THE SIDELINES : Sports Illustrated Avoids Hype on Swimsuit Issue, Cites Gulf

Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue usually arrives with a splash of publicity, but this year the hype will be toned down because of the Persian Gulf War.

That means no video news release for television stations. No interviews with the chosen cover girl after the magazine hits the newsstands today. No appearance on a pre-selected national morning show. Nothing.

“We just feel that given the situation in the Persian Gulf it would be inappropriate to actively solicit publicity on the swimsuit issue,” SI spokesman Roger Jackson said.

“That doesn’t mean we’re not publishing it. It will be out. We just felt that the gravity of the situation dictated we tone things down.”

The swimsuit issue is the biggest-selling SI issue each year. Last year about 5 million copies were sold, Jackson said.