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).
