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So as Christmas day comes and goes, so does the second TDS giveaway of the holiday season. Today we announce the winners of our Rockets Domo Twitter contest - originally posted here
All in all, the total number of entries were quite low, totaling 9. Its free stuff, people. FREE!
As a reminder, the criteria for the contest were simple: Submit a tweet about why you should get the Rockets-themed stuffed Domo shown here
The two best Tweets (totally and entirely subjective and determined by me) get these Rocket's plushes that you can, of course, also purchase on store.nba.com.
So, without further delay, we'll jump straight to the winners of the contest
First Place
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/3ptTheHardenWay">@3ptTheHardenWay</a> give one to me and kenny the jet smith for consolation on chariots of backfire. love ya jet. Its a new year. new challenge</p>— Crissy Brown (@crissybrown1021) <a href="https://twitter.com/crissybrown1021/statuses/415046375743553538">December 23, 2013</a></blockquote>
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If you are unfamiliar, earlier this month Kenny ‘The Jet" Smith, after being mocked by Chris Webber for his running on set during a segment, challenged the entire TNT crew to a footrace dubbed the "Chariots of Backfire". Shaq, Chris Webber, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson participated in a one hundred yard dash that quickly descended into chaos.
Prior to the race, Kenny had one things to say, "I'm racing against time, not against death," followed by Charles Barkley quipping that he's "just gotta beat somebody."
Right out of the gate, Ernie puts the race under protest, feeling that his competitors jumped the starting gun. He fails to complete the race.
Kenny, however, dashed out to a quick lead which he sustained until just before the end, when Chris Webber steals the glory after being the one who called him out in the first place by tearing the tape at the finish line first by a fraction of a second. The Jet then refused to accept his 2nd place award and compared the event to the Olympic games protest between the US and the USSR.
I'm a sucker for the Cold War reference, any excuse to use historical references to the Soviets in a basketball article is hard to pass up. It is that reason, and, trust me, that reason alone, that I envy the Brooklyn Nets. Plus, Shaq wears a ridiculous hat and responds to questions simply by performing kung fu. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT!
Check out the full video here
Congratulations to Chrissy Brown for the winning entry as well as a great reminder of an event worth re-visiting
Second Place
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/3ptTheHardenWay">@3ptTheHardenWay</a> I want the Rockets Domo plush because it would fit in nicely with my other plushes. <a href="http://t.co/OedBiP5xrm">pic.twitter.com/OedBiP5xrm</a></p>— Belinda (@heybelinda) <a href="https://twitter.com/heybelinda/statuses/415259192916582400">December 23, 2013</a></blockquote>
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While not the funniest entry, this was the one that most fully captured the spirit of the Rockets-themed Domo character. Not only was it the only entry that gave a realistic sense of purpose for the stuffed character itself, but it also came from someone who is a part of a group of people that helps make the internet run: the GIF creators out there (here's lookin' at you Chrive and JayPride).
After all, Domo is a character who's popularity owes its rise to the very same creative internet/video impulses that drive the creation of some of the most hilarious GIFs of all time. Not only that but the Rockets theme looks to be a great addition to the color scheme Belinda appears to already be sporting.
Congratulations on your new mantle addition.
Honorable Mentions
Although there were only two winners, there were a few other entries that I may have picked if not otherwise dissuaded for various reasons
Most notably, this one -
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/3ptTheHardenWay">@3ptTheHardenWay</a> what horseman of the apocalypse is complete without his own domo?! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23gimmethedomo&src=hash">#gimmethedomo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23iwantthedomo&src=hash">#iwantthedomo</a> <a href="http://t.co/KJGVXFzMCk">pic.twitter.com/KJGVXFzMCk</a></p>— crutons (@mynameiscurtisw) <a href="https://twitter.com/mynameiscurtisw/statuses/415323859022118912">December 24, 2013</a></blockquote>
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This picture requires much explanation, but might just be better with little to none at all.
First thing to note is that the person on the left is myself, and the gentleman adorning the horse head was a summer camper of mine at the University of Michigan. Lets just say that afternoon was not a particularly productive one.
Second thing to note is that if more of my 8-bit Dikembe Mutombo T-shirt got any more real estate in this picture that may have tipped my scales in favor of risking perceptions of impropriety and collusion. I mean, the shirt is pretty incredible.
Ultimately, I felt like the idea of the giveaway turning on an inside joke of some sort would be odd, but I thought the picture alone was worth the mention.
There were also a few more topical entries, such as this one:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/3ptTheHardenWay">@3ptTheHardenWay</a> girl wants a pink dog for xmas that didn't exist. domo will teach her to just be grateful with what u got. hear that asik?</p>— John Kim (@a_john_kim) <a href="https://twitter.com/a_john_kim/statuses/414530585701269504">December 21, 2013</a></blockquote>
I struggled putting together what the metaphorical equivalent of the Houston Rockets Domo was from McHale to Asik. Daily charley horses to keep him out with his injury? One of those games where McHale never plays Omer except for the final inbound play in a blowout? Although the answers appear to be endless, none of them really builds a very positive symbolic function for the Domo. That, or I have just thought way too much about this.
And then, finally, there were entries that could only be classified as troll-y
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/3ptTheHardenWay">@3ptTheHardenWay</a> I had to live/work with obnoxious Rocket fans for several years, so I think I deserve the stuffed toy as compensation.</p>— Whit Whitmore (@WhitWhitmore) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhitWhitmore/statuses/415326836231401472">December 24, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Thank you all for the the submissions (sans the final one, clearly), they were enjoyable to sift through. Those who were selected will receive details shortly.
Now back to your regularly scheduled NBA programming