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Pam Anderson, Warren Sapp Turn Out For Athletes And Angels Party

Tribune photo by RICHARD MULLINS

Pamela Anderson enjoys the party at AJA ultralounge in Channelside.

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By RICHARD MULLINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 1, 2009

TAMPA - Pamela Anderson had strong opinions about the TV camera lights that would be allowed to illuminate her on the red carpet.

No white lights. No way. Not debatable.

The lights must be a reddish, warm tone, her staff of handlers explained to aghast TV crews as perhaps America's most famous centerfold and amateur adult movie star sat in her idling white limousine outside the AJA ultralounge in Channelside Saturday night.

Pam was the star of the party after all, advertised across the region as the official hostess of the "Athletes and Angels" party – tickets $100 apiece and up. And tonight, what Pam wishes, Pam received.

Lights were adjusted to Pam's criteria. Détente prevailed and Pam appeared ever-so-briefly on the red carpet and took perhaps a 30-second interview, though nobody could hear what she said. Pam sauntered inside and TV crews threw a collective tantrum as they rewound their tapes trying to see if the audio caught her words.

Consider that just one of the many scenes within Planet Celebrity, where the laws of physics of the normal world don't apply. For instance:

-- Legendary NFL sack artist Warren Sapp literally muscled his way into the club, entourage of 15 in tow, zooming past at least 100 people waiting in line. Security staff just stood wide-eyed and let him pass. "It's Warren Sapp," one guard sighed, "What are you gonna do?"

--Several other current NFL players sent me text messages, trying to get into the party. Did I have pull with the staff, they asked.

--Kim Kardashian, who was all-but-guaranteed to appear, did not. Many in the press crowd looked bereft.

As the night passed, Pam sat centerpiece in the club's main room, on a white leather couch, bathed in a flurry of camera flashes, sipping champagne and tugging suggestively on her cocktail dress.

That is until she wished to move to the ladies room. Suddenly, what looked like a Navy Seal team and pack of ninjas leapt into action, parting the crowd for Pam.

At least a dozen women already in line for the restroom alternated between rage at having to wait longer, and snapping their own photos of Pam entering and leaving the powder room.

Refreshed, Pam was re-located to an ultra-secure VIP room, guarded by a phalanx of security.

Meanwhile, NFL players chugged from bottles of Patron tequila as aspiring models danced on the white leather couches trying to catch their attention.

The Towers of Channelside above the club may have taken a trip through bankruptcy court as the American economy crumbles but inside, the normal rules of the world didn't apply.

All in all, it was a great sign that Tampa's new ultra lounge nightclub is off to a roaring start.

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