Playboy September 2001

COVER STORY POWER PLAY: She's been dubbed Survivor ll's she-devil in a blue bikini, but anyone who watched Jerri Manthey strut her stuff in the outback knows that while she didn't outplay or outwit all the players, she outshone the competition hands down. Photographer Arny Frey-tag shot our cover. As always, our Rabbit knows what's outré—and what's hip. FEATURES 78 HEAVIER THAN HEAVEN: THE FALL OF KURT COBAIN Nirvana boasted the finest songwriter of its generation; Courtney Love was his coconspirator and beloved bad girl. Too bad his best days, musically and romantically, were heroin days. BY CHARLES R. CROSS 90 SURVIVING SURVIVAL Forget the million bucks. If you're serious about the wilderness, you need to start learning about snakes, kindling and giardia. A scary report from the desert scrub. BY ARMIN BROTT 92 GROUP SEX, FOURTH FLOOR The Playboy Advisor attends a swingers' party. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? BY CHIP ROWE 102 DREAM WEAVER Nothing is quite so enticing as a pair of great legs in netted hose. Good news—our favorite leg show is back. 124 PLAYBOY'S PRO FOOTBALL FORECAST The Bucs go airborne, the Rams buy defense and the Chiefs hire Dick Vermeil. And Baltimore (now with Elvis Grbac) and Tampa Bay are the best teams around. BY RICK GOSSELIN 128 THE GOOSE Tony Siragusa is the 340-pound anchor of the Baltimore Ravens' defensive line. But when it comes to girls, he's all about the backfield. BY MARK RIBOWSKY 133 CENTERFOLDS ON SEX: ECHO JOHNSON Thu Playmate's favorite form of foreplay is going to a strip club and then returning home to show off some new tricks. Just like your girlfriend, right? 134 20Q STANLEY TUCCI A triple threat (actor, director, chef), the impresario of Big Night lures stars such as Woody Allen and Isabella Rossellini to his low-budget indie projects. He also plays Walter Winchell and Adolf Eichmann, and makes terrific scrambled eggs. BY WARREN KALBACKER FICTION 104 PUZZLE MAN Timothy McVeigh is gone, and with him, the tortured truth that caused such mortal hurt. Is it too late to hear why he did what he did? And with whom? Brace yourself. BY ASA BABER INTERVIEW 7 DALE EARNHARDT JR. Lade E. the son of the legend, is a Nascar sensation who doesn't mince words about cheating and dangerous tracks. He talks about Dad, of course, and what it's like to ha the aall at 190 miles per hour. BY KEVIN COOK PICTORIALS 84 SASCHA The Vampirella model says, "I'm a bit of an exhibitionist." We have proof. 108 PLAYMATE: DALENE KURTIS This California native went to business college and danced in clubs. Her latest whirl: in Cannes with Hef 140 SURVIVOR Jerri was tough in the outback. Here's why we like strong women. NOTES AND NEWS 17 BRANDE'S BIG DAY A multitude of Playmates and the cast of Just Shoot Me fete the Playmate of the Year 18 HOPPIN' AT THE MANSION Egg hunting with Gene Simmons, Nikki Sixx and Casey Kasem. 57 THE PLAYBOY FORUM Wives surrender and strippers unite. 179 PLAYMATE NEWS Petra Verkaik naked in the Amazon, Kid Rock and La Pam. DEPARTMENTS 3 PLAYBILL 21 DEAR PLAYBOY 25 AFTER HOURS 36 WIRED 42 LIVING ONLINE 46 MEN 49 MANTRACK 53 THE PLAYBOY ADVISOR 122 PARTY JOKES 162 WHERE AND HOW TO BUY 183 ON THE SCENE 184 GRAPEVINE 186 POTPOURRI LIFESTYLE 94 THE SOPHISTICATED APE: PLAYBOY'S FALL AND WINTER FASHION FORECAST 2001 Visit a planet of apes—and take home these rhesus' pieces. BY JOSEPH DE ACETIS 130 HIGH STEAKS Red-blooded Americans rule. So pour an extra-dry martini, grab a smoke and satiate your appetite in the country's 12 best steakhouses. BY JOHN MARIANI 136 GLOBAL COOLING Beat the heat with our coolest gear—digital cameras, PDAs and video CD recorders. REVIEWS 33 MUSIC Lucinda Williams, Tricky, Manic Street Preachers. 38 MOVIES Remaking Eat Drink Man Woman, a history of sequels. 41 VIDEO Richard Donner's favorite buddy film, movies from books. 44 BOOKS Naval history of Pearl Harbor Klondike bar creators.