Mark Kolier’s Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Sports Illustrated’

I’ve been posting regularly on my blog for over two years now and by far the most visited (and I hope read) post is the one I did earlier this year on American skier Lindsey Vonn. In that post from February 2010 http://bit.ly/h42aCA I included a couple of photos from the Sports Illustrated shoot Ms. Vonn took part in. One was of Vonn skiing, the other was of Vonn in a bikini.

The amount of traffic generated from this post is stunning to me. Are people really that curious about Lindsey Vonn? She is a terrific skier and had an excellent if not slightly disappointing Olympics in terms of winning gold medals in every event she in which she competed. A high standard to say the least.

Yet ten months later (skiing season in full swing) people are still reading that post from February. I’d like to believe it’s due to my being a writer of compelling content but I suspect it’s the bikini shot that might be driving the traffic. (Or stopping traffic?).

Ms. Vonn won another big race yesterday and she is at the top of sports news wires quite often. Just for a laugh I searched photos of Lindsey Vonn http://bit.ly/hHzaim – it seems to me as seriously as Ms. Vonn should be taken as a professional athlete she also understands that her popularity is ‘enhanced’ by provocative photos of her all over the internet. Should she be faulted for that?

I’m impressed by Ms. Vonn’s ability to stay in the forefront of the public eye. Winning races and competing at the highest level is her true contribution. After all if she weren’t winning she’d just be another Anna Kournikova.

Is Lindsey selling out by capitalizing on the fact that she is an attractive female athlete at the peak of her physical abilities (double entendre completely intended!)?

Am I selling out because I am writing about it again to see if my blog traffic increases as a result of this follow up post?

The Winter Olympics are here.  Finally?  After all it’s been less than a week since the Super Bowl and this is the time of the sports year where there is VERY little going on.   This weekend is the NBA All-star game.  Ho-hum.    And the NHL will be over shadowed by Olympic Hockey.  NCAA basketball is still weeks away from March Madness. 

NBC Universal paid $ 820 million for the right to televise the 2010 winter games.  In 2006 NBC paid $ 613 million.  I cannot think of another valuation that has increased that much (+33%) since 2006.  All this and NBC has reported they will lose money on the 2010 winter games. 

So who stands to benefit most from the games in the U.S.?   My prediction is World Cup skiing champion Lindsey Vonn.   Fresh off her appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue (May Lou Retton and even Nancy Kerrigan never had that opportunity), Mrs. (yes that is her married name) Vonn will become the most covered up yet over-exposed participant (American or not) at the games.   Check the ‘photo shoot’ NBC has posted on its winter Olympic website – http://www.nbcolympics.com/photos/galleryid=261208.html#lindsey+vonn+magazine+fashion+shoot

Just yesterday there was concern that a shin injury might preclude Lindsey’s participation in the Olympics altogether.  Yet somehow miraculously she took a ski run and declared herself fit and ready for the games.   She averred that she hoped to win ANY medal at the games but if she fails to bring home gold of any kind it will be seen as a monumental failure.  As the reigning World Cup champion (something that simply does not occur for American skiers regardless of gender) the pre-games hype is hardly unwarranted. 

Unfortunately since ski races take place during the daylight hours many people will not be able to view Lindsey’s exploits in the comfort of their living room.   A ski run takes 2 minutes or so and I am sure people will be watching at work or wherever – once the event has taken place – but not live. 

Vonn is planning to race in no less than five events.  NBC and the U.S. Olympic committee have hitched its wagon to Lindsey’s rising star.   No other American athlete is even close on the radar screen.   Be prepared to be tired of all the ‘up close and personal’ and background on the life of Lindsey Vonn.  Remember the Michael Phelps love-fest a couple of years ago?    Kind of makes me tired of it before it even starts (and yes I will be rooting for her despite all that).

Your fifteen minutes are here Lindsey.  A lifetime of living off them awaits you.  What will you do with them?