The NYRR Points Race Series kicks off this weekend, but another, more important contest is right around the corner. Yes, it s ESPN.com s annual Hottest Athletes poll. Okay, there s nothing about it on their site yet, but they re interviewing all the past winners they can — softball pitcher Jennie Finch (2003), soccer star Heather Mitts (2004), swimmer Amanda Beard (2005 and FHM s World s Sexiest Athlete), and ice-dancer Tanith Belbin (2006) — so clearly this year s competition is right around the corner. (Anna Kournikova won in 2002 but either refused to be interviewed, or the ESPN folks finally realized she no longer qualifies as an athlete.)

As always, you can count on this reporter to cover the contest in far more detail than you need — or than most observers would consider healthy. (There will probably be a Hottest Male Athlete poll as well, which may be covered by one of the other writers here. If you don t already post here and would like to cover the Hottest Male Athlete competition, please email webmaster@centralparktc.org.)