St. Paul Saints fire back at John Oliver with 'Plain Night'
Weird? Yes. Fun? Remains to be seen. A clever jab at comedian John Oliver? Yup.
Oliver featured the Saints in an episode of Last Week Tonight, admonishing the team for having a boring name when other Triple-A baseball teams have names like the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, El Paso Chihuahuas, Sugar Land Space Cowboys, or the Toledo Mud Hens.
Oliver offered a "total rebrand" to one minor league club, a rebrand in which the team would be allowed no input. However, on Sunday, he revealed that the team getting that treatment is the Erie SeaWolves.
In response, "the Saints are leaning into the dullard nature of their name for a Meh type of game," the team says. On May 22, it'll host "Plain Night," a promotion dedicated to being as boring as possible.
The first 1,000 fans will get a sheet of plain white paper as Thursday's giveaway. Then, during the game, the peanut toss will be replaced by white bread being thrown at fans during the seventh-inning stretch.
That will come after a PowerPoint presentation on the jumbotron featuring all the team names that the Saints didn't take when it was founded in 1993. The names include the Accountants, Municipals, and Eastern Gray Squirrels. (I get it, but that last one is actually pretty solid and could have a great mascot.)
If you want to get on the jumbotron during this historic night, don't wear a costume. The team plans to only show fans who are wearing khaki pants and a tucked-in shirt. Those fans won't be enjoying standard ballpark treats, either. The team says it'll only be serving vanilla ice cream as a dessert during the game.
Additionally, anyone with the name John or Oliver will get in free, with the team adding that those are "two of the Top 150 generic men's names in the world."
"In a world full of fireworks, pigs delivering baseball to umpires, and Fun is Good, the Saints are boldly choosing to do less," the team said in an announcement. "Wear your beige, tuck in that polo, and prepare for a night that redefines 'just fine.' Baseball will be played. Possibly. Fun will be had. Arguably."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
18 days till the Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 18?
With 18 days till the Cardinals open the season against the Saints, we look at the players who have worn No. 18. We are counting down to the start of the 2025 regular season for the Arizona Cardinals, and that is less than three weeks away. They will open the season on the road against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 7. That is 18 days away. As we count down the remaining days of the offseason, let's look at who has worn that number uniform over the years for the Cardinals. Who has worn No. 18? Cardinals players to wear No. 18 No. 18 hopefully becomes an iconic number. It now belongs to second-year receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who Cardinals fans hope can be legendary. We hope Harrison can be the best. Birdsong was the best contemporary No. 18, but Keisling is in the Hall of Fame, so that title belongs to him. Interesting fact: Mulleneaux was from Southern Arizona in Safford. He and his brother Carl both played in the NFL. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
18 days until Saints season opener: Every player to wear No. 18
From Hugo Hollas, Dave Wilson, and Wade Wilson to Terrance Copper In just 18 days, the New Orleans Saints will host the Arizona Cardinals in their 2025 regular season opener. There haven't been many that have worn the No. 18 in Saints history. Here's a look at the full list of the players who have worn the jersey. Saints' History of No. 18 Hugo Hollas wore No. 18 first with the Saints, recording 11 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries over a three-season stint. His 5 interceptions in 1970 and 1971 led the team each year. He is the only defensive player to date that has worn No. 18 for the franchise. His 35 games are the second most of any New Orleans player to wear No. 18. Dave Wilson was selected first overall by the Saints in the 1981 supplemental draft, costing New Orleans their first-round draft choice the following season. Wilson was a collegiate star for the Illinois Fighting Illini, but never came close to living up to expectations as a pro. He started four games as a rookie but missed the 1982 season with a knee injury. Despite numerous opportunities, Wilson was never able to hold on to the starting job with New Orleans. Nevertheless, his 53 games over seven seasons are the most for anyone to wear No. 18 for the Saints. Wilson made 31 starts at quarterback, resulting in a 12-19 record. He completed a lowly 53% of his throws for 6,987 yards with 36 touchdown passes and 55 interceptions. The 1981 Saints finished with a 4-12 record, which would have resulted in the third overall choice in the 1982 draft if not forfeited because of Wilson. In that draft, future Hall of Famers Mike Munchak and Marcus Allen, along with multi-time Pro Bowlers Jim McMahon, Gerald Riggs, Mike Quick, and Roy Foster were first-round selections. Another Wilson got his turn at quarterback wearing No. 18 for the Saints in 1993. Wade Wilson was a standout for the Minnesota Vikings through the 1980s and early 1990s before joining New Orleans. Wilson was with the team for two years and was their starter in 1993. With the Saints, Wilson had a 57.9% completion percentage with 2,629 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. Terry Guess is the only one of two out of the 10 players who have worn No. 18 to be chosen in the regular draft by the Saints. A fifth round choice in 1996 out of Gardner-Webb, Guess is also one of only five players from that school to play in the NFL. He lasted only one season in the league, suiting up in three games and catching 2 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. Aaron Brooks is given the credit for the 2000 Saints surprising run to a division title and the franchise's first playoff victory. What some forget is that it was Jeff Blake that was the starter to begin that season, engineering the Saints to a 7-4 mark before suffering a broken foot. Blake was brought in that year after a career with nice numbers, but not many wins with the Cincinnati Bengals. In those 11 starts for New Orleans, Blake completed 60.7% of his passes for 2,025 yards with 14 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. With Brooks' sudden success, Blake wouldn't start another game for the Saints and left after 2001 to finish out his career with four different teams in his last four years. Terrance Copper was a valuable backup wideout on the first New Orleans teams under Sean Payton and Drew Brees. In three years with the Saints, Copper had 38 receptions for 511 yards and 5 touchdowns. His 35 games in No. 18 are the third-most of any Saint to wear that jersey. Keith Kirkwood made the New Orleans roster in 2018 as an undrafted rookie. He was with the Saints for two separate stints, wearing No. 18 both times for a total of 27 games. Kirkwood was mostly used on special teams, but wound up with 20 receptions for 264 yards and 3 scores. A Round 5 selection, 150th overall, in the 2024 NFL draft from the South Carolina Gamecocks, Spencer Rattler is the highest drafted player by the Saints to wear No. 18. He'd make six starts as a rookie, with New Orleans losing all seven of his game appearances. Rattler had a 57% completion percentage, throwing for 1,317 yards with 4 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and 5 fumbles. He switched to No. 2 this season, as he's competing with rookie second round choice Tyler Shough for the team's starting quarterback job.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Arch Manning refutes grandfather's prediction that QB will stay at Texas next season: 'I don't know where he got that from'
In August, former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning told NFL teams they shouldn't tank for his grandson, Texas quarterback Arch Manning, ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Archie made it clear Arch had no intention of leaving Texas after the 2025 season, saying Arch will "be at Texas." Turns out, Archie may have spoken out of turn. When asked about those comments Tuesday, Arch said he wasn't sure where his grandfather got that idea. The Texas quarterback added that he's "just taking it day-by-day for now." That's probably a wise move. Given his pedigree — and his family — big things are expected from Manning as he steps into the starting role at Texas. While he wasn't the team's top option as a freshman, Manning flashed plenty of potential last season, throwing nine touchdowns against two interceptions in 10 games. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] That was enough to boost fan and scout excitement for the 2025 season. Though he lacks the experience of other players, Manning is already the favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. He would have to commit to the draft in order for that to happen, leading many to speculate on his plans. While it's possible Manning would want to remain at Texas after this season, the allure of being the top pick in the NFL Draft might be too enticing to pass up. There are plenty of factors in play that will determine whether Manning decides to enter the draft. If he plays well enough to be worth the No. 1 overall pick, Manning could make the decision based on which team holds that selection in the draft. The Manning family has turned down NFL teams in the past, with Eli Manning telling the then-San Diego Chargers not to take him with the first overall pick. The Chargers did select Manning, but traded him to the New York Giants in exchange for Philip Rivers. If Arch Manning struggles, he may opt to return to school and rebuild his value for the 2027 NFL Draft. All of that is unknowable now, which is likely why Manning is keeping his options open. Texas fans may be disappointed that Manning won't commit to the team beyond this season, but they had to see it coming given the level of hype surrounding Manning since he first committed to the program.
