How do you explain Dennis Rodman's dyed hair, tattoos, and pierced body parts? Why are there so many athletes stripping for men's underwear ads? Besides sport, what do Pat Riley, Alex Rodriguez, and Ian Thorpe have in common? And why has David Beckham been compared to Louis XIV?

In this fascinating exploration of past and present celebrity athletes, David Coad shows how gender roles for men are undergoing a revolutionary change. Once famous for their lack of style off the field, professional players are now fashion-conscious trendsetters. Looking at certain stellar sports figures of the past, such as Joe Namath and Jim Palmer, who were at the vanguard of reinterpreting gender roles, Coad goes on to examine their primped out and "pimped out" contemporary successors — those athletic peacocks in their furs, silks, and diamonds who embody metrosexuality, widen its focus, and demonstrate the range of experiences open to today's male.

At last someone rescues the metrosexual from the mendacious marketers and gives him what he craved all along but hardly ever got: serious attention. — Mark Simpson, author of Male Impersonators: Men Performing Masculinity

The Metrosexual: Gender, Sexuality, and Sport In this exploration of past and present celebrity athletes, David Coad shows how gender roles for men are undergoing a revolutionary change. Once famous for their lack of style off the field, professional players are now fashion-conscious trendsetters. Looking at certain stellar sports figures of the past, such as Joe Namath and Jim Palmer, who were at the vanguard of reinterpreting gender roles, Coad goes on to examine their primped out and "pimped out" contemporary successors - those athletic peacocks in their furs, silks, and diamonds who embody metrosexuality, widen its focus, and demonstrate the range of experiences open to today's male. USA UK

Official David Beckham Calendar 2009 David Beckham is the most famous man in Britain. Beckham is back to being one of the best footballers in the world. He is also a key player in the England team and in LA Galaxy. This 2009 calendar will be a hit with all Beckham and football fans. USA UK

Gods of Sport: Pedro Virgil Pedro Virgil's styled portraits of athlete's bodies celebrate testosterone-laden masculinity. With elegant poses and vivid coloring Virgil manages to create tension as well as including a tongue-in-cheek pathos that will bring a smile to your face. Muscular machos that will set your fantasies ablaze and subtle gay scenes mix together and unquestionably leave a lasting impression. The images are beautiful — the photographer really has transformed these football gods into sex gods! Proceeds from Naked for a Cause merchandise go to The McGrath Foundation to help fund breast care nurses. USA UK

Hiding in Hip Hop Everyone wants to know the truth about their favorite celebrities' heart's desire. Within the masculine culture of Hip Hop and Hollywood, there is a well-known gay subculture that industry insiders are keenly aware of but choose to hide. Terrance Dean worked his way up for more than ten years in the entertainment industry from intern to executive, and has lived the life of glitz and bling along with Hollywood and Hip Hop's most glamorous. With a family full of secrets and working in an industry founded on maleness — where one's job, friendships, and reputation all depend on remaining on the down low and in hiding — Dean writes a revealing account of the journey of coming out from hiding. Full of startling anecdotes and incredible true stories, Hiding in Hip Hop is not a traditional tell-all. A personal and poignant memoir, it is also one of the most provocative and honest looks at stardom and sexuality. USA UK

Souled Out? That’s the question Shaun Powell poses, and answers, with regard to the nature of African Americans in sports. Neither blacks nor whites — athletes, coaches, administrators, owners, media, parents, and fans — are without blame for race still being an issue in the athletic arena. Souled Out? How Blacks are Winning and Losing in Sports

A video showing soccer stars speaking out against homophobia will be released in Britain this year as part of an unprecedented drive by the sport's governing bodies to tackle a sharp rise in abuse and discrimination. Tackling Homphobia in Soccer

Portraying the nude black male can be especially fraught with difficulties. How does the photographer capture images free from the denigrating prejudices and stereotypes so often encountered in photographs of nude black males? The Nude Black Male

Photographer Pedro Virgil takes you on an intimate journey behind-the-scenes giving you candid glimpses of sportsmen as they bare their muscular physiques chiseled by combat on the field, and relax, often nude in front of the camera in a highly-charged interpretation of the naked spirit of masculinity. Gods of Sport

Finally, the way to real, lasting weight loss for real guys is here – The Belly Off! Diet & Fitness Plan! The secret to this groundbreaking program isn’t complicated formulas, cardboard food, or weird portions. Instead, it’s the simple true-life techniques of real guys who lost loads of weight and kept it off. The Belly Off! Diet