LITTLE ROCK — Promotion a bunch of nothing
A couple of minor-league baseball teams are taking their swings at Manti Te’o.
You might have heard of Te’o.
He is the All-America linebacker from Notre Dame who said this week that he was duped in a scheme involving a fake “girlfriend” he met online. The story of how Te’o played through the pain of his girlfriend’s “death” became one of the major story lines of the 2012 college football season.
Of course, any minor-league baseball team worth its salt recognizes a good promotion when it sees one, and a couple are already trying to cash in on this opportunity.
The Florence Freedom, an independent team in Florence, Ky., is offering a bobblehead giveaway in honor of the linebacker’s girlfriend. The only catch is the boxes will be empty.
The Freedom, a member of the Frontier League, said the boxes will be given away to the first 1,000 fans May 23, and they plan to rope off a section of seats for fans who want to bring their imaginary friends.
Not to be outdone, the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Class A affiliate of the New York Mets, will hold Fictitious Friday on June21. Sid Finch is scheduled to make his professional debut against Roy Hobbs and the New York Knights.
Of course, neither character is real. Finch was the pitcher with the 168 mph fastball in the fictional Sports Illustrated story from April Fool’s Day 1985, and Hobbs and the Knights are from The Natural, a 1952 novel that was turned into a movie in 1984 starring Robert Redford.
The Cyclones said their promotion also will include a petting zoo that will feature a unicorn, a mermaid and a Minotaur, and that they are in discussions with the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
“Fans should be sure to arrive early, because prior to the game The Beatles will reunite for a once-in-a-lifetime concert event,” Cyclones spokesman Jason Solomon said in an e-mail. “OK, that’s apparently not true either, but this girl I met online told me she could make it happen.”
Cyclones General Manager Steve Cohen said people don’t know who, or what, to believe anymore, which made having such a promotion seem like a good idea.
“That got us thinking: Let’s have a night where our fans don’t have to worry about what’s real and what’s not,” Cohen said.
“We’ll just tell them everything planned for that night is a hoax.”
Momma’s boy
At least Charlotte Hornets rookie Austin Rivers knew someone in the family was in his corner when he faced off against his father, Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers, when their teams met Wednesday night in Boston.
Austin Rivers told The Associated Press he knew his mother was pulling for him.
So how could he be so sure?
“Because she loves me more,” he replied.
Just in time
The NHL season opens today after a lockout nearly canceled the season.
“Fans can’t wait,” comedian Argus Hamilton said. “Americans are desperate to enjoy senseless bloody fighting over something besides the debt ceiling and gun control.”
Quote of the day
“It was like using a knife on an animal. There was a trail of blood all the way back to the barn.” Horse trainer Joe Martin, on the chest injury suffered by 2-year-old Baby Princess when she collided with the rail after winning a race at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa., in July
Sports, Pages 22 on 01/19/2013