ESPN Body Issue 2014: Prince Fielder's Cover Generates Internet Memes, Sparks Conversation About Body Image (TWEETS)

Prince Fielder of Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers landed a spread in ESPN magazine’s The Body Issue 2014 and has stirred up controversy.

The Body Issue is ESPN’s way of celebrating all body types for mean and woman. Some women have leaner figures while others have more muscular tone and the same goes for men. Fielder doesn’t have rock-hard abs, yet confidently poses with his round stomach on the cover.

However, instead of celebrating Fielder’s cover, some fans took creative liberties with the cover, photoshopping Fielder’s image and comparing him to “Star Wars” character Jabba The Hutt, and shared it on Twitter.

As for what Fielder had to say about his body, check out some of the snippets from infielder below.

Fielder on his physique:

You don't have to look like an Under Armour mannequin to be an athlete. A lot of people probably think I'm not athletic or don't even try to work out or whatever, but I do. Just because you're big doesn't mean you can't be an athlete. And just because you work out doesn't mean you're going to have a 12-pack. I work out to make sure I can do my job to the best of my ability. Other than that, I'm not going up there trying to be a fitness model.

Fielder on his silly tattoos:

The gummy bears tattoo was my idea. It's my son's favorite candy. The sketch was my other son's idea. It's a self-portrait of himself. I just showed the artist his sketch and had him tattoo it on my forearm. It looks like a stick person with big hair. It's pretty funny.

Fielder on why people shouldn’t be quick to dismiss athletes who don’t fit the mold:

“All I wanted was a chance. People didn't think I'd be able to play every day because of my size or be capable of having a long career. They were just dismissing me. At first I used it as motivation, but then I realized keeping all that anger in for no reason just got old. I'm too old for that.”