How do you get across to the uninitiated just how remarkable an achievement Leicester's Premier League win has been? It's a tricky question and one that has led to some rather laboured analogies. Quite a few media outlets have been toying with how to bring the story to a US audience. For example, the BBC's Washington office gave it a go and came to the conclusion that, at those 5,000/1 odds, there simply isn't a parallel that can legitimately be drawn in an Irish context.
But that got us thinking, is there an Irish parallel that can be drawn?
Let's just suppose for one second that the Irish sporting consciousness wasn't already preoccupied with what went on across the Irish Sea. Some may call that supposition utopia but this is all entirely lighthearted so we won't go into that in too much detail.
Just imagine it for a second. Ireland has absolutely no interest in Premier League football. No one cares about Liverpool or Man United and the time, effort and money that's spent getting the boat (for purely sporting reasons) is instead spent at the likes of Dalymount, Semple or Thomond.
We wouldn't be complete philistines of course. We may have heard about that Alex Ferguson chap one time but that was only because he rocked up in Cobh to try and sign Roy Keane (he was of course given the short shift and never heard from again). We'd know such a thing as the Premier League exists but much like the general American public, this whole Leicester thing would be going over our head a bit.
So, with that in mind, we've taken a look at some of the most likely long shot Irish bets that the bookies have to offer to help us get our heads around what has happened across the water.
Carlow to win the All-Ireland Senior Hurling title - 5000/1 (Ladbrokes)
Ludicrous odds altogether. We'll be honest, you can stop reading now because this is the closest we've managed to get but the consensus in the office is that, all things considered, these are very generous odds.
Granted, the Championship hasn't got off to a good start for Carlow with that loss to Kerry at the weekend, but they still have games against Westmeath and Offaly to salvage their summer. Two wins there, Kerry get a clean sweep, Carlow face Laois in the first round and it's practically a clear run to the final form there.
Our advice? Snap that 5000/1 up while you still can.
Ireland and Northern Ireland to face each other in the Euro 2016 final - 500/1 (Paddy Power)
500/1? For both O'Neill's to take their teams through to the final of the European Championships? Get away out of that Paddy Power. We can get 5000/1 on Carlow to win the Championship and you're telling me that the Republic and the North meeting in the final of Euro 2016 is ten times more likely?
Chancers. We'd suggest just sticking a fiver on it just in case.
Bray Wanderers (or Wexford Youths) to lift the Airtricity League this season - 3000/1 (Bet365)
We can't really get over the fact that Bray are 3000/1 here and Longford are 2500/1 but we'll take the value option and side with the Wicklow side. One point ahead of Wexford and Longford as things stand and with all that recent top flight experience to call upon, it's only a matter of time before they kick into gear and push Dundalk for the title.
It starts with a home game against Cork this weekend and with the belief that Leicester has given the traditional little guys of world football, it's difficult to see anything other than a Bray win.
Next government to last a full five year term - 14/1 (Paddy Power)
We'd sooner suggest you stick you're hard earned money on a treble of the above three no hopers before throwing your money away on this one.
