Astros Pitcher Arrested in Wedding Brawl

Nothing says, “I'm getting married,” like a good old wedding riot. Good thing Brandon Backe didn't get a baseball bat as his groomsmen gift. Houston Astros pitcher Brandon Backe was among 10 people arrested during a wedding day ruckus in Galveston, Texas. The bride's father and brother were also detained. One person was sent to the hospital and police tazed one guest. The "riot" broke out after the reception at a bar in the St. Luis Hotel. This isn't your typical wedding reception melee. Not only was a famous baseball player arrested, police got physical as they took on the wedding guests, which prompted internal affairs to launch an investigation. Many witnesses say that the blue meanies used excessive force. According to the article: "One officer said he hit Backe twice in the face before handcuffing him. Both the officer and Backe sustained minor injuries during the fight." Backe was charged with interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest. Both charges are misdemeanors. He was released on $1,500 bond. We suspect the beat down would have been worse if the groom gave his attendants baseball bats as groomsmen gifts. Seriously, what about weddings bring out the worst in people? Is it the endlessly flowing booze or is there something in the cake? Read the full article here. Don't forget about those groomsmen gifts or you'll have to face the bride's wrath. Hopefully, she's a little more forgiving than the police at this wedding day beat down. GroomStand rule: never fist fight in a tuxedo. Not only will you probably have to buy it, fighting in a tux is only classy for guys like James Bond. Shop GroomStand for groomsmen gifts, gifts for the bride, and other wedding-day accessories.

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Celebrate Lance's Return with Personalized Drinking Glasses

Nothing beats watching the 2009 Tour De France and enjoying the pastoral French countryside. Not only is it stunning scenery, but the weather is perfect and for the first time since 2005 Lance is back on the bike. Once again, Lance is on track to yet another victorious Paris finish. Make sure you're ready to toast Lance's record breaking eighth Tour De France victory with these elegant Personalized Drinking Glasses. These popular drinking glasses are sure to be a hit at your 2009 Tour De France Party! For a limited time only, these attractive drinking glasses are 20% off. BUY NOW, only $34.00 USD $27.20 USD. Or buy six or more sets for an additional 10% off at just $24.48 each!

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Is that Carl Spackler?

Carl Spackler, better known as Bill Murray, just may have been spotted roaming around the 2009 US Open this morning at Bethpage Black. Was he looking for a tenacious gopher perhaps? Or just checking out Lucas Glover and David Duval's performances on the green? Either way, Bill Murray and a golf course is a recipe for mischief, be it blowing up the course entirely in 1980 or beaning a woman on the head with a golf ball as she stands in her front yard, just this last April. The US Open Golf Standings may be complete as of this morning, but a Bill Murray golf course sighting is not an out of place in one. In fact, you might even catch him at the hot dog stand with Michael J. Fox, handing out compliment after compliment, "I've never seen anyone hit it so well but miss it so completely." That doesn't mean you should miss out on the fun Bill's having! Bring a piece of the course to you (or to your groomsmen) and remind them that everyday is a day to work on their drive. Today only, Our Vintage Personalized Longdrive Pub Sign is 20% off! $46.00 $36.80 Buy 6 or more and get an additional 10% off! Hurry - BUY NOW - and tell them Carl sent you. Images sourced from NJ.com and Photobucket

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Magic Johnson as Best Man

by Oscar Archibald Being chosen best man is both an honor and a curse. How else can you describe it? Think of yourself as the point guard on a basketball team - you run the show, make sure everyone is in the right position, and when the time is right, you deliver the rock to the big guy in the low post (a.k.a. - the groom). But a few bad decisions, some sloppy ball handling, and before you know it, the game has slipped away and you're sitting on the bench with a towel over your head, wondering what just happened. As the best man, what comes to mind as your most important contribution to the team? Well, if you ask the Front Office (a.k.a. - the bride), it's making sure the groom gets to the ceremony on time. Hard to argue with the logic there, or the eventual reward of groomsmen gifts. But even though the Front Office pays the bills, your number one priority is to your teammates. And when it comes to being the best man, you're responsible for giving the groom a send-off reminiscent of Kareem's farewell tour. I'm not talking about your average beer/strippers/videos night out with the boys. This is one of your best friends who's about to enter into a life long commitment with his partner - you know, for better or for worse, richer, poorer, and all that. Doesn't he deserve more in thanks for years of friendship and undoubtedly fantastic groomsmen gifts? Now think about your options here: Home Game - There are definitely some benefits to planning a bachelor party in your city/town/borough/hamlet/village. You've got the advantages of knowing the groom's favorite haunts, ease of accessibility to whatever entertainment your area has to offer and the opportunity for most of his friends to participate. Transportation is usually a choice of a limo, van or Vinny's Dad's Suburban. Away Game - Playing on the road is always tougher than playing in your own building. However, if you have a good game plan, and you execute well, a road victory is even sweeter. Your options are wide open: golf trip, Vegas/Atlantic City, camping, skiing - whatever the groom likes to do, you can find a unique place to do it, and he'll probably spring for interestingly-themed groomsmen gifts, too. Granted, if you're planning an out of town event, some of the groom's friends might not be financially able to make it. But, the groom might have some out-of-town friends who will meet up with the group if the location is convenient. And on the plus side, a smaller group is easier to manage. Remember, as the best man, everyone is looking to you for direction (like Magic Johnson during the '80s). And let's not forget the added advantage of being out of town: The entire bridal party, friends of the bride, family of the bride, work associates of the bride, and anyone who even remotely knows the bride are nowhere to be found. Think about that for a minute. If you live on the east coast, how about a Golf trip to Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head? Maybe a road trip to Florida? (FYI, Tampa has the best strip clubs in the country; Miami's and Ft. Lauderdale's aren't too shabby, either). Does the groom have a favorite pro sports team? Take the group to see them play in another city. Are you west of the Mississippi? How about Palm Springs? Camping at Lake Tahoe? Skiing? Golfing with your new gold accessory groomsmen gifts? The possibilities are endless - be creative. I leave you with two important details: First, make sure you plan everything out ahead of time, including the costs and who's going. As you might expect, the number of people attending affects the costs of accommodations, entertainment, food, transportation, etc. Secondly, don't hold the event right before the wedding. Whether you're in town or on the road, give the groom a chance to recover before he dons the penguin suit for the big game. He's already going to be sweating, pale and little queasy just thinking about the next 50 years of saying "yes, dear" to everything. Don't make it any worse than it already is. Oscar is a self-proclaimed expert on bachelor parties, having planned four and attended way too many to count! When he's not drinking heavily and putting dollar bills in G-strings, Oscar works at an insurance company, and officiates high school basketball in West Virginia. His wife refers to him as the last gentleman on the planet. Go figure.

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September 2007: Spider-woman Ensnared In Web of Love

Spider-woman Ensnared In Web of Love Comic book superhero Tobey Maguire, aka the big screen Spider-man, recently wed his longtime girlfriend Jennifer Meyer in a quiet ceremony in Hawaii. If there's anything Maguire's learned, it seems like it's to be well-versed in keeping his identity and plans under wraps; the invited guests were the only ones aware of the ceremony, making it a paparazzi-free affair not often seen in the tabloid-crazed atmosphere of today. By keeping their nuptials quiet, Maguire proved that not all celebrities need to have their life on display - something most assuredly appreciated by his new wife Jennifer, who lived a life outside the spotlight until she embarked on a romance with Maguire. What can Tobey teach us? Aside from gentlemanly discretion, it's that sometimes the classics are best - when it comes to destination weddings, Hawaii is popular for a reason. The ceremony took place on Hawaii's feted big island in Kona, and was attended by the couple's friends and family, including Leonardo DiCaprio and of course their nine-month-old daughter Ruby. The low-key ceremony was the perfect cap to Maguire and Meyer's equally quiet four year relationship, a cue to follow if your own engagement has been just as subdued. If you're taking your future missus seaside for the big ceremony, consider Kona, and offer up groomsmen gifts of the No. 1 Passport Case. When it comes to avoiding the paparazzi, though, we leave it up to you.

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October 2007: A Movie Script Ending of a Marriage Proposal

A Movie Script Ending of a Marriage Proposal If there's anything we can learn from the movies, it's that grand gestures are always effective - and if you've learned the best from the movies, why not get your grand gesture on in the theater? Follow the example of Warren Eberhard, our Marrying Man of the Month. When he wanted to surprise his girlfriend with a proposal, he did it at the very temple of celluloid where she was catching a movie with some friends, following the film up with one of his very own after the credits! Warren created a five-minute video starring himself, his now fianc Tasha, and Tasha's daughter Destiny, backed by a soundtrack of "their song", Keith Urban's Making Memories. But movies can't make a big impact without an audience, so he called in several of their friends and family members to join them as he walked in after the credits and, as his movie played, got down on one knee and proposed. It took over a month of planning to coordinate everything with the theater, but Warren got the equivalent of a standing ovation for his efforts - Tasha said yes! Be the leading man in your own marriage proposal movie by bringing some Hollywood dazzle into your plan and she'll never look at a dinner and a movie date the same way again. We're not saying you have to go all out, but class up your look with a nice pair of cufflinks and pretend you're Cary Grant when you pop the question. Once she says yes, bring movie star class to your wedding by giving groomsmen gifts of matching cufflinks to the men in the wedding party. Submit your story today to be considered for Marrying Man of the Month.

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November 2007: Crab Shack Patrons Smitten By A Tale of Tennessee Romance

Crab Shack Patrons Smitten By A Tale of Tennessee Romance November's Marrying Man of the Month is a sentimental tale starring one William Atkinson and his now-fiance Sarah. With a memorable proposal like this, we can't wait to find out how the ceremony turns out and what groomsmen gifts Will picks! Sarah came home one Friday to find their suitcases packed and sitting by the door, and that was only the first of several surprises. They drove to Nashville, where he said they'd simply stop for a meal - but afterwards, he took them to Nashville's Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel to stay in one of the finest suites. In an echo of the first bouquet Sarah received from Will, the calla lily and rose arrangement on the table bore the message "Je t'aime," and after an evening of champagne, strawberries, and fine chocolate, the next day dawned with in-room massages for the both of them. How did Will wrap up this weekend? With a meal at their first-date location, the South Street Original Crab Shack and Authentic Dive Bar, complete with a special sectioned-off table for them upstairs. The natural follow-up to such a meal is, of course, a proposal, and when Will got down on one knee in the middle of the road, Sarah happily accepted as the Crab Shack waitress snapped away, catching the proposal on camera. Thanks for the memories, Nashville! A sentimental guy like William will certainly have some fantastic plans for groomsmen gifts, we bet - may we suggest groomsmen gifts of Personalized Red Wine Glasses for similarly-romantic groomsmen? If you think you've got what it takes to beat Will's tale of romance, Submit your story today to be considered for Marrying Man of the Month!

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May 2007: Tennis Star and Former Miss Universe Make Perfect Match

Tennis Star and Former Miss Universe Make Perfect Match For this month's Mr. May, we chose a Time Magazine 2003 "Asian Hero" tennis star Paradorn Srichaphan, who just proposed to 2005 Miss Universe Natalie Glebova in Bali. This sensational couple is known internationally as Thailand's version of Brangelina. There are many things that make this proposal romantic, but mostly we're just suckers for the die-hard- playboy- reformed angle. Srichaphan, formerly notorious for dating strings of models and vowing never to have a family before 30, renounced his philandering ways after he started dating Miss Glebova, but nothing was official at first. The turning point in their relationship came at none other than an AIDS benefit. It may not be the most traditionally romantic setting, but after seeing how tender Srichaphan was with the AIDS victim children, she decided to give the tennis star playboy a real shot at winning her heart. Srichaphan then proceeded to sweep Glebova off her during a romantic stroll on the beach. After an intimate dinner, he got down on one knee and surprised his soon-to-be bride with a dazzling 3 carat engagement ring engraved "Natalie." Congratulations to the happy couple, who will surely be needing these as they embark on their jet setting romance! Submit your story today to be considered for Marrying Man of the Month.

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Marrying Man of September 2006: A Stormy Romance

Groomsmen gifts of umbrellas, anyone? To say the proposal of Mr. September's Reed Smith got off to a stormy start is an understatement. After a romantic night of cocktails and dancing, Smith dropped to his knees, pulled out his great-grandmother's ring, and proposed to his ten-month girlfriend Christine at midnight that night. The bride gleefully accepted. Little did the New Orleans couple know that night would be the eve of Hurricane Katrina, the cataclysmic natural disaster that would set off a chain of events the couple would later refer to laughingly as their "evacuation engagement." Giving fresh meaning to the phrase "for better or for worse," the newly-engaged couple fled their hometown the very next day and took up temporary residence as hurricane refugees in Dallas, Texas. Breaking the news of their engagement to their fellow evacuees (26 relatives and friends, a bulldog and one loyal Yorkie) from the cramped confines of Dallas's Homesuites was hardly the engagement party the couple had pictured, but they were just happy to be together. Despite the horrific footage of their hometown's devastation in the background, the Smiths' engagement helped to bring a little calm to the storm. Reed's mother Elizabeth weighed in, saying "I knew he was going to ask, but I didn't dream it would be the night before a hurricane," she said. "But everything happened perfectly." Christine's mother echoed the sentiment saying the engagement was "a ray of hope" in the midst of stormy circumstances. As for the happy couple, they are putting the devastation behind them as they recently tied the knot and, after a romantic European honeymoon, returned to their hometown where Mr. Smith works as a law professor at Tulane University. When asked about what they brought with them during their fast-flee from Katrina's destruction, the Smiths answered, "jewelry and guitars." Why not add to their collection with these snazzy knot and bead bracelets?! Submit your proposal for a chance to win the Marrying Man of the Month title, or some groovy prizes just for entering!

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Marrying Man of October 2006: If Music be the Food of Love, Play on

When John Salamone and Kristi Phillips first met at the restaurant where they both worked, they quickly knew romance was on the menu. Instantly attracted to one another, the pair describes spending every day together after meeting. No wonder the Coldplay song "Sparks" was the couple's choice for "their" song. In fact, this song would play an important part in Salamone's elaborate proposal. After convincing Phillip's sister to get her out of the house for an hour, Salamone parked his car down the block and set the stage for a night of romance. The result? When Phillips arrived home, she was greeted by an entry way of candles, long stem roses and a single note. The note said the bride-to-be was going to play a game. A trail of rose petals led her to the stereo, where their song was playing. The final note led Phillip's to the bedroom, where she got the biggest surprise of all. After reading the last note, Phillips turned to find Salamone on his knee, holding out a flawless cushion cut solitaire in white gold. The game was over and Salamone had won his prize: a lifetime with his lovely bride Kristi. Having met at a restaurant, the happy couple might enjoy a personalized martini lounge sign as a wedding gift. Cheers to a life long "table for two!" Submit your proposal for a chance to win the Marrying Man of the Month title, or some groovy prizes just for entering!

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Marrying Man of November 2006: Marriage Proposal in a Bottle

Baseball tickets aren't just for groomsmen gifts As the Yankees beat the Red Sox for the third time on the couple's romantic Boston weekend getaway, DC native Ed Lafayette knew his winning streak was just beginning. The evening before, Lafayette had employed an elaborate hoax with the help of a friend, who offered Lafayette and his girlfriend Sarah tickets for a "free boat ride" at 11 p.m. the next night. Clever! Such collaboration is certainly worthy of some nice groomsmen gifts ... Despite their conspiring however, Sarah still thought the details sounded sketchy. Nonetheless the couple made their way to the Charles River the following evening. Sarah was right to think such an offer sounded unrealistic, though she was shocked to find the promised boat ride wasn't fraud, but pure fantasy. With a proposal this romantic, Lafayette knew a future of groomsmen gifts and wedding vows was in the bag. Unbeknownst to Sarah, Lafayette had arranged for a romantic ride on an authentic Italian gondola, complete with wine, candles, and an accordion player. As the couple sailed along, taking in the sweeping views of Boston and enjoying the melodic sounds of the accordion wafting through the evening, the gondolier pointed out the night's next clue: a wine bottle floating in the water. Instructed to open it, Sarah found the ultimate message in a bottle: the words "Will you Marry Me?" written on a scroll. Tip: wine-themed accessories make great groomsmen gifts and proposal props. Turning to Ed, she caught sight of the gorgeous ring that sparkled even in the Boston night, and uttered a very excited "yes!" The couple spent the rest of the weekend relaxing in a four-star hotel, celebrating with friends, and watching the Yankees finish off their five-game sweep of the Red Sox. In the words of Lafayette: "It was an amazing weekend, to say the least." This real-life proposal was selected from one of our many fine contest entries. Submit your proposal your story today to be considered for Marrying Man of the Month. Or, just browse our great selection of groomsmen gifts and more!

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Marrying Man of May 2006: the Gambler

Ever wonder how other guys pop the question? Now you can find out with GroomStand's exciting new feature, "Marrying Man of the Month." Each month, we will scour the world for the funniest, zaniest, most romantic or most original proposal, from celebrities to us regulars. The winner will be posted here for your viewing enjoyment. Bone up on these cautionary tales to learn what not to do, or maybe "borrow" an idea or two from a fellow groom. After all, we grooms have to stick together! And now presenting Mr. May, "The Gambler" Mr. Raymond Suarez. How did Mr. Suarez catch our attention as we sorted through the best new groomsmen gfts to become the first ever Marrying Man of the Month? With a little gambling maneuver of his own! The inventive 27-year-old physician from Yonkers, N.Y., proposed to his then-girlfriend Maria Viller of Bronx, N.Y. in the Paris Hotel Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. As if bringing Paris to Las Vegas wasn't romantic enough, Suarez rigged (with the help of the hotel of course) an eight-foot-tall slot machine so that when the unsuspecting Lillar pulled the lever, the machine's reels spelled out "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" Cheered on by a crowd of Las Vegas showgirls and other slot junkies, Suarez dropped to one knee and proposed to Villar with a dazzling diamond ring. Added romance factor: The couple spent their first vacation together in Atlantic City, so this proposal was sentimental as well as inventive, a killer proposal combo! Way to go, Suarez, or should we say, quit making the rest of us look bad! Either way, Suarez is a champion gambler, as Villar responded with an enthusiastic "yes!" Congratulations, dude. Steal Suarez's style: As a challenge to other gamblin' grooms, why not practice your own proposal poker face with our Professional Poker Set? We'd love to hear how some clever guy created a Poker-themed Proposal... Submit your proposal for a chance to win the Marrying Man of the Month title, or some groovy prizes just for entering!

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