Arrington does disservice to herself, other female journalists as pinup - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 08-17-2002, 06:26 PM

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colu...3-martzke_x.htm

What's the difference between Anna Kournikova and CBS football reporter Jill Arrington? Not much, if you check the September issue of For Him Magazine.

Tennis player Kournikova, the No. 1 sports goddess who corrals the FHM cover, presents her sexual charms in an alluring seven-picture spread.

Arrington isn't as revealing in a four-picture layout. But she is shown in one shot with her unbuttoned blouse tied at the bottom in a knot. Her breasts are not concealed by her bra.

In another picture, she is leaning back against a couch in a suggestive bare midriff pose.

These spreads have become commonplace for Kournikova, No. 1 on the Lycos most-searched list. She promotes herself on her popular Web site.

But while Arrington was voted the sexiest sportscaster last year in a Playboy poll, she and other "candidates," which included ABC's Melissa Stark, NBC's Hannah Storm and Fox's Jillian Barberie and Lisa Guerrero, pointed out that they did not volunteer to be involved.

It's obvious that Arrington, 30, who is married, has dropped the facade and embraced using her good looks for personal promotion, hardly the preferred attribute for someone trying to be accepted as a serious sports journalist.

"It's disappointing," says ESPN's respected Robin Roberts, recently appointed newsreader for ABC's Good Morning America. "It's important that you don't use your sexuality, especially since so many women sportscasters like Gayle Gardner and Lesley Visser started the fight for acceptance of women in the business.

"There are many women, like Melissa Stark and (ESPN's) Suzy Kolber, who are very attractive but don't flaunt it. Guys are falling all over Melissa but she doesn't flaunt her attractiveness."

Although Stark declined to comment, ABC vice president Mark Mandel said, "Melissa gets many offers from all kinds of publications, but she only accepts those which are appropriate for her."

In the uneasy position of also being with CBS, on NFL Today, Visser offers a diplomatic response. "Just as it is for the men, there's room in the spectrum for everyone," says Visser, who is co-hosting CBS' The Early Show this week.

Even though Arrington's picture spread in a sex-heavy magazine is an embarrassment to female journalists, CBS Sports vice president LeslieAnne Wade repeatedly refused comment Tuesday. Wade sent a representative to the shoot to make sure it was in good taste.

Arrington, a broadcast journalism and political science major, played varsity tennis at the University of Miami (Fla.). Her father, Rick Arrington, is a former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback.

At Fox Sports she co-hosted Under the Helmet, a football show for kids, and served as a reporter for the NFL and women's tennis. She joined CBS two years ago and also reports on Arena Football League games for TNN.

Arrington was criticized in this column two years ago for wearing a revealing tank top at a college football game in Miami. She was counseled by CBS, which must have been impressed enough with her progress that NFL reporting was added to her duties last season.

"Unfortunately, this goes on in other businesses," says Mike Trager, former chairman of Clear Channel Entertainment Television and a former NBC executive. "If an attractive woman gets a top Wall Street job, there are always the male accusations that she did it with her womanly wiles. The issue here is if you want to be a serious journalist, then you have to decide on how you're going to portray yourself."

To be fair, Barberie and Guerrero are among the "Women of Fox" in the September Maxim. But while Arrington attempts to be a journalist by interviewing players and coaches, weatherwoman Barberie clearly is an entertainer on Fox NFL Sunday, and Guerrero delivers updates on Fox Sports Net's Best Damn Sports Show, which is filled with sexual references.

"There are too many qualified women in television," Roberts says. "Viewers don't go for (such photo spreads) anymore. I'd rather that Suzy and Melissa be used as examples of legitimate women sportscasters."

http://forums.comicbookresources.com...threadid=24303

TJ · 08-17-2002, 07:38 PM

That writer for USA Today is always looking to take a shot at Jill Arrington. I have no problem with what she does, how does it affect her job? Why is it ok for Jillian Barberie and Lisa Guerrero to do it? She's a very attractive woman.

Kitt · 08-19-2002, 09:51 PM

"Legitimate women sportscasters." What would that be? Hmm.... Henrietta Cosselle. She'd be good. Very homely, wears an ill-fitting wig, smokes cigars, speaks in an accent like no one has ever heard -- sort of a mix between Newyoik and New Joisey, I guess. What more could you ask for in a "legitimate woman sportscaster?

08-17-2002, 06:26 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 127,220	Arrington does disservice to herself, other female journalists as pinup http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colu...3-martzke_x.htm What's the difference between Anna Kournikova and CBS football reporter Jill Arrington? Not much, if you check the September issue of For Him Magazine. Tennis player Kournikova, the No. 1 sports goddess who corrals the FHM cover, presents her sexual charms in an alluring seven-picture spread. Arrington isn't as revealing in a four-picture layout. But she is shown in one shot with her unbuttoned blouse tied at the bottom in a knot. Her breasts are not concealed by her bra. In another picture, she is leaning back against a couch in a suggestive bare midriff pose. These spreads have become commonplace for Kournikova, No. 1 on the Lycos most-searched list. She promotes herself on her popular Web site. But while Arrington was voted the sexiest sportscaster last year in a Playboy poll, she and other "candidates," which included ABC's Melissa Stark, NBC's Hannah Storm and Fox's Jillian Barberie and Lisa Guerrero, pointed out that they did not volunteer to be involved. It's obvious that Arrington, 30, who is married, has dropped the facade and embraced using her good looks for personal promotion, hardly the preferred attribute for someone trying to be accepted as a serious sports journalist. "It's disappointing," says ESPN's respected Robin Roberts, recently appointed newsreader for ABC's Good Morning America. "It's important that you don't use your sexuality, especially since so many women sportscasters like Gayle Gardner and Lesley Visser started the fight for acceptance of women in the business. "There are many women, like Melissa Stark and (ESPN's) Suzy Kolber, who are very attractive but don't flaunt it. Guys are falling all over Melissa but she doesn't flaunt her attractiveness." Although Stark declined to comment, ABC vice president Mark Mandel said, "Melissa gets many offers from all kinds of publications, but she only accepts those which are appropriate for her." In the uneasy position of also being with CBS, on NFL Today, Visser offers a diplomatic response. "Just as it is for the men, there's room in the spectrum for everyone," says Visser, who is co-hosting CBS' The Early Show this week. Even though Arrington's picture spread in a sex-heavy magazine is an embarrassment to female journalists, CBS Sports vice president LeslieAnne Wade repeatedly refused comment Tuesday. Wade sent a representative to the shoot to make sure it was in good taste. Arrington, a broadcast journalism and political science major, played varsity tennis at the University of Miami (Fla.). Her father, Rick Arrington, is a former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback. At Fox Sports she co-hosted Under the Helmet, a football show for kids, and served as a reporter for the NFL and women's tennis. She joined CBS two years ago and also reports on Arena Football League games for TNN. Arrington was criticized in this column two years ago for wearing a revealing tank top at a college football game in Miami. She was counseled by CBS, which must have been impressed enough with her progress that NFL reporting was added to her duties last season. "Unfortunately, this goes on in other businesses," says Mike Trager, former chairman of Clear Channel Entertainment Television and a former NBC executive. "If an attractive woman gets a top Wall Street job, there are always the male accusations that she did it with her womanly wiles. The issue here is if you want to be a serious journalist, then you have to decide on how you're going to portray yourself." To be fair, Barberie and Guerrero are among the "Women of Fox" in the September Maxim. But while Arrington attempts to be a journalist by interviewing players and coaches, weatherwoman Barberie clearly is an entertainer on Fox NFL Sunday, and Guerrero delivers updates on Fox Sports Net's Best Damn Sports Show, which is filled with sexual references. "There are too many qualified women in television," Roberts says. "Viewers don't go for (such photo spreads) anymore. I'd rather that Suzy and Melissa be used as examples of legitimate women sportscasters." http://forums.comicbookresources.com...threadid=24303

08-17-2002, 07:38 PM	#2
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,748	That writer for USA Today is always looking to take a shot at Jill Arrington. I have no problem with what she does, how does it affect her job? Why is it ok for Jillian Barberie and Lisa Guerrero to do it? She's a very attractive woman.

08-19-2002, 09:51 PM	#3
Kitt James Dean Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 16, 2001 Location: California Dreamin' Posts: 6,115	"Legitimate women sportscasters." What would that be? Hmm.... Henrietta Cosselle. She'd be good. Very homely, wears an ill-fitting wig, smokes cigars, speaks in an accent like no one has ever heard -- sort of a mix between Newyoik and New Joisey, I guess. What more could you ask for in a "legitimate woman sportscaster?