May 29, 2007
Allison Stokke, With Leather And The Untapped Potential Of Internet Celebrity
By now, I'm sure most males between the ages of 18-35 have seen this photo of high school pole vaulter Allison Stokke, or even watched this YouTube video.
Now the Washington Post has spilled a few pixels about how the blog, With Leather, has supposedly turned this poor girl's world upside down by turning her into the viral Internet sensation of 2007:
On May 8, blogger Matt Ufford received Stokke's picture in an e-mail from one of his readers, and he reacted to Stokke's image on instinct. She was hot. She was 18. Readers of Ufford's WithLeather.com -- a sports blog heavy on comedy, opinion and sometimes sex -- would love her.
And indeed, the world at large does seem to love Miss Stokke, but what baffles me right now is why in the world this might be a problem.
Nowhere in this story is there mention of an agent. Nowhere in the world is there a mention that Ufford sparked a tidal wave of interest that could very well turn Stokke into a millionaire, and that's whether or not she competes in the pole vault ever again.
For God's sake, she's become track and field's answer to Maria Sharapova virtually overnight, and folks are acting as if there's something to be afraid of here?
Unfortunately, following that line of reasoning would destroy the "scary" Internet storyline that the reporter worked so hard to create.
As my friend Colby Cosh just texted me moments ago, "I think Serena Williams needs to call this girl up and give her some friendly advice."
Here endeth the lesson.
UPDATE: Ufford has apparently been harassed by lawyers as a result of all this. As far as I'm concerned, that's the only crime here.
ANOTHER UPDATE: This guy think he knows what I'm thinking, but he's way off the mark. With a little intelligent management, this new found celebrity can be made to work to Stokke's advantage in a myriad number of ways, and none of them have anything to do with any ideas that could be considered lewd or inappropriate.
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Eric, thanks for your post.
Well, she and her father decided to give an interview to the Washington Post…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/28/AR2007052801370.html
Not like that should be a way to get attention. However, I do see where the dad is coming from. I mean if your 18-year old daughter was plastered all over the net, you'd be upset too.
With the craziness out there, I'd be concerned too if my daughter was out there for the world to see.
Having 3 sisters, two of whom played collegiate sports, I being an older brother - I would be pissed off too.
Thanks for your post.
Here’s my reply:
http://oriolepost.blogspot.com/2007/05/allison-stoke-new-world-of-internet-and.html
Posted by:
at May 29, 2007 03:31 PM
Maybe she'll cash in by writing a book about how it feels to be leered at by a few hundred thousand people when all she wanted to do was be the next Stacy Dragila.
But from all her public comments, it sounds like she'd consider that making the best of a bad situation, figuring she might as well make something out of it if she can't stop it.
Loss of control is the scary part.
Posted by:
at May 29, 2007 09:20 PM
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