Desperate for Digits

Miss America uses her power to hound Aaron Rodgers, proves why Miss Oklahoma wasrobbed

Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler, left, and Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson
Photo by Steve Marcus
Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay
Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America 2012
Photo via Top U.S. Post

Anyone who even half watched the 2012 Miss America pageant knows that Miss Oklahoma was totally robbed.

Davenport, Okla., native Betty Thompson was just about as American as they come — she knows how to give a cow a pedicure, drives a truck with a lift kit and reads the Declaration of Independence every July Fourth. When it came time for the question portion and Miss Oklahoma was asked whether the government should intervene on issues of childhood obesity, she gave a predictably Ammurican answer: People should be taking responsibility for themselves, duh.

We were dismayed when the crown went instead to Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler, surely a nice girl, but one who paled in comparison and was super guilty of that over-emoting opera.

And if our favoritism weren't already clear enough, where other pageant princesses conquered the talent portion with ballet or sang over-emoted opera, Miss Oklahoma broke out a River Dance.

So we were dismayed when the crown went instead to Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler, surely a nice girl, but one who paled in comparison and was super guilty of that over-emoting opera. And before the crown had even had a chance to settle on her hair-sprayed head — certainly before Wisconsin could have possibly organized her crusade to mentor the children of incarcerated parents — Kaeppeler has used the power of her crown to chase boys, not dreams!

Hot off her Saturday night win, (and her home state Packer's Sunday loss) Kaeppeler has issued an introduction to Green Bay quarterback Aaron "Discount Double Check" Rodgers: "If you're watching, Aaron Rodgers, call me."

Rodgers said he heard about the request, watched the end of the pageant, but has not called.

Tsk tsk to the cheese lady for using her platform to elicit numbers. Tell us: What do you think of Miss America's bold play for Green Bay?

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chill out

Houston Astros ballpark gets cool new name for the next 15 years

Courtesy of the Houston Astros

The Astros' stadium will have a new name in 2025.

The Houston Astros are about to have the coolest ballpark in Major League Baseball. The team announced on Monday, November 18 that its has reached a naming rights agreement HVAC manufacturer Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.

Beginning on January 1, 2025, the stadium will be known as Daikin Park (die-kin). Scheduled to run through the 2039 season, the new name replaces Minute Maid Park, which has been the stadium’s name since 2002. It opened in 1999 as Enron Field.

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Astros fans online are already calling the new stadium “The Ice Box,” replacing its informal “The Juice Box” moniker. That name feels likely to stick.

Japan-based Daikin Industries is a leading manufacturer of HVAC systems. It sells air conditioning units and other products under brand names such as Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex. Critically, it operates Daikin Texas Technology Park in nearby Waller, which is the largest HVAC manufacturing facility in North America. The company employs approximately 10,000 people in Greater Houston, according to a release.

“We are excited to be partnering with Daikin for our ballpark’s naming rights,” Astros owner Jim said. “Daikin is an international company that proudly calls the Greater Houston area its North American home. The Houston Astros and Daikin share the same values, a commitment to excellence and a desire to give back to our local community. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this ballpark in 2025, I am proud to have Daikin alongside us to create even more special memories for our fans now and in the future.”

The Astros will use the revenue for new stadium amenities and other upgrades. It will also continue the team’s various community initiatives. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. the Houston Chronicle notes that naming rights deals may be worth anywhere from $3.5 million per year (T-Mobile park in Seattle) to $11 million per year for the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field.

The team’s first game in Daikin Park will take place on Monday, March 24, which it plays an exhibition against its Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. It will open the regular season on Thursday, March 27 against the New York Mets.

“Daikin fit all of the criteria we set out to find in a naming rights partner,” Astros senior vice president Matt Brand added. “Their name and reputation fit our iconic downtown Houston home, and their values mesh perfectly with those of the Astros. We are grateful to partner with the entire Daikin team and to help them succeed in their business goals. Daikin Park will be a special place for our fans for many years to come.”

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