Please Help Us Win a Braves Vacation!

by BraveSaluki on Jul 13, 2011 3:58 PM EDT

(Note from gondeee: I've promoted this to the front page. The power of TC must be flexed here!)

Hello Braves fans! My friend Cara and I recently entered a contest to win a baseball roadtrip from Sears Auto Center. The first round of the competition was to create a Youtube video explaining why we wanted to go on this road trip, where we would go, and what it would mean to us. The Top 10 videos then advance to the Finalist Round, where the two teams who tally the most online votes between July 13 and July 23 would win the chance to go on their roadtrip from August 5-13. The two winning teams get $1500 to go on their trip as well as tickets to 3 games in three different stadiums in the region of their choice (East, South, Midwest, West Coast) during the week of the trip.

Cara and I just graduated from the Southern Illinois University School of Law, and we will be taking the bar exam at end of July. We thought this trip would be a great way to celebrate being done with the bar exam and a fantastic last blast of fun before we start our grown-up jobs this fall. We are huge Braves fans (she's a Freddie Freeman fan, I'm a Brian McCann man), so naturally we applied for the South region roadtrip, featuring the A's at Rays on August 7, Braves at Marlins August 9, and Cubs at Braves August 12 (Bobby Cox #6 Retirement Ceremony Night!!!)

We have been selected as one of the 10 finalist teams to win one of the roadtrips. So now, we need all the votes we can get to help send us on this rocking Braves expedition.

So, pretty please, my beautiful internet friends of Talking Chop, do us a huge favor and

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR TEAM STEPHEN & CARA

Besides, if we don't win, some lame Red Sox or Yankees or Phillies or Twins fan will. Nobody wants that.

Here is our application video:

Sears Exploring My America Application - Stephen McGrady & Cara Sronce (via mcgradys)
You can also check out our blog here, or our Twitter feed here.

Please CLICK HERE TO VOTE for Stephen & Cara every day from July 13th to 23rd, and we hope to join a lot of you in Atlanta on August 12 to celebrate the retirement of Ol' Number 6.

Thank you all and GO BRAVES!

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.

Tweet Comment 54 comments | 11 recs |

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Comments

Will do..Good Luck! I hope ya’ll win. Good luck with the bar too.

I wonder how Sears can afford to hold any contest at all??

We fill this hole with foam and your man will float right up. I don't think that will work. Me neither, but I have a truck full of foam and six kids to feed, come on man, I need this. What about lowering a rope. A rope made of foam?

by bwellnjonesco on Jul 13, 2011 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

Auto center is the only thing keep them afloat really.

by BeatTehMets on Jul 14, 2011 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions

wow - that's a serious drive over the last few days....

Nicely done! Most people (not from Florida) don’t realize just how long Florida really is. Orlando to Miami? That’s okay – around 240 miles. Key West back up to St. Augustine??? About 470 miles. That’s leaves little time to actually see the place (but do definitely take a carriage ride through the old downtown, at least).

YOU MAY NEED TO FIX YOUR VOTING LINK: http://exploringmyamerica.com/
I can’t go directly to the “https” link… at least not without registering… at least, I can’t seem to get there from work. Dang, won’t let me register (required for voting) either. Will have to try again later.

"Just take out the whole Tim McCarver part of the broadcast and boom, the director has freed up a whopping 45 minutes of airtime." - Rob Iracane of Yahoo! Sports, 7/13/11

by carpengui on Jul 13, 2011 4:25 PM EDT reply actions

We’re used to the long drives. We woke up in Carbondale, IL the morning of Opening Day, got to our seats at the Ted just as Huddy was throwing the first pitch, and were back in Illinois by 5 PM the next day.

"I've been to two rodeos and three goat ropin's, but I've never seen anything like that" - Joe Simpson on Brooks Conrad's walkoff Grand Slam, 5/20/10

by BraveSaluki on Jul 13, 2011 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Smart move posting it on here. Hope we can help you out.

"You know when it comes to racism, people say: ' I don't care if they're black, white, purple, or green.' Uh, hold on now: purple or green?! You gotta draw the line somewhere! To hell with purple people! Unless they're suffocating, then help 'em."

by GumpBrave on Jul 13, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, to be young and without children in the car!

"Just take out the whole Tim McCarver part of the broadcast and boom, the director has freed up a whopping 45 minutes of airtime." - Rob Iracane of Yahoo! Sports, 7/13/11

by carpengui on Jul 13, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the info!

I’m sure we’ll make some modifications once we figure out how tired we are. I just want to be knee-deep in the water somewhere/at a baseball game with a beer in my hand/far away from my bar exam catastrophe!!
~Cara

I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile. ~Tom Clark

by LooksGoodinFeathers on Jul 19, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Voted!

Good luck guys!

by Andy Kim on Jul 13, 2011 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

I got two votes in, hopefully they aren’t limiting the number of times an IP votes.

The artist formerly known as someguy917.

by tcstew on Jul 13, 2011 5:31 PM EDT reply actions

if they are't that'd be valuable information for daily voting

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jul 13, 2011 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Well you've got my vote.

Just voted. Looks like you guys are in a close race for 1st. I’ll try and remember to vote everyday. Good luck.

Who is LeBron, and where is Miami?

by Kineticist on Jul 13, 2011 6:00 PM EDT reply actions

Might as well rec it so it becomes a recommended fanpost as well.

by GumpBrave on Jul 13, 2011 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Great job!

Good luck to you both :-)

~ "The NL - where our pitchers do more than just play with their balls." ~

by NCChopper on Jul 13, 2011 6:00 PM EDT reply actions

Voted. Good luck.

by BrockSamson on Jul 13, 2011 6:06 PM EDT reply actions

I voted!

Good luck on the trip and the bar exam!!!!!

"It's not by chance that I bleed Razorback Red, it's what God intended for us all!"

by rsnookjr on Jul 13, 2011 6:14 PM EDT reply actions

Voted.

As your neighbor in the great state of Indiana, I enthusiastically support the two of you in this endeavor. I’ll log a vote every 24 hours for you, and I hope the rest of the TC community will do the same.

As of the time I logged my vote, it looks like Team Stephen And Cara is running neck-and-neck with Team San Francisc-bro for the lead in this contest. For the love of God, we can’t let a bunch of Giants fans win!

Posey was out, dammit!

I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman

by Chopaholic on Jul 13, 2011 7:14 PM EDT reply actions

lol no we cannot, that would be a disgrace.

by chicagobullies on Jul 13, 2011 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m actually Indiana born and raised and that’s where I’m taking the bar, just went to school in Illinois.

"I've been to two rodeos and three goat ropin's, but I've never seen anything like that" - Joe Simpson on Brooks Conrad's walkoff Grand Slam, 5/20/10

by BraveSaluki on Jul 13, 2011 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I am ALSO taking the bar exam

5 days after the exam, I am getting 3 Bravos games in DC.

Good luck!

by hoyabinx on Jul 13, 2011 7:22 PM EDT reply actions

You deserve a “good luck” too, so good luck!!

by bwellnjonesco on Jul 13, 2011 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Good luck on the Bar friend! I hope we ALL pass! ~Cara

I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile. ~Tom Clark

by LooksGoodinFeathers on Jul 19, 2011 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, had to vote for Two-Lane Asphalt.

Cute sluts always win out.

'There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of discipline, then you'll never have to deal with the pain of disappointment,'- Nick Saban

by J Tadpole on Jul 13, 2011 9:02 PM EDT reply actions

“I don’t know if I can sit on this thing…”

by GumpBrave on Jul 13, 2011 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions

twss

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jul 13, 2011 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, she did.

Check out the video.

by J Tadpole on Jul 13, 2011 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

She actually says that at 6 seconds too..

by GumpBrave on Jul 13, 2011 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I respect that.

Doesn’t mean I have to like it.

"I've been to two rodeos and three goat ropin's, but I've never seen anything like that" - Joe Simpson on Brooks Conrad's walkoff Grand Slam, 5/20/10

by BraveSaluki on Jul 13, 2011 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I was kidding.

by J Tadpole on Jul 13, 2011 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I hate getting out-hoochied!

I tried to get Stephen to take a little off for the camera, but no dice. :D ~Cara

I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile. ~Tom Clark

by LooksGoodinFeathers on Jul 19, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Great video

Good luck! rec’d

Twitter:Hey_Jude18

by HEYJUDE on Jul 13, 2011 9:03 PM EDT reply actions

Good luck, from one fellow

Over-worked from work, and also from college, to another two.

Registered, voted, and it looks so far you two are in the lead. I sincerely hope this works out, because I cannot tell you how much a vacation releives stress.

My fiance and I just took a vacation, and it seems to put all worries away, and even if it is just for a couple of days or a week, it’s well worth it.

So, once again, I wish you two the best of luck, you seem like good, deserving people (I mean you"re Braves’ fans how bad can you be lol), and both make a very nice couple.

Also, if it were only the Coors bar exam, all I can say is I’m sorry and good luck. lol

by chicagobullies on Jul 13, 2011 9:42 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks!!

We sure hope this trip erases all the bar exam horror away! Also, not a “couple,” but we are BESTIES and we’d LOVE to win!!!!!!!! ~Cara

I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile. ~Tom Clark

by LooksGoodinFeathers on Jul 19, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Just voted

and they are in the lead as of 9:44 pm eastern time. hope you guys win!

by ChitownBravos on Jul 13, 2011 9:45 PM EDT reply actions

1) Congrats on finishing up law school. I’ll be in your spot
2) Good luck on the bar. I hear Will, Trusts, and Estates is frequently tested and easy to test on.

3) I’ll vote on as many computers as I can to help you all out.

"Kill my boss?! Do I dare live out the American dream?" - Homer Simpson

by Sir Veza on Jul 13, 2011 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

When you guys win

I’d like to buy you guys a round at Bobby Cox night.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 14, 2011 12:16 AM EDT reply actions

Sold, my friend.

"I've been to two rodeos and three goat ropin's, but I've never seen anything like that" - Joe Simpson on Brooks Conrad's walkoff Grand Slam, 5/20/10

by BraveSaluki on Jul 14, 2011 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Awesome!

Sounds good! I love drinks AND making friends! ~Cara

I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile. ~Tom Clark

by LooksGoodinFeathers on Jul 19, 2011 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for all the support so far!

I know that this a silly internet popularity contest, but apparently one of our competitors is important to merit Minneapolis local news coverage.

So once more I encourage you to vote, vote, and vote again.

"I've been to two rodeos and three goat ropin's, but I've never seen anything like that" - Joe Simpson on Brooks Conrad's walkoff Grand Slam, 5/20/10

by BraveSaluki on Jul 14, 2011 12:40 AM EDT reply actions

Keep posting...

this will probably cycle off in a week, so posting it again might help avoid the lull that inevitably comes after the initial push. Also, try other Braves blogs, maybe the AJC, etc.

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jul 14, 2011 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions

you guys are awesome..

and have my vote too. I’ll keep voting everyday until the contest ends. Best of luck to you both!!!

by WeStillHaveBobby on Jul 14, 2011 2:35 AM EDT reply actions

Voted

This sounds like an awesome trip, Hope you guys win! One piece of friendly advice though from a former 24 year resident of Albany, Ga (free at last, free at last). Unless you have family there skip it, that town is a black hole.

by CaptainRockSxD on Jul 14, 2011 4:18 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

He wants to hit that sooo badly!

I voted for the braves fans of course, but dude wants to hit that sooo badly, he basically pleaded in the camera, we are just friends.and.this.is.my last chance haha get her drunk in south beach my friend, go braves.and.go dude man!

by fckendrick on Jul 14, 2011 6:20 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Heyyyy Buddy

Not Nice! But I’ll take your vote anyway!!! :D ~Cara

I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile. ~Tom Clark

by LooksGoodinFeathers on Jul 19, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Voted

good luck!

Christina Kahrl wrote an article praising a Braves player. Clearly she wants to get fired from ESPN.

by BravosFanatic on Jul 14, 2011 8:52 AM EDT reply actions

All righty - five votes per day from me now

(I finally realized that every email address I have could be used)

"Just take out the whole Tim McCarver part of the broadcast and boom, the director has freed up a whopping 45 minutes of airtime." - Rob Iracane of Yahoo! Sports, 7/13/11

by carpengui on Jul 16, 2011 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

Yay! You da best! ;) ~Cara

I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile. ~Tom Clark

by LooksGoodinFeathers on Jul 19, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Voted

You said we can vote every day right? If so, will do! Good luck, guys!

Be not simply good -- be good for something. - Thoreau

by scpharmd on Jul 16, 2011 8:25 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks for your votes ya'll!!! We're neck and neck with a couple other teams!

Yes! You can vote every day!! Please do :) ~Cara

I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile. ~Tom Clark

by LooksGoodinFeathers on Jul 19, 2011 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

You should post it again soon...

1) reminder to folks here, as some probably stopped and a late push might help get y’all winning.
2) right or wrong, you will generate a much larger response from these guys than he will.

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jul 19, 2011 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I just did, thanks for the heads up!!!

I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile. ~Tom Clark

by LooksGoodinFeathers on Jul 19, 2011 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

don't mention it

and good luck

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jul 20, 2011 7:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Home Stretch

We are just over two days away from the end of voting, and we are in what appears as close to a three-way tie for the second (and final) as is humanly possible. Please make sure you get any and all your votes in tonight, Friday, and Saturday.

For those of you out there that might be looking for a good reason to vote for Team Stephen & Cara, try this on for size….. The mentally deranged TC commenter that introduced the victory Rainbow Llamasaurus gif is none other than me, Stephen. It’s true.

So please, go and vote, if not for my sake, for the love of the Rainbow Llamasaurus.

Help send us on a Braves vacation! Vote for Team Stephen and Cara at http://www.exploringmyamerica.com

by BraveSaluki on Jul 21, 2011 8:35 PM EDT reply actions

REGISTER EVERY EMAIL ADDRESS YOU HAVE

…also get permissions from anybody in your address book if you need to.
FINAL TWO DAYS!!!

"Just take out the whole Tim McCarver part of the broadcast and boom, the director has freed up a whopping 45 minutes of airtime." - Rob Iracane of Yahoo! Sports, 7/13/11

by carpengui on Jul 22, 2011 9:52 AM EDT reply actions

Yea they’re gonna need a nice little bump to even it up again.

Sgt.: Pointed stick? Oh, oh, oh. We want to learn how to defend ourselves against pointed sticks, do we? Getting all high and mighty, eh? Fresh fruit not good enough for you eh? Well I'll tell you something my lad. When you're walking home tonight and some great homicidal maniac comes after you with a bunch of loganberries, don't come crying to me! Now, the passion fruit.

by GumpBrave on Jul 23, 2011 2:31 AM EDT up reply actions