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
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