The "Problem" Of Beauty For Women In Sports...

is a question that has long weighed on my mind. This dilemma sits heavy on my shoulders, and kinda...well...ticks me off sometimes. A new article addresses this "problem" and can be found at

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Let-the-Lindsey-hype-begin-Vonn-is-Sports-Illus?urn=oly,217525

In short, the article discusses the new Sports Illustrated Cover featuring Lindsey Vonn who is poised to become the greatest American woman skier of all time. However, the only thing people are focusing on is the pose she is in on the cover...suggesting that it is too provocative. The only thing I see on the cover is a beautiful, athletic, talented girl in an overexaggerated tuck stance regularly seen in the sport of skiing. Come on people...CHILLAX!!!

The article states, "...This is Vonn's moment. If she wins multiple golds in Vancouver, Vonn has the potential to become a major crossover star. She'd be like Michael Phelps, only with better looks and an actual personality. Landing on the SI cover is a good way for her to start the Vonn saturation campaign. It's as important for her as it is the magazine. The pose is suggestive, sure, but it's not objectifying. The headline reads "America's best woman skier ever", for Jean-Claude's sake! Why can't she be both the best skier in the world and really, really attractive too? Tom Brady's a great athlete and a handsome dude and I don't hear people whine when he's shirtless in GQ. Most importantly, this cover is almost identical to the one that ran on SI's Winter Olympic preview in 1992. That one featured a gentleman named A.J. Kitt and I'm pretty sure nobody complained that it was too provocative."

Well...I say they hit the nail on the head when they pose the question, "why can't she be both the best skier in the world and really, really attractive too?" Why do people get so mad and immediately dismiss talent and credibility because the girl is beautiful and sexy. It is obvious this girl is skilled in the sport of skiing. Why do people immediately cry "Objectification or Provocation" just because the cover shot showcases an attractive woman? She is completely covered in a ski outfit, for goodness sake...LOL!! Personally, I adore the last line regarding Tom Brady.

Frankly, the whole double standard thing annoys me...and I find it most annoying when it comes from other women. Women who should rejoice in the success and forward progress of their gender are the first to criticize, and that fact both amazes and disgusts me.

Well I say...GO LINDSEY and the entire USA Women's Ski Team!!! You girls are athletic, talented, and skilled and none of those qualities deserve to be undermined by your beauty. GO TEAM USA!!!

And to all the people out there who hate or dismiss thier talent because they are super hot chicas...well...I guess the world has a place for idiots, too!!!

FISH ON!!!

LIZZY aka The Fisherbabe