Phelps talks Fu Manchu, Torres talks age

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BEIJING -- This was expected to be the controversial news conference on Wednesday at the Main Press Center.

Surely, there would be questions about swimmer Jessica Hardy’s positive drug test for the banned substance clenbuterol. And was Tara Kirk unfairly treated?

Lastly, how would Dara Torres, at 41, deal with tough questions about her incredible performances with this being her first appearance in front of the international media in about eight years?

Although the Hardy case did come up, those questions were kept to a minimum because USA Swimming’s head coach Mark Schubert, who had been scheduled to appear, did not attend.

Torres, of course, was asked about the unfairness of having to deal with whether she was doing this cleanly. ‘I’ve answered this question at least a thousand times. It’s getting a little old,’ she said.

Apparently, controversy stayed in a holding pattern, waiting for the next group in the conference room, the embattled USOC. (Joey Cheek? Joey who? Isn’t a Joey a baby kangaroo?)

Instead, we got to hear, among other things, Michael Phelps talking about his facial hair, his Fu Manchu look. He said he was just ‘messing around’ with his facial hair. Torres was asked if she liked Phelps better with or without the Fu look.

‘She’s my mom, she has to like it both ways,’ Phelps said, jumping in.

Torres did get off a good line when she was talking about the quality of the rooms in the athletes’ village. She didn’t need the sheets and pillow she brought along, just in case.

‘It’s like you’re at a Marriott,’ she said, smiling.

The next panel featured Brendan Hansen, Katie Hoff, Aaron Peirsol, Natalie Coughlin, Ryan Lochte, Eric Shanteau and men’s coach Eddie Reese and women’s coach Jack Bauerle.

Shanteau, who was told he had testicular cancer shortly before the trials, spoke about the cumulative weight of the diagnosis. He is putting off treatment until after the Olympics and has been cleared to compete.

‘This has been a roller-coaster ride,’ Shanteau said. ‘This isn’t the flu. This is cancer.... It’s on my mind constantly. But that’s how it’s going to be.’

-- Lisa Dillman