Thuy

In a world of overhyped sporting events, extravagant halftime celebrations and gloried, high-priced athletes, there comes a 73–year-old annual basketball tournament that needs no hype or halftime show. Instead, its magic lies in the fact that families, colleagues, alumni and bar flies stop and watch hundreds of amateur athletes participate in what I dare say might be America’s most thrilling and beloved sporting event of all times. Yes, I’m talking about March Madness, a term first coined by Bob Walsh of the Seattle Organizing Committee for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) back in 1984.

A few weeks ago, we announced that PIR has joined GoDaddy in sponsoring NASCAR’s Nationwide Series and Joplin, Missouri-born driver Jamie McMurray in a few upcoming races this fall. We’re thrilled to be able to take part in such a traditionally American pastime. Established in 1947, this family-owned business is the largest sanctioning body of stock car racing, and behind professional football, NASCAR is the second most-viewed professional sport in the U.S.

The Webby Awards “celebrates sites that pave important paths to the Internet's next phase,” according to the Wall Street Journal.  If so, .ORG sites are doing their part by winning 14 of 69 categories, beating last year’s number by 3.  This means that 20% of Webby Award winners are .ORG sites. 

TV night brought an unexpected surprise my way via a commercial by Nestle’s Hot Pockets.  While I admittedly tune-out some commercials, this one perked my ears. The commercial got my attention because it promoted an “Eat Free or Die” movement on www.eatfreely.org. I didn’t expect to hear a .ORG at the end of a Hot Pockets commercial, but that definitely got my attention. The .ORG Web site features more videos plus t-shirts, hats and “dastardly food laws” that cite state laws limiting the ability to eat, grow and/or sell food. The overall message is to “celebrate the right to eat wherever, whenever.”