Beating the bushes for promotions

Summertime, and the minor leagues are crazy....

The Kansas City T-Bones of the independent Northern League recently offered a Redneck Wine and Cheese Festival, where a $5 charitable donation got you two glasses of boxed wine and all the Spam, Twinkies, spray cheese and Slim Jims you could eat.

The West Michigan Whitecaps of the Midwest League offered Star Wars Night, with more than 30 costumed characters.

In Maryland, the Hagerstown Suns of the South Atlantic League had an unusual bobblehead giveaway -- one honoring best-selling romance novelist Nora Roberts, a local resident.

The Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League staged a

Dr. Seuss Night, complete with the players donning red-and-white-striped socks.

As part of its Storm Goin’ Green night this Friday, the team will offer organic concessions -- and auction a game-worn hemp jersey.

And of course we shouldn’t forget the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League, which already has celebrated Mother-In-Law Night and is gearing up for Bald Guy Night this Wednesday, when bald guys will get in free.

By the way, our thanks to baseball aficionado Bill Arnold, who pointed us toward Rick Chandler’s Minor Enterprise blog on Deadspin.com.

Trivia time

The British Open begins Thursday at Carnoustie. Who is the last European golfer to win a major?

Fold it like Beckham

The British paper the Daily Mail, in a gossipy story about David and Victoria Beckham, quoted “a family friend” saying he was anxious about speaking at his introductory news conference with the Galaxy.

“He has been rearranging the Coke cans in the fridge and doing a lot of towel folding, which are what he does when he is stressed out.”

And more on Victoria Beckham’s introduction to L.A. from another source: “She was at a party about a month ago and she was horrified to be offered the number of a plastic surgeon for her nose. I guess that’s just L.A. for you.”

Get healthy, meet Shaq

Shaquille O’Neal is still working on that project to reduce childhood obesity, and youngsters ages 7 to 15 in need of a summer project have until Aug. 18 to submit essays that could earn them a trip to a Miami Heat game to meet the big guy.

More impressive, the winner will get $25,000 to bring the community physical activity plan they describe in their essay to life.

Examples might be fixing up a soccer field, building a basketball court or hiring a PE teacher. Details of the Mighty Milk Be Mighty, Get Active Essay Contest are at www.mightyfoodz.com.

Garbage time

The Green Bay Packers have an incredibly devoted fan base, but this seems like a stretch even for cheeseheads. Nonprofit volunteer groups are being sought to clean up after Packers games at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported.

The groups can earn money for their causes. But couldn’t regular folks earn money for their rent?

“Give me a break!” one reader wrote. “Yeah, I want to go clean up after a bunch of people and not get paid for it. They have more than enough money to pay someone to do it and donate money. As always, using the doggone Packer name to get something.”

Why is it we think this has something to do with a tax deduction for the Packers?

Trivia answer

Paul Lawrie of Scotland, who won the British Open in 1999, the last time it was played at Carnoustie.

And finally

Colin Montgomerie, a Scot, is among those bemoaning the “major” drought for European golfers.

“We’ve won five of the last six Ryder Cups and yet we can’t win a major,” Montgomerie said before failing to make the cut at the Scottish Open. “It seems unbelievable that one of the team can’t come through and win one of his own -- myself included.”

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robyn.norwood@latimes.com