Pot-luck taco

I hope you all remembered to visit your local Taco Bell today for a free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco. And sorry if you're just seeing this now: The special, offered because Jason Bartlett stole a base in Game One of the World series, was only from 2-6 p.m. today.

But if you did get your taco, I'd be willing to bet it didn't come with the toppings that one Colorado couple got during a recent trip to a Del Taco restaurant...

The couple called local authorities Oct. 16 when they discovered a small baggie of marijuana in their taco order they pick up at Del Taco.

Police said Dennis Klermund, the employee who waited on the husband, initially denied that the pot was his; he later admitted the bag was for his friend when a drug-sniffing dog found marijuana in a locker.

The 26-year-old, who is no longer employed by Del Taco, faces possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Taco, taco, taco!

Hey, if you run into Tampa Bay Ray Jason Bartlett anytime soon, make sure to say 'gracias' -- Thanks to the speedy shortstop, we've all got a free taco coming to us!

On Oct. 28 (Tuesday) between 2 and 6 p.m., you can head out to your local Taco Bell and request one free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco ala the fast food chain's "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" promotion.

Jason Bartlett stole second off the Philadelphia Phillies' Carlos Ruiz in the fifth inning of tonight's Game One World Series game. Yum!

Taco Bell ran the same promotion during last year's World Series. Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury stole a base in Game Two.

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World Series set to go

On deck for the 2008 World Series: Tampa Bay Rays versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Either way, history will be made.

The Rays beat the Red Sox tonight in dramatic fashion, and I could not be happier. Well, I could be if the Yankees didn't suck so badly this year, but hey -- F Boston!

Rays pitcher Matt Garza kept the Sox to one hit--a Dustin Pedroia HR--through six innings. Rookie Evan Longoria tied the game in the fourth, and in the fifth, Rocco Baldelli singled in Willy Aybar, who subsequently homered in the 7th, putting the Rays up 3-1.

The next four Rays pitchers allowed just one hit total, and September call-up David Price looked to shut down the Sox in the ninth. After walking Jason Bay, Price struck out Mark Kotsay, who broke his bat earlier in the game out of frustration. Sox captain Jason Varitek, batting .053 in the ALCS, embarrassingly whiffed on a slider from Price. Jew Lowrie grounded out to end the game, and the young Rays team dog piled it up in the middle of the field.

After changing their moniker, logo and colors, the Tampa Bay Rays--in their 11th MLB season--set their club record for most wins in a season, landed their first division title, and set a record for most wins by a worst-to-first team.

The Rays will host the Phillies Wednesday night in Game One. I guess it'll be rally towel versus cowbell...?

The Phillies, who clinched a big-show berth last week, have the weight of William Penn on their shoulders. For those of you unaware, "the curse" is allegedly to blame for no major Philadelphia sporting team (arena football does not count) having won a championship since the One Liberty Place skyscraper--which dwarfed the city's statue of founder William Penn--was completed in 1987. The last team to a win a 'chip was the 1983 76ers.

The city, still haunted by Joe Carter's walk-off home run in the 1993 World Series, is hoping this Phillies team will bring a seemingly long overdue parade down the streets of Philadelphia. (And apologies to my friends, but as a New York sports fan living in southern New Jersey, I would love nothing more than to see this curse continue for another 30 years, but that's just me.)


And don't forget - Taco Bell is again offering its "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" promotion. If a base is stolen during any game of the World Series, the fast food chain will offer a free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco to its customers. If the base is stolen during Games 1-4, the deal will take place Oct. 28; if Games 5-7, then Nov. 3. I'll keep you posted. Last year, we said 'gracias' to speedster Jacoby Ellsbury, but I guess we won't be relying on him --or any other BoSox player-- to do that for us this year, haaaaa.


RELATED LINKS
Boston wins World Snoozefest
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Writers won't strike against Taco Bell

So now in addition to the World Series free taco, the Stephen Colbert presidential endorsement and the Chicken Dance football bet, Yum! Brands Inc. has offered up yet another current event-inspired marketing ploy.

This time, Taco Bell is asking striking writers to consider writing the material for they clever (but sometimes creepy) sauce packets.

Some highlights of the saucy sayings: "If you throw this, would it be a flying saucer?" and "Use your stomach, nacho mind." [click here for a comprehensive and illustrative list]

Ten winners --who must be members of the Writer's Guild of America-- will be selected and receive a year's supply of free Taco Bell (up to $260)."

The writer's strike is now in its second month, and Taco Bell wanted to show its support for the thousands of creative minds itching to press pen to paper, or in our case, Border Sauce packets." - David Ovens, Chief Marketing Officer, Taco Bell.

Some of those packet lines are great, and personally, I'd love to have the opportunity to write for them. That would make my life much more complete than my current full-time writing position (not kidding), but sadly, the WGA has not extended an invitation to me just yet.

And just as an added bonus feature, if you visit this site, you can dress the sauce packet, and it actually responds with sayings to what you dress it in. It's some fun times, seriously!

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Yo quiero free taco
President of Poultry
Don't be chicken, bawk-bawk-bakawwk!