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Anna Kournikova: The Rise And Fall Of One Of The Most Polarizing Athletes In Sports
Business Insider ^ | Jun. 7, 2012 | Nicholas Schwartz|

Posted on 06/17/2012 5:00:26 PM PDT by presidio9

You may have forgotten about tennis celebrity Anna Kournikova, but the retired star celebrates her 31st birthday today.

Kournikova took the tennis world by storm in the 1990s, gaining as much attention for her good looks as her tennis ability.

But Kournikova's career is largely considered a disappointment.

Once a highly-touted phenom, she failed to live up to her potential before ultimately finding her niche off the court.

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Sports
KEYWORDS: annakournikova; tennis; womensathletics; wta
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Comment #41 Removed by Moderator

To: presidio9

From $3 million in tennis earnings to a $50 million modeling career. That’s quit a fall.


42 posted on 06/17/2012 6:11:16 PM PDT by ScottfromNJ
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To: bill1952
Give me a break - she was a young, sexy & beautiful tennis player, but polarizing? LOL

You're not thinking like the lesbian sisterhood that dominates womens' professional sports and influences Media opinion-makers directly and indirectly. ("Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel")

43 posted on 06/17/2012 6:14:19 PM PDT by Tallguy (It's all 'Fun and Games' until somebody loses an eye!)
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To: tet68
I just wish she’d stop calling me.

Finish the sentence. What does she call you? ;)
44 posted on 06/17/2012 6:18:16 PM PDT by adorno
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To: MIchaelTArchangel
Let me Google that for you ..............

It really isn't hard to do once you know how.

45 posted on 06/17/2012 6:19:25 PM PDT by Eaker (When somebody hands you your arse, don't give it back saying "This needs a little more tenderizing.")
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To: ScottfromNJ

Polarizing? Kinda like Sarah Palin. They are envious and jealous. They put it all on her.


46 posted on 06/17/2012 6:21:01 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: chae
She only has this level of fame because she is hot. It’s like Danica Patrick. Based on their abilities, very few people would have any clue who they were, but they are attractive, so there you go.

Way too much emphasis is placed on superficial things such as looks these days.

I think that Maria Sharapova is much prettier and a better player to boot.

No kidding? Then let's have some pics!!

47 posted on 06/17/2012 6:21:24 PM PDT by Ken H (Austerity is the irresistible force. Entitlements are the immovable object.)
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To: yarddog
Photobucket I wish this one showed her face but it is Martina Hingis.
48 posted on 06/17/2012 6:22:30 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: yarddog

49 posted on 06/17/2012 6:24:02 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Subvert the dominant paradise!)
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To: presidio9

I could watch her rising and falling all day.


50 posted on 06/17/2012 6:24:41 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: bill1952
Give me a break - she was a young, sexy & beautiful tennis player, but polarizing? LOL

She was definitely polarizing. In her heyday, she was one of the highest paid, endorsed and famous athlete in the world, despite not winning much of anything. She was arguably the most popular female tennis player in the sport, more-so than the Williams sisters. Many fans didn't understand what all the fuss was about. Advertisers understood it quite well, that men will watch ladies tennis when the players look like Anna Kournikova.

51 posted on 06/17/2012 6:26:26 PM PDT by Drew68 (I WILL vote to defeat Barack Hussein Obama!)
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To: tumblindice

I would watch her play tennis all day long! How well she plays would not matter one wit! There ought to be a law or something bout someone looking that good!


52 posted on 06/17/2012 6:26:26 PM PDT by JaguarXKE (If my Fluffy had a puppy, it would look like the puppy Obama ate!)
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To: presidio9

I heard she is a screamer when the clouds and rain comes, wink wink.
I saw a picture of her in action and the outfit she was wearing left nothing to the imagination


53 posted on 06/17/2012 6:27:05 PM PDT by South Dakota (shut up and drill)
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To: JimWayne

She did not win a single WTA tournament, leave alone a grand slam tournament.

If that is your measurment of success you are missing the point (and may possibly have contracted "teh ghey"). FWIW, Marilyn Monroe never won an Oscar either.

When she was in her prime, any decent men's college player would have beat Martina Navratilova love & love.

54 posted on 06/17/2012 6:28:15 PM PDT by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: Bratch

Very interesting way you broke down Angelina’s facial features, yet she was once the most sought after and beautiful actresses in Hollywood.


55 posted on 06/17/2012 6:33:38 PM PDT by ducttape45
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To: bill1952; Slings and Arrows; SunkenCiv

Give me a break - she was a young, sexy & beautiful tennis player, but polarizing? LOL

Back in her heydey, the feminists HATED her, and everything she stood for. I got suspended for posting too many Kournikova stories to FR, but it was all in the interest of maintaining journalistic integrity.

56 posted on 06/17/2012 6:37:07 PM PDT by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: martin_fierro; dead; Clemenza

Your insight is requested....


57 posted on 06/17/2012 6:42:53 PM PDT by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: presidio9; PapaBear3625; twister881

I am not one of those who consider her career a disappointment. I was just making a correction to a previous post about such claims stemming from her not winning any grand slam titles. Becoming a top 10 player is an admirable feat in itself. Reaching the top in doubles is also an achievement. It is just that it is rare for a top 10 player never to have won a top tier tournament.


58 posted on 06/17/2012 6:43:18 PM PDT by JimWayne
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To: presidio9

She won 3.5 million in prize money, got to the quarters in the Australian and the semis at Wimbledon, and rose to number 8 in the world at one time. That’s better than all but about 150 or so women’s players of all time. How in the hell is that disappointing?

If you’re hot and aren’t number one, that’s disappointing? Anke Huber won a few more titles and a little more money, but no one has ever heard of her. With endorsement money, Anna has done quite well and I’m sure that while she would have liked to have won more, she wouldn’t trade places with Huber.


59 posted on 06/17/2012 6:44:39 PM PDT by 1L
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Comment #60 Removed by Moderator


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