Beard and Rodman Get Along Swimmingly Over Breakfast

Olympic medalist Amanda Beard was an unexpected guest of the Angels on Thursday afternoon.

The rumor buzzing around Anaheim Stadium was that Beard, a 14-year-old from Irvine who swam to a gold medal and two silver medals at the Atlanta Games, was going to be in the company of one of her favorite athletes--Dennis Rodman, the flamboyant forward of the NBA-champion Chicago Bulls. Beard’s family was welcome to tag along as chaperons.

But that’s not exactly what happened.

Rodman was informed of Beard’s desire to meet him by his tax consultant, Doug Ammerman, who is a friend of Dan Beard, Amanda’s father. Ammerman made all the arrangements.

Thursday morning, Rodman joined Beard and her family for breakfast at a restaurant in Orange.

After breakfast, Amanda said Rodman invited her and her family to the set of the NBC television show “Third Rock From The Sun,” on which Rodman was scheduled to tape a guest spot Thursday. But Beard demurred, wanting instead to attend the Angels-Twins game.

Beard, who first sat with her family on the field level at Anaheim Stadium behind the third base on-deck circle before they were moved to a private suite, said the NBA’s controversial star was a complete gentleman.

Along with picking up the tab for breakfast, Rodman presented her with an autographed Bulls jersey, cap and Sports Illustrated magazine with his picture on the cover.

“He made it so enjoyable,” said Beard, who added she was also busy during breakfast signing autographs for children and adults on everything from tickets to Wheaties boxes.

“I didn’t have a real interest in basketball until I saw him play on television. He brings an excitement to the game. And he was so nice to me and my family; it’s something I’ll never forget.”

It was rumored Rodman was going to provide Angel tickets for the Beards, but instead a club official accompanied them to the game.

Carolyn LaPierre, a media relations assistant for the Angels, said she was besieged by reporters’ phone calls inquiring about Rodman and Beard’s seat location. LaPierre sounded relieved the Rodman-Beard date took place at a restaurant instead of the stadium.

“We would have had to place them in a special section,” she said. “If they were just in a regular section, this place would be a zoo.”

Now that Rodman is an Orange County resident, having recently purchased a home in Newport Beach, will they take in another game sometime soon?

“He said we might do something else, but what it is I don’t know,” said Amanda, adding it wouldn’t be in the near future because she and her family plan to vacation in the Northwest next week.