Despite clouds, Playboy Playmates help open pool at Palms

Shannon Fan Club

The double-exposure cover of the Shannon twins in Playboy.

Friday, May 1, 2009 | 6:41 p.m.

It may have been a cloudy afternoon in Las Vegas but things were sunny at the Palms on Friday as a plethora of Playmates stopped by to kick off the third season of Ditch Fridays.

Naturally – OK, some were very surgically-enhanced – the well-endowed ladies ensured the 2009 pool party season opened with a splash.

Champion boxer, Floyd Mayweather – whose father, , Floyd Mayweather Sr., trains junior welterweight fighter Ricky Hatton, who is set to meet Manny Pacquiao in tomorrow night's bout at MGM Grand – was also spotted by the pool at Palms Place today.

Other athletes in attendance included free agent and former Buffalo Bull center Melivn Fowler; Charlotte Bobcats power forward Sean May; Tennessee Titans fullback Ahmard Rashad Hall; and former Houston Rocket Robert Sura.

Grammy Award-winner Robin Thicke was also there, eager to catch a few rays before tonight’s performance at the Pearl. His opening act, Jennifer Hudson was not at the event.

Pool-partying Playmates, meanwhile, included Miss February 2008, Michelle McLaughlin; Miss May 2008, AJ Alexander; Miss June 2008, Juliette Frette; Miss July 2008, Laura Croft; Miss August 2008, Kayla Collins ; Miss October 2008, Kelly Carrington; and both of last years Miss Decembers, twin sisters Jennifer and Natalie Campbell.

The ladies showed off their beach-ready bodies in hot pink bikinis as they lent their considerable assets to the cause – the cause being, in this case, a reason to blow off work and lay by the pool.

They, along with Playboy tycoon Hugh Hefner and more than 50 other Playmates from previous years, are in town for Saturday's crowning of 2008’s Playmate of the Year.

That announcement will be made Saturday evening, though the rumor mill suggests Miss March 2008, Ida Ljungqvist – who was not at the pool this afternoon – is heavily favored to win the prestigious title.