A-Rod in "Details": Why do attractive athletes have to battle gay rumors?

New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez has had an eventful few months (what with a banned substance admission and incessant speculation about his friendship with Madonna) and now his new photoshoot in Details has exploded on the net accompanied by speculation that he must be gay.

According to the comments on sports websites, the fact that he's pictured kissing himself in a mirror must mean "A-Rod would very much enjoy a copy of Details magazine up the wazoo" and "they followed him to the abandoned shack that he goes to to have sex with strange and diseased men."

Out ESPN writer LZ Granderson has a great dissection of this attitude, and how jealousy and homophobia among sports fans lead to gay "accusations".

Admittedly, the photos are hot ... and over-the-top. But sometimes a man kissing himself in a mirror is just a man kissing himself in a mirror. Does it seem like only the attractive athletes are the ones targeted with gay rumors by the Joe six-packs? We thought of Jeff Gordon, David Beckham, and a few more ... any other examples?