In competition with Sports Illustrated’s famous Swimsuit Issue over the last several years has been ESPN the Magazine’s mildly controversial Body Issue. Each year the magazine has a few gimmicks, whether revealing a stunning body sure to drop the jaws of even the most prudent of readers, or by showing off an ‘athletic’ body that leaves us making this face…
ESPN chose six cover athletes this year: Snowboarder Jamie Anderson, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, swimmer Michael Phelps, Texas Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka and tennis star Venus Williams.
Taking the gold medal in the stunner category is snowboarder Jamie Anderson.
Yes. Incredible. The images that actually make this magazine worth a few bucks.
Then there’s Prince Fielder’s cover photo….
Just keep working on your rehab so you can start hitting home runs again there, Prince.
Related: Behind-The-Scenes Of Kate Upton’s Zero Gravity Swimsuit Shoot
Other athletes included in the Body Issue to be released Friday include:
Tomas Berdych, Tennis
Aja Evans, Bobsledding
Larry Fitzgerald, Football
Omar Gonzalez, Soccer
Coco Ho, Surfing
Bernard Hopkins, Boxing
Ginger Huber, Cliff Diving
Hilary Knight, Hockey
Angel McCoughtry, Basketball
Travis Pastrana and Lyn-Z, Motocross and Skateboarding
Amy Purdy, Snowboarding
Megan Rapinoe, Soccer
Jimmy Spithill, Yachting
Nigel Sylvester, BMX
Danyelle Wolf, Boxing
View more featured pics on ESPN’s website – http://espn.go.com/espn/bodyissue
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.