Amanda Beard in Playboy

I'm not sure Beckham has made the jump from athlete to nude mag model, yet anyway. This does nothing for her career or swimming. 98% of the people who buy this issue won't know she is a swimmer until (or if) they read her bio inside and, even then, probably won't give a rip. But, she'll add a few hundred K $, maybe, to her bank account. Good for her. I agree with you there. I just don't feel the need to be down on her for posing nude (if she actually does). I respect everyone's opinion to do so if they wish--I'm just not as alarmed by it I guess is all. IMHO much of the problem Geek lies in the "money is all" obsessed society we all live in reluctantly, willingly or in denial of either state of mind. I feel more worried over the message that not "living at the top" or driving the Benz makes you less. This is equally hard to get you kids to come to terms with.

And , yeah, of course this is about the money. We can all talk about how money doesn't matter, but it does to all of us. Most of us wouldn't turn away the kind of money Amanda's being offered. Look, at this point in her career she's a model as much as a swimmer. Posing for Playboy is modeling; nothing more. She has a finite amount of time to capitalize on her looks, she might as well take advantage of that time. In another thread several people mentioned how it's wrong to criticize someone's personal decision to be either a stay at home mom or a working mom. So how exactly is it different to criticize Amanda Bear's personal choice to appear in Playboy? DING DING DING Amanda also has her own clothing line too or one is coming out soon, or is that coming off? ;)

First, no one here has criticized her decision. I have merely stated that it is a tough one to explain to kids. My agreement with Kirk is based on the notion of judging, not because of an individual who may or may not have appeared in both threads. Anyhow, anyone spanking to playboy is probably still in Highschool & can probably do just as well subscribing to Victoria's Secrets... I can't put playboy in a catergory with some of the other publications out there. It's really between FHM and Hustler. None of which I buy...

I know what your saying Aquageek. I have three girls, two of whom swim. They absorb all they can about these swimmers from their US swimming magazines and so for. While I won't mention this (if it happens) I'm sure they'll hear about it among the highschool boy swimmers and then I'll have some explaining to do:)

If she's that busy posing and designing, I wonder if she has time to get to practice? Well with these celeb lines, they rarely "design" that much as approve... While I won't mention this (if it happens) I'm sure they'll hear about it among the highschool boy swimmers and then I'll have some explaining to do:) This is where good parenting and being a parent comes in. We can't make the world do everything according to what you want your kids to know and see. I'll take the blame for my kids continually accessing material I'd deem inappropriate. It's why my wife and I laugh when my daughter asks for a computer/tv for her bedroom...that just is not going to happen. My kids already know more than I wish they did but thats how it is now. As I alluded to earlier....even Disney gets in on the act...what used to be a haven of innocence now has stuff that gets me confused by it's message.

I wonder what effect this will have on the "Amanda Brand". Has she changed her plan to establish a 100 Million dollar per year cosmetics company based on her image?

Of course it's her choice. And it's a lot of money to walk away from. Unfortunately, it does nothing to alter the message our society, through the media, is sending to our daughters. Not that she needs to be concerned about that.

Some athletes capitalize on their beauty while others capitalize on their experiences and talents, while also being beautiful. Natalie Coughlin comes to mind..she's a class act in my opinion. As for Amanda, this is her decision and the world is not likely to come crashing down because of her choice. Let's try to keep in mind that she is not engaging is some sort of sex film here, it's just some nude photos after all. I can't say that I would want my daughters to do what Amanda is doing but I do feel at times like this country gets a little too hung up over nudity in general. While I agree that it might not be sending the best message to youths who have looked up to her, it is ultimately up to the parents to direct their children in the direction which they feel is appropriate. In my opinion, what Michael Phelps did with his DUI was a far worse "role model" move than what Amanda is doing. I'll pose nude any day of the week in exchange for driving drunk.

"You got a pretty mouth boy". My opinion of Ned Beatty really went down after seeing that scene in Deliverance. And, yes, I'm kidding.

Again, we refer to Matthew 5:28 for what this promotes. Well, I guess I'm commiting adultery in my heart multiple times a day then, and I suspect most men do the same. Even if I were a Christian I have a hard time believing that a Bible quote is going to stop me from looking at women lustfully. I'm just content in my mind that I don't act on these thoughts.