U.S. Olympic swimmer Jenny Thompson has "caused
something of a stir" with a photo in which she is "pictured
topless with her hands covering her breasts" that appears in
the current issue of SI, according to Rick Morrissey of the
CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Thompson said that she "didn't expect the
picture to show up" in the magazine but added that she is
"happy with the shot." Thompson: "I'm an athlete.
Athletics is about physicality. And I'm proud of my body
and the work that I've done to get it where it is. I didn't
do it to get more attention or to be a sex symbol or
anything like that" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/14).
REAX: In L.A., Karen Crouse writes while the photo is
"tastefully done, ... I'm peeved on principle. I mean,
where is the picture in the same issue of Dodger outfielder
Gary Sheffield naked except for his strategically placed
fielding glove? In a related question, why hasn't Jan-
Michael Gambill appeared on the cover yet?" Crouse, noting
Anna Kournikova's recent SI cover, adds "if achievement was
the only consideration," Karrie Webb and Marion Jones "would
have graced" SI's cover by now. Crouse: "It's not just
about performance, it's about personalities and newsstand
sales to the 18-to-34-year-old male demographic." Crouse
adds that the "few female athletes approached" to be in SI
"face a dilemma. Do they refuse to play by the magazine's
rules, at the risk of being excluded from the magazine
entirely or being re-routed to its stepsister of a
publication? Or do they overlook the magazine's agenda and
use the incredible, uh, exposure they'll receive to advance
their own agenda?" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 8/14). USA TODAY's
Christine Brennan writes while Thompson "defends the picture
as being a positive image for girls of a 'strong ...
muscular' woman, I conducted my own informal poll" this past
weekend and "discovered an entirely different opinion."
Suzanne Souders, a 17-year-old swimmer, on Thompson: "For
people looking up to her, it damages her image." Brennan:
"What's troubling about this trend is that there seems to be
a warped attitude among some female athletes that it's not
only proper to take off your clothes for a picture, it's
actually liberating" (USA TODAY, 8/14).
WHATEVER WORKS: In L.A., Tom Hoffarth reports that
Playboy.com is featuring a poll through August 25 asking
fans to name the "10 Hottest Women of the WNBA." Hoffarth:
"Of course, it's sexist. But [Mercury] coach Cheryl Miller
doesn't seem to care." Miller: "I'm a huge fan of just
filling seats, and if it takes the Anna Kournikovas of the
world to fill them, then that's what you have to do. I
don't want to focus on (looks) being the main draw, ... but
hey, whatever fills the seats" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 8/14).