Totally topical: the Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League) are celebrating notable runners-up, including Miss Colombia, with “Runner-Up Night” at Dr Pepper Ballpark in April.
You’ve probably seen the news today about host Steve Harvey mistakenly crowning Miss Columbia as Miss Universe last night, only to come back out on stage and declare that Miss Philippines was actually the winner. (You can watch a video of the event here.) That put poor Miss Colombia in an extremely awkward situation — and the RoughRiders are taking full advantage of that situation.
“Although it may appear that Miss Colombia has lost, she really has won,” said RoughRiders Executive Vice President and General Manager Jason Dambach. “In a world in which everyone competes to be first, we have decided to honor how special a second-place finish can be. It’s something to be proud of and celebrated.”
The RoughRiders plan to formally invite Ariadna Gutiérrez Arevalo, “Miss Colombia,” as a VIP guest for the night. Gutiérrez will enjoy a suite for the night and an opportunity to throw out the first pitch. The RoughRiders are also inviting Steve Harvey to serve as the on-field host for the evening.
With the night celebrating famous second-place finishes, the Riders have also extended an invitation to Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, and Marv Levy the quarterback, a wide receiver, and the coach of the Buffalo Bills during their four-year stretch of runner-up finishes in the Super Bowl (1991-1994). The team will celebrate other second-place finishers including Brittney Spears and Christina Aguilera (runners-up on Star Search); Adam Lambert and Clay Aiken (American Idol); Carrie Underwood and Michelle Obama (high school salutatorian); Al Gore and Mitt Romney (presidential elections); and Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden (two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up).
As in all Riders home games, fans will have the chance to participate in on-field games, but on Runner-Up Night, prizes will be awarded to the second-place, not first-place, finishers. Other in-game promotions include a seat upgrade to the “Second-best seat in the house.”
The RoughRiders are also currently investigating the baseball knowledge of the Miss Universe judges to serve as backup official scorers for the night’s game.
The RoughRiders plan to host an in-park beauty pageant throughout the game. Any fan that can prove a second-place finish in a beauty contest or pageant at any level will receive a free ticket to the game between the RoughRiders and the San Antonio Missions.