REUTERS today examines the growing trend of Olympians shedding their clothes and posing for the camera. The wire service not only provides you a lengthy list of sexy sports stars for you to throw into a Google image search (thank you, Reuters!), but they also examine how sex appeal is helping boost the popularity of niche sports and the hot athletes who play them.

(Pretty Paraguayan Olympian Leryn Franco poses provocatively for profit)

The story also introduces us to two-time Olympic javelin thrower Leryn Franco (pictured) of Paraguay who is able to fund her athletic endeavors through her second career as a model. Franco, who won herself many new fans after appearing in last night’s broadcast of the opening ceremonies, tells REUTERS “Modeling is a way for me to continue with my sport, the hours are flexible, and you can earn good money through photographic modeling and the catwalk.”

Read more…

Earlier this week, we learned that Amanda Beard would be baring it all again for a photo shoot, but instead of posing for Playboy, the Olympic swimmer would be showing skin for PETA. And lo & behold, here’s Amanda, in all her anti-fur glory:

(Amanda’s au natural ad, as displayed on the CHICAGO TRIBUNE’s site)

In following up on the fab photo, Dan Steinberg of the temporarily named BEIJING SPORTS SMOG caught up with Amanda to learn why she did the shoot, and why other athletes haven’t been as expressive in supporting controversial causes.

And it pretty much comes down to testicular fortitude. (A more detailed image of Beard’s provocative PETA ad is after the jump.) Read more…

• It was a dark and stormy night at Wrigley Field on Monday, and SbB writer (& White Sox fan) Tom was right in the middle of it.

• The Carolina Panthers may send Sluggin’ Steve Smith packing.

• Prince Fielder & Manny Parra brawl in a Brewers dugout brouhaha.

• Brett Favre really doesn’t want to be a bother - even though he is.

• Powerade rolls out a new ad campaign featuring a British Olympic cyclist riding without her clothes on.

Read more…

Not many people know that the original Olympics held in ancient Greece featured all-nude competitors. Unfortunately, all the nude runners & discus throwers were also all guys. Luckily, civilization has advanced enough to allow female athletes to also show off their Olympic sports prowess - and much, much more.

Not to be outdone by fellow Olympian Rebecca Romero riding naked for Powerade, Amanda Beard is once again baring it all, but for a nobler cause.

The stunning swimmer who previously did a nude spread for Playboy is sliding off her swimsuit once more - this time for the folks at PETA.

Read more…

Headline of the day (so far), courtesy of REUTERS:

You’d have to be pretty emboldened to prepare for a speech to the ladies in that fashion. Wonder what Olympians are part of this particular pep talk.

Jennie Finch?

Read more…

We’ve uncovered some interesting photos of sports celebrities holding a toilet contraption being marketed by some site called MR. BUTTWASHER. The apparent endorsers include Olympic swimmer-turned-nudie model Amanda Beard:

(Makeup!)

John Salley and Rodney Peete also posed for piccies with the buttwashing mechanism, which is also called the “miracle toilet faucet.” Read more…

We discovered something rather interesting today. Fox TV’s “Best Damn Sports Show” is still airing original episodes. Seriously, we had no idea until we received a press release this week touting Amanda Beard as a new, permanent “correspondent” for the show.

Not surprisingly, GoDaddy.com is all over her appearances for the FSN production, which we quit watching when they got rid of that cool Rolling Rock basement bar-looking set.

Safe to say having Beard on the show will be an improvement on the current “Best Damn” output (so long as she’s breathing). Especially based on what we hear about her role on the show (thankfully, there’s no serious reportage).

Read more…

AMANDA BEARD WILL NOT BE THE BUTT OF YOUR JOKES: TMZ.com has Amanda Beard giving herself a wedgie in front of boyfriend Sacha Brown:

After seeing her most recent commercial, we’ll take the back over the front:

And so will, apparently, B.J.:

PRESENTING THE NEXT VIDEO TO BE KICKED OFF YOUTUBE: Today’s YouTube video to be taken down in about an hour features Seahawks kicker Josh Brown lighting up Devin Hester last Sunday:

Once the video is thrown down the stairs by NFL boiler roomers, here’s something to keep you somewhat occupied (no, it’s not a link to Amanda Beard outtakes).

AMANDA BEARD FLASHES FOR DOT COM IN “SHOCK” SPOT: Here’s a sneak of Amanda Beard’s new GoDaddy.com spot called “shock”. Yes, she does *flash* in the spot … sort of:

If you can’t watch, the ad consists of Beard in a robe talking to a sleazy Chatsworth Hollywood director-type who is coaxing her to open her robe and “shock the world“.(Nudie model) Beard: “I don’t know.”
(Meatball) Director: “You’re a Go Daddy Girl now, right? It’s national TV. You showing them off is gonna be huge.”
(Nudie model) Beard: “All right.”

Beard then stands up and opens her robe - flashing her medals. No, really, she does.

The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that “network censors limited [the ad] to running only during [ESPN’s] game broadcasts or on ABC-TV after 9pm.”

The commercial will debut during the Miami-Virginia game tomorrow night. And after seeing the ad, it’s safe to say that Erin Andrews stuffing a tuna fish hoagie betwixt her lovely lips is much more provocative.