![]() Best-selling of six alternative covers of
ESPN The Magazine's original Body Issue in 2009 featuring
Serena Williams | |
Frequency | Yearly |
---|---|
First issue | October 19, 2009 |
Final issue | September 6, 2019 |
Company | ESPN |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Website | ESPN The Magazine |
The Body Issue was an annual edition of ESPN The Magazine that featured dozens of athletes in nude and semi-nude photographs, which was intended to rival the annual Swimsuit Issue from Sports Illustrated. The first issue debuted on October 19, 2009. [1]
The 2009 edition had six alternative covers featuring Serena Williams (tennis), Carl Edwards (NASCAR), Adrian Peterson (NFL), Dwight Howard (NBA), Gina Carano (mixed martial arts) and Sarah Reinertsen (triathlons). [2] The Serena Williams edition sold the most copies. [3] The 2009 issue was a financial success, achieving double the normal edition sales, greater sales than any bi-weekly issue in over two years and 35 percent more ad sales than comparable issues, which led to plans for extended marketing of the 2010 edition. [3]
The edition included the regular sports coverage. In the bodies section athletes were featured on and off the field. Even a picture during a knee surgery was included. The "Bodies We Want" section was a feature of the best bodies in the world of sports all posed nude but with strategic coverage of private parts. [4] Another section showed the damage done to the human body in athletics such as Laird Hamilton's cracked heel and Torry Holt's crooked middle finger. [5] One action photo captured six members of Major League Soccer's D.C. United simulating a free kick defensive wall while covering their genitalia. [6]
The 2019 issue was announced as also being the final print edition of the magazine. [7] It was said it would continue in a digital form but this did not materialize.
Some of the 2009 covers were revealed on shows such Monday Night Football and Good Morning America. The 2009 edition included the following: [4]
The 2010 edition included the following:
The 2011 edition included the following:
The 2012 issue featured the following athletes: [10]
The 2013 issue featured the following athletes:
The 2014 issue featured the following athletes: [11]
The 2015 issue featured the following athletes: [12]
The 2016 issue featured the following athletes: [13]
The 2017 issue featured the following athletes: [14]
The 2018 issue featured the following athletes: [15]
Bird and Rapinoe, who were photographed together, became the first same-sex couple to appear on the cover of the magazine. [16]
The 2019 issue released on September 4, 2019 and was the final printed issue of the ESPN Magazine. It featured the following athletes: [17]
![]() Best-selling of six alternative covers of
ESPN The Magazine's original Body Issue in 2009 featuring
Serena Williams | |
Frequency | Yearly |
---|---|
First issue | October 19, 2009 |
Final issue | September 6, 2019 |
Company | ESPN |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Website | ESPN The Magazine |
The Body Issue was an annual edition of ESPN The Magazine that featured dozens of athletes in nude and semi-nude photographs, which was intended to rival the annual Swimsuit Issue from Sports Illustrated. The first issue debuted on October 19, 2009. [1]
The 2009 edition had six alternative covers featuring Serena Williams (tennis), Carl Edwards (NASCAR), Adrian Peterson (NFL), Dwight Howard (NBA), Gina Carano (mixed martial arts) and Sarah Reinertsen (triathlons). [2] The Serena Williams edition sold the most copies. [3] The 2009 issue was a financial success, achieving double the normal edition sales, greater sales than any bi-weekly issue in over two years and 35 percent more ad sales than comparable issues, which led to plans for extended marketing of the 2010 edition. [3]
The edition included the regular sports coverage. In the bodies section athletes were featured on and off the field. Even a picture during a knee surgery was included. The "Bodies We Want" section was a feature of the best bodies in the world of sports all posed nude but with strategic coverage of private parts. [4] Another section showed the damage done to the human body in athletics such as Laird Hamilton's cracked heel and Torry Holt's crooked middle finger. [5] One action photo captured six members of Major League Soccer's D.C. United simulating a free kick defensive wall while covering their genitalia. [6]
The 2019 issue was announced as also being the final print edition of the magazine. [7] It was said it would continue in a digital form but this did not materialize.
Some of the 2009 covers were revealed on shows such Monday Night Football and Good Morning America. The 2009 edition included the following: [4]
The 2010 edition included the following:
The 2011 edition included the following:
The 2012 issue featured the following athletes: [10]
The 2013 issue featured the following athletes:
The 2014 issue featured the following athletes: [11]
The 2015 issue featured the following athletes: [12]
The 2016 issue featured the following athletes: [13]
The 2017 issue featured the following athletes: [14]
The 2018 issue featured the following athletes: [15]
Bird and Rapinoe, who were photographed together, became the first same-sex couple to appear on the cover of the magazine. [16]
The 2019 issue released on September 4, 2019 and was the final printed issue of the ESPN Magazine. It featured the following athletes: [17]