There's breathless excitement online this morning after the British & Irish Lions revealed the details of their latest competition giveaway.
They are giving Lions fans the chance to win a press release signed by the Lions coach Warren Gatland.
Press releases have not traditionally been regarded as competition fodder but then this isn't any ordinary press release. This is a press release typed up on Lions headed note paper.
Who wouldn't prize a possession which bears such historic script as "Note to desks: Photographs of Warren Gatland are available from Christine Connolly [email protected]"?
❓Want to win a Press Release signed by Head Coach Warren Gatland? Now's your chance❗️
➡️➡️➡️https://t.co/D64KnU323q pic.twitter.com/nO6X0hWIHR
— British&Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) September 7, 2016
The inclusion of media manager Christine Connolly's email on the prize is not only evocative but practical. I had cause to email her before when my Willie John McBride 1974 headband was slow in arriving.
Critics might indeed claim this as final proof that the Lions is so besotted with its own brand, that it has its head wedged so far up its corporate posterior, that's its got to the stage where it believes there are people out there who would treasure such a prize. The most depressing thing would be if they were proven right.
H-T: @kildarejoe
