG: no, the double jointed does not make up for being a mama’s boy. i saw him and his mother being interviewed by Costas and he is too much of mama’s-only-boy-raised-by-three-women going on for my likin’
This article is relevant to this discussion, and right up this blog’s alley.
Phelps is an awesome athlete but from the many interviews I’ve heard, he’s your standard caricature of an relatively (not completely) mindless gym or pool rat. There really seems to be little to talk to him about. His mom, really, was far more interesting. So, if this girl doesn’t want to date him (and she wasn’t mean about it) have her get a hold of me :)..I always have alot to talk about
