Vonn's SI Cover Causes a Stir

It looks like Sports Illustrated is publishing its 2010 Olympic preview with two different covers: one with skiing phenom Lindsey Vonn and a second with hockey star Sidney Crosby.

Vonn’s cover has become a hot topic of conversation. Sports psychologist Nicole LaVoi is taking a lot of heat after writing in her blog that Vonn’s tuck position is a sexualized pose. (Personally, I’ve seen a lot worse on SI’s swimsuit editions.) While I don’t think this is a sexualized pose, I do think it’s an unattractive one for a magazine cover, even if it is a downhill skiing position. And I speak as a magazine editor here. I’m sure the SI editors could have photographed Vonn in a way that better showcases her athleticism. But then, SI's job is to sell magazines. If the cover photo doesn't do that, at least the debate about it will.

On that note, I’m counting down the days to the start of the Vancouver Winter Games which begin next week. For two whole weeks, I plan to hibernate in the comfort of my living room watching the Games. The aforementioned SI and the Chicago Tribune has provided guides to watching the Olympic Games to help you become familiar with the top contenders in each event.

Enjoy, and may the best athletes win.

Economist Predicts Olympic Medals

Is it possible to predict the number of Olympic medals a country will win in Vancouver?

Daniel Johnson, an economics professor at Colorado College, uses a formula containing several economic variables to predict how many medals each country will win. He knows nothing about the sports or the athletes competing. It’s all pure economics, based on a country’s per-capita income, the nation’s population, its political structure and the home-field advantage for hosting the Games or living nearby.

And Johnson has been uncannily accurate. Over the past five summer and winter Olympic Games, Johnson has a 94 percent accuracy rating in actual medal counts and 87 percent in gold medal counts.

For the upcoming Vancouver Games, Johnson says Canada will lead all countries with 27 total medals and five gold, benefiting from the home-field advantage. The U.S. will be a close second with 26 total medals and five gold medals. (The U.S. grabbed nine gold medals in Torino in 2006.)

The five gold medals that Johnson predicts for the U.S. seems a bit understated. The U.S. should benefit by being a neighboring country to Canada and will likely have a strong contingent of supporters at the competitions, which could boost athletes’ performances. Skier Lindsay Vonn is favored to win gold in two of the four events she’ll be participating in, as well as speed skater Shani Davis. Snowboarder Shaun White should be a lock for gold in the half-pipe, and short-track Apolo Ono should bring in one or two gold in his events. That’s seven gold medals there. Add to that any number of athletes who are medal contenders who could win gold, and the U.S. could easily win eight or 10 gold medals.

I’m curious to see how Johnson’s predictions pan out during the Vancouver Games. Stay tuned.

Five Things to Look Forward to in 2010

Happy New Year! The holidays have come and gone, but there’s still plenty to look forward to in the coming year. Here are five sports events I’m looking forward to watching in 2010.

1. Blackhawks Stanley Cup run — The way the Hawks are playing lately, winning eight of their last 10 games and currently sitting atop their conference standings with 61 points, you have to believe this is their year to make it to the Stanley Cup finals.

2. White Sox starting rotation — While most of the lineup and bullpen is still a big question mark, the White Sox starting rotation of Jake Peavy, Mark Buehrle, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Freddie Garcia makes me yearn for the start of the baseball season.

3. Winter Olympics in Vancouver — The Olympic Games are one of my favorite sports events, and this year is no exception. Several athletes will be worth watching, including: skier Lindsay Vonn, who could medal in four of the five alpine ski events she’s participating in; Apolo Ono, who could surpass Bonnie Blair in number of Olympic medals won, speed skater Shani Davis, who could win several medals, and figure skater Evan Lysacek, the current world champion who will challenge a very deep men’s field for a gold medal.

4. Illinois colleges in NCAA/NIT post-season play — Illinois, Illinois State, Southern Illinois, Loyola (Chicago) and Northwestern are among the state-based schools with winning records in college basketball. Look for most, if not all of them, to be involved in either the NCAA or NIT tournaments.

5. Better performances by the Chicago Bears — After a disappointing 7-9 season, the Bears can only get better, right? Give Cutler another year in the Bears’ organization, with a new offensive coordinator who can create a game plan that will capitalize on Cutler’s talents. Give him a stronger, faster offensive line and better, faster receivers. Then watch this team take off in 2010.