And now The Sporting News is entering the fray.
"We're tired of always being left out of the conversation when it comes to sports magazines," said Sporting News managing editor Robert Chase. "But those days are about to be over."
Coming as early as its next issue, depending on how fast they can get photos, The Sporting News will publish its first "Athletes and Their Genitals" issue featuring nothing but close-up photos of athlete genitalia.
"The title of the issue isn't set in stone," says Chase. "We're worried 'Genitals' may sound too clinical for what we want to show. This isn't an anatomy book. It's just up-skirt shots and dong photos. We're also considering 'Pictures of Athlete Junk' and 'Athlete Dick and Beaver Shots.'"
While the editors decide the title of the issue, staff has been dispatched to secure the photos that will fill the issue.
"Outside of Steelers kicker Jeff Reed, some NBA players __and that ex-Olympic swimmer who was in Playboy, the one who looks like a lizard, we're not having too much success getting athletes to volunteer photos of their junk," says Sporting News photo editor Jeff Tackett.
That has left the task to low-level staff writers and interns.
"I've been going into locker rooms and just snapping quick pictures when guys walk out of the shower," said intern Beth Riley. "So far no one has noticed. In the Los Angeles Sparks locker room I hid a camera in the toilet."
Magazine management believes the "Athletes and Their Genitals" issue — or whatever it is ultimately called — will really put the publication on the map.
"Wait until fans get to see a 2.5 megapixel image of what appears to be CC Sabathia's scrotum, shot with a cell phone camera that was stuck under his towel as he gave an interview," says Chase. "Sports fans will realize that it's only The Sporting News that can give them this kind of access."
