海角大神

Robert Griffin III fans buy everything off QB's wedding registry

Robert Griffin III is getting married this summer, and like most future newlyweds, he and his fiancee registered for wedding gifts. Unlike most couples, their Bed Bath and Beyond registry has been almost completely bought up 鈥� by fans of the Redskins quarterback. 

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is one of the most popular pro athletes in the country, beloved by fans and media alike. His on-field heroics in his first year with the NFL reinvigorated a long-suffering Washington fan base, earning the Redskins their first playoff berth in five seasons ad garnering Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

His legions of supporters justifiably want to show their appreciation, and apparently making RG3鈥檚 jersey the best-selling in NFL history last year wasn鈥檛 enough. So they went one step further and bought him a wafflemaker. And flatware. And several sets of hand towels.

Let us explain. RG3 is getting married this summer, to fianc茅e and fellow Baylor alum Rebecca Liddicoat. Like many other betrothed couples before them, the two registered for gifts at Bed Bath and Beyond. The link to the registry quickly got around, via the web and the Washington Post, and fans eagerly started buying up gifts over the weekend.

Sunday, Griffin tweeted his appreciation, of himself in front of a mountain of gift boxes with the message: 鈥淭hank you to the Fans who are helping buy ALL the items from our wedding registry at Bed Bath & Beyond 鈥�

Predictably there was a bit of backlash. Some took to Twitter suggesting it was inappropriate for Griffin, who鈥檚 in his second year of a $21 million contract,聽 to be accepting gifts from fans, who in all likelihood are not as well off. Others suggested he donate the gifts to charity.

Griffin addressed his critics on Twitter:

鈥淚 didn't ask the fans to buy me anything. They found it on their own and decided to get what they could. SMH [shaking my head] at all these Debbie downers鈥�

鈥淏ecause you are rich you are not allowed to receive gifts and any gifts you receive should be donated to charity???? 厂尘丑...鈥�

But for the most part, the reaction, of both fans and a bemused media, has been largely positive. 鈥淐ongratulations! We knew it was smart to save all those 20% off coupons,鈥� @valeroalamobowl tweeted Griffin. 聽鈥淎ll the best to you and Rebecca.鈥�

鈥淪ometimes you give to a city, and a city gives back to you,鈥� another user tweeted. 鈥淵ou bled for us, and we give to you. God Bless your wedding.鈥�

And it was all in fun, for the most part. "It was kind of a goof," one fan told the Washington Post Monday. "To be perfectly honest, I just saw something on there that wasn鈥檛 that expensive and was like 'You know what, I might as well send that.' It was off the wall, it was goofy and no one else had bought it.'"

So now that the mild controversy is out of the way, what can we glean about the future Griffins from their Bed Bath and Beyond wish list?

Less than you think. Other than an above-average number of towels requested, the registry, assuming it is genuine (the couple used their real names, despite Griffin's immense fame), looks pretty typical. The two did sign up for a huge number of items, many of them priced in the $10 to $20 range. This has led some around the blogosphere to posit that the wedding will be huge, and that the guest list will be largely composed of the couple鈥檚 less famous, less wealthy friends. But prevailing registry etiquette suggests signing up for far more items than you need or expect to receive, and to sign up for a lot of small, less expensive items. That way, all guests have the option of getting you a gift at any price range they choose.

So there鈥檚 no telling how big RG3鈥檚 wedding will be. Griffin and Liddicoat probably didn鈥檛 expect that pile of packages in the mail. That said, you can still get the couple a gift, should you be so inspired. Unfulfilled items include a stainless steel recycling can, lawn furniture, and lamps. Plus several more towels. 聽