Lindsey Vonn Loves Spherical Sports Trophies, Cows

Why do I love U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn? It's not because she won last season's overall World Cup title, and also won the opening slalom of the 2009 Cup season in Finland on Nov. 15. And it's not because she's the most underrated female athlete in the U.S. It's because she's the only professional athlete I know who has pet cows.

This can be a problem. I hate it when Dash brings his pet cow into the office.

From The New York Times:

Yeah, I won a cow in Val d’Isère, France, a few years ago. She’s actually staying in a barn that my friend owns. She gave birth to her first calf like a year and a half ago, so I had two cows. Then, last month, she gave birth to another cow, so now I have three cows. The first one is named Olympe — then Sunny and Karin. I have three cows, and I’m looking forward to more in the future, so I’ll have a little herd.

Full disclosure: I have this fantasy where I settle down with a gorgeous ski babe in a cozy chalet in the Swiss Alps, and we spend our days making babies, playing Julie Andrews records and tending our herd of award-winning Maine-Anjous, only emerging once a month to go into town to purchase Ricola breath mints. Is that so wrong?

Vonn, who is battling a non-gunshot related leg injury, finished fourth in the slalom at the Aspen Winternational on Nov. 30, but remains the World Cup slalom leader and trails Finland's Tanja Poutianen for first overall by 31 points. Next is Lake Louise, Alberta, on Friday to begin the first World Cup speed races of the season.

The 2010 Winter Olympics will be here before you know it: Vancouver's terror-inducing mascots are one year old today!

Vonn Victorious In Finland [The Sports Network] Skiing Until Cows Come Home [The New York Times]