Separated at Birth: Cheeky Brits Copy American Water Polo Team

Back in October, the lovely All-American lasses on the US Water Polo team graced the cover of the ESPN the Magazine the Body Issue in their collective birthday suits. Tastefully, of course.

Well, leave it up to the no good British to seize on the opportunity to flat out copy the shoot.

Only, in typical Euro fashion, they image appears to be much more grimy and dingy (top photo), and is much tougher on the eyes.

But I mean, come on. Stylistically, this is a direct rip-off.

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Olympian Robbed of Medal - Literally

USA Water Polo 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist Merrill Moses suffered a major loss out of the pool this past holiday season when his prized possession, the Silver Medal from the Olympic Games in Bejing was stolen. Along with several other family valuables including an Olympic ring, his Pepperdine 1997 NCAA title ring, and much of his mother's jewelry, Moses and his family are on the hunt to find their lost valuables. The heist occurred over the holidays when Moses was with family on vacation to propose to his now fiance. Sports Illustrated's Brian Cazeneuve has joined the hunt with his latest column. If you happen to come across this very specific medal, a 2008 Olympic Silver Medal engraved with water polo and #1 on it, please contact USA Water Polo at www.usawaterpolo.org or via twitter at twitter.com/usawp.

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HHR Contributer Smacks Down Ray Lewis...and is Still Alive (For Now)

After Baltimore Raven rider Ray Lewis belittled the sport last week ("But we don’t need no hope. Y’all can keep your hope because we’ve got enough hope over here. We’re packing our bags, and we’re not packing our bags to come play water polo."), HHR water polo aficionado Greg Mescall challenges the linebacker to put his Speedo where his mouth is in the NYT's Fifth Down Blog today:

With all due respect to the luggage industry, what I get out of this is that Ray Lewis thinks water polo is easy. We know otherwise. Ray Lewis has distinguished himself as one of the greatest linebackers in the N.F.L. over his storied playing career. Now his career as a water polo player, that is something I’d like to see...

Take Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones, who played water polo with one of the top clubs in Europe, in Dubrovnik, Croatia, for his reality show. Or Dallas Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd, who told me at the 2008 Olympics that he once took part in a water polo practice with the California Bears men’s team back in college; he said it was brutal. As one reporter described the sport, water polo is “boxing plus sprinting plus basketball plus wrestling — with no floor beneath your feet.” Sounds about right...

So Ray, we welcome you to come play water polo — after the season, of course. Pack lightly; it’s a long time to stay above water.

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2008 Olympian Brittany Hayes' Dog Is Fast, Really Fast

Olympians do lots of things once they are done playing. Some coach, go into broadcasting, get regular jobs, or in the case of 2008 Women's Water Polo Silver Medalist Brittany Hayes, they race wiener dogs. Say hello to Riley, a champion dachshund who is undefeated thus far in 2010. The folks at USA Water Polo caught up with Riley on another typical race day as he continues his march towards, you guessed it, WeinerNationals.

2008 Olympian Brittany Hayes/Riley the dog from Jeanine Baca on Vimeo.

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US Women's Water Polo Team Hits the Road

In advance of USA Water Polo's 10th Holiday Cup starting this week in Newport Beach, CA members of the USA Women's Senior National Team had a camera along for the ride as they journeyed to the Holiday Cup. Check out part 1 and part 2 as they make their way to Corona del Mar High School. The video features three-time Olympian Heather Petri along with Erika Figge, Lauren Silver, and Head Coach Adam Krikorian. For more information on the Holiday Cup, click here.

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