Come on...Really? The SI Cover of Lindsey Vonn
So when I received my weekly Sports Illustrated, I was immediately taken aback. I was psyched Lindsey Vonn was on the cover but the picture...come on...
Maybe my mind is in the gutter but I initially laughed, said whoa (still giggling), then I thought, this is inappropiate. I mean...YES, she's technically in a skiing position but did they have to show it in this way? Couldn't they have angled the picture or taken it with her facing the reader, almost as if she was coming at you? That would have been cool.
So in case, it was just me, I walked around the newsroom with the magazine to get other people's opinions. I walked up to my coworkers and basically said, "hey, take a look at this" (straight face, did not want to sway anyone). Most had the eyebrows raised reaction or the "oh wow, that's an interesting pose" comment. Not one person had the desire to read more about Lindsey: the awesome, world class skier. There were some crude jokes and crass unmentionables but hey...it's a newsroom. Most people were as questioning as I am about the cover. What do you think? Take a better look after the break (I feel a little guilty too-like I am perpetuating the picture faux pas), but I want your opinions! Also check out some cool facts about Mrs. Vonn:
*Married to US skier and fellow member of 2002 team Thomas Vonn (her coach), 25 years old
*World class alpine skier
*Going for a record 5 Gold medals at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics: Has said that people are "Phelpsing her" in a reference to 8 Gold medal winner, Swimmer Michael Phelps at the 2008 Summer Olympics
(NO US alpine skier has ever won more than two Olympic medals in a career, no less at one Olympic games)
* Hasn't won an Olympic medal
* Has used Men's skis for the past year (makes her faster but is risky)
*At 17 years old, placed 6th at the 2002 Olympics, 2005 World Championship placed 4th, 2006 Olympics in Turin--took a terrible fall during practice, people thought she had broken her back--bruised hip; still participated in race and finished 8th. TOUGH AS NAILS!!!
*Vonn is a favorite at the 2010 Olympics in three races: the downhill, the super-G (or super-giant slalom) and the super-combined...all speed events.
*Vonn earned her first "big race" medals with silver in both downhill and Super-G at the 2007 World Championships
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Comments: 16
I like it. Sports Illustrated is in the business of selling magazines and this is their marketing concept in this regard.
I understand where you are coming from related to this picture, but it is the way to maximize appeal and sell magazines.
WPIX does the same when teasing for an upcoming segment. This is the media. This is how the game is played.
Wow, Lolita, way to put you obvious insecurity out there. Not that I would expect any less of you, seeing how you look like the wicked witch of the northeast. Don't be mad because someone who has some actual talent and is attractive gets attention and no one wants to put your disaster of a side profile (and front view) with you horrendous wardrobe on a magazine. Waaahhhhh!!
Please Jealousmuch...it seems like you are doing all the whining, not me. If you actually read my blog, my point was that an oddly posed photo takes away from the true story which is her athletic talent. If it was a man, this would not have happened or had the same reaction. Thanks for watching and contributing..."my pretty"
I hear you James. I am just living in my little utopia where talent is what reigns supreme.
Lolita, obviously Lindsey Vonn is both talented and beautiful. She can be marketed accordingly. I uderstand your point related to the pose, but I am in the business of marketing and sales, so I may look at things from a different frame of reference.
That is what makes discussions like this so interesting, as we personally and professionally come from different angles.
Also, you should know about being talented and beautiful, because you are both.
Wondering if Jealousmuch is related to Anonymous?
It is an interesting discussion in marketing and business. We have it all the time in the office. For example, there are segments that our Sales dept might want to get sponsored. This is good but should I be worried about what Sales wants to sponsor or just do my work, ethically and professionally? A little a both at this point...
I laughed more than I was necessarily offended by the cover. I get it but know it could have been done a bit better...satisfying both me and you. (smile here) Thanks for sharing James! See you next week!
WPIX had segments about restaurants on the PIX Morning News. It turned out that the segments were being paid in gift certificates to dine at their establishments. This caused controversy in the industry. WPIX then had to send a press release noting this arrangement.
Sponsoring segments sometimes takes on a feel of losing credibility. We are in a period of time where just about everything is sponsored. Even uniforms in the WNBA.
How long until Bank Of America has an advertisement on the Yankees uniforms or Citi Group is on the Mets uniforms.
We are also in a period of time where the advertising dollar has shrunk. I feel this everyday in my industry.
We look for every angle.
I am sure you are right that the cover could have been presented in a different manner, to appease me and you.
You are the best, Lolita. So talented and beautiful. Have a great weekend.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/magazine/07Vonn-t.html?src=tptw
I agree - Lindsey Vonn is such a phenomenal athlete, with a charming and attractive personality so I think the cover is a little crass for her. They could have easily taken the shot from another angle that would have still been sexily eyecatching (Vonn's pretty, blonde head is already arresting on a cover) without being crude.
Hmmm . . .what is the gripe here? You afraid of a little boooootie? It is the American way.
Too… much… innu… endo. (Better innuendo than inmyendo.)
Why is it always women who get offended by such petty things like this photo. I know why. Its called JEALOUSY. Deep rooted from when they saw another girl have, get, look, do, what they themselves didn't have, couldn't get, or look as good as or do as good as some other girl. Mommy why does Jennie have a Pony? Why did she get that job? I look so much better in that dress than she does. I could do better than her? Lolita doesn't and wont admit that this is the case. So she writes about how the picture takes away from Vonns talent. Saying "Not one person had the desire to read more about Lindsey" (after looking at the cover). Lolita writes "YES, she's technically in a skiing position but did they have to show it in this way?"
The answer is YES THEY DID! This is why. You are not the photographer. You are not the one getting photographed. You are not Sports Illustrated. Yet it could be very simple if you knew anything about product placement and cover design. Look at the layout once again and do it your way. What would you gain better yet what would you lose?
Lolita the way it looks is the way it looks no more no less.
Maybe your next article should be about the over competitiveness of females in the work place or Julia Mancuso vs Lindsey Vonn or a look at you and your fellow co workers. Who do you fell more threatened by? Is it that guy or that girl right in front of you in the short skirt. Do that please then you can see where i am coming from when i said those things above. Me, LTAAJ
i fapped to this
Okay i think that Lolita and LTAAJ are complete jealous freaks. First of all she was just making a comment and I agree I don't this is a very appropriate picture for her to have on the cover of Sports Illustrated. But then again this is one of the not so bad pictures on the cover of Sports Illustrated if you think about it..
Okay i think that Lolita and LTAAJ are complete jealous freaks. First of all she was just making a comment and I agree I don't this is a very appropriate picture for her to have on the cover of Sports Illustrated. But then again this is one of the not so bad pictures on the cover of Sports Illustrated if you think about it..
Okay i think that Lolita and LTAAJ are complete jealous freaks. First of all she was just making a comment and I agree I don't this is a very appropriate picture for her to have on the cover of Sports Illustrated. But then again this is one of the not so bad pictures on the cover of Sports Illustrated if you think about it..