Morning Glory & Wood: Athletes Strip for ESPN The Magazine

By Sandra Rose  | 

Sylvia Fowles of WNBA's Chicago Sky by Jeff Riedel for ESPN
Age:
26
Body stats:
6-foot-6, 200 pounds
Birthplace:
Miami, Fla.
Career highlight:
Earned a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Your favorite athletes are photographed completely naked as ESPN The Magazine unveils its third annual "Body Issue," on newsstands Oct. 7. More than 20 pro athletes strip for the strategically covered portraits in the "Bodies We Want" section of the issue, which the magazine calls an "exploration and celebration of the athletic form." (AJC)

Thanks to loyal reader Nicole B. for sending us this link to ESPN The Magazine's 2011 Body Issue.

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones by Jeff Riedel for ESPN

Track star Natasha Hastings by Luis Sanchis for ESPN

NBA rookie of the year Blake Griffin (LA Clippers)

Pro golfer Belen Mozo of Spain by Jeff Riedel for ESPN

Argentine boxer Sergio Martinez by Peter Hapak for ESPN

  • GAGIRL87

    :no: especially Jon Jones with his leg up

  • http://www.twitter.com/kabyeyou KABYEYOU

    HOLD UP THERES STILL A WNBA? WHO WOULDA KNEW

  • NaijaGal

    YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS to Blake...I thought Sylvia was man with a fierce blowout... :lipssealed: to the rest

  • http://dawnsheen.blogspot.com/ Dawn Sheen

    How does one transform said stale dated muffin top into work or art? Such inspirational pictures.... (does half a sit up... at desk)

  • pointhimout

    alright blake, I see you. the rest :yawn:

    lol @ dawn.

  • candibfly

    sup :coffee: <--- communion grape juice

  • https://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

    @ KABYEYOU: Atlanta is in the WNBA Finals. They lost again last night to the Lynx. If they lose Friday's game at Phipps Arena, our season is over. :coffee:

  • Redeemed777

    '' And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast NAKED and bare, [and] wast polluted in thy blood. ''

    [Ezekiel 16:22]

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uukFcl_Cgog&feature=player_embedded#! His_Mommy623

    these pics.... :rofl:

    that 2nd pic is killing me :dead: its stanky..

  • Crickett

    I want to see Serena!!

  • ninamosley

    me no likey

  • candibfly

    i feel like serena's already been naked, or was that venus...one of them :shrugs:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    *faints @Blake's image*

  • http://www.twitter.com/kabyeyou KABYEYOU

    @ KABYEYOU: Atlanta is in the WNBA Finals. They lost again last night to the Lynx. If they lose Friday’s game at Phipps Arena, our season is over.

    _________________________________________

    hold on so your saying that there is still a WNBA and the Finals are going on right now? Espn doesnt do the sport justice. Guess they need a star the chick from Uconn Mya Moore is she doing anything? She was supposed to be the Jordan coming out

  • http://www.tallmenshoes.com/ Man, I just don’t care™

    @SANDRA
    What inspired you to put Morning Wood and Morning Glory together?
    :coffee:

  • PAHairston

    Hello All. WOW! The human body, a masterpiece.

  • http://twitter.com/_Tainted_Love Tainted_Love

    @ Auntie Ive been rooting for the Atlanta Dream all season....right now they're the best team we got. Love all my city's teams though!! #teamATL

    O yeah Jose Reyes looks ymmmy....I love his little Dominican self

  • http://twitter.com/eastpointvet eastpointvet

    the UFC picture is all kinds of wrong

  • Luvmybabygirl samarra

    I am appreciating Jose Reyes a whole lot :yes:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    now the rest a them pix? :nono: :coffee:

  • candibfly

    they really did do bones wrong :no:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    & exactly how LONG is that female golpher's teet?

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uukFcl_Cgog&feature=player_embedded#! His_Mommy623

    hewwo Candi :hug:

  • http://www.tallmenshoes.com/ Man, I just don’t care™

    The Spanish chick and the track chick look good. The chicks that run track always got nice bodies with real nice azzes (except for long distance track)

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFwik0Lon-g&ob=av2e FeFe the Leggy Lynx

    Nice pics...the human body is a work of art!

  • candibfly

    HIS :wave: <--- choir robe

    sup witchu and whatnot

  • bombchelle.

    Makes me want to hit the gym.

    Something I DON'T do...

  • West Coast Chick

    :blink: :nono: :tape:

  • ninamosley

    jon "bones" jones looks like wayne brady!

  • http://youtu.be/wHGc_v_cCIY YSoSerious

    Some of these are nice. Some of them...aren't. :coffee:

    (reeeaaaaly hopes REDEEMED has been called back to fight in God's Army so we can be in this post in peace)

  • http://youtu.be/wHTo_QgKM5g chibytex

    Blake Griffin's body :thumbsup:

  • http://www.tallmenshoes.com/ Man, I just don’t care™

    @Kabeyou

    Maya Moore has a vicious lay-up. :yes:

  • http://twitter.com/#!/Birdshu Bird

    Those pics are incredible. Thoroughbreds all!

  • iheart405

    :shocked: At blakes body :applause:

  • SunRiseBlossom

    :blink:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFwik0Lon-g&ob=av2e FeFe the Leggy Lynx

    YSoSerious says:

    Some of these are nice. Some of them…aren’t. :coffee:

    (reeeaaaaly hopes REDEEMED has been called back to fight in God’s Army so we can be in this post in peace)
    _____

    :cosign: Although I respect her opinion like everyone else's...I'm not in the mood for petty stuff today...there is nothing wrong with athletes posing tastefully nude in a sports magazine...they have sculpted and taken good care of their bodies...which is God given!

  • Aprilbaby

    Frist time I have ever really noticed Blake! Very nice!

  • Bigbadwolf

    jon “bones” jones looks like wayne brady
    ____
    :yes:

  • Bigbadwolf

    I don't know , they all seem not quite right to me except for Blake, and he looks like his ankle is broken.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    gm
    FeFe
    HIS
    Candi
    YSo
    Tainted
    & errybody else #memoryshort
    :waves:

  • http://www.tallmenshoes.com/ Man, I just don’t care™

    :cry: <<<at no NBA season

  • JMO

    Dawn Sheen says:

    How does one transform said stale dated muffin top into work or art? Such inspirational pictures…. (does half a sit up… at desk)
    _____________________________________________________________________

    *coming from a small woman* Now if I answer this, will you say skinny b*tches are evil?? :coffee:

  • prynsexxx

    Good Morning EVERYBODY! :hi:

    That first pic...IDK if that was a overcooked B. Scott or whet? Is it a girl or a boy? :shrug:

    Blake Griffin :drool: I've always thought it was something cute about him (in his commercial NOT those pics Sandy posted a while back).

    Natasha Hastings body is motivation! :bow:

  • Tatted Diva AKA The Makeup Maven

    :whistle:
    IT'S SO COLD IN DA D'
    HOW DA FUGG WE 'SPOSE TO GET PEACE?

    Good morning FAM! :hug:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    BBW!! :yahoo:

  • KDub

    OMG @Blake....I am quite sure I did nat know he had sucha nice azz...

    Thanks so much Sandra. Now I know and knowing is half the battle (GI JOE)

  • Anna

    NaijaGal says:

    YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS to Blake…I thought Sylvia was man with a fierce blowout…
    ~~~~~~~~
    I did too. I thought maybe Sylvia is a unisex name in another Country, then I read she was born in Miami. :lol: The pics are beautiful, except the boxers, his pose looks ackward.

  • Honycoatd— Lightning Don’t Strike The Same Place Twice

    Beautiful pictures... I love skin period so I can appreciate this kinda art.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uukFcl_Cgog&feature=player_embedded#! His_Mommy623

    Fayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy *smashes into u* :hug:

  • JMO

    Man, I just don't care™ says:

    @SANDRA
    What inspired you to put Morning Wood and Morning Glory together?
    __________________________________________________________________

    :lol:

  • http://www.ashland86.com TheRealAshland

    I like nudity......actually,...I'm ....well never mind. :p

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    TaBew!! :love: hey beautifulness
    :offtopic:
    i've tried so hard to like this job, but i just hate it! :crying:

  • http://youtu.be/wHGc_v_cCIY YSoSerious

    FAYLA!! :waves:

  • http://youtu.be/wHTo_QgKM5g chibytex

    Tatted Diva AKA The Makeup Maven says:

    :whistle:
    IT’S SO COLD IN DA D’
    HOW DA FUGG WE ‘SPOSE TO GET PEACE?
    ______________________________________________________________
    :rofl: That song never stops being funny!! :rofl:

  • free

    blake is the personification of what the BODY issue should be. the rest are kinda regular.

  • Honycoatd— Lightning Don’t Strike The Same Place Twice

    Sandra you know I like titties.. these chicks are good in their own right but damn they all are smaller than I am and I don't like that.

    ....but the men got nice butts tho

  • http://www.tallmenshoes.com/ Man, I just don’t care™

    :smack:
    ...Sylvia Fowles
    "She" actually had an Ol man at LSU. She actually looks MORE feminine these days.

  • KDub

    :wail: <<<at no NBA season

    Da fugg Imma dew???? Esp from April when college go off to dayum near July?

    Most important...what the FUGG they gonna tawk about on SPORTSCENTER??? What am I gonna watch in the mornings?????

  • http://dawnsheen.blogspot.com/ Dawn Sheen

    Why y'all laughing at these pictures? I am happy to see people in shape, especilly considering the injected and infalted folks we usually see... like visit the Trina post... then revisit this post. I am all for fit vs flab or silly cones

  • prynsexxx

    Sandy can you replace the boxer's photo with that man on the ledge? His skin, hair, goatee (although a lil big up top thats neither here nor there, I'll still take it) are all :drool: worthy.

    That is a nice pic of Apolo.....although he's a lil shawt, his pic is still NICE! KUDOS!

  • KDub

    (reeeaaaaly hopes REDEEMED has been called back to fight in God’s Army so we can be in this post in peace)
    ----------------------------------------------
    Redeemed is checking her Excel spreadsheet to see what has turned red so she can hit us with some recycled Biblical tidbits. After what I posted in the Trina post I doubt if she will be rejoining us...

  • Tatted Diva AKA The Makeup Maven

    Hey Fay Fay (my REAL bay bay) :kiss:

    @ Chibs - I HATE THAT DAYUM SONG...AND IT'S BEEN IN MY HEAD FOR LIKE 2 WEEKS NOW! :no:

    @ EVERYONE ELSE, its getting rather deep in the previous post! Seems like Redeemed 'don stepped in some doo-doo! :lol:

  • Honycoatd— Lightning Don’t Strike The Same Place Twice

    ^^^ I agree with you Dawn.

    They are athletes I don't know why people expect them to look soft and chit.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFwik0Lon-g&ob=av2e FeFe the Leggy Lynx

    :hugs: @Fayla

  • Cinderella

    @Man, Have you watched SWAC Women's Volleyball on ESPNU? Those girls bodies are insane.

  • prynsexxx

    KDub says:

    :cry: <<<at no NBA season
    ______________________

    So you mean to tell me I'm not going to All-Star this/next year?

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    my brother in law is in France playing right now bc of the NBA lock-out :(

  • Bigbadwolf

    Most important…what the FUGG they gonna tawk about on SPORTSCENTER??? What am I gonna watch in the mornings?????
    __________________________
    IKR :cry:

    Moaning Faye :kiss: How u been?

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFwik0Lon-g&ob=av2e FeFe the Leggy Lynx

    Dawn Sheen says:

    Why y’all laughing at these pictures? I am happy to see people in shape, especilly considering the injected and infalted folks we usually see… like visit the Trina post… then revisit this post. I am all for fit vs flab or silly cones
    _____

    :clap:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    @TaBew which post? :popcorn:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    BBW i's been goin thru HELLA drama mk :(
    #FBisdadebbil

  • Bigbadwolf

    Hey Tatted :hug: :kiss:

  • Tatted Diva AKA The Makeup Maven

    @ Fay Fay - the T-Boz post! :coffee:

  • JMO

    KDub says:

    (reeeaaaaly hopes REDEEMED has been called back to fight in God’s Army so we can be in this post in peace)
    ———————————————-
    Redeemed is checking her Excel spreadsheet to see what has turned red so she can hit us with some recycled Biblical tidbits. After what I posted in the Trina post I doubt if she will be rejoining us…
    ______________________________________________________________

    *goes to Trina post* :kona:

  • iheart405

    Man, I just don't care™ says:

    <<<at no NBA season

    ______________

    Me too :crying:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFwik0Lon-g&ob=av2e FeFe the Leggy Lynx

    @Tatted

    Yeah, she's going hard in the paint in that T-Boz post...calling out other bloggers and errthang! :coffee:

  • http://www.tallmenshoes.com/ Man, I just don’t care™

    @Cinderella
    Yup! I've stopes the remote in some ladies volleyball more than once! They don't always hve tits but they ALWAYS have AZZ!

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uukFcl_Cgog&feature=player_embedded#! His_Mommy623

    :dead: @Sicka yew

    i just typed that to my bestie and went back and read ur comment :rofl:

    @Redeemed, we are sicka yew tho...word.

  • http://youtu.be/wHTo_QgKM5g chibytex

    Its their job to be in tip top shape...they get paid millions to work out everyday and look like Greek Gods.... ESPN did a nice job keeping things very tasteful

    Hooray for them.... :coffee:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeuqgD6GKjw&feature=related French KI$$E$

    i like Natasha Hastings pic! :yes:

  • Tatted Diva AKA The Makeup Maven

    HEEEEY BBW! :kiss: :kiss: :kiss:

  • Tatted Diva AKA The Makeup Maven

    @ FeFe - I KNOW. THAT CRACKED ME THE FUGG UP! :lol:

  • KDub

    WHY yall ain't tell me Carrie momma was over on the T-Boz post....

    When I left her messages to go play with the MS Office package in the name of our Lord and Savior over on Trina?

    And she better do it on a Mac too...to honor Steve Jobs.

    MS Office for Mac OS.

    #sickayew

  • http://www.tallmenshoes.com/ Man, I just don’t care™

    @DAWN
    I think most people laughing at:

    -the terrble poses
    -various awkward features
    -the thing in the first pic

    Not laughing at that general physique.

  • MzDimplez1123

    Morning everyone. :coffee:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    Man, I just don't care™ says:

    @DAWN
    I think most people laughing at:

    -the terrble poses
    -various awkward features
    -the thing in the first pic

    Not laughing at that general physique.
    __________
    :cosign:

    lawd i'm cosigning w/Man..is it rapture time? :think:

    Hey Dawnnnn :waves:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    Dimpz :dance: lookin all hawt & chit in that gravi ;)

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uukFcl_Cgog&feature=player_embedded#! His_Mommy623

    @DAWN
    I think most people laughing at:

    -the terrble poses
    -various awkward features
    -the thing in the first pic.. :crying: :yes: :rofl: the bish is sleek like a chocolate greyhound n chit..

    Not laughing at that general physique.

    Dimpz!!! :pacifier:

  • West Coast Chick

    :blink: what is that "thing" in the first picture? :blink:

    maybe if they'd have clothes on.. everybody's nakedness is :nono: sexy
    #juss sayin

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    KDub says:

    WHY yall ain’t tell me Carrie momma was over on the T-Boz post….

    When I left her messages to go play with the MS Office package in the name of our Lord and Savior over on Trina?

    And she better do it on a Mac too…to honor Steve Jobs.

    MS Office for Mac OS.

    #sickayew
    ____________
    :ghost:

  • West Coast Chick

    -the thing in the first pic.. the bish is sleek like a chocolate greyhound n chit..
    _________________________

    :rofl: :whip:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uukFcl_Cgog&feature=player_embedded#! His_Mommy623

    im still crying about that stank bootie azz ninja in the 2nd pic.. :no:

  • free

    Man, I just don't care™ says:
    …Sylvia Fowles
    “She” actually had an Ol man at LSU.

    *******************************************

    whaaattttt???? i thought for sure she was on the "other side".

  • http://twitter.com/_Tainted_Love Tainted_Love

    :hug: @Fayla

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg Fayla aka JuicyFruit

    the bish is sleek like a chocolate greyhound n chit..
    ___________
    :dead:

    WCC :yahoo: hey jokesta!

  • !*LaKErCHiC@*!

    :no: U LIE AUNTIE U LIE WERE IS THE MORNING GLORY :shrug: THE WOOD IS THERE :yes:

  • RoderickXYZ

    I thougth that Sylvia was Manimal and that boxers needs to sue ESPN for using that pic.

    Did he have any control over which pic of him was used?

    Dude is going to be hit up by lots of 'tops'. LOL

  • vero

    Beautiful, except for the Golfer....

  • http://www.twitter.com/cocoabana Cocoabana

    BLAKE GRIFFIN, WHEW CHILD!

    Redeemed typed into google "scripture that contains the word naked."

  • ohpretty1

    Nice photography and specimen!

  • pinksghetti

    Steven Jones looks good! Sylvia has pretty skin. Blake's body is nice.

  • ShireeSongz

    GAGIRL87 says:

    :no:
    especially Jon Jones with his leg up

    _______________________________________________________________________

    :cosign:

    :no::no::no::no:

  • ShireeSongz

    Heyyyy Dawn I'm here yay!! :yahoo:

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bfDHCu6MuQ LUSCIOUS LOLITA AKA SUGA WALLS

    I thought that first one was Jada's face on a man's body

  • http://chokolatemilk.blogspot.com Choco aka Hippie

    :rofl: @ at the first pic I thought it was a man and then read the name

    The Draft Pick pic is FOINE!

  • CocopuffS

    My my my Sergio.

  • Starr

    These pics are amazing. The human body is something else.

  • “They”is1person

    I wonder if the female athletes had a decision in how they could pose. Ain't no way I woulda posed like a lion or a stretched out cheetah if I had a say in the matter, especially if my body was as muscular as theirs. But that's just me

  • trenee

    that was nice...