On the Rag, Vol. 802

 

The "admirable" Ramon; Jake Shears on "Cabaret," Tammy Faye and Elton; a look back at three decades of HIV coverage; and much more in this week's magazine roundup BELOW.

Rafael Nadal Is a 'Tommy' Boy

The Spanish great has seen his tennis career slow down in recent years due to injuries, but his body seems to be in fine form for a second act as a Tommy Hilfiger underwear model -- much more so than his 2011 Armani campaign.

Bar Rafael

You can't swing a Yamaha YFG-20 without hitting a tennis player here in Manhattan this week, as we hurricane our way into the final Grand Slam event of the year. On Wednesday, Rafael Nadal was hawking (not drinking) Bacardi rum at Bar Basque (the defending U.S. Open champ has been named "Global Social Responsibility Ambassador" to promote alcohol moderation) before appearing on David Letterman. And then yesterday, he unveiled his new Armani jeans campaign at Macy's in Herald Square (I love how awkward he looks -- can you blame him?!).

Something comes between him and his Armani jeans

Last night, he, Janko Tipsarevic, Mardy Fish, James Blake, Tommy Haas, and Fernando Verdasco hit the Taste of Tennis event at the W -- and then tomorrow, it's off to Barnes and Noble to sign copies of his new memoir. I'm assuming there's some practice and working out in between all these stops. Just scored some tickets for Labor Day weekend and I'm expecting no hangovers.

Janko Tipsarevic

Mardy Fish

James Blake with NHL player Brad Richards

Tommy Haas

Rafa

Fernando Verdasco

Meanwhile, Roger Federer was on the West Side at the Mercedes-Benz dealership where my friend works for a "Tweet Rally." I hate it when you seen superstars endorsing cars you know they'd never be caught dead in -- Tiger Woods for Buick(!) -- so I love that Roger endorses Mercedes, which suits him to a T.

Majorca on 34th Street

The Daily Spin reports that Rafael Nadal will be at Macy's Herald Square on Thursday, August 25, at 5 p.m. for the unveiling of a 20-foot image of himself. Nadal will then do a meet-and-greet with fans, with the first 200 people who purchase jeans from Armani's 2011 collection getting to have a photo taken with the 10-time Grand Slam champion. Additionally, the first 100 people who buy more than $150 of Armani jeans will each receive a pair of briefs signed by Nadal. (No word if they will be worn by him, pervs.)

 

Rafael Nadal's Armani Underwear Ads Reveal He's No Becks

Rafael Nada's Armani ad photos are out and, I have to say, his bod doesn't look nearly as good as I thought it would. No? Either that, or the photographer should be shit-canned, stat. (The bottom ones are a little more flattering.)

Rafael Nadal Shows Armani What He's Made Of

Despite what you may think, I've never found Rafael Nadal to be all that sexy. But he does look pretty good in these first two photos from his Emporio Armani campaign, if perhaps a bit too plucked in the photo below. (Via Towleroad)

First Look: Rafael Nadal to Be the New Bod of Emporio Armani Underwear and Jeans

Following in the buttcheeks of David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal has signed on to be the new face and torso of Emporio Armani underwear and jeans. These are exclusive behind-the-scenes snaps from the first photo session, which will debut in February! Looks good so far -- glad they didn't pluck his eyebrows and make him look like a drag queen like they did the Portuguese stud earlier this year. (Thanks, Lynn!)