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ANNA AND THE KINGS: SI'S KOURNIKOVA COVER STORY HAS LEGS

          SI's cover story on Anna Kournikova continues to draw
     commentary, as NEWSDAY's Johnette Howard wrote, "Even for
     SI, home of the soft-porn swimsuit issue, the Kournikova
     story is a new low.  At least a supermodel's job description
     includes being a sex object.  In Kournikova's case, SI took
     a legitimate athlete -- and a teenager, no less -- and
     photographed her in provocative clothing."  Howard: "Now
     that the SI story has run, the better question is, 'Does SI
     really matter anymore- and to whom?'  Apparently, the
     magazine doesn't have the same clout it used to enjoy before
     the all-sports TV networks and the Internet came along. 
     Apparently, SI doesn't impact much on what women do, or how
     we think.  And this is why I'm sure: If the women's sports
     movement could be killed because of SI's antagonism and
     neglect, it would have already happened by now.  They work
     hard at it.  I know.  I used to work there" (NEWSDAY, 6/11). 
     In Buffalo, Jerry Sullivan credited the Women's Sports
     Foundation for "condemning" the issue.  Sullivan: "The cover
     story, and 11 accompanying photos, were a shameless attempt
     to capitalize on Kournikova's soaring popularity and good
     looks."  But Sullivan added, "I'll forgive [SI].  It's not
     as if they exploit women on a regular basis.  You know, like
     the women's magazines do.  Have you looked at any of those
     mags lately? ... I wonder what the Women's Sports Foundation
     thinks of all this?  Has it ever issued a public
     denunciation of women's magazines?" (BUFFALO NEWS, 6/11). 
     In DC, Tom Knott: "[SI] is in an increasingly competitive
     business, and must work hard to maintain its relevance in an
     information-saturated marketplace.  If a cover story on
     Kournikova helps achieve the purpose, if only for a week, no
     contrived justification is necessary.  Just bring the sizzle
     and spare everyone the duplicity.  Don't pretend to be
     amazed that sex, even in these gender-enlightened times,
     still sells.  This is insulting to readers" (WASHINGTON
     TIMES, 6/12).  In Rochester, Bob Matthews notes the
     "enormous heat" SI has taken for the story and writes that
     one "remedy" would be an "even longer cover feature on track
     star Marion Jones," a "fabulous athletes ... at least as
     attractive as Kournikova" (DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 6/12). 

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