Playboy September 2004

COVER STORY The 2004 Athens Olympics will bring together the most gifted athletes in the world. From this elite group, PLAYBOY chose eight women whose beauty rivals their athletic ability. Of course, to make photographer Arny Freytag's medal round, they all had to torch their uniforms and bathing suits. Here, high jumper Amy Acuff sets the bar. And our Rabbit wins the silver. FEATURES 62 MACHINE POLITICS After the Bush-Gore election, three Florida counties tossed out their punch-card ballots and replaced them with touch-screen computers. They've since been used in local elections, with unsettling results: Machines have crashed, votes have been lost, and voters have been turned away. In the November presidential contest, one in four people across the country will vote electronically. Are our election problems only going to get worse? BY DAN BAUM 76 LIQUID ROMANCE A woman who visits a man in his home expects him to know how to shake, stir and blend any cocktail she might desire. Here are a few tips on the fine art of romantic mixology. Plus: The Playboy Bar, our guide to lubricating properlytop-shelf liquor, barware and more. BY A.J. BAIME 80 PLAYBOY'S 2004 PIGSKIN PREVIEW We're no fans of the Bowl Championship System, piggyback bowl be damned. Still, this college season will provide plenty of excitement before the new year. For our annual guide, we pick the winners and losers, introduce the Playboy All America team and honor the 2004 Anson Mount Scholar/Athlete. BY GARY COLE 104 YOU'RE KILLING ME! THE PLAYBOY COMPENDIUM OF OUTLAW HUMOR For 50 years PLAYBOY has championed a comic breed that emerged at the same time as the magazine: the outlaw humorist. In this A-to-Z primer, we pay homage to the fearless jesters—such as Lenny Bruce, Bill Maher, Richard Pryor and the Sex Pistols—who risked jail and alienation to poke fun at such touchy subjects as sex, race and politics. BY JAMIE MALANOWSKI 1 19 CENTERFOLDS ON SEX: PEGGY McINTAGGART Peggy likes to get downright dirty with clean men. 120 20Q TERRELL OWENS The outspoken Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver can't juke our questions about his stormy relationship with the San Francisco 49ers, his sidestepping of the Baltimore Ravens, his touchdown celebrations and how he'd treat an openly gay teammate. BY DEWEY HAMMOND FICTION 86 ARE DREAMS FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF LIGHT A man suffering from a fatal disease that causes his muscles to atrophy, his hands to tremble and his lungs to harden faces the last few months of his life. Number one on his things-to-do-before-I-die list: kill his elderly father, a war veteran who is also dying and in pain. BY JOHN EDGAR WIDEMAN INTERVIEW 55 GOOGLE GUYS Websites don't generate fortunes anymore, but Google is an exception. As one of the most visited Internet sites, the search engine has turned co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page from computer geeks into billionaires. Just before the company entered a pre-IPO period of silence, we searched the Google guys for answers on maintaining a laid-back office culture once Google goes public, their "Don't be evil" company motto and the state of electronic privacy. BY DAVID SHEFF PICTORIALS 90 PLAYMATE: SCARLETT KEEGAN Scarlett believes in truth in advertising: She is indeed a redhead. 68 PAINTED LADIES Never mind the Dutch masters. Hef's master painter substitutes beautiful women for canvases. 122 THE OLYMPIANS From the world's greatest collection of athletes, we reveal the best bodies competing in the Athens Games. NOTES AND NEWS 11 HEF'S HAPPY 78TH A toast to Hef with champagne, caviar and celebrities, too! 12 BUNNY HOPPING AT THE MANSION Pam Anderson, James Caan and others joined Hef with their children for his annual Easter-egg hunt. 47 THE PLAYBOY FORUM Arthur Schlesinger Jr explains the roots of power in America; why Mary Beth Buchanan and John Ashcroft are best friends forever. 163 PLAYMATE NEWS McCarthyism (of the Jenny variety) returns; a QeA with Krista Kelly. DEPARTMENTS 3 PLAYBILL 15 DEAR PLAYBOY 19 AFTER HOURS 39 MANTRACK 43 THE PLAYBOY ADVISOR 102 PARTY JOKES 140 WHERE AND HOW TO BUY 169 ON THE SCENE 170 GRAPEVINE 172 POTPOURRI FASHION 110 THE NEW PLAYBOY Nine world-class designers—including Tommy Hilfiger, Donatella Versace and Joseph Abboud—create the ultimate wardrobe for the 21st century man. BY JOSEPH DE ACETIS REVIEWS 29 MOVIES Josh Hartnett falls in love Chicago-style in Wicker Park; a young filmmaker is caught in a Mob sting in The Last Shot. 30 DVDS Stand in line for the Star Wars boxed set; saddle up for Hidalgo. 33 MUSIC Kool Keith keeps on trucking; the Pierces update Southern folk rock; Dr. John plays the Big Easy. 34 GAMES Score a touchdown in Madden NFL 2005; get revved up for Street Racing Syndicate. 36 BOOKS T.C. Boyle on Alfred Kinsey; Hunter S. Thompson on sports, life and loathing.