ESPN The Magazine announced the 21 athletes who will appear in this year's edition of its "Body Issue," with volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings to “appear in photos shot both before and after" the birth of her daughter, and Golf HOFer Gary Player becoming "the oldest person to appear” in the issue, according to Chuck Schilken of the L.A. TIMES. 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, who will appear along with teammate TE Vernon Davis, said that he is “looking forward to revealing even more of his famous body art.” The fifth annual issue is “set to hit newsstands July 12” (LATIMES.com, 6/25).
| ESPN THE MAGAZINE BODY ISSUE ATHLETES |
| 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick | Tennis player Agnieszka Radwanska |
| Volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings | Tennis player John Isner |
| Golf HOFer Gary Player | UFC fighter Miesha Tate |
| 49ers TE Vernon Davis | Soccer player Sydney Leroux |
| NHRA driver Courtney Force | Golfer Carly Booth |
| Wizards G John Wall | Snowboarder Elena Hight |
| Nuggets F Kenneth Faried | Rock climber Chris Sharma |
| Mets P Matt Harvey | Rock climber Daila Ojeda |
| Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton | Boxer Marlen Esparza |
| WNBA Sky F Swin Cash | Motocross rider Tara Gieger |
| Maple Leafs LW Joffrey Lupul | |
| | |
UNDERNEATH IT ALL: Tate said that posing for the magazine "wasn't a decision she took lightly.” Tate: “I was a little nervous when they first approached me. It really took some quality group decision making for me to do it. ... I'm proud of my physique. I work really hard, and I felt like that was a very appropriate way to kind of show it and to be able to look back on it one day and say, 'You know, that was me when I was young.'” She added, “My goal is to be respected first and foremost as an athlete. However, I don't see any problem with a woman embracing her beauty” (USA TODAY, 6/26). Harvey said, "It was definitely kind of nerve-wracking at first. I've never been fully nude in front of random people like that before, especially with a camera around. But now it's all done with. It was a fun experience. It's going to be a cool issue” (ESPNNY.com, 6/25). In N.Y., Kristie Ackert reports Harvey “did the photo shoot two weeks ago in a hotel conference room.” He indicated that "there was not full nudity" in his photos. Harvey said, “Obviously the idea of catching a lot of (grief) from teammates and people like that was in the back of my mind, but it was something I felt was a good opportunity and a fun thing to do" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/26).
PLAY ON, PLAYER: Golf Channel’s Lara Baldeserra noted the 77-year-old Player has been "dedicated to fitness and health since before it was popular,” and he is "showing off his decades of hard work" by appearing in the magazine (“Golf Central,” Golf Channel, 6/25). ESPN's Mike Greenberg said, "We should all be in the shape that he’s in right now, and he’s 30-something years older than I am” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 6/26). ESPN's Michael Wilbon said it was "inspirational" that Player would "have the confidence to go and pose nude." But ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said, "You and I have seen 77-year-old naked men in the steam room at country clubs, and even in the fog it's awful. We just don't want to see it" ("PTI," ESPN, 6/25).
