ESPN The Magazine Features Semi-Nude Poker ProsJennifer Harman, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, and Scotty Nguyen Featuredby Stephen A. Murphy | Published: Oct 08, 2009 | |
 
|
|---|
“Yikes,” said Jennifer Harman when she was reminded that ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue hits newsstands today.
Harman, who has made a very successful living concealing her emotions at the poker table, revealed quite a bit of herself when she and three other poker pros participated in a special edition of the popular sports magazine. (See the photo at the bottom of this article.)
Along with Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, and Scotty Nguyen, Harman shed her clothes to participate in ESPN the Magazine’s brand-new Body Issue.
“We’ve always been committed to showing fans a different side of the sports and athletes they love,” said Gary Belsky, editor-in-chief of ESPN The Magazine. “This issue, from the amazing photos to the innovative journalism, is just our latest effort to do that. We’re very happy with the results.”
Nearly 80 athletes participated in various photo shoots that took competitors from virtually every corner of the sports world — from all the mainstream sports to bull riding to NASCAR to sumo wrestling to surfing to, yes, even poker.
The competitors were asked to remove either most or all of their clothing to pose for some arguably risqué photos. However, the Disney-owned magazine was careful to make sure there wasn’t too much revealed in any picture, thanks to some skillful camera angles and clever props.
Selecting representatives for the poker community was an easy task for ESPN.
“We were looking for big names and you can’t really get bigger names than those,” Belsky told Card Player.
Harman admits she was a little nervous when first approached with the concept.
“I got a phone call from one of my friends at ESPN,” said Harman. “He said that it was going to be a good shot and that it would be done with a lot of class.”
So, Harman accepted. As did Kid Poker, the Poker Brat, and the Prince of Poker.
Negreanu admitted that he declined twice before finally agreeing to do the photo shoot. But once he found out who was — and who wasn’t — participating in the shoot, he got on board.
“It’s not like they were going to have Patrik Antonius or Gus (Hansen) there,” said Negreaun. “I said, ‘I can fit in with this group.’”
The significance of having a co-ed photo shoot for the magazine was not lost on ESPN’s editors.
“This was the only co-ed photo shoot we did for the magazine, so that’s huge,” said Sarah Turcotte, the general editor for ESPN who worked on that particular photo shoot. “To go topless in front of your competitors, that’s tough…But the other players immensely respected Jennifer going into it, having already competed with her in high-stakes poker games.”
The entire photo shoot took about two hours, according to Turcotte.
“The atmosphere was pretty laid back, pretty easy going, a lot of laughing going on,” said Harman. “I felt comfortable. I’ve known these guys forever.”
The high-stakes cash games player says that poker’s inclusion in a magazine issue like this shows just how far the game has come over the years.
While Harman was clearly a little anxious about the photos, she says that she didn’t think much about being the only woman to participate in a co-ed shot for the magazine.
“I didn’t really give it much though because poker is a co-ed sport. It’s not gender-oriented,” said Harman. “Women and men can play poker with the same abilities. I’m not trying to be the best woman poker player in the world; I’m trying to beat the men and the women.”
As for Negreanu, he said the actual experience wasn’t bad at all.
“I worked out (beforehand). I had a nice tan going,” said Negreanu. “I sucked my belly in, and I was good to go.”
The Body Issue of ESPN The Magazine hits newsstands today.
The Poker Photo
21 Comments
SevenKidsPoppy
1 month ago
Dang -- I think I entered an alternate universe.
EthanVK
1 month ago
I could have gone the my whole life without seeing Helmuths nips.
seamarfan269
1 month ago
Are those "man-boobs"? Nuff Said
hitking1
1 month ago
Hellmuth has bigger boobs than Jen! God i love her
Prieure
1 month ago
I love that Hellmuth still has his hat on, put the moobs away Phil!
michawat
1 month ago
LOL for them still wearing the logos....LMAO
x19
1 month ago
Good God, have these people no shame?. From Hellmuth i would expect this, man boobs and all. He claims to work out, LOL. The only "workin out" he does is flapping his lips.
paulc
1 month ago
am i the only one that find the pokerstars patch on negreanu hilarious?
DiamondDaverlz
1 month ago
Uuuh, what are you staring at there Daniel??
blochness monster
1 month ago
Helmuth has Mickelsons, now that s tasteful. LOL
PokerJoeK
1 month ago
Daniel is the only staring???
PokerJoeK
1 month ago
You know what Scotty is thinking; YEA BABY!!!
KCThePlayR
1 month ago
Outstanding man boobs there Phil. Can we see Jens rake? I have to know if her nips are bigger than Phils!! LMAO How stupid does Phil feel about this photo? What a fat fool he is!
SanDiegoPoker
1 month ago
Nguyen...no big surprise...Daniel...funny/fair reasoning and he is pretty much covered...Jen...same...Phil...well take it easy on him, the man is big. 6'4 or 6'5? The logos could have been more strategically placed...
slowHELL
1 month ago
LOL, I just changed my mind.... Poker is NOT a sport... LOL
x19
1 month ago
Hey SanDiegoPoker...what does phil being 6-4 or 6-5 have to do with anything?...he's tall, so what?...that has nothing to do with anything, he's still a soft, fat, guy with moobs and no muscle. And he opens himself up to this observation since he countless times has claimed to work out, and it is quite obvious that his "workouts" do not include weights. i just cant imagine how embarrassed his family must feel....the man clearly feels no shame.
f1v3h34d
1 month ago
HAHAHA .....Brilliant! :)
P.S
Jen is hot as!!!! Yummmyyyyy!
boomgone
1 month ago
OH!!! Jen is the blond?! I thought that the girl in the hat was Jen. My mistake.....lololololol
keeentd
1 month ago
OK logging off this site forever. Disgutin
PokerJoeK
1 month ago
Phil wanted them to show his boobs, he wanted people talking about him, good or bad, doesn't matter to him!
Richenough
26 days ago
why you guys focusing on hellmuth so much? you must have some hidden attraction to him... only person you should care about is Jennifer Harman and her duck lips. (good for that special btwn the leg moments) LOL!!