NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2004 — Tom Arnold of Fox Sports Net’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period” and Smart Watches for MSN
®
Direct launched a contest that asks America’s sports fans, “How Low Did You Go to Catch the Big Game?”
The contest aims to find the craziest things fans have done to get the score of a big game when they were supposed to be doing something else — such as having dinner with the in-laws, sitting through a business meeting, or attending the wedding of a distant cousin. The person with the best story will win a VIP trip to Hawaii to party with the pros during the weekend of Feb. 12, 2005.
Fans can enter the contest from Sept. 14 to Oct. 8 by logging on to HowLowDidYouGo.com.
“There’s nothing worse than missing the big game, but sometimes you just have no choice,” Arnold said. “Even then, you still have to know the score — and a real fan will do anything to get it, from sneaking off to a bar during a sister’s wedding to smuggling a Walkman into a business meeting. I know one guy who even left his own wedding reception to catch a playoff score. I can’t wait to hear people’s answers to the question ‘How Low Did You Go to Catch the Big Game?'”
Microsoft and its Smart Watch partners say they’re launching the “How Low Did You Go to Catch the Big Game?” contest because the days of sneaking around to get a sports score will soon be over.
“Smart Watches, which are available from Fossil, Suunto and Tissot, deliver updated scores straight to people’s wrists, so they can stay in touch with their favorite teams while on the go,” said Bill Mitchell, founder and corporate vice president of the Mobile Platforms Division at Microsoft. “Instead of searching for a TV or a radio to find a score, sports fans can now just glance at their wrists when they’re on the go, at a restaurant, in a business meeting, at the shopping mall or attending a family gathering. Their significant others, relatives and bosses will never even know what happened.”
Stories entered in the contest must be 250 words or less and can include a picture that shows the entrant enjoying their favorite sport. They will be judged on humor, originality and dedication to sports.
The 10 entries that best answer the question “How Low Did You Go to Catch the Big Game?” will be posted at HowLowDidYouGo.com on Oct. 25. Fans will then be able to vote for their favorite stories until Nov. 26. The three people whose entries receive the most votes will be flown to New York to tell their stories to a panel of celebrity judges on Dec. 7. The judges will send the fan with the best story on a trip to Hawaii, where the winner and a guest will party with the pros.
In addition to sports news and statistics, Smart Watches for MSN Direct allow subscribers to receive other personalized content such as news, weather, calendar appointment reminders and personal messages.* Since the launch of the service, Microsoft has nearly doubled the number of available channels by offering expanded sports content, daily diversions, horoscopes and lottery information.
About the “How Low Did You Go to Catch the Big Game?” Contest
No purchase is necessary. Entry forms and all rules and details are available at http://www.HowLowDidYouGo.com . The contest ends Oct. 8 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The contest is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, age 18 and up. There is a limit of one entry per person, and the contest is void where prohibited.
About MSN Direct
MSN Direct, part of the Smart Personal Objects Technology initiative, is a specialized wireless service that combines technology and fashion to deliver customized and personalized information to people. Those interested in learning more about MSN Direct can visit http://www.msndirect.com .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
* You will need a subscription to the MSN Direct service to take full advantage of all watch features. To find out more about MSN Direct devices, services, pricing, coverage and availability, visit http://www.msndirect.com .
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