Tennis Star Maria Sharapova Guest Edits and Graces the Cover of ESPN The Magazine
June 22, 2009
NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—After her impressive return to competition at the French Open, Maria Sharapova took on another challenge – editing ESPN The Magazine’s third-annual Revenge of the Jocks issue. In the current issue of The Mag, on newsstands today, Sharapova details how she would fix women’s tennis, and shows readers what she did while rehabbing her shoulder for eight months. In addition, she dispenses life advice to fellow jocks, and gives a NFL-caliber makeover to rookie QB Matthew Stafford. Check out video of Sharapova and Stafford here.
Sharapova on changing women’s tennis:
“I could tell (Matthew Stafford) felt a little weird about being fussed over, for good reason: when he took off his jeans, I noticed his boxers. The new face of a franchise, maybe a league, in boxers?! ‘C’mon, Matthew,’ I said. ‘Brady wouldn’t be caught dead in those.’”
The jocks continue to take over the issue in “I’m Not the Guy I Used To Be…” when NASCAR’s elite discuss Tony Stewart’s transition form ultimate hothead to “Mr. Nice-Guy.”
ME, MYSELF AND 9. …Or 12, or 17, or 34. The number doesn’t really matter. What counts is that it’s on a player’s jersey.
JUST TELL ME…HOW DO I GET BACK TO THE SUPER BOWL? Larry Fitzgerald desperately wants another trip to the big game. With advice from pros such as Hines Ward, he might just get there. Fitzgerald begins his quest to Super Bowl XLIV.
BACKUP PLAN. What happens if the pro career doesn’t work out? Imagine a 6’6” defensive end as a counselor for Parks and Rec or a star soccer player flipping pizzas instead of goals. The Magazine made it happen.
BESIDES THE POINT. Chair-balancing and bubble-blowing don’t win titles. But a useless talent can be key to surviving the grind.
MY PERFECT DAY. Hunter Pence of the Houston Astros documents his life for two weeks and shares everything with The Magazine including why chess is better than cards.
YOU’VE GOT MY VOTE. A Hall of Fame without Richard Dent? An outrage, says Dwight Freeney. And he’s not the only current star demanding another look for a longtime idol.
THIS JUST IN. Brian Grant has been on a rollercoaster ride since retiring from basketball. He writes about life after the pros and his recent Parkinson’s diagnosis.
*ESPN THE MAGAZINE COVERS AVAILABLE AT ESPNMEDIAZONE.COM *
Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.