Letters

TIDAL WAVES
Kathy Ireland deserved to be on your cover, and what better one than that of the 25th Anniversary Swimsuit Issue. Note to Kathy: Love your eyes.
CHIP STONER
New Cumberland, Pa.

Forget the Blarney stone; I would rather kiss Ireland herself.
J. A. BELLIN
Stamford, Conn.

Kathy Ireland exemplifies the standard of physical well-being that many of us fitness instructors are trying to convey. SI has done much with one cover photo.
TERRY STOCKER
Hyannis, Mass.

Cheryl Tiegs. Fishnet. Thanks.
MIKE HICKS
Sierra Vista, Ariz.

SI is adding to the greenhouse effect: If the 25th Anniversary Swimsuit Issue doesn't heat things up, I don't know what will. But what a way to go.
DICKEN LARY
Rochester, Vt.

The photo of Christie Brinkley and her three-year-old daughter, Alexa, is priceless. It undoubtedly will become an SI swimsuit issue classic. Perhaps we'll see Alexa on the cover of the issue in the year 2005.
BENJAMIN C. FOX
Wyckoff, N.J.

Dear Alexa,
I think your cute and your moms ok, too. Thats all for now. Bye.
ANDREW BRANDT (age 5)
San Diego

Come on! Do you need this kind of stuff to show a profit? Why do you lower yourselves to such vulgar exploitation of women? Don't we have enough promiscuity, destroyed marriages, sexually transmitted diseases and crimes against women and children without your help?
REV. STEVE PEARSON
Shelbyville, Ky.

We looked at the issue and decided that our sons will have to miss it. We can't call your photos pornographic, but they are close. There is more than enough sex and violence thrown at our children every day. It saddens us that it also must be thrown at them in a sports magazine.
BOB AND KATHRYN TINDALE
Tallahassee, Fla.

I question the wisdom—not the taste—of running the picture of Christie Brinkley and her daughter, Alexa, on the beach. Not that they aren't both beautiful. They are. Nor do I disapprove of children swimming in the nude, or being photographed that way. The trouble is that sexual abuse of children is a serious problem in the U.S., and your photo implies that it's all right to think of a little girl in the same way that readers are clearly expected to think about her mother, though I am sure you did not want your readers to react to the picture in those terms.

My complaint is an extension of what former SI swimsuit cover model Ann Simonton objects to (special congratulations for including that piece). Otherwise, this 55-year-old, fattish, wrinkled grandmother with silver hair looks at the beauties with envy and at the beaches with longing.
MARGARET SULLIVAN
McLean, Va.

RACHEL'S FRIENDS
In regard to the picture accompanying the table of contents of the swimsuit issue, who are Rachel Hunter's friends? I would love to see a front view of the woman I'm going to marry—the one on the left.
WALTER F. SEABERG III
Falls Church, Va.

•That was Stephanie Seymour (left, below), in a bandeau bikini by Darling Rio ($44). Rachel's other friend, the one in the middle, is Maria von Hartz.—ED.

PHOTO

MARC HISPARD

Letters to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED should include the name, address and home telephone number of the writer and should be addressed to The Editor, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, Time & Life Building. Rockefeller Center. New York. N.Y. 10020-1393.