NEWSMAKERS - Anna Kournikova
Advantage Anna
By Daipayan Halder
The Pioneer
Sunday, November 16, 2003
She's sold everything from sports bras to newspapers. She
done a fitness video and a music video with Spanish pop
sensation Enrique Iglesias. She's commanded more space in
newsprint and glossies than any of her compatriots. Her
off-now, on-again romance with Iglesias became fodder for
tabloids the world over.
Recently, her half-hearted comment about quitting
professional tennis sent the world in a tizzy and
prompted the British tabloid Sun to opine: "Tennis won't
be the same without her." But come to think of it: She
would never feature in the list of the top ten female
players of the circuit ever. Not since reaching the semi-
finals of Wimbledon on her senior debut in 1997 has she
shown any promise of being a contender for the top slot.
She's won just one match this year, back in January in
the first round of the Australian Open. But then she
doesn't need to.
Anna Kournikova, variously described as the "raquet-
wielding Russian hottie" or "Miss Sex on Legs" is one of
the sexiest players tennis ever produced. That probably
explains why tickets for her matches sell out more than
those who have higher rankings.
This year when she dropped out of the US Open, she was
signed up as a roving reporter for the USA Network to
every tournament. Anna on her part didn't disappoint.
On Day One of the tournament, she showed up in a
miniskirt, red sports bra and fur-trimmed boots, and had
the entire stadium drooling. "It's her first time on TV,
and she's working hard." USA Network spokesman Tom
Caraccioli said "She's generating loads of excitement
around the grounds. It's rock-star like proportions."
Not all sang her praise though. Media coverage of her
stint as a reporter was far from complimentary. "Anna's
TV gig makes her tennis look good," was the New York
Post's verdict. Even otherwise she is said to be in many
ways a symbol of modern, post-Communist Russia - all
gloss, little substance.
Be that what it may, there's no denial of the fact that
Anna Kournikova generates serious buzz wherever she goes.
Case in point being her recent India visit. In India on a
personal invitation from Sahara head Subrata Roy, the
bombshell has sent temperatures soaring. Be it celebrity
designer Rohit Bal, for whom Anna walked the ramp in
Paris two years back, or the man on the street who cannot
even pronounce her surname properly, Anna's sheer
delight. In the US, they call it the "Kournikova factor".
Read the complete news at:
http://www.dailypioneer.com
News Plus
http://www.mantra.com/newsplus
Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti
Panchaang for 27 Kartik 5104, Thursday, November 20, 2003:
Shubhanu Nama Samvatsare Dakshinaya Jeevan Ritau
Vrshchk Mase Krshn Pakshe Guru Vasara Yuktayam
Hasta-Chitra Nakshatr Priti-Ayushman Yog
Kaulav-Taitil Karan Dvadashi Yam Tithau
Hindu Holocaust Museum
http://www.mantra.com/holocaust
Hindu life, principles, spirituality and philosophy
http://www.hindu.org
http://www.hindunet.org
The truth about Islam and Muslims
http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate
o Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used for the
educational purposes of research and open discussion. The contents of
this post may not have been authored by, and do not necessarily represent
the opinion of the poster. The contents are protected by copyright law
and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
o If you send private e-mail to me, it will likely not be read,
considered or answered if it does not contain your full legal name,
current e-mail and postal addresses, and live-voice telephone number.
o Posted for information and discussion. Views expressed by others
are not necessarily those of the poster.
|
