Playboy May 2006

Features 52 To Baghdad and Back With Dick Cheney In December, on a trip conducted under extraordinary security, Vice President Dick Cheney visited Iraq, Oman, Afghanistan and Pakistan with a small group of journalists. One of them, a Washington reporter for Fox news, takes us behind the scenes to reveal privileged glimpses of a volatile region and onto Air Force Two for some unscripted face time with America's number two. By James Rosen. 62 Playboy's 2006 Baseball Preview Last season was filled with jolts and surprises. How much unpredictability is in store for 2006? Factoring in a new champ, new faces, and old faces in new places, writer Tracy Ringolsby conducts a team-by-team roundup. Plus, Bill James rumninates on luck, and we end the suspense with our annual predictions. 68 It's Not Just How Fast You Move Your Legs Nike's co-founder revisits his days on the college track team and recalls his relationship with Bill Bowerman, the legendary coach who, in the process of creating 19 Olympians, affected the lives of all his runners in weird and wonderful ways. By Phil Knight. 72 And Now For Something Completely Different... Highlighting this year's crop of motorcycles are some totally out-of-the-box rides, among them the ultimate street fighter-hooligan bike-wheelie machine, the most powerful boxer twin engine ever and a bike that will make you wish you were a POW just so you could fly like Steve McQueen. By James R. Petersen. Fiction 92 Suicide Watch A man visits a psych ward. His mission: to find out whether his troubled, deranged, addicted son could have murdered his own young child. A taut, dark tale from the National Book Award-winning author of Middle Age: A Romance, Blonde and Missing Mom. By Joyce Carol Oates. 20Q 106 Rebecca Romijn The actress who uses her Mystique to paint the town blue for X-Men fans captivates us with stories about her Wet Dreams; her spicy new comedy series, Pepper Dennis; and her aversion to CGI nipples. By David Hochman. Interview 45 Ozzie Guillen He led the Chicago White Sox to their first World Series title since 1917 and has a knack for unapologetically telling everyone exactly how it is. Now the controversial manager mouths off about critics of Ozzie Ball, why he leads the league in throwing players under the bus and what he thinks is the most unfair thing said about him. By Jason Buhrmester. Pictorials 56 Rachel 911 Triple threat Rachel Sterling is an actress, dancer and model who pushes your panic button. 78 Playmate: Alison Waite Miss May may be Ms. Waite, but there's no reason for the rest of us to put off admiring this California beauty. 108 Playboy's Top Ten Party Schools For only the third time in out history we designate those schools whose students most successfully fight for their right to party. Notes and News 7 The World of Playboy Hef and his ladies have a ball with Ice Cube; the stars of Four Kings hit the mansion. 8 Hef's Happy New Year Celebrities, Painted Ladies and a Mansion full of Playmates help Hef and the girls ring in 2006. 105 Centerfolds on Sex: Cara Zavaleta Razors, remote-control fireplaces and text messages have revolutionized the world of sex, says Miss November 2004. 147 Playmate News Nicole Wood and Jennifer Walcott launch the latest Beauty Lounge; a new workout DVD from Miss April 1988 Eloise Broady Dejoria. Departments 1 Playbill 11 Dear Playboy 15 After Hours 31 Mantrack 35 The Playboy Advisor 90 Party Jokes 135 Where and How To Buy 151 On the Scene 152 Grapevine 154 Potpourri Fashion 96 Nine Steps to Better Fashion With American sartorial substance suffering, we've tailored a nine-point program to save men's style. Fashion by Joseph De Acetis. 102 Save Face The essentials for your best grooming. By Joseph De Acetis. Reviews 23 Movies Lost creator J.J. Abrams directs Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible III; reexperience that sinking feeling onboard Poseidon. 24 DVDs The risks pay off for director Ang Lee in Brokeback Mountain; two lesser-seen Laurel and Hardy classics debut on DVD. 25 Music Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips gets mouthy; 10 of Merle Haggard's albums get rereleased. 28 Books Classic Q&A sessions with Hollywood filmmakers; John Waters picks his top 10 film books.