With a lack of star power in their lineups, Minor League Baseball teams frequently rely on eye-catching promotions to lure fans to the ballpark. The Huntsville Stars’ July 4th home game with the Chattanooga Lookouts was going to feature that type of promotion: a Second Amendment Night with a giveaway of three gift certificates from Larry’s Pistol and Pawn in Huntsville and free admission for National Rifle Association members.
But on Monday, Huntsville Stars General Manager Buck Rogers called off the promotion citing pressure from the Southern League and Minor League Baseball to do what was in “the best interest of baseball.”
“We’re part of a larger organization and we have to uphold the game of baseball. It comes before everything we do,” Rogers told al.com.
The promotion recently earned national attention in the sports blogosphere, notably from Dom Consentino of Deadspin, who took a satirical jab at Double AA franchise for the Milwaukee Brewers in a Friday post.
“THE HUNTSVILLE STARS ARE TRUE PATRIOTS NOT THAT THAT PINKO COMMIE OBAMA LOVING TEROR SUPPRTING BASEBALL TEAM U ROOT FOUR!1!! THEY SUPPORT AMERICA AND THEY SUPPORT ARE RIGHTS AS AMRICANS TO CELE BRATE THOSE RIGHTS!!1!!!” Consentino wrote.
The promotion also had its proponents. And in spite of the raffle being cancelled, NRA members will reportedly still be granted free admission and copies of the Declaration of Independence will still be handed out.
What do you think? Did the Stars cave the liberal gun grabbers? Or was the gun raffle a bad idea?
What else is going on?
1. PSC approves rate and revenue reductions for Mobile Gas
2. Alabama ‘Stand your ground’ law remains in spotlight
3. Secretary of State Beth Chapman resigning
4. House Republicans push for ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy
5. EXCLUSIVE: Q&A with Lt. Gov. Ivey, who just announced her re-election bid
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