"It's the greatest match in the history of players who can't play." This was the thoroughly offensive remark made by ersatz tennis announcer Bud Collins about some of the younger players on the women's tour. These players happen to be physically attractive, so the bet is on as to will be "the next Kournikova." Collins was quoted by ESPN writer Patrick Hruby in an article that is probably supposed to be either humor or social commentary, but it comes off as the same old sexism the women's tour has endured from its birth.

For competitors like Hantuchova, Sharapova, Dementieva and Docik to be called "players who can't play" is outrageous. Each of them is a proven tennis prodigy.

Hruby has a point, however, that some of the younger, physically attractive players have chosen to pose for fashion spreads and have taken high-profile endorsements. I think they should stay away from the runway, too, because entering the world of fashion and glamour detracts from their authenticity as superb female athletes, and tends to objectify them. But they are young and impressionable, and it is hard to turn down huge financial gains.

In these so-called postmodern feminist times, women are criticized for being "politically correct" if they eschew a sex appeal-driven image. But if they embrace that image, they are criticized for cashing in on their sex appeal.

For women, nothing really changes.