Joffrey Lupul is NHL’s nude rep in ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue (Photos)
ESPN's 2013 Body Issue is on newsstands this week, and joining the list of athletes in various nude poses is Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs, following the likes of Zdeno Chara's nightmare fuel, Ryan Kesler's holding up of a rock and Brad Richards' naked slap shot from last year.
We're still surprised that Dustin Byfuglien was somehow forgotten, yet again.
So why did Lupul decide to ditch the hockey gear and get naked, and how does he break in a pair of new jeans?
Why did you decide to pose?
JL: Being a hockey player, I want to experience as many things as possible, and posing naked in a magazine is certainly not something I ever thought I'd do. I think professional athletes have natural abilities and there are things our bodies can do that other people's can't. But we also put in a lot of work -- on and off the ice -- and that's what the issue is about: Seeing how people look without their gear on....
What about your body would surprise us?
JL: Hockey players are known to have big asses; it's tough to find pants that fit. I don't need custom-made pants, though there are certain brands that fit better. And I have to do a couple of deep squats in my jeans before I wear them out or they won't look quite right.
Here's that photo minus all the photography effects.
Brad Marchand should do next year's Body Issue. He loves having his shirt off, and at the right angle, his nose would cover everything.
But the inclusion of 77-year old golfer Gary Player in the 2013 issues makes us wonder if it isn't time for a retired, old school NHLer to join the ranks next year? A dual shot with Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull celebrating the Chicago Blackhawks recent Stanley Cup conquest? Bernie Parent and Bobby Clarke taking us back to the glorious days of the 1970s?
OK, maybe not.
Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy
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