Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2012: Breaking Down CP3 and the Male Athletes

Nobody buys the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue for the dudes.

I mean, come on. Let's be honest. People buy it for the articles.

The dudes are in there, though, and the truth is, you can't help but notice them. It would be one thing if they were random male models, but these are dudes we know and love because of their heroics in their respective sports. They're professionals.

This year, the 2012 Swimsuit Issue features three heavy-hitters: Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and 10-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal. All three of them have the honor of posing next to Bar Rafaeli, who graced the cover of the Swimsuit Issue in 2009.

Lucky them.

But who amongst these three is the best? Who among them has a future in modeling?

I see no choice but to break it down.

Chris Paul

I have to say, out of all the guys currently playing in the NBA, Chris Paul is one of the last guys I would have expected to see in the Swimsuit Issue any time soon.

I therefore have to say that I'm rather surprised at how well he acquitted himself next to Rafaeli. His gallery is not an embarrassment. On the contrary, he should be proud of it.

You can tell that CP3 is new to this whole modeling thing, but he doesn't look truly out of place in any of his images. To boot, there are a couple pictures in which he's showing off some swagger that I didn't think he had.

So yeah, well done, CP3.

One thing, though: It's obvious that somebody at SI's headquarters had to airbrush CP3 quite a bit. That's to be expected, but he looks like a wax sculpture in some of the pics, whereas Rafaeli consistently looks like a goddess. 

Paul can hold his head up high knowing that it's not a bad thing at all to look inferior next to the great Bar Rafaeli.

Michael Phelps

For a guy who spends half his life walking around in a Speedo, you'd think Michael Phelps would take to modeling like a duck to water.

Not exactly.

Of the three male athletes SI rounded up for the Swimsuit Issue, Phelps is the one who looks the most out of place. There are some true duds in his gallery.

The one that stands out is the picture in which Phelps and Rafaeli do a kind of dual-crucifix pose. It's more than a little creepy.

Honestly, halfway through his gallery, one finds it easy to just focus on Rafaeli, and even she seems to be trying too hard.

Phelps has nothing to apologize for, though. He moves through water better than any human in the history of the planet. Looking a little awkward on camera is no big deal by comparison.

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is pretty good at this whole modeling thing. Like, too good.

Seriously, Nadal plays the part as well as he could have possibly played it. Take a look through his gallery, and you'll forget that Nadal is the second-best tennis player in the world. He looks like a male model prodigy.

The photographers must have realized that Nadal was too good when they were shooting him, as they even decided to have Rafaeli go a little more revealing.

Even in those pictures, it's still hard to ignore Nadal.

Hats off, Rafa. Nice to know you have a second career to turn to in case Novak Djokovic continues to dominate you.