Oh, It’s Tuesday: Does Sex Sell Tennis?
This is a cross-post with Deep Into Sports
When not looking at you coquettishly on the beach in her bikini, Maria Sharapova likes to play a little game called tennis.
So apparently, the officials at Wimbledon have admitted to taking looks into consideration when making court assignments at Wimbledon. This “sex sells” practice isn’t so surprising, as much that a group would actually admit to doing this in the 21st century.
And while I agree with many of the points in this Jezebel article decrying the sexualizing of women sports, as far as tennis goes, I can’t agree that this is a feminist issue, b/c in my opinion, sex is also selling men’s tennis.
I mean, c’mon, who from my generation doesn’t remember when Andre Agassi burst onto the pop culture radar in the early 90s with a commercial series for the Canon Rebel EOS camera? He rocked a mullet and wasn’t afraid to take his shirt off or wear neon pink shorts — hey, what was sexy in the 90s isn’t so much now, but trust me, Andre definitely moved Wimbledon tickets back in the day.
Homely Nadal poses for New York magazine in a cover photo that focuses mostly on his tennis skills
Andre eventually lost all his mulletastic hair, got creakier, got married (twice!), stopped taking his shirt off and lo and behold, we needed a new Wimbledon sex peddlers stars.
Now we’ve got Federer and Nadal. Both extremely talented players, and I’m sure their rarely-cited sex appeal didn’t attract any new eyes to Wimbledon. Their legions of female fans are a testament to their skill, not their looks, right? Oh, wait…
So while I agree that sex perhaps shouldn’t be used to sell tennis. I don’t think this is a women-only phenomenon. In fact, if men were suddenly allowed to play shirtless at Wimbledon, I’d be interested to see how many of them would do so. After all, sex does sell, whether you’re a man or a woman. And those ad deals won’t be attracted with skill alone.
Actually, there was quite a ruckus raised when Nike tried to get Nadal to wear shirts with sleeves. Websites devoted to women mourning the loss of his arms appeared overnight. Needless to say, Nike went right back to the sleeveless tops and I'm sure would be happy to have him go topless if it was allowed. I, for one, would not protest. :)
Actually, there was quite a ruckus raised when Nike tried to get Nadal to wear shirts with sleeves. Websites devoted to women mourning the loss of his arms appeared overnight. Needless to say, Nike went right back to the sleeveless tops and I'm sure would be happy to have him go topless if it was allowed. I, for one, would not protest. :)
I could careless about the sport but Serena in that black catsuit made me watch every match, I'm pretty sure that's why she wore it, I mean really why else would she?
I could careless about the sport but Serena in that black catsuit made me watch every match, I'm pretty sure that's why she wore it, I mean really why else would she?
Tennis isn't popular enough in the U.S. to succeed without big personalities and looks.
How many millions of teenage boys watched tennis matches just to see Kournikova?
Hell, if you go way back, Bjorn Borg was quite dreamy. Chris Evert, Gabriela Sabatini, Pete Sampras… sex in tennis isn't new.
Tennis isn't popular enough in the U.S. to succeed without big personalities and looks.
How many millions of teenage boys watched tennis matches just to see Kournikova?
Hell, if you go way back, Bjorn Borg was quite dreamy. Chris Evert, Gabriela Sabatini, Pete Sampras… sex in tennis isn't new.
Tennis isn't popular enough in the U.S. to succeed without big personalities and good looks.
How many millions of teenage boys watched tennis matches just to see Kournikova?
Hell, if you go way back, Bjorn Borg was quite dreamy. Chris Evert, Gabriela Sabatini, Pete Sampras… sex in tennis isn't new.
And by the way, I have only been to one tennis match in my life (Chang vs. Agassi). I only know all of those players through pop culture osmosis.
Tennis isn't popular enough in the U.S. to succeed without big personalities and good looks.
How many millions of teenage boys watched tennis matches just to see Kournikova?
Hell, if you go way back, Bjorn Borg was quite dreamy. Chris Evert, Gabriela Sabatini, Pete Sampras… sex in tennis isn't new.
And by the way, I have only been to one tennis match in my life (Chang vs. Agassi). I only know all of those players through pop culture osmosis.
uhhh…don't tell JP, but I'd buy that New Yorker, and not just because it totes 'Full Fashion' on the cover either….yu-hummmmm
uhhh…don't tell JP, but I'd buy that New Yorker, and not just because it totes 'Full Fashion' on the cover either….yu-hummmmm