ESPN's 'Body Issue' Of Naked Athletes (PHOTOS): Serena Williams, Dwight Howard, Adrian Peterson, More Pose Nude (PICTURES)

ESPN Magazine is trying to give the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue a run for its money by featuring naked and barely-clothed athletes on the cover and inside the pages of the upcoming "Body Issue," on newsstands this Friday October 9.

There are six covers six covers, five of which have hit the web and can be seen below, including amputee athlete Sarah Reinertsen.

Which body conscious athlete make you want to buy an issue?

Serena Williams

Tennis player

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Comments

[Bitsko]

My wife and sister, who are both black and huge tennis fans, got a kick out of this issue since they both think Serena should spend less time in the modeling studio and more time out on the court.

[Sobeton]

jeez makes me want to get my butt back in the gym..

[Moliere]

got a confession to make: yes, i think serena is attractive. like that thick body! i'm a sucker for strong well turned legs, what can i say. and she knows it, too, that's why she;s laughing

[v eyepete]

The ancient Greek athletes always did their games naked. And who, if not these well worked out individuals, should share their gift with us and to show us how wonderful God's work can be when you take care of it well. Youth is beauty. Thanks for sharing.

[londongal]

Love Serena, but what's the point of going naked on a magazine cover? Oh, I guess it's all about narcisism, yeah, that's it!

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

How about because the magazine asked her to?

Were you as outraged at Maria Sharipova and Anna Kournikova having their faces and bodies plastered all over the place? Perhaps you can toss the narcissus flag their way as well!

[IDIKO]

Serena, you' re tempting me an ALPHA MALE. You look superb.

[Mercedes1981]

Serena - girl you killed it.

[dml48221]

I took Serenas photo to my personal trainer and just pointed. Serena looks absolutely stunning. I am so glad a mainstream magazine featured a dark chocolate brown, sistah who isn't a size 4 and doesn't typify what society tells us is supposed to be beautiful. Thanks ESPN, tastefully done!

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

Exactly! She's beautiful!

[LatteLibertine]

I adore Serena too :)

[blakfist]

Quick Question- Why are the bodies of the Black Athletes posing in away that Hides or cover up their physical attributes, but the White Athletes are posing wide open??????­?????????? HMMMMMMMMMM

[niko73]

Just happens to be these photos. I have the mag and the non-cover shots of Peterson and Howard are open. In fact, Howard is standing with his arms and legs spread.

[gray375]

oh? OH! OH MY!

[blakfist]

Thx Niko I appreciate the update...I just really want to Serena anyway:):):)

[ItHasToBeSaid]

Ha!! Wouldn't YOU try harder if you were in a magazine spread pictured next to a sistah like Serena??

It's all about perspective, blak . . . aaaaaall about perspective.

[blakfist]

@ ItHasToBeSaid- I feel you:) its trip though when I just saw he spread of covers thats what jumped out.....We wants to see SERENA:)

[Goodsense not Nonsense]

Also note that Bevilacqua and Carano, the other two women, are not really nude --- just topless and artlessly covered.

[jpcline004]

(in Cleveland voice) I want to make a caramel colored baby with Serena Williams

[sumanne]

Beautiful people killed by serial photoshoppers!
Call CSI - I bet Grissom can find the real people under all the airbrush and extra pixels..
so not sexy..like dolls

[BeachBubbaTex]

I'm off to join my local Tae Kwon Do!!
She can split my rails any day (but don't tell Mrs. BBT)

[oldcliche]

That is Muay Thai kickboxing, which I would highly recommend over Tae Kwon Do. Muay Thau is a much more realistic fighting style.

[Nnakalitheza]

I am (pleasantly?) surprised to see how many men find Serena attractive. Men of all races too..interesting considering her body type, skin tone, facial features don't fit into the current standards of beauty....

http://progressivecorner.wordpress.com/

[blakfist]

That's BullShhh- Her looks fit into mine allday any day

[MrOlympia]

Whose standard of beauty are you referring to?

Her body type, skin tone and facial features fit into MY current standards of beauty and tons of brothers I know...and always have.

[MarkInIrvine]

Serena is a goddess in my (white) book !!!

[MarkInIrvine]

Serena is beautiful by ANY standard, fellas - and all woman - like Diana of the hunt ... Athena ... a goddess I say, a goddess!!

[tploomis]

This shows you don't know what men like.

[shanghaislim]

***Airbrush***