Winged Victory

After declaring our luv for office parties and wingmen in our past two columns, who knew the two would collide in a Hyatt Regency Crown Center ballroom?

The setting: the December 21 World's Largest Office Party, a bafflingly named event that involved similar shindigs in other cities (yet on different days) for charity. Not one to pass up an opportunity to theme-dress, the Night Ranger decided to rock the slutty secretary look by donning fishnet hose, fuck-me pointy black stilettos, a miniskirt, a tight sweater and librarian glasses. We teetered over to the event with some trepidation, though, partly because it was sponsored by KUDL 98.1 and hanging out with the soft-rock crowd did not sound appealing. As we were heading over, we got a call from Research Assistant Kate, who had arrived early.

"I wanted to give you a heads-up," she said. "It's really lame." We hurried to meet her outside the ballroom, whereupon she gave her full scouting report. "It's a cheesy crowd. I know, I'm a snob. But I just felt like all these old guys were looking me up and down, and it was giving me the creeps." All the better for antics, we thought, so after paying the $5 cover and getting liquored up, we went in.

Indeed, it was a cheesoidal nirvana inside. The Chiefs cheerleaders, in their red microscopic sateen ass coverings and white go-go boots, were handing out squad photos. We shudder to think that some autographing might have been going on, too. "Celebrity" bartenders (assorted TV and radio personalities and sports-related types, such as the Tony DiPardo band and the Comets) served the big-haired, the skanktastically dressed and, yes, the old guys pathetically trying to pick up.

But. We had a pretty good time. After two 7 and 7s and a beer and conversations with a lot of receptively friendly people, you would, too.

We chatted up a couple of Chiefs cheerleaders. Huong, 23, and Jessica, also 23, were rookies who performed at every home game. They gave their spiel about how they're more than just cheerleaders. They are, they said, well-rounded folk (we assume they meant personalitywise) who have to be savvy enough to communicate in nonass-shaking ways, for their duties include many public speaking events.

Yeah, yeah. What we really wanted to know was: Have they gotten any sordid pickup lines yet? Or, better yet, been groped?

Both gave the professional laugh and responded diplomatically and evasively.

Jessica: "We just got here."

Huong: "So far, so good."

Damn it. However, Kara, 37, Kara, 30, and Nikki, 28 -- Granfalloon staffers and gregarious objects of lust -- were subjected to another sort of interrogation.

"The cops outside [the ballroom] asked us if we were virgins!" Nikki said. "They said they had a friendly bet going." Wow. If you're going to go for the blatantly and crassly unimaginative line, why don't you just brag about the size of your nightstick or make kinky handcuff jokes? (Just kidding! Don't Taser us when you pull us over!)

As we wandered around some more, we also made eye contact with an adorable guy who was standing alone, so naturally, we went over to talk.

"I was at my office party before this, so I'm a little looped," said Dave, 34, a half-Asian, half-white guy with a shaved head who kind of resembled Cris Judd (J. Lo husband No. 2). Just then, his man tribe joined him. "That's the guy you should interview," he said, pointing out his buddy in a polo shirt embroidered with a corporate logo. "He's the quintessential singles man. I'm his official wingman."

We immediately turned to grill "Tom," a tallish guy with short, spiky salt-and-pepper hair who also smelled sexily of Acqua Di Gio. (Note to guys: subtle cologne wearage = H-O-T.)

"So, Tom," we asked, "which chick do you want to hook up with here?"

"There aren't many I don't want to hook up with," he replied with a cheeky grin. "Let's turn the tables on you. Isn't this just a great way for you to meet men? 'Hey, I'm with the Pitch. Can I interview you?'"

"Well, of course," the NR responded. "Anyway, how old are you?"

"Age doesn't matter. It's all about performance," he replied before turning to ogle a woman standing nearby whose legs were encased in argyle tights. After he was done leering, he said, "How old are you, Jen Chen?"

"Does that matter?" the NR parried back. "Old enough."

"Oooh, she called me out on that!" Tom said, giving Dave the fist-bump.

After looking around, Tom gave his assessment: "It's more a geriatrics party in here, man. Jesus Christ."

We then probed Dave about what made him a good wingman.

"Part of the reason is because I'm fearless," he told us, adding that he's been dating someone for a long time, which is why he has no inhibitions when chatting up chicks in the interest of wingmanly duties. He also gave us some dirt on Tom.

"I've been on at least a dozen road trips with him, and he's slept alone maybe three times," Dave informed us. "He's got about a .750 batting average."

"What's his appeal?" we asked.