As news leaked yesterday that ESPN had produced a music issue of the network’s magazine that will hit stands on Friday, the spectrum of reaction ran from “Oh God why?” to “Wait, music, huh?” And while I would totally be on board with ESPN the Magazine publishing an issue dedicated to professional athletes who have acted like musicians and vice versa, this is instead just an exercise in athletes dressing up to look like popular musicians. I know, I don’t really understand it either.

Included in the issue, which features LeBron James on the cover with Dr. Dre, is an interview with Jimmy Iovine, the man behind the Beats by Dre headphones. He claims that LeBron James is a better athlete now than he was four years ago because of those headphones. Seriously. Additionally, there’s also a feature on Seattle’s new superstar emcee, Macklemore, who our own Josh Kurp wrote about yesterday.

But the real fun is had with the athletes, and it starts with Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte recreating Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album cover.

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Links

Challenge Accepted: The Best Of Your Excited Suh Photoshops - Some of these are truly inspired, especially Suh’s size-appropriate appearance on The Price Is Right. [Kissing Suzy Kolber]

Funny, Sexy and Awesome Cosplay Of The Week - General Beatrix wins this for the rest of time. I’d marry that girl if I thought she actually knew who that is. [Gamma Squad]

The Best Burger King Commercial Ever - You know what? Even I want to eat Burger King after watching this. [Warming Glow]

Holzerman Hungers - I wouldn’t eat anything on here (except the bean curd, pending), and he probably wouldn’t touch quinoa with a ten foot meat pole, but Tom Holzerman is a friend of the site and he wants you to check out his new food blog so we’re helping him out. [Holzerman Hungers]

GWAR Reviews War Horse - I don’t seem like the kind of guy who’d be into GWAR, I know, but sh*t, I’ll watch them review anything. And fight Tracy Smothers. [Film Drunk]

Run DMC’s ‘Christmas In Hollis’ Done In Emoticons - God bless you, internet. [Smoking Section]

Hungry African Bull Frog Not Amused By Smartphone Video Game, Enacts Vengeance - Sometimes I don’t have a blurb to write, and it’s because of titles like this. The guy trying to trick a damn frog deserved to lose a finger. [UPROXX]

MMA Video Tribute: The 25 Most Brutal Finishes Of 2011 - The koppo kick is probably my favorite thing in the world. Also, watching Anderson Silva nonchalantly kick guys in the chin never gets old. [Cage Potato]

Drew Brees, The Passing Record He’s About To Break, And What A Monster Season Looks Like - One day I’m going to sit Jon down and make him teach me how to make graphs. Then I will make so many graphs, you guys! [SB Nation]

WWE Superstars With Tiny Heads - I don’t know why this exists, but Jesus mother Mary of Joseph is John Cena’s neck terrifying in context. [Tauntr]

Memo to Mr. Greenberg: Your wife isn't the only person who thinks you're an idiot:

That was difficult to watch. Why do all white guys who grew up in the the suburbs feel the need to bust out the one rap song they've memorized with little or no prompting? This is enough to make me stop listening to the radio, which is a real shame because I love my radio.  I like it loud. I'm the man with the box that can rock the crowd. Walking down the street, to my hardcore beat, while my JVC vibrates the concrete . . . -KD 

(Thanks to Awful Announcing for the lame defness.)