I don't know whether it's because I'm a Sting ball-kid or not, but I highly agree with Dawn. Modeling goes too far sometimes. You have to be careful with what you do because you don't want men to look at you as a sex object. Like with Lisa Harrison and Lisa Leslie. They both have earned my respect because they respect themselves as women. Lisa Harrison turned down a great deal (of money) to model nude. That's something that a lot of females would have jumped at, but she respects herself enough not to. As controversial as Lisa Leslie may be, she is also a respectable person. She models and shows off what she has, but isn't flaunting herself while doing it. Anna Kournikova is representing women's tennis, but I'm not sure if it's actually good. I think that men are watching tennis now more than ever to please their sexual feelings and not for the enjoyment of the sport. Anna is bringing a lot of attention to herself and most of it is negative.

--Tyelisa (Concord, N.C.)

If I were a professional athlete, I'd first want to be recognized for my chosen craft. If I were also good looking and considered "sexy," then so be it. Comparing Anna Kournikova and Sue Bird is like comparing apples and oranges. Sue is first and foremost one of the top professionals in her craft. Sue is a very attractive woman, but that is rarely even talked about becuase she is so outstanding at her profession. Anna is only "good," so all the focus is on her looks. As a professional athlete, I'd rather be a Sue B. than an Anna K.

--Tony (Reston, Va.)

It seems to me that, rightly or wrongly, what is considered "star quality" in professional sports is made up of both ability and "the look," not necessarily in equal parts. Anna Kournikova seems to have more of the latter than the former.

Sue Bird and Stacey Dales-Schuman (who certainly wasn't standing behind a door when they handed out good looks) are obviously blessed with both attributes. But what is most pleasing to me about Stacey (and has been since I first became a fan during the preseason of her true freshman year at OU) is that she's such a darned good person.

--Lavinia (Norman, Okla.)

Dawn Staley is right on. The whole Anna issue has brought a lot of attention to tennis, and a lot of people who don't usually pay attention to women's tennis are noticing it now, but not necessarily for the right reasons. Should a sport be known for its sexuality and not for its athletic grace and skill? The fact that they realize there are some "hot chicks" on the court doesn't mean that they will support the sport, it just means they will have posters and screensavers of her plastered about.

Sue Bird is a different story (from Kournikova), because she has the looks, AND she has the skills to back it up. ... I can't say I like the fact that Sue gets more recognition than fellow rookie-of-the-year candidate Tamika Catchings because of Bird’s "All-American smile," but what can you do? ... The league needs recognizable faces, I guess focusing on the attractive ones can't hurt any.

--Vy (Springfield, Va.)

There's nothing wrong with being attractive, just like there's nothing wrong with being unattractive, as long as you are good. Women tune into men's sports when an attractive player is featured, like, say, Tom Brady in Super Bowl XXXVI or Michael Jordan in just about anything, and those men earn sponsorship deals. So what if men do the same thing and notice a player like Sue Bird or Picabo Street? They both have the talent and skill to back up their looks. What is unfortunate is when a player, male or female (without naming names), is singled out solely for their appearance and not their game.

--Laura (New York)

I don't think women athletes are treated very differently from the men with regards to endorsements. If you look at the male athletes who get big endorsements, they are all attractive. Tiger, Jordan, Eric Lindros, Derek Jeter, Troy Aikman; they are all nice looking guys. People complaining about a female athlete getting attention purely because of looks just seems a little silly to me. No ugly athlete, male or female, gets endorsement opportunities. It just doesn't happen. Kournikova's is an extreme example, because she is attractive but has never won a tournament. However, she is one of the top 50 tennis players in the world. That isn't too shabby. Sure, she is known more for her looks than for her tennis talent, but over the years both will fade, and I don't have a problem with people taking advantage of any talent they have in order to give themselves the life they want. If somebody wanted to pay me to endorse their product because I was ranked in the top 50 in my sport and happened to be attractive I would say "Bring it on, show me the money"!

--Amanda (Houston, Texas)

It's a tough call on the attention Anna Kournikova is getting. I guess I wouldn't have such ambivalent feelings if women's sports received adequate serious recognition. Sports media is still so incredibly male-biased and mysogynistic that the sexualizing of a female player and spending more time talking cheesecake rather than athletic ability is denigrating.

--Christine (Rohrersville, Md.)

If I were a professional female athlete I would feel bad that I am popular more because of my looks than my performance. But at the same time if I couldn't win and there's money available for looking pretty, why not? It's just like modeling part-time on the side while doing something I like (playing sports), even though I don't win at it. It's like the best of both worlds. I don't think people should criticize beautiful athletes who don't have what it takes to be stars or be mad at them for making money elsewhere that their skills cannot make for them.

--Neil (Toronto, Ontario)

I don’t agree with most of the comments I’ve read by the WNBA players. I think it’s great that you’re marketing them as real people instead of these holier-than-thou athletes. But by using the “sexiness” of the athletes, who are you attracting to the sport? People who respect the sacrifice and hard work that the females before them put into making it all happen? Or is it the people who are going to say, “Dude, did you see her? She’s so hot!” ... That’s my only concern. Because you can’t oust a stereotype with a stereotype, you know? I mean, it’s great to show people that you don’t have to be (masculine) to be an impact female athlete. Look at Lisa Leslie, Sue Bird, Dales-Schuman, Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings ... many, many more who are all beautiful girls but who are also down right nitty-gritty. Not afraid to break a nail or get a bruise or (take) 15 stitches. I don’t know. I just don’t want it to become a circus sideshow. I want people to take them seriously, just like I do.

--Audrey (Rockwood, Ore.)

The bottom line for me is that if more girls and women participate in athletics because Kournikova does, then the fact that she is highlighting her appearance does some good. In any event, girls and women of all shapes, sizes and appearances should be welcome in sports. What they make out of the experience is up to them.

--Lisa (West Peoria, Ill.)

I'm a guy but if I were to put myself in an attractive female tennis players place I wouldn't have any problem recieving attention and especially making money with my good looks. If I really loved the game of tennis and I never got close to winning and I still had all of the attention I would get a little mad, but Anna Kournikova was good when she first started. She was one of the best doubles players, then the media and fans got a hold of her. And what Sue Bird said about never seeing a male athlete on the cover of anything if he has never won something is false. For example, Derrick Jeter has won World Series with the Yankees but he wouldn't even be as close to as popular as he is now if women everywhere didn't think he was very handsome.

--Brendon (Milwaukee, Wis.)

I believe Anna isn't drawing attention to tennis, I think she's drawing it to herself. The Williams sisters and any women who actually are "winning" draw attention to the sport and make it exciting. Venus, Serena, Marion Jones, Sue Bird, and Mia Hamm are all beautiful but they get publicity because they win, not because they're knockouts.

--Shavon (Norfolk, Va.)