Nude pics that would really shock fans

Barbara Barker

1:40 PM EDT, May 30, 2008

Just wondering ...

Why is it such big news when a beautiful athlete with an incredible body decides to pose naked for Playboy? Wouldn't it be bigger news if a magazine ran pictures of a sports figure with a less conventionally beautiful physique?

Here are five nude pictorial spreads that would really shock the senses:

1. Tommy Lasorda

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2. Linemen of NFL

3. The PGA Senior Tour

4. The Major League umpires

5. Sportswriters ...

For the record, Ashley Harkleroad is far from the first athlete to pose naked, or nearly naked. Here's some other notable nudes:

1. Football legend Jim Brown (1974 Playgirl)

2. Skater Katarina Witt (1998 Playboy)

3. Volleyball player Gabrielle Reece (2001 Playboy)

4. Swimmer Amanda Beard (2007 Playboy) ...

Do you get the feeling that Bulls GM John Paxon didn't have a Plan B when Mike D'Antoni signed with the Knicks? Doug Collins is the weirdest NBA coaching hire since Isiah Thomas named Lenny Wilkens to take over the Knicks after negotiations with Mike Fratello broke down. And we all know how that one worked out ...

I'd bet my BlackBerry that Bill Parcells does not TiVo "Dancing With The Stars." I'd also bet my BlackBerry, IPod and three reporter's notebooks that many of Jason Taylor's teammates on the Miami Dolphins do.

This is not just about a generation gap. This is about retirement planning, about an athlete trying to increase his profile outside of sports. For the record, Taylor is far from the first athlete to try to break into Hollywood during his playing career. Here are my five favorite film and TV appearances by a then-active athlete:

1. Ray Allen -- Played high school phenom Jesus Shuttlesworth in Spike Lee's 1998 film "He got Game."

2. Brett Favre -- Played Brett Favre in 1998 film "There's Something about Mary."

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -- Plays co-pilot Roger Murdock in 1980 the movie "Airplane!"

4. Don Drysdale -- Taught Greg Brady how to pitch in a 1970 Brady Bunch episode.

5. Kevin McHale -- Twice appeared on "Cheers" during his playing career with the better episode being the one when he helps celebrate Norm's 40th birthday ...

Of course, some of the best acting by athletes has come after their retirements. Here are three notable ones:

1. Alex Karras -- Played the dim-witted thug Mongo in" Blazing Saddles." Also starred in the television show "Webster."

2. Keith Hernandez -- Played himself in legendary 1992 "Seinfeld" episode.

3. Merlin Olson -- Starred in "Little House on the Prairie" from 1977-81 ...

Question of the day: Is there anyone out there not from the rustbelt who is pulling for a Lakers-Detroit final?