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.