12/21/24
February 18, 2004
I got my copy yesterday.:
The advent of the internet, with its easy access to everything from swimsuit models to hardcore porn, sort of obviates the purpose of the SI Swimsuit issue.
I hardly think I need to do a Swimsuit Model: Athlete or Not Athlete.
So outside of tradition, why does this still exist?
posted by forksclovetofu to culture at 10:54 PM - 31 comments
and they asked me: why do i climb it? and i said: because it's there.
posted by owl at 12:56 AM on February 19, 2004
Men like fit bints in skimpy costumes? And not everyone has or wants access to the interweb.
posted by squealy at 03:49 AM on February 19, 2004
I've looked forward to this issue less and less as I've gotten older and I've been getting SI since I was 15. Maybe that's a trend? I bet I could find guys 10 years younger who still enjoy it as much as I used to. I'm 30 now, so maybe this is just a passing of the torch? Did I really just type that?
posted by usfbull at 07:18 AM on February 19, 2004
It exists for the same reason another anemic pornographic magazine (Playboy) exists: sheer institutional inertia.
posted by Justin Slotman at 07:54 AM on February 19, 2004
Doesn't "I got my copy yesterday" answer your own question?
posted by rcade at 09:23 AM on February 19, 2004
sheer institutional inertia That's my new favorite phrase. ----- I haven't cared about the swimsuit issue since highschool. I like to think of it as evolution, even though I live in the south.
posted by justgary at 10:08 AM on February 19, 2004
I thought it was called evilution in the south.
posted by garfield at 10:12 AM on February 19, 2004
SportsFilter: Where baseball gets more member excitement than a hot chick in a bikini
posted by billsaysthis at 10:22 AM on February 19, 2004
Quick Quiz: Who is your favorite SI Swimsuit Model of all Time? (please provide link to enticing photo with each answer)
posted by garfield at 10:56 AM on February 19, 2004
I sort of lost interest in the swimsuit issue about a decade ago and probably haven't even seen one in the last five years. As far as sports go, it doesn't qualify. As far as pornography goes, it's 10 leagues below the hardcore stuff I prefer. As for looking at women in bikinis, that is awfully easy to do without the SI swimsuit edition, and they're all too skinny anyway. Look, I like a naked or half-naked woman as much as anyone on the planet, but I would just as soon keep my sports jones and my perv jones separate but equal. I wonder if those who complained about the Super Bowl halftime show bitch about the swimsuit issue?
posted by vito90 at 11:23 AM on February 19, 2004
she's the one on the left, garfield
posted by owl at 12:55 PM on February 19, 2004
owl, nice. ever see Sirens? There's a sweet midnight swimming excursion. mine isn't as well known.)
posted by garfield at 01:06 PM on February 19, 2004
Favorite SI Swimsuite Model of all Time? Cheryl Tiegs
posted by NoMich at 01:10 PM on February 19, 2004
I dont like heidi klum's hair that blonde. i know this is insignif to you guys, but i'm just sayin'
posted by jerseygirl at 01:16 PM on February 19, 2004
Christine Brennan weighed in on this in today's USA Today. Personally, I haven't even thought about the SI swimsuit issue since I was a teenager. If I want to see women in bikini's I go to the beach or pool. If I want to see naked women (other than my wife, of course) then there are PLENTY of other places to see such things, especially in the Internet era. If SI is going to publish such non-sports-related material, the least they can do is provide equal time with a male version of the issue. As Brennan says, SI made the swimsuit issue a stand-alone item years ago—meaning no *real* sports news in it—so if women can throw away (if they choose) the male-targeted swimsuit issue, it follows that men can simply ignore the issue with the men in speedos. [Of course this ignores reality. Men will complain about the men in swimsuits issue and wonder why things can't stay as they always were. ;)] IMHO, the best thing would be for SI to create a new magazine that is more Maxim-like and has its own subscription, and leave SI void of non-sports material so that men, women, boys and girls alike can enjoy it. I believe they would make even more money with this arrangement anyway. I'll step off my soapbox now :)
posted by scully at 02:03 PM on February 19, 2004
rcade: long time subscriber. they send it whether I want it or not.
posted by forksclovetofu at 02:26 PM on February 19, 2004
and incidentally: Anna K looks TOO YOUNG in there. Or I'm getting too old. Maybe both.
posted by forksclovetofu at 02:26 PM on February 19, 2004
sirens is a great film garfield, and not just because of elle (but it helped)
posted by owl at 02:38 PM on February 19, 2004
posted by msacheson at 02:40 PM on February 19, 2004
re: This year's swimsuit issue. What does it say that my wife was more interested in it than me? And that after skimming some photos, I was most interested in the Jimmy Buffett story and CD. My favorite feature of the SI SI these days is the section of athletes & spouses.
posted by msacheson at 02:45 PM on February 19, 2004
More Elle pictures here (NSFW: Not Safe For Wives).
posted by msacheson at 02:46 PM on February 19, 2004
So outside of tradition, why does this still exist? Because so-called Sports Illustrated is, and always has been, Sports Illustrated By, For, and About Men.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 06:48 AM on February 20, 2004
Because so-called Sports Illustrated is, and always has been, Sports Illustrated By, For, and About Men. Then I sure hope all the women and girls who are subscribers cancel their subscription immediately. Why should they pay for the Ole Boy's Club?
posted by scully at 09:07 AM on February 20, 2004
fit bints. that's precious. Is all this hostility necessary, or even warranted? This single annual issue is responsible for improving the lives of the women that grace its pages. And the argument "there should be a version for women" irks the hell out of me. If there should be a version, why has the market not recognized this? And the assumption men will complain about a female focused issue is bunk. I know I'll be crucified for speaking up for this evil sport magazine issue, but I guess the holier than thou/I have repression issues and deny human sexuality/puritanism bullshit is getting old.
posted by garfield at 10:17 AM on February 20, 2004
Women_Tailor_Sex_Industry_to_Their_Eyes. I guess the transition is skipping the Swimsuit Issue and moving straight to Pron.
posted by garfield at 02:08 PM on February 20, 2004
that would be known as sublimation, wouldnt it garfield?
posted by owl at 02:11 PM on February 20, 2004
owl, I believe you are correct.
posted by garfield at 02:28 PM on February 20, 2004
Non-registration version of garfield's NYT link.
posted by dusted at 02:41 PM on February 20, 2004
Are you guys forgetting that Time Warner attempted to do a version for the ladies and nobody bought any?
posted by billsaysthis at 03:40 PM on February 20, 2004
I'm not playing the "I'm Shocked...SHOCKED" card here, I'm wondering why softcore T+A continues to sell so ridiculously well when more salacious and erotic masturbatory material is so (you should excuse the pun) close to hand. Lord knows Skinemax, Maxim or (insert (again, excuse the pun) pornsite here) is more over the top and accessible 24-7. Why does this issue still hold sway over a drooling populace? Is it just tradition or is there something else going on?
posted by forksclovetofu at 05:53 PM on February 20, 2004
It still exists because it's SI's biggest-selling issue of the year.