FanHouse Playboy

Playboy is well read because of, um, well yeah. That joke's a little too played out for my taste. But, I have always enjoyed the interviews (seriously) and the "20 Questions" segment; the magazine's writers always ask some tough questions and almost always get good answers.

This month's subject -- one Scott Boras, whose feature will be on newsstands May 15 -- is certainly no exception. And in a pseudo-sneak preview from Playboy (NSFW obvs), we found out his answers about items such as steroid use, Alex Rodriguez opting out of his contract, changing the World Series, whether baseball is better than sex, why Manny Ramirez likes Los Angeles, "road beef" and his answer to a question about "rubbers for rookies."

When Playboy comes to mind, I know the first image(s) going through your head involve(s) collegiate athletics. Hey, get your mind out of the gutter, aspiring collegiate writers, because this actually sounds like a really great opportunity. If nothing else, you'll have a blast (don't worry, the link is completely safe for work):

If you write about sports for your college paper and think you have what it takes, submit examples of your best work to PlayboyU.com. If we select you as the best student sportswriter in the country, you'll get a plum assignment: a trip to the Final Four in Detroit and the opportunity to cover the weekend tournament for Playboy U. More details and rules are available on the site.

Before you get too starry-eyed, this appears to be completely unrelated to Hugh Hefner, Hank Baskett's wife or girlfriend or fiancee, or any other such nudity. No trip the mansion, no partying with Justin Timberlake, and positively no groping of bunnies. Connotations aside, we've got an old-fashioned writing contest on our hands.

I do wish I was still in school. You might as well take a stab at it, if you qualify. Four nights of accommodations and airfare to cover the Final Four is pretty damn sweet.

3 ... 2... 1 ... Splat, in a straw cowboy hat. Not sure whether this was a puke-and-rally scene or if Ohio State's star cornerback (formerly pictured at right -- we're working to add the picture again) executed the El Foldo maneuver and called it a night.

Background: Playboy invites players named on its preseason college football All American team to hang out, bond, and, well, party together before the season.

They take group pictures for the magazine, but otherwise have a lot of free time on their hands. Sometimes that free time is spent wearing silly straw cowboy hats. Sometimes it's spent with women you won't be taking home to mother.

... And sometimes its spent refunding your lunch and all the good stuff that had you so cheerful earlier in the evening. Dagnabbit (sorry, straw hat talking there).

More documented fun at the link. Hint: USC's linebackers dwarf James Laurinaitis.

Update: Looks like the thread was pulled with all the images from the event. Hmm. Most of the pictures in the now-escaped thread showed several Ohio State and USC players hanging out together, partying, with women, etc. Standard stuff. And of course the former picture of Jenkins above losing his lunch. You'll have to take our word for it. It was funny. Bent over puke on the sidwalk funny. Darn lawyers.

It doesn't take much to be famous in the 21st century. All you have to do is take off most of your clothes, tie on an American flag and run into the middle of a soccer game that most sports fans wouldn't care about otherwise.

At least, that was the plan for Tiffany May, who went pitch invading during the USA v. Honduras Olympic qualifying match and became an Internet sensation. Now after taking off most of her clothes for the game, she's cashing in on her 15 minutes of fame by taking off all her clothes -- for Playboy.

You can see the full NSFW teaser trailer here at The Offside Rules, which notes ironically that Tiffany "may make more money doing that than a few US soccer players will make this year." Plus, in the video, Tiffany herself offers a solution for getting more people to become soccer fans:

"Maybe if there were more girls like me streaking at soccer games, we'd have a lot more fans."

Well, isn't that why NFL teams have cheerleaders? Perhaps MLS clubs should look into that. Mexico is way ahead of the curve there.

Not that there's really any time where Charles Barkley isn't all up in the public's grill piece, but it sure does seem like we've been hearing from him a lot lately, doesn't it? Which is a good thing. And that good thing just got better, with the news that Barkley is appearing in this month's issue of Playboy for their 20 Questions interview.

THE 21ST QUESTION:
Who has the worst fans in the NBA?

BARKLEY:
When I played, the Boston Celtics had the meanest fans. They were the worst fans. They just loved their team and they were mean and nasty. I ain't been back. I wish I had been there the last 10 years when they really sucked.

Ahhh, Chuckles. You make me smile. If for any reason, a copy of this month's Playboy happens to fall into off the back counter of the local gas station, slide across the counter and into a plastic bag that falls into my hand, I'll be sure and let you all know what other funny things he says. Or, this could just be a superb excuse to buy Playboy on Valentine's Day.

HT: Slam
Sorry, No Photos

So you're a woman who once had a longtime affair with Barry Bonds, but the two of you are no longer together. Now that Barry is about to break Hank Aaron's home run record, what are you going to do for yourself?

Why you're going to talk about your grand jury testimony and appear nude in Playboy of course!

Barry Bonds' former mistress, at the center of the government's perjury investigation of the slugger, said Monday she will discuss the couple's relationship in the November issue of Playboy magazine.

The Playboy article, accompanied by a nude pictorial of Kimberly Bell, is scheduled to hit newsstands Oct. 1. The 37-year-old Bell said the article will cover details of her relationship with Bonds that she told a grand jury investigating the perjury allegations in 2005.

"The opportunity was there, and I took it," she told The Associated Press in a phone interview Monday. The photo shoot "was one of the most liberating experiences of my life."

The opportunity for what? Make money? Get yourself some time in the spotlight? Start an acting career? What do you want, Kimberly?

Bell has talked before of her dealings with Bonds, and his alleged steroid use and tax evasion. Bonds' lawyer, Michael Rains, couldn't be reached for comment on the latest grenade launched at his client.

Personally, I don't think this will be all that big a deal for Bonds. It's Playboy, nobody reads the articles. The only thing I want to know is if Bud Selig was present for Bell's photo shoot, and did he look happy while he was there?

Previously at FanHouse:
Barry Bonds
Bud Selig Might Be There But Won't Celebrate
Sorry, No Photos