Last February I wrote that I thought SPORTS ILLUSTRATED would eventually push its swimsuit models into posing nude in order to keep publishing’s largest selling annual mag copy, the vaunted SI Swimsuit Issue, on top of the circulation heap.
Perhaps someone at ESPN THE MAGAZINE was listening.
Yesterday I posted a graphic comparing ad revenue between SI and ESPN The Magazine. While SI more than doubled ESPN’s ad take, I wondered if the swimsuit issue was subtracted, would SI still be ahead of ESPN’s print offering?
(One of SbB’s suggestions for ESPN The Mag “Nude” Issue - Leryn Franco)
Apparently ESPN also took notice of that recently as I’ve since learned from two Bristol-based sources that in October ESPN The Magazine will roll out a “nude issue”, with the edition featuring SI Swimsuit Issue favorite Danica Patrick.
(Will Danica’s tramp stamp survive the ESPN shoot, unlike at SI?)
The issue will feature naked athletes, not swimsuit models, in non-explicit poses, and if received well will become an annually recurring feature.
(Danica’s only previous topless shoot - AWKWARD)
If you think something like that could turn off advertisers or readers, you would be wrong. Just look at is the wild success of SI’s swimsuit franchise, which features see-through swimsuits, thongs, implied nudity and bodypainted nude models. When you’re a venerable brand like SI or ESPN, you can break all the rules when it comes to what blue chip advertisers will associate with.
(Another suggestion from SbB for ESPN The Mag’s Nudes: Natalie Gulbis)
The move by ESPN clearly is designed to one-up its competitor and create buzz that will lead to more mag sales and ad revenue. Obviously ESPN isn’t trying to out-sex SI, that’s pretty much impossible. But if the initial edition has the right models and presentation, it will easily outsell all other ESPN The Mag issues every year and generate millions in newsstand sales and ad revenue.
(Will ESPN The Mag’s Nude Issue top this? Apples and Oranges implants)
I hope to have more details forthcoming on who some of the other models will be, and what the nature of the photography will entail. Needless to say, I’m intrigued and looking forward to seeing what ESPN comes up with.
(Don’t even THINK about it, Skipper)
And yes, your mind can run a little wild on the concept. (MY EYES!!! *shakes fist*)
1:13 am on August 27th, 2009
I chose Leryn Franco but I totally would be good with your choice of Natalie Gulbis.
Alicia Sacramone also. Hey, maybe ESPN could bring back Celebrity Foxy Boxing, Alicia has a nasty left hook.
Who would have thought Playboy would be “tame” compared to a Sports Magazine, at the pace their going it could happen.
By the way, The WWE’s Bella Twins would be awesome for that issue also and THEY”RE TWINS!
http://www,wrestlingbeltworld.com
1:28 am on August 27th, 2009
My write-in candidates (remember, these need to be well-known athletes):
Best of the rest: Anna Rawson. Alicia Sacramone. Candace Parker.
Field: Anna Kournikova (tired). Maria Sharapova (tired). Sue Bird. Jennie Finch. Serena Willams.
Legends division: Katerina Witt.
And save the Simona Halep and/or EA jokes. HAR-HAR.
11:51 am on August 27th, 2009
Got your facts wrong. Should have done your research. They’re not doing a Nude Issue. And Danica has no knowledge of this.
12:19 pm on August 27th, 2009
Actually, you’re wrong. But thanks for playing The Feud.
12:46 pm on August 27th, 2009
is that the broad thats going after Big Bens moneys posing with John Daly??
1:14 pm on August 27th, 2009
Hey as long as it’s athletes and not models I think ESPN will have one upped SI. Probably wont make the same killing in sales though but they’ll have the ‘high’ ground. A “we are a sports mag not a fashion mag” sort of thing.
1:40 pm on August 27th, 2009
Old news. USA today had it in June.
1:44 pm on August 27th, 2009
Phillyguy,
Plz direct me to the part about Danica Patrick. Thx.
2:04 pm on August 27th, 2009
I have NO IDEA how I forgot about Gina Carano in the poll.
In response to my post, 790 The Ticket in Miami did a poll and Carano won:
http://www.790theticket.com/polls/popup/results.aspx?LockOutIntervalTime=NXekt0hlMNExWDz/phCgsw==&QID=13639&CID=121668
Time to fire the staff!
3:05 pm on August 27th, 2009
I vote Simona Halep to pose.
3:24 pm on August 27th, 2009
Yea, Halep had the worst timing since I pulled my money out of the stock market March 8.
5:23 pm on August 27th, 2009
HOLey smokes. A nude DAnicle woud rock my world DANg MAyeb they coud throw in SARah FIscher to. A bouble team would be grate if you know waht it meen hahahahahahaha HElls BElles add MILkers DUno to. MAke it a three way. HOT stuff.
ONLy in teh IRl baby, only in teh IRl
8:53 pm on August 27th, 2009
Maria SHarapova!
11:50 pm on August 27th, 2009
Paula Creamer?
6:15 am on August 28th, 2009
Interesting news on Danica considering she said this in her 2008 SI Swimsuit interview with Dan Patrick:
DAN: How are you with nudity?
DANICA: I don’t think I should be [photographed] nude … ever. You have to draw the line somewhere. I don’t see myself ever wearing less clothing than a swimsuit.
Of the 44 photos she took in that 2008 shoot, 6 of them were topless, plus one in the On Location section and another self-portrait where she’s covered in bed sheets and if you noticed the 2009 shoots, none of the 34 photos she took were topless, coincidence? I don’t think so.
6:39 pm on August 28th, 2009
Damon, great work on that.
But I wouldn’t read too much into it.
My thought on Danica is that if he’s provided an enormous, high-profile opportunity that is presented tastefully, she’s going to do it.
I can’t imagine she’d turn down the opportunity to appear in the biggest issue in the history of ESPN The Magazine.
12:33 am on August 29th, 2009
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1:27 am on August 29th, 2009
Hard to beat that shot of Bar droppin’ her bottoms…….
8:11 am on August 29th, 2009
Too bad it’s not Milka Duno instead of Patrick…*sigh*
1:14 am on August 30th, 2009
I would love to see either ESPN or Playboy do a shoot with Ariane the round card girl from UFC . She is friggin hot !!
Gina Carano looks like a dude next to her.
I know technically she is not an athlete — Who Cares ???
9:20 am on August 30th, 2009
Dan Pat is not hot. Show the hotties not the notties
10:41 pm on September 1st, 2009
Another write in vote for Paula Creamer.