A few Pirates employees started an "e-mail boycott campaign against" the Stroll Inn in Kennedy Township, Pa., after the bar and restaurant "offered to discount pitchers of beer by 5 cents for each defeat in the team's latest losing streak," which ended at six games yesterday, according to Eric Heyl of the Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW. Pirates Group Sales Account Exec Angela Criscella in an e-mail to fellow employees and town residents said of the "Pirates Lose, You Win" promotion, "I am sure everyone would not appreciate this type of promotion for the Steelers, Penguins (or) Pitt and just hope you agree that the Pirates deserve the same respect." Criscella advised them to "take your business away from the Stroll Inn and to other local restaurants instead." Pirates President Frank Coonelly said that he called Stroll Inn Owner Estelle Aversa to “tell her the organization didn't initiate the boycott and doesn't condone employees using their team e-mail accounts for personal messages” (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 5/18). In Pittsburgh, Bob Smizik noted the promotion “was in existence for only about 24 hours.” Aversa said of her conversation with Coonelly, “He was scolding me. He was ignorant, not a very nice man” (POST-GAZETTE.com, 5/18). YAHOO SPORTS’ Jeff Passan writes Coonelly “should’ve just gone in and bought a beer.” Coonelly: “Had I realized we’d still be talking about this, it would’ve been a great option” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/19).
