Playboy May 2007

COVER STORY When we met Anna Nicole Smith in 1991, she was a shy Texan obsessed with Marilyn Monroe. Chosen Playmate of the Year for 1993, she became a star, and like her idol, she died far too soon. In our article we share memories of Anna's Playboy years from those who knew her best. Here, Senior Contributing Photographer Stephen Wayda captures her peerless beauty; our Rabbit is still a girl's best friend. FEATURES 48 SEX IN IRAN A bootleg sex tape allegedly featuring a popular TV star has been spreading through Iran like wildfire. The actress denies she's on the tape, but that's almost beside the point. The video has shaken Iranians by exposing their hidden emotions and double standards. In a fascinating peek at a modern Islamic society, we lift the veil on a conflicted culture in which religious fundamentalism wrestles with the allure of sexual freedom. BY PARI ESFANDIARI AND RICHARD BUSKIN 64 WORLDWIDE BASEBALL: PLAYBOY'S 2007 BASEBALL PREVIEW After a winter of incredible contracts 2007 is shaping up to be a prosperous year for America's national pastime. Our Hall of Fame analyst tells us what to expect in the upcoming season. Plus, we learn why the Dodgers could be celebrating their first title in 19 years and get a by-the-numbers look at where the talent comes from. BY TRACY RINGOLSBY 70 OBI-WAN LIVES Obi-Wan escapes from Darth Vader? Han Solo packs a lightsaber? Luke used to be a girl? To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Star Wars, here's an exclusive look at never-before-published storyboards from George Lucas's original script drafts that show a flip side of the Force. 88 TO THE BAD GIRLS GO THE SPOILS In an uninhibited confessional, a would-be reality-TV star details the depths of her deviance—sexual, social and otherwise—in hopes of joining Jerri Manthey and Omarosa in the pantheon of TV bad girls. BY MICHELLE RICHMOND FICTION 100 WINTER STORMS An investor's quiet retirement is interrupted when his war correspondent daughter comes home unexpectedly from an extended assignment in Iraq. The violent nor'easter raging outside his home pales beside the dark storm of guilt and fear his daughter has brought back from the Middle East. BY EDWARD FALCO THE PLAYBOY FORUM 37 THE TRUTH ABOUT AL FRANKEN What people need to realize about liberal hero Franken is not the number of issues on which he so cleverly disagrees with his conservative adversaries but the number of assumptions he makes about government and politics that aren't in any way different from those of his supposed opponents. BY CURTIS WHITE 20Q 102 FERGIE The Fergalicious frontwoman of the Black Eyed Peas helped shoot the band to the top of the charts before achieving solo success. The sexy singer doesn't phunk around as she discusses overcoming addiction, being bitten by Quentin Tarantino and getting unexpectedly moist in front of concertgoers. BY JASON BUHRMESTER INTERVIEW 43 STEVE NASH The Phoenix Suns' wiry Canadian point guard is a two-time NBA MVP who keeps. pace with Shaq, LeBron and other basketball heavyweights. Riding high on a six-year, $66 million deal with Phoenix, the notoriously press-shy player dishes up his thoughts about sex on game day, the possibility of reverse racism in the NBA and whether he thinks Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban screwed up royally by letting him walk. BY KEVIN COOK PICTORIALS 54 REMEMBERING ANNA A 10-page tribute to our dear friend and her life in front of the camera, featuring classic photos from 1992 to 1994. BY KEVIN COOK PLAYMATE: SHANNON JAMES Howard Stern recruits his second Centerfold: a sensational, fresh-faced marketing major from outside Philadelphia. 104 AMERICAN BEAUTIES The Southern belles of Conference USA shed their clothes and head for summer. notes and news THE WORLD OF PLAYBOY A new season of The Apprentice kicks off at the Mansion, the Rabbit makes a splash at Hong Kong Fashion Week, and Hef unveils a spectacular limited-edition print retrospective of PLAYBOY photography. 10 HEF'S HAPPY HOLIDAYS Hef turns the Mansion into a winter wonderland for Playmates and celebrity guests like Frankie J, George Lucas, Ron Jeremy and many more. 135 PLAYMATE NEWS Deanna Brooks gets a leg up on her stock-picking competition in an online contest; Miss January 1996 Victoria Fuller discusses her new spa and her body of art. DEPARTMENTS 3 PLAYBILL 11 DEAR PLAYBOY 15 AFTER HOURS 21 REVIEWS 29 MANTRACK 33 THE PLAYBOY ADVISOR 86 PARTY JOKES 126 WHERE AND HOW TO BUY 140 GRAPEVINE 142 POTPOURRI FASHION 92 THE NEW URBAN WARDROBE Cardigans, trench coats and sports coats have a secure spot in the closets of modern metropolitan men. Our revamped classics have a hip new edge. BY JENNIFER RYAN JONES THIS MONTH ON PLAYBOY.COM THE ANNA NICOLE YEARS See a tribute to our 1993 PMOY, including her Playmate pictorial, all her covers and a preview of her Playboy TV special premiering April 11 at nine P.M. ET. THE PLAYBOY.COM A-LIST Get to the meat of the matter as we name America's top 10 steakhouses. THE 21ST QUESTION Read the final word from Fergie. AMERICA'S SEXIEST BARTENDER Our fourth annual hunt for the comeliest cocktail shaker is on. BEST-DRESSED MAN ON CAMPUS Got threads? Apply for our sartoria student search