I thought the same thing. Its a bad picture. Fire the publicist.

I didn't actually think of a woman when I saw it (though I think he just looks *weird* with arms akimbo like that), but a commenter on another blog I read mentioned that "the way those medals fall across his torso, it looks like a Versace tank top that Samantha from Sex In the City would wear."

Another wrote, "Looks like a prop from a bollywood film. The medals, I mean."

Both terrific comments that made me laugh. A lot.

not to mention the fact that it's covering up his attractive abs.

edtched?? WTF?

haha when I saw a thumbnail of this cover this morning, I was like.. "why the hell is Phelps wearing a halter top". My confusion was cleared after I clicked on it.

This cover is mimicking Mark Spitz's picture with his 7 medals

Here is the Mark Spitz Picture

sounds like u got teh ghey!

he is wearing a top similar to something you’d see at an Indian wedding

couldnt be. desi girls shave but they have that 5 o'clock shadow on their belly by the time it's 'ladies sangeet'. by 10pm they look like the guy they found in georgia. at least phelps shaves only once for the meet.

I did the same thing. I think the hands on his hips also make him look more feminine...? I really do admire his athleticism but I don't understand all the hyperventilating, he's a little funny-looking to me. I'd pick lady on the left if I had to choose.

He could have been on the pride parade somewhere! ;) Hilarious!

comments 7&8....hilarious

Ha Ha Ha..absolutely right. It is a horrible picture. Never seen such a ghastly dressup!

I saw a story about this cover on CNN (and let me tell you, a feature on Phelps is the ONLY reason I would ever break my vow to never watch CNN) which mentioned that the photographer only had ten minutes to put this all together and that half that time was taken up sticking the medals together just-so with gaffer tape.

This cover is mimicking Mark Spitz's picture with his 7 medals

Yeah, Spitz wouldn't look out of place riding a motorcycle through Castro.

I think with Phelps, the less exposure he gets, the more it will add to the mystery, the aura. The minute he opens his mouth, the magic is gone. He's inspiring but I think I'll stay away from his motivation tapes on Youtube.

Slightly hard to agree but granted just for the colors matching in the two pictures.

He's not in bad shape esp that he eats 10,000+ calories per day (on swim days I think)

Indian girls have a slight paunch and he's flat as a wall.

Wow. Not much love for the Indian women (Harsh). 10 Minutes for the shoot? If it took 5 to put the medals together, it shouldn't have taken more than 3 minutes to setup the same lighting used for Spitz picture. Phelps picture doesn't achieve the same light fall off that Spitz's does (probably because the flash was overexposed), so it's not as powerful (look, for example, at the difference of light on their arms). I guess I'm trying to say, if they wanted to show his abs behind those medals, they could have totally done it; same with make his muscles appear more defined.

Leryn Franco, a Paraguayan athlete who specializes in the javelin throw was the runner-up in the Miss Paraguay competition and in the Miss Bikini Universe pageant. She finished second to last in the qualifying rounds in Beijing.

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/_wlkqg2pHRk/Olympics+Day+11+Athletics/BwLabQjyuVY/Leryn+Franco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UFu7u8uZXY

It looks fine to me. Who is the girl? She's cute but she looks like she is white!

Poor Phelps... he may be rolling in gold and multi-million $ endorsements but he's not getting much lovin' from former Olympian Amanda Beard:

When asked if she ever kissed Michael, Amanda answered, “Ew, no!” Held hands? “Ew, no! Not even that.” Even the mere suggestion that Michael might be attracted to her inspired an “ew-that’s-so-nasty” response.What’s so icky about dating Michael Phelps? It seems that Beard, a past Playboy pinup, doesn’t care for his appearance.link

That "halter top" SI picture doesn't help much...

That picture made me think WTH is going on till I stopped to look and saw those were his medals. It looks so much like a halter. Like someone said already - it is a recreation of the older photo. But that doesn't change the fact that it looks like he is wearing a dress.

Two more medals on that chest and we could have made some jokes about Ravana's heads, damn!! Better luck next time Mike!

Agree about the photo looking odd.

Fat lanyards are all the rage this season.

When asked if she ever kissed Michael, Amanda answered, “Ew, no!” Held hands? “Ew, no! Not even that.” Even the mere suggestion that Michael might be attracted to her inspired an “ew-that’s-so-nasty” response.What’s so icky about dating Michael Phelps? It seems that Beard, a past Playboy pinup, doesn’t care for his appearance.link

You would think she could be a little more diplomatic than that.

In any case the picture looks awful.

Abhi,

What is it with you, and physically mocking these uber-athletes? The man achieved something
no male in history of humanity accomplished in the Olympics, and you imply he's effeminate?
The world-champion swimmer in his swimming garb wearing his medals is awe-inspiring.

I was in Beijing and saw Phelps win his 6th gold. just received the SI issue in the mail this morning and after looking at the cover and the pix that I took with my sad little click-and-shoot, I say it is the photog's fault.

He may not be the best looking guy I have ever seen but he looks WAY better in person and so much more personable, smiling and trying to accomodate as many people as he could, who wanted to take his picture. An uber-athlete, a decent looking guy and a class act all the way - I would not vote him off my island.

24 · W Varaiyaa said

Abhi,

What is it with you, and physically mocking these uber-athletes? The man achieved somethingno male in history of humanity accomplished in the Olympics, and you imply he's effeminate?The world-champion swimmer in his swimming garb wearing his medals is awe-inspiring.

I didn't read it as mocking Phelps. It was just poking a little fun at how the medals were arranged, that it looked kinda like a desi top. Abhi wasn't implying that Phelps himself was effeminate, he even said he is a huge Phelps fan.

I agree with Hadji- what's with the anti-Indian woman tone in a lot of these comments? Do you all know tons of people- male or female of any ethnicity- over the age of 25 that have perfect bodies? I don't. What do Khoofia and Amsterdamguy look like?

I just want to send out a friendly reminder that women read this blog, too, and if I wanted to be exposed to anti-brown girl stuff there are plenty of other places on both the internet and IRL that I could go to get it.

Abhi,

HILARIOUS post! I totally thought the same thing!

Tiger Lily, thanks for that comment. i was a bit disappointed to see that fellow SM bloggers fell into such a category =(

I just want to send out a friendly reminder that women read this blog, too,...

In khoofia's defense, I think the comment in question was not mocking "Indian women" per se, but the tendency to emulate and adopt cookie-cutter standards of "beauty" which tell us that hair only belongs on the head. It wasn't said in the most pc tactful way, but pc tactful is rarely funny.

Perhaps after THE BOLT , we will need another reason to remember Phelps.

I once saw a great stand-up comedian in Vancouver who was bemoaning the plight of desis. He said that South Asians really got the shaft when it came to favorable evolutionary conditions. I mean, we're as hairy as Rapunzel and we got placed in the hottest place in the world.

Where's the justice?

I once saw a great stand-up comedian in Vancouver who was bemoaning the plight of desis. He said that South Asians really got the shaft when it came to favorable evolutionary conditions. I mean, we're as hairy as Rapunzel and we got placed in the hottest place in the world.

Doesn't hirsuteness increase the further north one travels in India?

Abhi,

What is it with you, and physically mocking these uber-athletes?

A sense of humor is required to visit SM

Doesn't hirsuteness increase the further north one travels in India?

Gosh VV, why are you so obsessed with appearance? Why does it matter how hairy someone is as they go north?

I'm a little amazed at the heteronormativity (oh yes, I went there) in the comments around Phelps' appearance. I think his medals do look a bit odd, as arranged, but how much of that has to do with the lanyards, the angle, etc.?

Is "W Varaiyaa" the same as "VV Vairraya"? If not, could the SM bloggers put in some sort of "don't pick a handle intended to cause confusion with another commenter's handle" rule?

35 · Camille said

heteronormativity

Oh no you di'int!

23 · Amitabh said

You would think she could be a little more diplomatic than that.

didn't you know that is the behavior of the beard caste culturally and historically?

Who cares about Abhi's twisted brain.

He still looks HOTT. Phelpsy, you can wear that to our vedding, baby :D

Is "W Varaiyaa" the same as "VV Vairraya"? If not, could the SM bloggers put in some sort of "don't pick a handle intended to cause confusion with another commenter's handle" rule?

pingpong, well made point. Sadly it's the only recourse I have since my sardonic comments
seem to illicit banning. I consider myself a gadfly in the tradition of MoorNam and khoofia.

If one bothers read my history of comments, it's obvious I'm not a troll. Just a different
opinion in the diaspora. BTW: I've known Vij & the gang for nearly two decades.

Is "W Varaiyaa" the same as "VV Vairraya"? If not, could the SM bloggers put in some sort of "don't pick a handle intended to cause confusion with another commenter's handle" rule?

Forgot to add.
Until the SM Intern weighs in, the regular expression meta-data banning algorithm can't
catch up with a natural language processor...

didn't you know that is the behavior of the beard caste culturally and historically?

I didn't know that but it IS fascinating...thanks!

---
Doesn't hirsuteness increase the further north one travels in India?
---
As a general trend, yes. And if you move east, it decreases (Bengalis and Assamese).
Punjabis are more hirsute than most other groups. But then, so are quite a few Keralites.

42 · Amitabh aka I care so get lost said

I didn't know that but it IS fascinating...thanks!

Is this combination of weak jabs and raging insults typical to your caste, Amitabh? Or does it offend you so much because you have a hereditary ownership on a caste-centric view of the world?

pingpong, well made point. Sadly it's the only recourse I have since my sardonic comments seem to illicit banning. I consider myself a gadfly in the tradition of MoorNam and khoofia.

OK: firstly, a parody account does not need a confusing handle. It's clear that SpoorLam parodies MoorNam, but the names are distinct enough that one does not subsume the other. Secondly, I don't see how choosing a confusing handle can be a recourse from being banned, since one's handle does not shield one from one's own comments. You might very well want to parody or satirize others (and it's completely your choice), but I don't see how choosing a confusing handle improves the quality of your parody. If anything, it detracts from the rest of what you have to say.

Is this combination of weak jabs and raging insults typical to your caste, Amitabh? Or does it offend you so much because you have a hereditary ownership on a caste-centric view of the world?

Interesting question...possibly a combination of both...hhmm...food for thought...I'll get back to you.

46 · Amitabh said

Interesting question...possibly a combination of both...hhmm...food for thought...I'll get back to you.

Well, make sure people from your subsect, caste, and district are allowed to talk to people from my caste and district. That's crucial, as you know.

27 Tiger Lily said

What do Khoofia and Amsterdamguy look like?
I just want to send out a friendly reminder that women read this blog, too, and if I wanted to be exposed to anti-brown girl stuff there are plenty of other places on both the internet and IRL that I could go to get it.

Not being able to accept criticism (though true) is very brown for sure.

I am as brown as the guy who pulled your risckshaw in India and I look (except skin and face) similar to Phelps.
Not an inch around the waist. Snooping low to personal jibes already?

48 · Amsterdamguy said

Not an inch around the waist.

I suppose it's a matter of taste but I'd take a little happy trail on muffin top over a waxed mannequin any day.

Next week: Deodorant and why it's stupid.

Desis in India eat very rich diets (and a lot of it)

Why are you lying so outrageously?

50 · Ram said

Desis in India eat very rich diets (and a lot of it)

Why are you lying so outrageously?

Because your Dal doesnt have a thick layer of ghee and the deep fried paneer parantha doesnt taste any good without a big dollop of butter.

Because your Dal doesnt have a thick layer of ghee and the deep fried paneer parantha doesnt taste any good without a big dollop of butter.

What percentage of India can even afford "thick layer of ghee" and "deep fried paneer paratha"?

A large percentage is dal with dry roti, and that too can be a struggle.

51 · Amsterdamguy said

Because your Dal doesnt have a thick layer of ghee and the deep fried paneer parantha doesnt taste any good without a big dollop of butter.

quit stereotyping the desi diet. several affluent desis also eschew fatty foods and many cuisine options in the desh are naturally low-fat and high in veggie content. moreover, indians tend to have a fairly low dairy and animal product content in their diet, and a large portion of the population eats remarkably few processed foods. protein is derived usually from lentils.
seriously, your comments only showcase your ignorance about the diversity in south asian cooking, mr. 6-pack-abs-raised-in-europe-smug-uber-elite.

53 · supersize said

quit stereotyping the desi diet

o please, can we stop stereotype-bashing here. every time someone points to a general ttrend someone else pops in to point out the exceptions and diversity. I know, hitler stereotyped but he was a vegitarian too.

amsterdamguy and kush are both right. too many indians are malnutritioned and, among the wealthy minority at least, a rich diet is has led to major heath problems. smug elite studs like myself are exceptions.

quit stereotyping the desi diet. several affluent desis also eschew fatty foods and many cuisine options in the desh are naturally low-fat and high in veggie content

Thanks for the laugh. Which are these mysterious cuisines you talk about? There is very little 'healthy' regular Indian food if at all.

Also whats up with desi cooking and using tons of salt in every dish imaginable.

55 · Pagal_Aadmi_for_debauchery said

There is very little 'healthy' regular Indian food if at all.

fresh vegetables cooked in little oil, lentils, thin breads? sweets/desserts only rarely. almost no processed foods. how is that not healthy? i'll admit though that south asian cooking tends to have more salt than the norm in most places.

someone else pops in to point out the exceptions

55 · Pagal_Aadmi_for_debauchery said

There is very little 'healthy' regular Indian food if at all.

hey PAFD, I'm usually a fan of your comments; so I am pointing you to a beloved and well-known food blog among desi netizens: mahanandi. enjoy!

Which are these mysterious cuisines you talk about?

One word: lentils (daal)

smug elite studs like myself are exceptions

What part of my writing did you find anti-brown girl? Desis in India eat very rich diets (and a lot of it), those with cars n bikes do a lot less physical work, run in the parks or gyms isnt very common and I read that Indian people are genetically predisposed to being obese. If I was able to add 2 and 2, I would agree to what I said about paunches without having to walk around Chandni chowk.

Not being able to accept criticism (though true) is very brown for sure.

I am as brown as the guy who pulled your risckshaw in India and I look (except skin and face) similar to Phelps.
Not an inch around the waist. Snooping low to personal jibes already?

"Desis in India eat very rich diets (and a lot of it), those with cars n bikes do a lot less physical work, run in the parks or gyms isnt very common and I read that Indian people are genetically predisposed to being obese. If I was able to add 2 and 2, I would agree to what I said about paunches without having to walk around Chandni chowk.

Why go all the way Chandni Chowk? Try Trafalgar and Times squares. Given that the study you cite seems to be a study of UK Indians, the "desis in India" part is too limiting.

And what exactly is this "desi" food or "Indian" cuisine?

55 · Pagal_Aadmi_for_debauchery said

Thanks for the laugh. Which are these mysterious cuisines you talk about? There is very little 'healthy' regular Indian food if at all.

as expressed earlier, it depends on the region, Lankan home cooking can be either extremely high in saturated fat or in omega-6s (due to extensive use of coconut milk and "nalla ennai" or sesame oil) but if you aren't insulin-sensitive and don't have the relevant health history, you should be fine (factors which unfortunately don't apply to my relatives)

There are little things you can do, like eating whole grain rice instead of the white basmati, or going easy on the ghee, but the Ornish diet (low fat, high fibrous carb , low protein) is simply incapable of supporting a population with 'ideal' body composition.

57 · supersize brain, pert ass said

what i'm trying to say that amsterdam guy's description of indian food is not the norm. what i describe is average, not exceptional for middle-class india. kush has already spoken about th circumstances of those with low-incomes.

i understand amsterdamguys description was incomplete, classist even, since he was describing affluent indians and the rising bourgeoisie, thus erasing most indians, who are poor; which is why I said both kush and amsterdamguy are right. u r right that there is diversity. there is always diversity, even in fat america there are lean studs like me and obama (thats 4 u, bess ;-), but trends and generalizations still exist. thus an obesity epidemic in america and in india the situation is thus:

India is a country historically plagued by malnutrition. Even today, sixty-four hundred million Indians, 64% of the population of India are chronically malnourished (Kurtz). At the same time, 11% of the Indian population is over-nourished.

even in fat america there are lean studs like me and obama (thats 4 u, bess ;-),

every time someone points to a general ttrend someone else pops in to point out the exceptions and diversity.

You and amsterdam_guy really need to take a course in elementary logic. A generalization based on the eating habits of a minority is false. Based on your logic the american diet must be low calorie vegetarian since that is a trend among a minority of americans.

66 · Jobs said

generalization based on the eating habits of a minority is false

yeah, i know. prema caught that #50 and was on the verge of an all out conniption. but b/f he relaoded, kush popped in, we controlled for class and presto, amsterdamguy then had a point.

Manju:

lean studs like me

That does not compute. Your gluttonous eating and drinking habits (which you seem to be proud of), your sedentary occupation, and the inordinate amount of your free time you spend here, means that it is far more likely that you look like the stereotypical nouveau riche desi: a flabby gut, spindly arms and legs, and no stamina. The opposite of a stud, in other words.

68 · stop_lying said

a flabby gut, spindly arms and legs, and no stamina. The opposite of a stud, in other words.

Ron Jeremy has no stamina? Not a stud? I think not.

this makes me wonder whether phelps got a chance to see the picture before it was published. if so, i can't believe he signed off on this hot mess.

To those pushing the talk about Indian malnutrition in this direction, take a look at the picture on the left once again. I'm not sure if that woman looks like someone who carries bricks and concrete mixes on her head.
The guy who started this thread said that he found the two pictures similar. My comments were only about the pictures until Indian dietitians and logic experts interjected.

I wouldn't go in the average desi argument of how good the Indian nutrition, driving, bharatiya sankriti and corruption are. Too greasy macaca for me.

And one more, I saw poor people a couple of years ago, poor as in those who do roadwork and construction work and looked liked they are eating slightly better than the 80s.

As my eyes scan the gold medal winners for the men's rowing eight from left to right , I pauses at the last figure and with a sharp draw of breath I realize ... YES I CAN... it could be me on the podium. 2012 here I come. ;-)

24 · W Varaiyaa said

Abhi,
What is it with you, and physically mocking these uber-athletes? The man achieved something
no male in history of humanity accomplished in the Olympics, and you imply he's effeminate?
The world-champion swimmer in his swimming garb wearing his medals is awe-inspiring.

I didn't think anything in the blurb implied a mocking of Phelps.

What struck me was the neverending quest to desify absolutely anything and everything, lol

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