sportstalk

ashley3.jpgAshley Harkleroad is a rising American tennis star. However, as it seems to be the case with a lot of up and coming female tennis players Ashley is making a name for herself with her off the court work. The young star annoounced this past week that she posed for Playboy Magazine for their August issue that will hit shelves this summer. While Harkleroad is not the first athlete to strie a pose for Playboy (Amanda Beard,Gabrielle Reise), she is the first active athlete to be featured nude in the magazine.

There is no doubt that as this story makes the rounds there will be plenty of outcry from both male and females alike in regards to the “exploitation and validation” of female athletes. However, I see this to be no different than when a male athletes makes a rap album or goes dancing with the stars half naked. Athletic careers are short, especially in womens tennis when 25 is over the hill. Players need to use their popularity and their social status to get as much as they can when they can, or else the gravy train will just pass them by.
Be proud of your choice Ashley, and you look damn good for doing it.

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