Broken Promises

I used to love the arrival of the Washington Auto Show. Back in the day (meaning the mid-aughts) it seemed like there was always one day where they would have a Wizards player or two (or three) signing autographs and available for a quick discussion about whatever you could squeeze in while you got your swag signed in line. Brendan Haywood, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Jared Jeffries, Jarvis Hayes, Nick Young and JaVale McGee all took their turns from 2004 to 2010.

Then it stopped. Cold. Nothing from 2011 to 2017. No more laughing with AJ about a possible trade to Cleveland (he was later that week) or watching Swaggy P and JaVale clown around while waiting to see if Dominic McGuire would show up (he didn't) or talking with Jarvis Hayes about pending knee surgery that the team and press said he wouldn't be having. Then last year Otto Porter made an appearance. I didn't go for some reason. Probably too busy.

So imagine my surprise when I saw the announcement above on the Washington Auto Show's website. Allllll-RIGHT! It's back on. The annual pilgrimage to the Convention Center to show my appreciation for my favorite basketball team. Washington Wizards Day. April 12. Wonder who it would be this year. Other than G Wiz that is.

Well apparently the Auto Show over-promised without actually having a commitment. Turns out no Wizards player will actually be appearing. Instead Kristi Tolliver will be joining G Wiz (who will be there in accordance with the original annoucement - whew!) over at the Walter E. Washington Covention Center. Yes, she's a basketball player and she's a member of the Wizards organization. She's just not a Wizards player as promised.

With the Wizards heading towards the Draft Lottery rather than the postseason and with the date slated to be Washington Wizards Day being three days AFTER the end of the regular season, seems like there's been a change in plans. I can't blame the Wizards or any of their players for this one (well, other than the organizational failure that caused them to miss the playoffs that is). I mean, who wants to go sit and sign stuff for fans when your team's season has come to an unexpected end in a year when the whole organization under-performed?

The person I feel worst for here is Tolliver. She's been working all season for the Wizards while being paid a total of $10,000 and now they make her go sit at the Convention Center to say hi to fans and baby sit G Wiz for a couple of hours. I think Kristi Tolliver is awesome as a player and for what she's done with the Wizards the last eight months or so and she's as worthy a person as any to represent the Wizards at an event like this. She's just not what was promised. I might go anyway. Having no actual Wizards player there might be a refreshing change. At least Kristi hasn't been underperforming every game she's played in over the last season.

The Auto Show used to be in January. This year it moved to April which doesn't jive well with the NBA's schedule. No fault for the Auto Show there. They just need to not advertise what they can't deliver. If it's any consolation for Wizards fans, they did the same thing to Capitals fans. The initial promse was Slapshot and a Caps player. Instead, you can go say hi to play-by-play man Craig Laughlin. Oh, and of course, Slapshot will be there.