It's 16 degrees outside, but about 85 or so in my mailbox.
The new "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit issue arrives, and, like spring training, serves as a reminder that warmer days are coming.
Oh, yeah, there's that other thing: scads of scantily clad women.
This year's edition makes history, in that the cover-person isn't a professional model. In fact, it's virtually all of us know for her daytime job: Beyonce, star of "Dreamgirls" and current music icon.
Why the switch? Why not some veteran runway waif who'd use S-I as a springboard to fame, as opposed to someone who's already vaulted off and is backstroking her way through the pop-culture waters?
My guess: the Internet.
In an age where scantily clad, faceless flesh can be had in two mouse clicks (totally naked in about three) "Sports Illustrated" needed a fresh hook: enter someone we know, who we're not used to seeing in the altogether.
"Hello, Beyonce? How'd you like a free trip to (insert warm weather locale here)? We'll toss in the wardrobe. Mind if we take some pictures and show them to all of our friends?"
It's win-win--she gets exposure (literally), Sports Illustrated gives an old vehicle fresh tires, and even gets Beyonce's mom in on the deal (I think she designed the swimsuits, but then, I don't read that part).
Read about the history of the S-I swimsuit issue and the industry it's become right here:
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