Put a ring on it?

Former Houston Texan files suit against ex-fiancée for $785,000 engagement ring

Former Houston Texan Mario Williams might have signed with the Buffalo Bills last year on the most lucrative contract in NFL history for a defensive player, but $100 million ($50 million of it guaranteed) is no match for a broken heart . . . or a former lover's ire.

The defensive end has filed suit against his former fiancée, Houstonian Erin Marzouki, in hopes of retrieving a $785,000 diamond engagement ring, as well as $108,000 worth of American Express charges incurred between January 1 and December 31 of last year and compensation for the $230,000 worth of "luxurious items" that Williams purchased for her throughout the course of their relationship. (Ultimate Texans blogger David Barron first reported the news.)

That relationship ended around Jan. 21, 2013, when Marzouki "unilaterally terminated the parties' engagement" that had commenced in Feb. 2012.

"Defendant never intended to marry Plaintiff and used the relationship as a means to get Plaintiff's money and acquire gifts," alleges the suit, filed in Harris County on May 3. "Defendant has absconded with the engagement ring."

And what a ring: The lawsuit describes it as "a GIA certified radiant cut diamond weighing 10.04 carats, E color grade, and VS2 clarity grade," purchased from Valobra Master Jewelers.

Williams wants it back. To that end, his attorneys have requested that the court issue a temporary restraining order, a temporary injunction and a permanent injunction that Marzouki cannot get rid of the ring. Will he be successful in this endeavor? Deadspin breaks down the problem with the "conditional gift" here.

Mario Williams football player Houston Texans September 2011 2

Photo by © Bob Levey Getty Images

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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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