Ted Leonsis on national anthem etiquette

Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis says:

We should be more respectful when the National Anthem is sung. Taking off your hat is the right gesture. NOT screaming “RED” or “O” is also the right thing to do. Placing your hand on your heart or giving a military salute is also appropriate.

The only thing that I would love to see and hear is what happens in Chicago is the deep and roaring applause all the way through the National Anthem as a true sign of encouragement and respect. That would be a great thing for our fans to do. Let us start a new tradition, what do you say?

The latest in t-shirt launching technology: the T-Shirt Gatling Gun

Here's a fun article from the Washington City Paper about the T-Shirt Gatling Gun, a new tool to launch t-shirts at sporting events. The gun was developed by FX In Motion, a Wisconsin-based company that's supplied the launcher to about 16 teams so far. (via GameOps.com)

The gadget can shoot a dozen shirts 12 stories high in a matter of seconds, machine-gun style. Each shirt launch comes with a big whoosh followed by a puff of vapor from one of the rotating barrels...

“The first time we used [the Gatling Gun], the tape that was holding the shirts together was getting blown off, it’s so powerful,” laughs Marc Goldman, who has MC’d the timeout entertainment at Hoyas home games for several years. “Everybody loves it. We used to just have cheerleaders out there throwing T-shirts, and though everybody would still go nuts for the shirts, they’d only be able to hit people in the lower deck. But now every seat in the building is really within range.”

...

Scheel says his assemblage of PVC pipe, two CO² tanks, a car battery, and steel bars on wheels—which he leases to teams for as much as $3,500 a season—grew out of other products his company has been hawking to pro and college teams.

...

“Some people are just wrapping hot dogs in a paper towel and stuffing it in a T-shirt cannon,” says Scheel with obvious disdain. “You can’t just shoot that out. By the time somebody gets it, they just end up with a smashed hot dog. I’ve told people, ‘I’m not eating that.’”

But the multishot hot dog cannon that Scheel developed in the back room of his shop utilized plastic capsules—“like the ones at a drive-in teller, sort of”—to protect the integrity of the foodstuffs and allow storage of a napkin and condiments. And, again, it shoots a dozen dogs into the stratosphere in the time it would take to scream, “Let’s go, Hoyas!”

Read more...

Gameday promotions gone wrong: Ronald McDonald uniforms

It was McDonald's night in Kalamazoo. Not only did they paint the ice yellow, they dressed the players in these hideous uniforms. (via icethetics)

Halftime shows gone wrong: Near-drowning (or prank?)

Thanks to KC for sending along this story from FanHouse:

Woman Nearly Drowns During NBA Halftime Show Gone Wrong

Halftime shows in the NBA are rarely exciting, and to be honest, I think that's by design. Why keep the fans glued to their seats when there's money to be made at the concession stand? But last month, the Oklahoma City Thunder booked an act that I'm sure everyone in attendance will remember for a very long time:

That was Kristen Johnson, one half of the Ridgeway & Johnson Grand Illusion & Escape Show act, in the water. She was supposed to escape the chains and free herself, but as you can see, something went wrong and she appeared to pass out, prompting a quick end to the show so she could be rescued. Fortunately, as soon as she got to the surface, she regained consciousness.

I'm actually surprised this hasn't garnered more attention -- this took place on Jan. 16 but didn't gain the attention of the blogosphere until today, most likely because an interview Johnson did about the incident was recently featured on CNN.

That said, the cynic in me can't help but wonder if this was staged. For one, the duo posted a message on a magic message board (um, the board itself isn't magic, it's simply targeted toward magicians) the day before the act took place, telling everyone to "keep an eye on ESPN," followed by advice from another poster the day the stunt went awry after to "HIT the talks shows up NOW!" to capitalize on the attention.

Baseball's rain delays

Today in my sports business class, we talked about game delays -- all of the various reasons why sports teams have to delay games. Baseball deals with game delays the most frequently of any pro sport, because of the weather.

Wikipedia says:

"...teams will continue play in light to moderate rain but will suspend play if it is raining heavily or if there is standing water on the field. Games can also be delayed or canceled for other forms of inclement weather, or if the field is found to be unfit for play, and for other unusual causes (such as the spring training game that was canceled due to a swarm of bees)..."

Before a baseball game commences, unless it is the second game of a doubleheader, the manager of the home team is in charge of deciding whether or not the game should be delayed or canceled due to rain or other inclement weather (see Rule 3.10 of baseball's Official Rules). Once the home team manager hands his lineup card to the umpire shortly before the game is to begin, the umpire-in-chief has sole discretion to decide if a game should be delayed or canceled (see Rule 3.10 and Rule 4.01 of the Official Rules). This also applies to the second game of a doubleheader. Umpires are required by rule to wait at least 30 minutes to see if conditions improve; this is referred to as a rain delay and is not counted as part of the length of the game listed in the box score. In practice, umpires are encouraged to see that games are played if at all possible, and will sometimes wait as long as three hours before declaring a rainout.

If a game is rained out before play begins, it is rescheduled for a later date. If a game is called after play begins but before 4 1/2 innings have been completed (if the home team is ahead) or five innings have been completed (if the visitors are ahead or the game is tied), the game is not an official game. The umpire declares "No Game", the game is played in its entirety at a later date, and statistics compiled during the game are not counted. Games that are stopped after they become official games count in the standings (unless the game is tied, in which case it is continued at a later date, usually the next day), and statistics compiled during the game are counted.

Even with all of those rules, there can still be a lot of controversy, such as in the 2008 World Series. Sports Business Daily has a good wrap-up of the incident:

Selig, MLB Take Heat After Suspending World Series Game Five

Last night's Rays-Phillies World Series Game Five was suspended at 11:10pm ET after a 30-minute delay, with the score tied 2-2 in the middle of the sixth inning, making it the "first World Series game to start and not last at least nine innings," according to Tyler Kepner of the N.Y. TIMES.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said that "under no circumstances would the Phillies have won the game -- and the Series -- before the completion of nine innings." Selig indicated that he also "did not want the game or the Series decided in dangerous playing conditions, even though the game had started and the forecast calls for rain -- and even snow -- until Thursday." Selig: "I would not have allowed a World Series to end this way" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/28).

Selig said that he decided before rain-delayed Game Three "that if any World Series game were stopped, it would eventually be resumed no matter how long the 'rain delay' took." Selig said a shortened game is "not a way to end a World Series."

Selig: "I have enough authority here, frankly, so that I'm on very solid ground."

First base umpire Tim Tschida said that if the game had been a regular-season game, it "probably would have been called sooner." Tschida: "But it's not our call."

USA TODAY's Paul White notes it is "not known" when the game will resume, as "significant rain is forecast for today in Philadelphia, with Wednesday's forecast better." Selig said that it "will be played at night, the first time conditions permit."

Selig: "We'll stay here if we have to celebrate Thanksgiving here" (USA TODAY, 10/28). Rays President Matt Silverman said that the teams "were told before the game that Selig would use his powers to ensure that a full nine innings were played, however long it took" (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/28).

NEXT STEPS: YAHOO SPORTS' Gordon Edes reports fans with tickets to last night's Game Five "will be able to use those tickets when the suspended game is restarted" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/28). Selig said the game will start at night because "the fans bought tickets for a night game, and it will be the same starting time, whether it's Tuesday night, Wednesday night, Thursday night or whenever." In Philadelphia, Joe Juliano reports due to the uncertainty around the resumption of the game, the dates for potential Games Six and Seven are "in a similar state of limbo." Selig's decision to start the game initially "could be widely second-guessed, as [well as] the insistence that the game continue despite field conditions that went distinctly downhill after the fourth inning." But second base umpire and crew chief Tim Welke said, "Guys weren't falling off the mound pitching and delivering, and the hitters weren't slipping out of the box. So we felt comfortable going. But due to the velocity of the rain, the grounds crew couldn't keep up with keeping the field" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/28).

Selig was "concerned enough" with the playing conditions he went to the field level in both the fourth and fifth innings. Both times he was "assured by the groundskeeper that field conditions were OK" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/28). Selig said of the decision to suspend the game, "It was difficult, but that's why I'm here. By the time this decision was made, we had covered every subject. These were circumstances beyond our control. When you have tough times that's why you have a Commissioner" (MLB.com, 10/28). Phillies GM Pat Gillick: "We thought we'd get the game in, but the weather changed." Selig: "You don't want to know what I think of meteorologists" (TORONTO SUN, 10/28).

LACKING A THOROUGH EXPLANATION: Selig insisted that he "informed both teams" of his plan to play the game nine innings regardless of the weather. But YAHOO SPORTS' Edes reports there were "lots of players in the Rays clubhouse -- including starting pitcher Scott Kazmir -- who said they had no idea." Kazmir: "I thought after five innings it was done and over and we don't continue the game." Edes notes "similar confusion reigned in the Phillies clubhouse." Phillies P Brad Lidge: "They didn't tell anyone" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/28). Rays 1B Carlos Pena: "I really did not believe that it would be possible [for the Phillies] to win a World Series like that. All of us were talking in the clubhouse. There's no way that could have happened. No way. In the World Series, you play nine innings" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/28).

ESPN’s Buster Olney said, "While I agree with the decision to try to start that game last night, I think (MLB) clearly missed the boat in trying to educate everybody. You had Joe Buck and Tim McCarver on last night’s broadcast talking about, ‘Boy, that run that the Rays scored in the 6th inning that ties the game might save the game for the Rays,’ when in fact that wasn’t the case at all. But no one knew that” ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/28).

Fox' Buck said shortly after the game was delayed, "That run driven in with two outs saves in essence the Tampa Bay Rays from what could be the end of the World Series. If ... they hadn’t scored that tying run and they can’t resume play, the World Series is over” (Fox, 10/27). ESPN's Peter Gammons last night said, "The one great thing is that Tampa Bay did tie it up so that the Phillies weren’t awarded the World Series in a rain delay” ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/27).

TEAMS NOT OVERLY PLEASED WITH CONDITIONS: MLB.com's Bryan Hoch notes players from both the Phillies and Rays were "not pleased by the suspended game, but understood given the conditions." Some players said that they were "surprised that the game even proceeded as far as it did, but understood the magnitude of the event on the whole." Rays LF Carl Crawford: "We kind of figured they were going to try to get the game in, so we just played until they told us to stop" (MLB.com, 10/28). Rays CF B.J. Upton said of the delay before the game was suspended, "You kind of wonder what's going on. You're talking about guys' careers over one game" (L.A. TIMES, 10/28). Phillies P Cole Hamels, who started the game, said, "They were the worst-case conditions to try to pitch in. It's something you don't train for." Phillies P Brett Myers, asked what is next, said, "How the hell are we supposed to know? [Selig] doesn't even know" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/28). In Philadelphia, Bob Ford reports Phillies manager Charlie Manuel did not speak to the media after the game because he reportedly was "too angry with baseball's handling" of the situation to "trust what he might say" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/28).

Another memorable professional sports "delay of game" happened in 1988 during the Stanley Cup Finals between the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers. With the Oilers ahead 3-0 in the series, Game 4 was scheduled to be played in Boston.

SI.com: Ah, yes, the blackout. The teams were 37 minutes into Game 4 on May 24, the score was tied at 3-3, and on this night Boston looked capable of filching a game from Edmonton. Gretzky seemed merely human -- he had turned the puck over for Boston's second goal -- and the pea soup in the Boston Garden was proving to be a better equalizer than any meddlesome referee. Then suddenly, poof! A 4,000-volt switch overloaded, and the 59-year-old building went black.

Describing the blackout as "an act of God," NHL president John Ziegler said he could do nothing "but follow our bylaws." By that he meant NHL bylaw 27-12, which stipulates that in such an emergency the game must be replayed in its entirety at the end of the series, if necessary.

So the teams flew back to Edmonton, giving the Oilers home ice advantage again. The Oilers won the game and swept the series.

And finally we leave you with TSN's Top 10 Stadium Delays.

VIDEO: Roger Doucet: Montreal Canadiens anthem singer

Here's a video of Roger Doucet, the legendary Montreal Canadiens anthem singer. He also sang for the Montreal Expos and Montreal Alouettes.



A bit more about Roger Doucet from the Canadian Encyclopedia:

Roger Doucet. Tenor, b Montreal 21 Apr 1919, d there 19 Jul 1981. As a boy, he sang at the Immaculée-Conception Church. The choir director, Émile Fontaine, gave him his first music lessons 1929-33 at the École St-François-Xavier. He studied voice 1938-40 with Céline Marier and Georges Toupin, 1940-1 with Sarah Fischer, and 1941-3 with Albertine Morin-Labrecque and participated during this time in amateur competitions. This led to engagements in several Montreal cabarets, including the Faisan bleu, the Casino Bellevue, and the Montmartre. Doucet later became a member of The Army Show, with which he toured Canada twice and visited several European countries. He left the army with the rank of sergeant and on his re-establishment allowance from the Department of Veterans' Affairs studied 1946-9 with Alfredo Martino at the New York College of Music.

Doucet continued his career in cabarets and on radio, taking part in the CBC opera broadcasts called 'Théâtre lyrique Molson'. On CBC TV's 'L'Heure du concert' he sang in excerpts from various operas, including The Barber of Seville (Count Almaviva), Les Pêcheurs de perles (Nadir), and Roméo et Juliette (Roméo). For the COC he was the Duke in Rigoletto (1950), the Prince in The Love of Three Oranges (1959), and Fenton in Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor (touring production, 1960). During a European sojourn 1955-7, he sang in Le Comte Ory at the Glyndebourne Festival and broadcast for the BBC in London and for the NDR in Hamburg. From 1971 until his death he sang 'O Canada' at televised hockey games in the Montreal Forum. He began doing the same for the Alouettes' football games in 1974 and the Expos' baseball games in 1977. In 1980 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.

And here's another video of Mr. Doucet from the National Film Board of Canada:

Curiously, he changes the final english lyric to:
"O Canada, glorious and free / We stand on guard, we stand on guard for thee"
Usually it's sung as: "God keep our land glorious and free / O Canada we stand on guard for thee"

We want tacos: LA Lakers / Jack in the Box free taco promo

Brian Gainor writes:

Free tacos have become a phenomenon in Los Angeles thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Los Angeles Lakers organization and Jack in the Box. Taco frenzy in LA began in 2006-07, when Jack in the Box partnered with the Lakers to distribute a coupon for two free tacos to all fans in attendance each time the team wins and holds its opponents under 100 points at home.

While promotions based on team performance (when the team scores XX points, fans win XXX) have become common in the sports marketplace, few have garnered the same level of media attention that the Lakers-Jack in the Box promotion has received. The promotion has been discussed by Ryan Seacrest on his weekly radio show, has become a hit with online bloggers, and has even made its way to the Lakers locker room. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson has used the taco promotion as a motivational tool for his players to play better defense and has made taco references during several post-game interviews.

Over the past few seasons, the promotion has absolutely taken off. Jack in the Box even took the promotion to the next level by teaming up with Fox Sports West and the Lakers to create "We Want Tacos" t-shirts as a giveaway to all fans in attendance at a select game.

Read more or watch a video.

VIDEO: Matt Bradley's ride

From the Washington Capitals, Matt Bradley stars in "Caps My Ride". "Get a up close and personal look at Caps forward Matt Bradley's ride."

Promotions round-up

Some fun, strange, and effective promotions we've read about over the past few months:

• Florida Panthers Kids Day. Sponsored by an orthodontist, and featuring kids taking over many of the adult jobs.
• Name the Promotion Contest. The Quad Cities River Bandits wants fans to come up with great promotions.
• 80's Night featuring Vanilla Ice. The Denver Nuggets take an 80's night promo to a whole new level, and invite Robert Van Winkle to perform his one-hit wonder.
• World's Biggest Pillow Fight. The Kane County Cougars set a Guiness World Record.
• Oakland A's Design Your Own T-shirt. A contest to create a t-shirt to be distributed to 10,000 fans at an upcoming game.
• Salute to Imperfection Night. Hosted by the Jamestown Jammers.
• A look back at 1979: Disco Demolition Night
• Interview with Teddy Roosevelt, one of the Washington Nationals mascots, still winless in the Presidents Race.
• Manchester Monarchs Fan Choice Promotion. "Fans chose the giveaway item for the night, the National Anthem singer, the first intermission contest, and the promotional events held during timeouts. Fans were able to vote on these promotion options throughout the month of November at the team’s web site."

The Hot Dog Launcher: A Documentary

Originally seen on Boing Boing: "The Hot Dog Launcher is a familiar sight at Philadelphia Phillies baseball games in Citizens Bank Park. The bazooka shoots frankfurters high into the stands in between innings. Ad agency Red Tettemer made a funny short documentary about the invention of the Hot Dog Launcher. It's a great bit of marketing for Hatfield Quality Meats, sponsors of the Launcher. Hatfield Hotdog Launcher Documentary"