Yahoo - perhaps not realizing that maybe the promotion was a little tongue-in-cheek - called it the "boldest giveaway ever." The promotion was announced at a press conference yesterday as part of what would have been billed Back to the Future night, complete with a flux capacitor. The DeLorean-themed jerseys will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to Michael J. Fox's foundation for Parkinson's research.
I was very excited, considering - for the first time in my life - even going to Fresno.
But then the ring giveaway was cancelled. Grizzlies GM Derek Franks:
We met internally and have decided to replace the 2017 Houston Astros World Championship Ring with a more Fresno-centric giveaway, which more aligns with our marketing plans for 2015 and beyond. We do not want a Fresno Grizzlies giveaway to be perceived as a jinx for our Major League affiliate.
Yep, that's the reason the Astros won't win the World Series in 2017: A giveaway in 2015.
But wait. There's more. Fresno's CBS-affiliate Sports Director had this:
@_KO_11_ I was told on camera this morning by GM Derek Franks they had permission. Not really sure what changed in a few hours
— Andrew Marden (@andrewmarden) March 24, 2015Soooo....the Grizzlies had permission from the Astros, hold a press conference INVOLVING A DELOREAN, then news hits, then the "internal meeting" decides to cancel the ring giveaway after it makes its way to Yahoo and ESPN. I don't believe that for one second.Evan Drellich sums it up nicely:
It's one thing if the Grizzlies didn't ask for permission. To have asked and received permission and then had it retracted borders on absurd
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 25, 2015Cool job, Astros.
