Playboy July 1998

COVER STORY Hotter than a firecracker—that, of course, is Karen McDougal, Miss December 1997 and our newly crowned 1998 Playmate of the Year. Our celebratory cover was produced by West Coast Photo Editor Marilyn Grabowski and photographed by Stephen Wayda. The styling was done by Jennifer Tutor, with hair and makeup by Alexis Vogel. Our patriotic Rabbit, who never lets a parade pass him by, rallies around the flag. We ask you: Is this a great country, or what? 5 PLAYBILL 11 DEAR PLAYBOY 15 PLAYBOY AFTER HOURS 17 MOVIES BRUCE WILLIAMSON 22 VIDEO 24 MUSIC 26 WIRED 28 BOOKS 32 HEALTH & FITNESS 34 MEN ASA BABER 36 WOMEN CYNTHIA HEIMEL 38 MONEY MATTERS CHRISTOPHER BYRON 41 MANTRACK 49 THE PLAYBOY ADVISOR 53 THE PLAYBOY FORUM 63 PLAYBOY INTERVIEW: JERRY SPRINGER—candid conversation 74 MAGIC JOHNSON—article SCOTT HOWARD-COOPER 78 THE NEWTON GIRLS—pictorial 84 THE FACTS OF DEATH—fiction RAYMOND BENSON 88 SWIMSUITS—fashion HOLLIS WAYNE 94 20 QUESTIONS: CRAIG KILBORN 96 GET LOST—electronics 98 SPEED SEDUCTION—article PETER ALSON 102 DRIVING AMBITION—playboy's playmate of the month 114 PARTY JOKES—humor 116 ROCK'S BOOK OF LOVE—advice GAVIN EDWARDS 118 KEN GRIFFEY JR.—playboy profile TOM BOSWELL 122 SECRETS OF THE SWING—modern living LARRY OLMSTED 125 LITTLE BLUE MIRACLE—article CARL SHERMAN 128 "PUT MR. SPIELBERG ON HOLD"—article STEVE POND 130 PLAYMATE OF THE YEAR—pictorial 150 WHERE & HOW TO BUY 179 PLAYMATE NEWS 183 PLAYBOY ON THE SCENE