The Official XBox 360 Giveaway Post

Sorry about the delay folks, it took a little longer than expected to get everyone on the same page for this contest, but I’ve finally pieced everything together and got a nice little package for you guys. I think you’re really going to like it, definitely a lot to be excited about it. This is just our way to saying thanks for the support over the last year, and making IWS what it is today.

Ok, now that the borderline opening statement is over, let’s get into it.

In the last post we laid out some early entry guidelines, that’s all over now. If you didn’t get the early entries, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of ways to enter, the guidelines are just different now. The people that sponsored this contest want to get some exposure for giving you guys a chance to win these awesome gifts.

Here are the guidelines:

How to Enter

Before you could enter just by simply giving a link back to this site and one to the contest page, you can still enter that way, but in addition to those you must also provide links to BetUS.com, SportsMemorabilia com, and HarlequinFrenchies.com. Here’s a perfect sample of how this can be done:

The IWS Sports Blog is giving away an Xbox360, autographed memorabilia, and some betting lines, courtesy of BetUS.com, Sports Memorabilia.com, and Harlequin Frenchies. How easy is it to win? All you have to do is comment on a post.

Feel free to do this however you see fit, or grab that example and throw it in a post, whatever works. If you simply want to link back to this site you’ll get five entries into the drawing for it, if you provide links to all the sites involved, including ours, you’ll get 15. This is the biggest earner, so get involved.

Subscribing to our feed will get you five entries, and commenting on posts will get you three. Again, comments have to be deemed germane to the discussion, and add to the overall value of the site. We hold final say on all commenting issues.

Early entrants: you can make a second post and get 15 more entries on top of the 10 you already got by doing this the first time.

How the winners will be Determined

Entrants are listed accordingly as they enter the contest. So if you make a post with the details as they are listed above, you’re name is entered into the log 15 times, and assigned a number. So if you are the first entrant, you will be assigned numbers 1-15. Those numbers are then listed in sequential order into the random list generator found at random.org, and the number that comes out on top wins. There’s no limitation to how many times you can win, theoretically, the same person could win every prize. Just more incentive to go out there and get all the points you can get.

Screen shots will be provided when the winners are announced.

Contest Details

The official start of the contest is September 2, 2008, and you can continue to rack up entries until 12:00 AM EST, October 2. Winners will be announced Saturday, October 4, 2008.

Finally, the Prizes!!!

• Grand Prize: An Xbox360 with a copy of John Madden Football 2009
• First Runner Up: An autographed baseball signed by Jake Peavy and CC Sabathia
• Second Runner Up: A limited edition autographed baseball signed by Josh Hamilton commemorating the 1999 draft where he was selected first overall. Only 100 of these balls exist, and are numbered to reflect so.
• Third Runner Up: A $100 dollar betting line from Bet Us dot com
• Fourth Runner Up: A $100 dollar betting line from Bet Us dot com
• Consolation Prizes: Five people will win an embroidered I’m Writing Sports Hooded Sweatshirt, and five others will win T-Shirts. Just let us know what size you need if you win.

And to Kick things off: an Early Bird winner:

Marc, for comment number six on the Yankees Fans are Idiots post. Congratulations, you won an autographed Rick Ankiel Peiora Chief’s helmet! It’s as easy as that folks.  We just ask that you take a photo with the item for the follow up thread.