(NSFW) PHOTO OP: Venus, Berdych, and their glorious ass-ets

ESPN just released images of a naked Venus Williams and Tomas Berdych that will appear in their annual "Body Issue." V looks amazing and she gave a great interview to ESPN to accompany the issue. And Tomas? Well, his nickname is Big Berd, but perhaps it should be "Coppertone Baby."

[Photo(s) credit: ESPN]

PHOTO OP: Zvonareva drops trou (and then some)

Following Serena Williams's + Esther Vergeer's naked footsteps, most of Vera Zvonareva is appearing in the latest installment of ESPN the Magazine "The Body Issue". I'm a little surprised to see her flashing her half moon since, to me, she's the intellectual one of the bunch. But there's more than meets the eye (especially here) with Bepa. Just look at her game. How else do you explain reaching two major finals and the second spot in the world rankings with a game, while solid, isn't brutally powerful, sexy or flashy?

Well, I guess a girl needs to get it out somehow. Cheek-y.

[Photo(s) credit: ESPN magazine]

PHOTO OP: What's in a wheelchair?

We've all heard it said in different ways: "Stay tough", "Play up your strengths, hide your weaknesses", "There's no crying in [enter sport]!" or as the famous saying goes, "Never let them see you sweat." (Thanks Dry Idea.) However it's said, professional athletes are never supposed to show vulnerability when competing, never mind showing up in a wheelchair.

But don't tell that to Esther Vergeer. She may have wheels for life but she's also turned it into her weapon of choice, along with HEAD, dominating her sport like no other athlete on the planet. And that's not hyperbole. 

Esther, 29, is unbeaten in wheelchair singles tennis since January 2003 and is currently riding a 396 match winning streak. Oh, she's also tied with a one Roger Federer with 16 major singles championships, the latest one coming courtesy of a double bagel win over Daniela di Toro in the final at this year's US Open. But even the Swiss star can't claim the same dominance.

Remarkably, the Dutch lady baller gets to try on a new title this Friday: cover girl for ESPN The Magazine's second annual 'Body Issue.' There she is in the buff, for all the world to see, with only her racquet, arms and a seated position hiding what we know is already there. Scary much? Not by the look on her face or the intense gaze into the camera lens. "Come for me" she seems to be saying.

But wait - people with disabilities aren't supposed to be sexy, right? Well, leave it to Esther to prove us wrong all over again.

[Photo(s): ESPN The Magazine]

(UPDATED) Federer featured on ESPN The Magazine cover, but don't tell Sports Illustrated

So Sports Illustrated's won't ever give Roger Federer the Sportsman of the Year Award and cover for his historic achievements in tennis but ESPN The Magazine will put his big, finely coiffed mug on their May 3 cover with the headline, "WHO'S THE WORLD'S GREATEST ATHLETE? ROGER FEDERER LOOKS THE PART."

Good on ya.

UPDATE: Some behind the scenes footage of with Fed at the photoshoot. (via Great Tennis Photos)



[Photo(s): ESPN The Magazine]

Shiny, happy Serena takes WTA Penthouse keys

Meet your almost naked but very shiny world no.1.

Serena Williams reclaimed the keys to the WTA Penthouse after defeating Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-2 in the Beijing second round. Dinara Safina paved the way for the 11-time Grand Slammer to move back in when she was stunned by Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai.

This isn't the first time ReRe has been in the buff for a mag, having gone nude for Jane magazine back in 2007.

I guess everyone (including myself) can now shut their traps about who should be the top lady baller. The deed is done. Phew.

The ESPN the Magazine "The Body Issue" hits stands on October 19.

(Photo: 850TheBuzz.com)

Shrieka takes charge at ESPN the Magazine, spews advice to one and all

The issue of ESPN The Magazine featuring Maria Sharapova as Guest Editor is out and it features the Russian baller in various states of dress + undress happily handing out advice to the tennis gods and fellow athletes on everything from how to improve the sport to how to wear nail polish correctly (that would be for wrestler Chuck Liddell - love it.)

Guess who Shrieka might be talking about when she rattled off these two recommendations for improving tennis. I have my guesses:

3.Get rid of the riffraff
And while I'm on the subject: The players' lounge isn't a nightclub, either. It's hard to get ready for a match when there's a bleached-out blonde in six-inch stilettos and a denim miniskirt hanging out. Who is this person, and why is she here?

Marat, leave the hookers at home. Geez.

8.Don't hide the game face
While I was sidelined with my shoulder injury, I watched a lot of tennis on TV. Sometimes I thought, Why do these girls wear so much makeup? I can't even figure out how they keep their eyeliner from running. Athletes should play au naturel.

JJ, maybe showing off your "real" game face might actually scare opponents and win you matches. Try it. Your game could us all the help it can get right now.

And for all you male straighties out there (I know there are one or two, right?) Shrieka let's us in on what this kind of woman wants in her man:

Q.What does a woman of your caliber look for in a man? -- Daniel Gibson, Cavaliers
A.Although you may think I live a glamorous life, I'm pretty simple. Little things make me happy. I love to laugh. I love going to dinner or to a comedy club. I like guys who are polite and quirky. Oh, and you have to be tall.

Like, skyscraper tall.

Read more of her articles and see more pictures over at MariaSharapova.com.





(images via mariasharapova.com courtesy of espn the magazine)

VIDEO VAULT: Shrieka makes Matt feel more awkward than is humanly possible

E:60 Maria Sharapova and Matt Stafford Preview from ESPN Communications on Vimeo.

Maria Sharapova took part in an ESPN the Magazine cover shoot with University of Georgia quarterback (and potential No.1 NFL draft pick) Matt Stafford and E:60 was on hand for some behind-the-scenes footage.

Clearly Shrieka LOVES this glamorous photoshoot thing, going full-on into her fashion zone and seemingly forgetting about uncomfortable Matt. Or maybe it's because the footballer is so dull she mistook him for a piece of on-set lighting.

Poor Matt.

The full segment airs April 28th at 7pm on ESPN.

(via ESPNmediazone)

Quote of the Day: Venus on playing tennis

I love what I do. When I win, it's pure joy. It might only last a moment, but it's a great moment. And I could never hang up my racket knowing I had more in me. I'd never be able to forget that I had more left. I couldn't forgive myself.

- an eloquent Venus Williams on why she continues to play tennis

You guys should read this ESPN the Magazine article linked above about how Venus + Serena's resurgence was the most overlooked sports story this year. It's well written...and I couldn't agree more with the sentiment.

In fact, I think the resurgence of tennis as an exciting, competitive, and engaging sport with great personalities was overlooked this year in mainstream sports media. And it's only just beginning...

(image via Getty)

Is your fave tennis baller really blogging and do you care?

Ryan Corazza over at ESPN the Magazine's blog wonders aloud how many so-called athlete blogs are true blue. Essentially, are the ballers really writing the personal musings themselves and, if not, should we care?

Corazza mentions Rafael Nadal's blog in the article and links to a post written during his championship run at Wimbledon. In it Rafa says,

First of all I would like to apologize for not sending this blog post last night as usual. I always do it after dinner while I'm at the massage table and my physio works on me. I dictate it and my PR manager writes it. This is how I have been doing it every day.

Fine to me - he's being completely honest about Benito Perez-Barbadillo, his flack, writing the words he dictates. Corazza argues the same saying,

Pro athletes are busy people, and largely, they aren't wordsworths...So having your sentiments typed up by a close confidant isn't a huge concern to the people who host the sites. It's still them … mostly.

But the article got me wondering - how many tennis ballers who say they're writing blogs for different media outlets are actually penning them or, at the very least, dictating them to someone? Should we care??

Hell yeah we should care. I want to know the thoughts are authentic and genuine - not some carefully worded PR piece. As a fan it's fun to get a glimpse into the minds of your fave baller and understand some of their thinking - good or bad.

One baller I'm sure is writing her own thoughts is Serena Williams. Have you ever read her musings? Seriously, you couldn't make that screwy stuff up if you tried - even if you were paid to.

(image via rafaelnadal.com)

SIGHTING: Venus + Serena hit up ESPN the Magazine's 10th Anniversary party

Venus + Serena Williams, who continue to boycott Indian Wells since being involved in a racially-charged incident in 2001, spent their off-time attending ESPN the Magazine's 10th Anniversary party held at Area in LA.


Though some (hilariously) think V is doing her best Whitney Houston these days, both she and ReRe look great dolled up in their jewel-toned dresses - a shift style for V and a sexy halter for ReRe.

Earlier this year, the sisters alos took part in a photoshoot for the 10th Anniversary of the mag.

Let's hope their appearance at the party means I was wrong and the magazine will increase coverage of tennis - that would give them a clear edge over Sports Illustrated's lackluster efforts.

(image via mediaoutrage.com)

Fashion coverage seemingly more vital to ESPN The Magazine than tennis coverage

WTF: So did you hear the rumor floating around the blogosphere that ESPN The Magazine is ratcheting up its fashion coverage? Yay!

But, do you think this means an increase in tennis coverage, the most fashion-conscious sport on the planet? Probably not - because in the words of Steven Binder, VP of magazine sales at the sports mag, "People want to know what athletes are wearing to and from the ballpark."

Right - it's called a uniform, duh.

(image via jossip)