What do Vanilla Ice and Dara Torres have in common?
More than you might think.
It’s funny how 41-year-old mother Dara Torres has become some sort of inspirational story to women all over the nation.
For some reason, the fact that she now sports an Adam’s apple, completely ripped physique, diminished breasts (despite being a new mom), and a masculine face, has served as some sort of rallying cry for mid-life-crisis-bound women everywhere.
Michael Phelps’ foo manchu aside, I can’t wait for Dara to show up to the Olympics sporting hers...or would that give her away? Somehow I don’t think so.
After all the ballyhoo about female empowerment, it seems that penis envy is still alive and well. Please Dara, we don’t want to see it.
On the surface, this appears to be a decent story. 41-year-old women returns to swimming and posts her best time ever. This, despite the fact that fast-twitch muscles are the first to degrade in the aging process.
But then again, we should know better by now shouldn't we? What other 40-plus-year-olds do we know that seemed to produce some of their best outings in the twilight's of their careers?
Oh yeah, those guys. What were they doing?
Oh yeah, ingesting HGH at super-human levels.
HGH, by the way, is still not detectable, as it breaks down after a very short stay in the body. The effects include a dramatic lowering of the body’s fat reserves and fluid levels, increased muscle growth, and more pronounced and angular facial features.
Hmmm, who does that remind us of? Please ladies.
We should let this play out before we start telling our daughters that Dara Torres is some sort of icon to aspire to.
There are a litany of mom’s competing for the U.S. in this years Olympics, including Lisa Leslie and Jennie Finch, who haven’t suddenly altered their bodies and appearance. We should be rooting for them.
And do you really want a body that looks like Dana Torres’, ladies? I can’t see why you would. She’s sacrificed her femininity for the looks of Mr. Ice Ice Baby. And probably has some back hair to boot, though these swimmers are fastidious about their shaving.
For all her insistence to readily be tested for doping, the fact remains that many doping agents are still not detectable or being tested for. Marion Jones, Barry Bonds, or Roger Clemens NEVER failed a drug test, even though they were being tested for years. They were only implicated when other scandals (such as BALCO) came to light.
There is also this bewildering case of asthma that Torres mysteriously developed two years ago. This happened to be coincided with her comeback, and it now allows her to take Symbicort, a banned substance that increases lung capacity and can effectively mask other illegal agents.
In fact, there now seems to be a rash of athletes that are looking for “medical exemptions” to take albuterol, the active ingredient in Symbicort, because of their sudden cases of asthma.
46 comments Last one added 3 months ago — Leave a Comment
Matthew Irby 11 months ago
She's on the cover of Time magazine, but the picture you have is much more creepier, eh!
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Daniel Muth 11 months ago
Yeah, this is the bod that our nation's women seem to want. In post after post, they say she looks incredible. I would submit "incredible" in it's true meaning of "not believable." And would also assure our nations young girls that this is not the body you need to feel beautiful. In fact, most men don't find this attractive at all.
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Matthew Irby 11 months ago
Yeah your right, wish my boobs were that small
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Gregory Sharpe 11 months ago
I don't know if she's a man, but I know one thing. She can swim as fast as the average person her age can run
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Lauren Green 11 months ago
I hate to say it, but I have to admit that I would not be shocked in the least if it were to come out that Torres was using something. Still though, I think you're being premature in your analysis, which is exceptionally harsh. Remember, you said "We should let this play out before we start telling our daughters that Dara Torres is some sort of icon to aspire to." I agree with you, but I would also say that maybe you should let it play out before you verbally slaughter her. Innocent until proven guilty, right? And IF she is on the level, IF this is for real, she is absolutely AWESOME! No, I don't want her body, but I can appreciate the fact that she worked incredibly hard to get it, and I can aspire to have the same kind of drive in life that she so obviously has. In her defense, she has done everything possible to prove that she isn't using, and she does have a remarkably different training regimen than the other athletes(half the time in the pool and twice the time with the weights). Like I said before, I wouldn't be shocked if she was cheating(I've been disappointed too many times before), but at least take your own advice and let it all play out before you completely trash her.
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Daniel Muth 11 months ago
You're right of course Lauren, but unfortunately, we've been burned so many times now by athletes telling us that they simply work harder than the rest, that it is hard not to be skeptical. I'm just tired of rewarding these people with more money and more notoriety. In the final analysis, if she's caught, she doesn't have to give the moolah back, and the poor girl she beat out for a spot in the games doesn't get her shot back either. EVERYBODY trains hard for the Olympics. Dara is no exception. She actually admits that she trains LESS than she did as a young woman, and honestly, her sudden burst of speed being attributed to working with weights is far-fetched. It's not like every athlete in the world doesn't know how to do that. In the final analysis, she's the most obvious case of performance enhancement I may have ever seen. There are simply too many factors working against her. You're right, IF she is clean she is awesome. If Marian Jones was clean she was awesome too. Unfortunately, the Olympics are being killed by doping, and it's tough to have faith in anyone, particularly someone in Dara's situation. Because much doping is simply undetectable, we are left to speculate. Again, my statistic about swimmers outside the top ten winning medals is telling. Nobody knows for 100% certainty that Torres isn't on the level, but if Vegas put odds on it, I am 100% certain that they would favor my position. I just think there's less tainted hero's out there for American women. As for my public speculation? Well that's what we do in sports writing. We vehemently argue that we know who's going to win the big game, who's going make what moves, and who's not on the level. I am not writing this in Time magazine, where a glowing article about Torres is getting most the press, I am merely offering the opposite and in my opinion a more plausible story. Was I a jerk about it? Probably. But this side of the story isn't a pretty one. Thanks for the comments! Your argument is well taken.
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Lauren Green 11 months ago
Oh, and by the way, she looked pretty much the same in Sydney, just more youthful and not quite as ripped. But like I said before, her training regimen has been more focused on the weights this time around.
"http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=1172/photos/galleryid=131497.html"
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Daniel Muth 11 months ago
She's definitely more ripped, and her adam's apple much more pronounced. Of course, whispers of doping surrounded her in Sydney too. Personally, I think she looks different. Aging women do look different than when they were young, but that is do to physiological changes affecting cell turgor, muscle mass, bone density, and a host of other factors, all of which should make her swim slower. Again, if we should wait to let this play out before we criticize her, we should wait to anoint her as the greatest inspirational story ever. Of course, that's not being done either. Thanks Lauren.
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Lauren Green 10 months ago
I guess there is no argument to counter the adam's apple point... Hey, I too am skeptical. Especially after Marian Jones, nothing would surprise me. I guess I just like to be hopeful, even if I know the hope is far-fetched. Oh, and by the way, I for one don't think you're jealous. I'm not especially keen on the thought of having her body, and I'd venture to guess that you wouldn't take that offer either. : )
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
HaHa! Believe me, the last thing you want to see is me in a string bikini. And no, I don't plan on trying this look out any time soon.
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Dorothy Willis 11 months ago
Can't you accept that she has been blessed with good genes? I wouldn't mind looking like her a bit, smaller breasts and all. Love her haircut.
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Daniel Muth 11 months ago
Ahhh but at what cost Dorothy? She's obviously got good genes, most Olympic class athletes do. At least good physical genes. It's her mental and moral genes I'm questioning! As for her body, I think I'll let the ladies address the topic of unhealthy body-image topics. I've definitely got my opinions, but perhaps lack the credibility! I'd like to see you in that haircut Dorothy! You'd look Dararific! Cheers,
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Greta Jones 11 months ago
I would love to look like Torres. You are a creep.
Jealous bigot!!
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Daniel Muth 11 months ago
I am not jealous of Torres nor am I a bigot. Merely a skeptic. I would be extremely naive, in this day and age, not to question the legitimacy of her comeback. I questioned Bonds, Clemens, and Marion Jones too. Surprise! They were doping. Torres seems to be getting a pass because she's a mother, as if this is some sort of prerequisite for honesty. Perhaps it is you, Greta, who is the bigot.
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Max Iascone 10 months ago
... she looks like a scrawnier Arnold Schwartzenegger with breasts.... as much as I hate to jump to conclusions about such a compelling story I can't help but be skeptical about the reason for her continued greatness. I probably wouldn't have been quite as harsh or rash as you were in your analysis but you raise valid points, and it's nice to see candor in writing that is actually founded. My pick of the day.
The thing is... doping in olympic sports such as track and field, swimming etc. is rampant... so in a way.. if everyone (or almost everyone) is cheating, than the playing field is, in a way, level. That is not to say that I condone the actions of people like Clemens, Bonds, or (allegedly) Torres, it's depressing to see someone willing to forsake the principles of fair play and sportsmanship simply to gain an edge, but too often are the more successful dopers used as examples while those guilty of the same crime but who experienced lesser degrees of success are allowed to slip through the cracks with no public outcry. (Who is Jorge Piedra?... exactly.)
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john smith 10 months ago
Daniel, you're just insecure because you know she could kick your ass. Get over it, she's boosting ratings who gives a sh!t
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
Thank you for joining the Bleacher Report to specifically treat me to this retort. I guess you got me. I am insecure because she could kick my butt and she's boosting ratings so who gives a s***. You've convinced me!
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
Thanks for the pic Max. As for my tone, generally I'm just a smart ass, and can't help taking an inappropriate shot or two. As for the topic, yeah I think you're right about the preponderance of doping, and feel it has really hurt the Olympics. I wrote an article (more of a rant) entitled "Just legalize it" that details my disappointment over that if you're interested. Torres is just the vessel for that disappointment (unfairly or not) in this particular article. For the most part Torres has received very positive P.R., I just think we need to be a little careful before we anoint her as the inspirational "if I can do it so can you" story of the Olympics. Our kids are growing up watching all their heroes eventually turn out to be cheaters.
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Amy Cooper 10 months ago
Her name is DANA, not Dara.
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
Ummm, I hate to tell you that you joined the bleacher report just to get this wrong but...
Her name is Dara. That really isn't being debated.
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Melinda De La Rosa 10 months ago
Do any of you know ANYTHING about swimming at all? It sure doesn't sound like it. Did you watch what her workout is? My daughter runs and swims competitively and now that she lifts weights too, her body becomes more and more ripped. Remember, Dara can spend hours doing nothing but taking care of her daughter and work out. My daughter also has to be drug tested regularly, and yes she is much younger than DARA, but if I worked out as much as Dara does I would be ripped too. You are only seeing the Adam's apple now because her hair is so short. Granted, it doesn't surprise me aymore to hear about athletes using steroids, etc, but they can detect almost all drugs now, even the stuff people take to "wash out the drug."
Michael Phelps, Luzak, etc. all have ripped bodies too. Why don't you talk about them? Is it just because the woman is 41? That is offensive all by itself. I have a friend who is 48, runs a 5:00 mile consistently, has a body just as ripped as Dara, and is not taking anything except Juice Plus vitamins.
Swimming is the best sport for the body because it doesn't have the pounding on it that other sports do. Plus, you see that she is only swimming the 50m free and the relay. She isn't doing all the other strokes she once did. and for the record, I would take those abs and arms any day.
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
Yes it's because she's 41. You're friend may be 48, and a 5:00 mile is impressive (I couldn't do it), but it is not world-class. Are you claiming that your friend is posting the best times of his/her life? If so THAT would be interesting. It's not simply Dara's body that puts her performance in doubt. I feel I've enumerated the other reasons above. I have no doubt the Dara is a work-aholic. So was Marion Jones and so was Roger Clemens. In fact it's often the super-obsessive that fall to the lures of performance enhancement.
The truth of the matter is that they can't detect all drugs now (not even close), and as I mentioned, one of the most common of all, HGH, is still not reliably testable. I don't see how it's offensive to claim that an older woman shouldn't be performing better than when she was twenty. Anyone who's aged at all, knows they aren't the same athlete they once were. Ask any of your 40+ year-old friends and see what they tell you (even the 5:00 miler).
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Tim TheFoolMan 10 months ago
Apparently, you missed Dana Torres appearance on "The Tonight Show," where she looked perfectly feminine. No, she's not sporting Dolly Parton breasts. Are we now complaining about someone with low body fat, good self-esteem, a strict exercise regimen, and (apparently) above-average personal hygiene being a role-model for young women?
Well, at least you're providing a role model for everyone who wants to make ad-hominem attacks, create logical fallacies, and pretend it's investigative journalism. Nicely done! - Tim
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
Oh Tim, there was no pretense at investigative journalism here. If you mistook it for that, then it is you that is living in a fantasy world. As for logical fallacies, again you've missed the boat, because this is a completely logical argument. What she is doing is completely illogical, as there is no precedence for it outside the realm of illegal doping. If she's clean, more power to her, and that will eventually shine through. However, I'm not as easily convinced as you, and would submit that you have a long life of getting duped in front of you if you don't at least question the circumstances surrounding her "comeback."
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setoutrunning 10 months ago
I've been following Dara's success in the 2008 games with interest, and though I'm not as skeptical as you, I think it's only reasonable to be open to the possibility she's taken measures illegal in competitive swimming. And while, as you indicated in an earlier comment, this wasn't intended as an unbiased piece of investigative journalism, I feel your comments on the attractiveness of Dara's physique undermine your argument. Dara's muscularity is unusual for her age--or any age, really--especially relative to her physique in past years, and this alone is enough to warrant suspicion; her bodies' aesthetic value is irrelevant. And yes, it is important that young girls not believe Dara's body is what all females must strive for, but the way to achieve this isn't to speak negatively of how Dara's "sacrificed her femininity," nor (especially) to relate feeling beautiful to what men find attractive (taken from an early comment reply). Still, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
HaHa! You're right about my cracks about her femininity of course. If you've read any of my stuff, you'd realize that mostly I'm a smart ass who can't resist a jab or too at the expense of "straight journalism." I write for the bleacher report to have a little fun and don't mind if my articles degrade into some trash talking. I do, however, generally provide a little substance too. I also wrote an article called "just legalize it" voicing my suspicions that EVERYONE is doping, so I'm sure that a fair percentage of Dara's competition is not on the level either. In that sense, I guess the playing field might be level! It's often difficult to portray "tone" in writing, but if I read this to you, it would probably be more apparent that this article is dripping with sarcasm. Thanks for the post.
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setoutrunning 10 months ago
I've been following Dara's success in the 2008 games with interest, and though I'm not as skeptical as you, I think it's only reasonable to be open to the possibility she's taken measures illegal in competitive swimming. And while, as you indicated in an earlier comment, this wasn't intended as an unbiased piece of investigative journalism, I feel your comments on the attractiveness of Dara's physique undermine your argument. Dara's muscularity is unusual for her age--or any age, really--especially relative to her physique in past years, and this alone is enough to warrant suspicion; her bodies' aesthetic value is irrelevant. And yes, it is important that young girls not believe Dara's body is what all females must strive for, but the way to achieve this isn't to speak negatively of how Dara's "sacrificed her femininity," nor (especially) to relate feeling beautiful to what men find attractive (taken from an early comment reply). Still, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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setoutrunning 10 months ago
(Excuse the double posting; I'm not sure how that happened.)
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Russ Rogers 10 months ago
Daniel: "In fact, most men don't find this attractive at all."
Is Mr. Muth INSANE or just an offensive IDIOT? I find Dara Torres extremely attractive. Dara Torres has done everything any athlete can to prove her innocence. She's done extra testing. She's even had samples of her blood preserved in case science comes up with NEWER, more sensitive tests that aren't available now. She's invited the press to document her training regimen and interview any and all of the coaches, trainers, therapists and doctors that she works with. What more CAN she do? What more PROOF do you need?
It's hard to PROVE a negative. My question is, "When did Daniel Muth stop beating his wife?" Muth has phrased this "editorial" in about as slanted a fashion.
Muth's adams apple and back hair snipes are ludicrous and offensive. Is he trying to be funny? He has seriously missed the mark. His smears are based on hunches and innuendo. He claims that he make no pretense at Investigative Journalism (that's obvious), but then returns to his slams, snipes and shameful jabs of "well, logic dictates that she is cheating, because nobody else has done it before." The Olympics have always been about raising the bar, setting new standards, new records, challenging not only your contemporary competitors but the history of the sport. Muth shouldn't try to pass off his own jaded skepticism as logic. And his chauvinistic and offensive comments enlighten nobody. Yeah, I went there. Muth gripes about Bonds and McGuire, but he doesn't claim that their doping make them any LESS sexually attractive. What the HELL does Dara Torres' attractiveness have to do with her achievements as an athlete? Is any female athlete that doesn't give Daniel Muth wood logically using steroids? This is bogus, sexist crap. Not logic.
I admit, Dara Torres is built like a Brick...House, but she's mighty mighty and she's letting it all hang out. Did you see the photos she did for Maxim? Google 'em! The epitome of strength AND femininity. And I'm not saying Maxim is the final word on what most men find attractive. But Maxim is not in the business of doing features on unattractive women. Daniel Muth seems to have lost touch with reality in this editorial.
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
"Is Mr. Muth INSANE or just an offensive IDIOT?" AWESOME! A question for the ages Russ. I do think you belittle your sexism argument, however, when you follow it up with accusations that I beat my wife, a much more serious indictment than anything I've accused Torres of. Unfortunately, with your misplaced passion, you too have surrendered your credibility. I am not a chauvinist, but I'm not afraid to be offensive. Only a coward walks through life not offending anyone. In many senses I feel that Barry Bonds ever expanding head has probably sacrificed his attractiveness too.
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Lauri Long 10 months ago
First of all, breasts are over rated. Second, you should be ashamed of yourself. As a (heterosexual) female, I find Dara to be extremely attractive and find she is an inspiration to all, young and old. She’s fit and lean. Find someone else to pick on.
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
I will pick on who I please. I do find it interesting, however, that many of these comments are centered around my clearly sarcastic jabs at her appearance rather than my allegations of performance enhancement. I guess she gets a pass because she's attractive? Ironically, this is re-enforces many of the attitudes that women (very rightly) have been complaining about for centuries.
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Raj Kumar 10 months ago
The comments center around your jabs at your appearance because that's your lede, your hook, and you know it. That's what made me click on this article in the first place. I didn't click on an article headlined "Dara Torres is a cheat".
Having said that, I can't really argue with the substance of the article. However, the timing of the attacks still seem very unfair. After all, the improbability of her story was evident much before the Olympics started. The general idea is that you hammer the candidate for president, sainthood, hero, role model, queen etc. before the coronation and hold your peace for a little while during the actual celebrations.
By breaking the "quiet" period rather than waiting, and by choosing a provocative lede, you get a chance at notoriety. The flip side is people get to be mad at you and ignore the substance. Seems fair to me.
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
Raj,
In point of fact, I wrote this article before the Olympics started and shortly after the Olympic trials. I didn't really think that Torres was relevant until she actually made the team, and it's only in the last two days that it's received many views. I guess I would ask when YOU would've published this article, as mostly, people write about what's happening right now. I would hate to be receiving my first views of articles detailing the presidential primaries months after they were a foregone conclusion.
As for the title, this is simply a take on an Austin Power's classic and I thought it was funny. I don't write articles to drag reads and really have no vested interest in notoriety. THIS IS NOT A NEWS SITE!!! It can be, but mostly it's a forum for fans of sport to have their say. That means there's going to be a little trash talking. I am neither upset by the vehement responses to this article, nor am I pleased that it seems to be getting this many reads. Honestly, it's not one of my best pieces, and takes more cheap shots than I am generally known for. Not surprisingly, this is generating interest as people always seem to be more attracted to sensationalist garbage (my own characterazation of this article) than to level-headed journalism.
My only commit to my would-be detractors is to be mindful of their own hypocrisy, when aiming personal attacks at me (not you Raj, your post is well reasoned enough). I apologize for nothing, and am certainly not upset over the overwhelmingly negative reviews. At the very least this article is bold, I think clever at times, and in the end touches on a reasonable topic. Obviously, everyone has their right to disagree and to question my tactics. I would be the hypocrite if I didn't realize that.
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Russ Rogers 10 months ago
Daniel: "In fact, most men don't find this attractive at all."
Is Mr. Muth INSANE or just an offensive IDIOT? I find Dara Torres extremely attractive. Dara Torres has done everything any athlete can to prove her innocence. She's done extra testing. She's even had samples of her blood preserved in case science comes up with NEWER, more sensitive tests that aren't available now. She's invited the press to document her training regimen and interview any and all of the coaches, trainers, therapists and doctors that she works with. What more CAN she do? What more PROOF do you need?
It's hard to PROVE a negative. My question is, "When did Daniel Muth stop beating his wife?" Muth has phrased this "editorial" in about as slanted a fashion.
Muth's adams apple and back hair snipes are ludicrous and offensive. Is he trying to be funny? He has seriously missed the mark. His smears are based on hunches and innuendo. He claims that he make no pretense at Investigative Journalism (that's obvious), but then returns to his slams, snipes and shameful jabs of "well, logic dictates that she is cheating, because nobody else has done it before." The Olympics have always been about raising the bar, setting new standards, new records, challenging not only your contemporary competitors but the history of the sport. Muth shouldn't try to pass off his own jaded skepticism as logic. And his chauvinistic and offensive comments enlighten nobody. Yeah, I went there. Muth gripes about Bonds and McGuire, but he doesn't claim that their doping make them any LESS sexually attractive. What the HELL does Dara Torres' attractiveness have to do with her achievements as an athlete? Is any female athlete that doesn't give Daniel Muth wood logically using steroids? This is bogus, sexist crap. Not logic.
I admit, Dara Torres is built like a Brick...House, but she's mighty mighty and she's letting it all hang out. Did you see the photos she did for Maxim? Google 'em! The epitome of strength AND femininity. And I'm not saying Maxim is the final word on what most men find attractive. But Maxim is not in the business of doing features on unattractive women. Daniel Muth seems to have lost touch with reality in this editorial.
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Sean Crowe 10 months ago
Slanderous. Irresponsible. Mean spirited. Irresponsible. Exactly what people hate about blogs. Did I mention slanderous?
I'm sure there are other adjectives...but I'm tired and haven't eaten yet today.
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
Sorry to disappoint you Sean. I considered it more like a "yo mamma" joke and didn't think it would be taken this seriously. Apparently, I was wrong, except for my very reasonable questions about the legitimacy of Dara's comeback. It was really a hybrid article (half "humor" half editorial) and was difficult to tag. I guess nobody got it.
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Sean Crowe 10 months ago
Sorry, guess I missed the humor. I was just stuck on how happy I'd be seeing a "Sean Crowe...it's a Woman baby!" article on Bleacher Report...
Just seems mean spirited...especially with the Vanilla Ice pic...
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
Join the club. Most people seemed to have missed the humor, which probably means I didn't do my job as well as I thought. Honestly, I thought the Vanilla Ice pic was VERY funny, but obviously my humor isn't ubiquitous. I don't know anyone's whose is, particularly in writing
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Russ Rogers 10 months ago
I have no clue how my earlier comments got placed here twice. My question about Mr. Muth beating his wife were to give an example of how slanted this editorial seems and how impossible it is to disprove a negative or to even respond to allegations like this. You can't say, "I've never stopped beating my wife!"
If your jabs at Dara Torres appearance had been "clearly sarcastic," they probably wouldn't have elicited the negative response (from me and others) that you've received. I think the comments about Torres appearance are "clearly inappropriate" considering the serious nature of the other allegations you bring against her. A better writer might chose to focus the readers attention on what they consider important. Your title, "Torres is a Man, Baby" clearly suggests that the focus of this "editorial" is on Dara Torres appearance. It isn't serious or even sarcastic, this is sophomoric.
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
I would disagree that the title was primarily focused on her appearance, as it was intended to question her testosterone levels, a very valid lead-in to illegal doping. Physicality is the outward projection of that malfeasance as it effects the musculature, fluid levels, and yes, even body hair of the user. Apparently people are more upset about my perhaps over-zealous jabs at physique than those aimed at her integrity, which is puzzling to me. I guess we really don't know who got it and who didn't. Thousands of reads vs. a dozen or so negative reviews doesn't really conclusively prove your point. Nor does it prove mine. The article was difficult to tag as it has elements of both humor and editorial. I don't have the option to tag both. Most all comedy is "sophomoric" in one way or another. I guess we disagree about whether it was funny or not. Clearly you didn't enjoy it. But the only way to get it right is to try things and see what works. I'm sorry that this didn't work for you, but would encourage you to check back on my work from time to time and be sure to tell me when I get it right.
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cameron 7 months ago
I dont understand why you think Dara Torres is illegally using. Thats a load of bull. I would like to see you work half as hard as she does without complaining. Yes, you're muscle mass generally decreases when you age, but i think its very impressive that she does what she does. And come on, stop criticizing her just because the has as much muscle as she does. And Dara Torres SHOULD still be an influence on many women and girls because she's done amazing things...WITHOUT USING. And its not her fault that she has asthma and somethings wrong with her body. She takes risks and does exceptionally well. You cant expect her to be perfect.
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jen king 6 months ago
First of all, if you're going to pretend to be a journalist, the least you can do is research your facts. Dara was diagnosed with asthma in 1993 not just two years ago. What she takes is cleared by the IOC and in allowable doses. She's a sprinter so a small shot of asthma meds isn't really going to do her much good with a race lasting only 24 seconds. And she doesn't even come up for air in those 24 seconds.
This girl broke her first international record at 14. She won her first olympic medal at 16. It has been noted by former teammates and coaches that she was a total slacker and won on just sheer raw talent. She did not start training seriously until college. In college she won 28 collegiate awards (most possible) while a Gator. All the time being bulimic. She has always had the jawline but while in college she looked fuller in the face which is caused by bulimia due to swellling from vomiting so much. At that time she lifted for bulk and power with a lot of carb loading because that was training back then. Now, we all know that with low carb and high protein you cut body fat. I personally have lost 10lbs in 4 months with high protein and weights. Dara now lifts for speed not bulk making her more lean along with high protein. She has dropped 20 pounds since Sydney. This woman has been swimming for 25+ years and has never failed a drug test of any kind. This woman is a maniac in the gym..swimming and training is all she does. There is a photo of Natalie Coughlin that shows she has just as much lower ab definition as Dara, yet you're not knocking her. Is is because she's more girlie looking? There is also a shot of Libby Tricket that shows just as much arm definition as Dara, yet you're not knocking her either. As for Dara not having big, fake boobs. Well, she's real athlete. She has low body fat. Look at marathon runners. They don't have boobs either. Your ranting of Dara being a man is so sexist and homophobic it's disgusting. you have obviously not seen the photos of Dara in Maxim or in Best Life mag. Google her name and you'll see what I am talking about. This woman has model looks and the body to go with it. I would love for a lot of the Hollywood stick figures to follow in her footsteps. Dara doesn't need silicone to prove she's a woman. A strong athletic body on a woman does not make her a man. It only makes people who think they are men, freaking idiots. And I would almost bet you are the Daniel Muth on Facebook. You just didn't have the balls to admit it..
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Daniel Muth 3 months ago
HaHa! How did I miss this? Must be cause it was posted so long after I wrote the article but I'll give you marks for cluelessness. Hmmmm, where to start....how about "yes, I have a facebook account." Not sure exactly how that's relevant or what it has to do with my "balls" but according to your metric, admitting this means that I have some. Thanks for adding a beautiful sexist statement at the end of your rant to expose you as the hypocrite and lunatic that you are.
I'm sorry you have such a body image problem that you feel it necessary to talk about "big fake boobs" as if the two are always the same thing, and I'm sorry that you weren't able to get over this enough to realize that I mentioned that there are plenty of other female athletes to be celebrating other than the suspect in this article. As far as I know, Lisa Leslie doesn't have "big fake boobs" though I guess you'd have to take that up with her! Either way, not sure how pointing out how DRASTICALLY her body has changed makes me sexist, and particularly homophobic. Perhaps you don't know what those words mean?
Anyway, thanks for the irrational rant with no particular relevant point. It brought me a smile. :)
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jen king 3 months ago
Yes, idiot you made comments about her chest at the very beginning of your writing. And who the hell's talking about Lisa Leslie?? I have absolutely no body image problem but apparently you're threatened by a woman who looks like she could kick your cheesehead ass. If you read about her training you would understand why her body has changed so much. But by the looks of your fat face you would be clueless regarding the effects of exercise. You're far from a journalist so stop pretending to be one.
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Daniel Muth 3 months ago
Wow, so now you don't like fat people, Mid-Westerners AND men? I'm afraid to ask who else doesn't make the cut. I know more about physiology than you could possibly fathom, but maybe you don't like smart people either. That said, I like YOU. You've got moxie. LOL
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