Nice Game, Bro' at the Celebrity Beach Bowl

Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg stared at the sardine-packed stands in awe, acknowledging that he had never seen a crowd like this at Al Lang Field, his team's his team's former spring training home.

But Sternberg has never had a draw like Brody Jenner before.

Jenner (right), the star of the MTV reality show "Bromance," stole the show in the DirecTV Celebrity Beach Bowl, which turned Al Lang into a flag football papparazzi show on sand. 

Jenner received the loudest ovation during teams introductions, which included A-listers like Christian Slater and Blake Lively, rockers like Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, names from the reality TV world like Stacy Keibler and Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian (left, sister Kim was a no-show).

Oh, and there were former NFL players Warren Moon, Steve Young, Eddie George, Jamal Anderson and Merrill Hoge. Saints RB Reggie Bush and Giants QB Eli Manning coached the teams and Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew and Bears RB Matt Forte served as referees.

But it was Jenner who took the MVP honors after intercepting a pass from Moon and returned it for a game-winning touchdown in the game's final minute, giving Team Sunday Ticket a 37-32 win over Team Superfan.

"There's no 'I' in team," Jenner repeated to camera crew afrer camera crew after getting a post game Gatorade shower courtesy of "Bromance" co-star Frankie Delgado.

Jenner's touchdown got Bush, who was coaching Team Sunday Ticket and was looking to find a coaching style before the game, off the hook.

"I'm asking around," Bush said before the game. "Should I be the Tony Dungy and be quiet and resevered, or should I be like Bill Cowher, and get in their face a little bit?"

Mother and daughter Debbie and Jill Moran arrived 2 1/2 hours before kickoff in order to grab seats in the first row. The Seminole residents held a sign that read "Brody Bromance Me," which drew Jenner's attention before the game.

"We just wanted to be a part of the whole experience," Debbie Moran said. "The last time the Super Bowl was in Tampa my daughter was 11, and this time we wanted to do something we could remember."

Other participants in the game, which was followed by an L.L. Cool J concert, included NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne, former NFL punter John Kidd, Lively's "Gossip Girl" co-stars Penn Badgley and Chace Crawford, Access Hollywood reporter Maria Menounos (left, giving Young a chest bump after scoring a touchdown), Playboy playmates Pilar Lastra and Jayde Nicole and Ron Lawrence, a 39-year-old Postal Service truck driver who won the DirecTV Ultimate Displaced Fan Search.

"It doesn't get any better than this," said Lawrence, who made one catch and three tackles.

-- Eduardo A. Encina, Times staff writer

(Times photos/Eduardo A. Encina)

Lights on for Hoobastank in Williams Park

ST. PETERSBURG -- It's an unusual night for Williams Park, known to most St. Petersburg residents for the bus stops and lounging homeless residents.

There's the nationally renowned rock band, Hoobastank, playing.

There's the bluish LED lights casting a glow from about 30 trees.

And then there's the guy in the mohawk, cheering on the St. Petersburg City Council.

What?

The Super Bowl has highlighted a lot of firsts for Williams Park, which the city and organizers are trying to revive into the urban town square it once was. Miller Lite's Super Bowl promotions sponsored the concert featuring Hoobastank and two other acts, who played before a crowd of about 4,000 Friday night.

Before the show, Mayor Rick Baker ceremoniously turned on the LED lights in the trees, similar to those in Straub Park, to make the area feel more welcoming at night.

"I can remember coming here as a child," said Johnny Green, the concert organizer for Last Friday, a series of shows in the park that kicked off last month. "It was a very vibrant part of the city."

The city, Friends of Williams Park, and private partners are working to make it that way again. The city helped with the concert setup, but paid nothing for the event. It raises money for charity, too. Green hired homeless residents of Pinellas Hope to help set up barricades in the park.

Under a crescent moon and beside a giant inflatable bottle of Miller Lite, VIPs sipped beer from of bright blue aluminum bottles and huddled near heat lamps. At the bar, Miller Lite girls in pantyhose handed out beverages. Outside, guys on Segways sold Super Bowl buttons. Some people brought blankets, but most bundled up to keep warm.

Lead singer Doug Robb had his own idea: "You gotta move. It's freezing!" he shouted to the crowd.

Joan Collins, who turned 48 on Friday, said she drove from Dade City to watch the concert with her friends. She sat in the back of the crowd in a camping chair.

"It's the only big-name party we can afford," said Robin Edwards, 47 of Feather Sound, of the free show. Edwards, who's been friends with Collins since the fourth grade, kept her hands warm with heat packs in her pockets.

Hoobastank was scheduled to play an acoustic show at Push Ultra Lounge later that night.

--Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer

Times photos by Scott Keeler

Bush and Kardashian start their party circuit

CLEARWATER — Saints running back Reggie Bush has been to his share of red carpet parties, but as he and his girlfriend, reality show celebrity Kim Kardashian, rode in their limo to Wednesday night's Moves Magazine party at The Venue in Feather Sound, he promised her "a real party."

Bush and Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis hosted the party, complete with Lamborghinis in the parking lot, a Harley by the entrance, blaring hip-hop music, body-painted models, stretch limos and an athlete celebrity list that included All-Pros (Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, former Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, former Ravens tackle Jonathan Ogden, former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe, former Oilers running back Eddie George); All-Stars (Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard), and Hall of Famers (quarterback Warren Moon and running back Eric Dickerson).

It was the first local appearance for Bush and Kardashian, who might be Super Bowl week's "It" couple this week in Tampa Bay.

"When we're together, it's crazy," Bush said on the red carpet. "We're constantly getting stopped. When it's me, I can be kind of low key and move quickly in and out. It's part of the territory, but we like it."

Even without Max Starks, his party goes on

Tomorrow night's Max Starks Celebrity VIP Party at the Bayou Club in Largo will be without one key attendee -- Max Starks.

The Steelers offensive tackle, who began planning the event months in advance long before knowing whether he would be playing in the Super Bowl, won't be able to attend.

"It was one of those things where I plan it, and if I go I’m going to be bitter if I’m not in the Super Bowl," Starks said at Tuesday's media day. "So then it turns out we’re in the Super Bowl and I can’t go anyway."

Bum economy scraps St. Pete's 'Yacht Bowl'

Just two weeks ago, plans were in motion for a "Super Yacht Bowl," a four-day yacht hop and cocktail party from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 at Vinoy Marina, St. Petersburg Municipal Marina and Port St. Pete.

Hate to say it, but that ship has sailed. The Super Yacht Bowl is no more.

"We didn’t get the number of yachts signing up as early as we thought we would," said Jeff Werner, marina captain for event organizer Blue Highway LLC.

Organizers were looking to have about 30 yachts signed up to rent slips at local marinas by the end of September. By Oct. 10, they had only six.

Blame the mercurial nature of the Dow, which has keel-hauled luxury boat owners’ stock portfolios.

"Yachts are toys. And they’re something that, when the economy goes bad, they don’t get used," Werner said. "Some of the owners of megayachts and superyachts, even though they’re very, very wealthy, may cut back on some of the use of their yacht, because it’s very costly to operate."

It didn’t help that last month, the NFL abruptly cancelled its huge Saturday Night Spectacular, planned for Vinoy Waterfront Park the night before the game. Some of the crowds and sponsors that Blue Highway was counting on pulled their support for the Super Yacht Bowl, Werner said.

“We’ve done a great job promoting it, but we haven’t had that bigger response,” said event promoter Les Abberly. “I think a lot of people are just distracted by everything going on.”

What to make of the cancellation? Abberly said he still thinks some yacht owners will dock in Tampa Bay for the big game, but large-scale yacht parties like this one, planned well in advance, might suffer.

“People are probably going to make last-minute decisions with their time and money, and how to spend it wisely.”

Werner and Abberly said they’ll refer further inquiries to individual marina owners and local hotels. If you want to see what Super Yacht Bowl would have looked like, check out superyachtbowl.com.

(Photo: Jim Damaske)

No Saturday Night special for the NFL

Earlier this summer, the NFL announced plans for a free “Super Bowl Saturday Night” on the night before the big game at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg. It was to be the second annual such event; last year’s in Arizona featured fireworks, performances by Counting Crows and Boys Like Girls, and appearances by Jerry O’Connell and Derrick Brooks. More than 30,000 people showed up.

Now it appears the party is off. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league has decided to focus its attention elsewhere.

"It was a success last year, but we’ve got some other events in store that will be fun for people of the area, state and the rest of the country," McCarthy said. "We’re focusing on other events, and making those even better. And by the way,” he added with a laugh, "there’s a game."

The NFL will still hold the NFL Experience during the week leading up to the game, and the Pepsi Smash Concert Series at the Ford Amphitheatre on Jan. 28 and 29.

Diddy, Deion and Winky team up for SB events

Star gazers take a look: Entertainment icon Diddy, NFL legend Deion Sanders and hometown boxing champ Winky Wright are teaming up for a series of parties in the nights leading up to the Super Bowl in Tampa. Event organizer Michael Bilello says the parties -- with limited public access -- will be a "very unique chance to rub elbows with the A-list of America."

Each of the three events at The Venue in Clearwater will have a different theme. Record producer, rapper, actor and menswear designer Diddy will host a "Vegas Fight Night" party on Jan. 29 dubbed "Champions of the Good Life." Proceeds from the event will go to Wright's new Charity for Women.On Jan. 30, Sanders will join his friends for a "Legends of the Good Life" party with a Hall of Fame theme. And on Jan. 31, the trio host the  "Icons of the Good Life Diamonds and Pearls Gala." General admission and VIP ticket prices are not yet available.

Wright will also host a celebrity golf tournament with Bucs player Michael Clayton on Jan. 29 at the Feather Sound Golf and Country Club.