ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez shows off serious muscle in Men’s Fitness profile

If ESPN wants to boost interest and ratings in its NBA coverage, the network may want to consider dressing reporter Israel Gutierrez in a muscle tee. Heck, maybe they should make him appear on air shirtless.

Gutierrez is the subject of a profile in the latest Men’s Fitness that details his extreme dedication to fitness, accompanied by a photo shoot that shows off an impressively ripped physique. Most sportswriters don’t look like this.

As the feature by Mike Simone explains, if you click here you will learn about Gutierrez’s dedication to fitness began in college when his weight was fluctuating and he decided to run a marathon. Since then, he’s been a workout warrior, progressing from P90X programs to working with a personal trainer and even some serious flag football.

Many sportswriters strive to avoid the cliché of the out-of-shape, slobby reporter who largely subsists on press box food and late-night meals. Perhaps they want to be something of a match for the athletes they cover, as well. If you spend any time with a particular press corps, you might notice several media members who are avid runners or fitness buffs. That probably applies even more so to those who are on television.

I mean, come on. Featured by @MensFitness?? Who's life am I living, seriously?https://t.co/QaObPcY3Tx

— Izzy Gutierrez (@IzGutierrez) December 23, 2016

But Gutierrez, 39, appears to have taken that to a higher level. Even the athletes he covers have noticed. The article mentions Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons taking a look at Gutierrez and joking that writers should be tested for PEDs.

In addition to his workout routine, the Men’s Fitness profile recaps the progression of Gutierrez’s sportswriting career from precocious 22-year-old beat writer covering the Miami Marlins for the Palm Beach Post to working the Miami Heat beat at the Miami Herald. He first started appearing on ESPN in 2008, contributing to Around the Horn and The Sports Reporters. That led to his current gig as a reporter for ESPN’s NBA coverage, as well as a nightly ESPN Radio show with Sarah Spain.

Based on this photo shoot, however, maybe ESPN should bring back BodyShaping and have Gutierrez host the show. Or parlay that Disney connection into making Gutierrez an action star.

Gutierrez will be reporting for ESPN’s 5 p.m. ET telecast of Bulls-Spurs on Christmas Day. Maybe he’ll be signing copies of Men’s Fitness in between on-air spots.

[Men’s Fitness]