Will Matthews woman grace SI cover?

Last year, Brooklyn Decker of Matthews earned a small spot on the cover of what is the de facto Holy Grail for swimsuit models: the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. And this year, she appears to be the favorite to nab the big spot on it.

Various Web sites -- including Bodog and Fafarazzi -- have been speculating this week that the 22-year-old Butler High grad could be the latest SI cover girl. We'll find out for sure Monday night, when the official announcement is made during "The Late Show with David Letterman" (11:35 p.m. start on WBTV).

Regardless of where she winds up, this will be the fifth straight appearance in the swimsuit issue for Decker ... who is almost as famous for being Mrs. Andy Roddick as she is for her tanned and toned figure. The magazine hits newsstands Wednesday.

Between now and then, you can join Brooklyn's legion of nearly 20,000 Twitter followers by clicking here. I'll be talking to her by phone on Tuesday afternoon, so look for highlights from that interview at www.charlotteobserver.com, and in Wednesday's Charlotte Observer.