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 ruminates 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

THE PLAYBOY FORUM
37 UNKNOWN KNOWNS
The hidden dangers in the war with Iraq are not WMDs but unknown knowns— the unspoken ideological assumptions our government holds that need to be recognized and addressed if the United States hopes to resolve this deadly conflict. BY SLAVOJ ZIZEK

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 our 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.

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 HI; reexperience that sinking feeling onboard Poseidon.
24 DVDS
The risks pay off for director Ang Lee i n 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.
26 GAMES
A five-way baseball pennant race; the return of Lara Croft.
28 BOOKS
Classic Q&A sessions with Hollywood filmmakers; John Waters picks his top 10 film books.