WTAE.com’s “Recommended Stories” for May 17 include, “Boys Kicked Off School Bus For Passing Gas” and “Former Steelers Quarterback Kordell Stewart Arrested”. Incredibly, neither entry is the most ridiculous item of the day, a distinction owned by “‘Pirates Lose’ Beer Special Brings Heat From Team Employees”. It seems Kennedy Township, PA’s Stroll Inn ran afoul of the Pirates over a promotion that saw the tavern cut their beer prices with each Pittsburgh defeat (link courtesy John Parker)
A sign in front of the Stroll Inn on Fairhaven Road said, “If the Pirates lose, you win.” The promotion called for a discount of a nickel off a pitcher of beer after every loss by the Pirates, who haven’t had a winning season since 1992.
An email sent on May 12 by Pirates account executive Angela Criscella (above) said, “An occasional joke and jab is expected here and there, but to create business by ripping on the home team is ridiculous and in my opinion distasteful.” She urged bar patrons to “take your business away from the Stroll Inn and to other local restaurants instead.”
“I was sick to my stomach that the Pirate organization would condone that kind of behavior,” said bar owner Estelle Aversa. She told Team 4 investigative reporter Paul Van Osdol that she removed the sign after learning of the boycott campaign.