PTI host/Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon, on a panel at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern (his alma mater), had this to say about covering the Olympics:
"I went to the beach volleyball courts as much to look at the scantily clad athletes as to see the results of the game… If looking at cute girls is a crime, then lock me up.”The quote, while a bit lecherous, is nonetheless completely consistent with everything Wilbon has ever said and, more importantly, is in line with about 100% of the media coverage of beach volleyball in this year’s Olympics. Remember how every newspaper (and every male-authored blog) in America ran the Kerri Walsh/Misty May celebration pictures the next day?
On the subject, Village Voice sex columnist and feminist Tristan Taormino made some similar comments a few weeks ago:
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Americans Misty May and Kerry Walsh dig and spike. Sure, I was partial to May, whose ample ass wasn't made for the standard-sized bottoms, thus providing plenty of bare cheek for Walsh to grab and slap when they scored. But those bikinis do not eradicate their amazing athletic ability. They are fierce competitors and hot babes, and one does not discredit the other.Amen to that.
Michael Wilbon is one of the best sportswriters in America, and the fact that he’s vocal about appreciating female beauty is one of the more refreshing aspects of his persona. Please please please don’t let this turn into a major scandal. Please.
Posted by Stephen Silver at October 5, 2004 04:06 PMFor once, we are in complete agreement.
Posted by: Dave J at October 5, 2004 06:58 PM