And Another Thing: Everybody's a Legend Nowadays

The advertising campaign for Blackglama mink, with it's often imitated headline "What becomes a legend most?," is one of the most famous of all time.

It had a simple premise: iconic, legendary celebrities (Judy Garland, Bette Davis, and yes, Ray Charles) were shown wearing nothing more than an elegant, expensive black mink coat in striking photographs by the great Richard Avedon.

So successful was the campaign that it has continued off and on from its inception in 1968 to the present century. If it's not broken, don't try to fix it.

For the most part, the subjects of the Blackglama ads were, indeed, legendary, as in meaning someone or something that is extremely famous.

Nowadays, PR people commonly invoke the L Word to describe anyone and anything even the slightest bit acclaimed. Take PR Newswire, the main channel for distributing news releases – we said news releases, not news – to the world's media.

If you look at their website, you quickly come to the cheerless conclusion that pretty much anyone with a publicist is considered to be a legend of some sort. This includes everyone from athletes who are in the twilight of mediocre careers to software developers about whom surely no legends ever have been or will be written.

Legendary should be used only to refer to (1) someone or something that has been celebrated or described in a legend (Paul Bunyan or King Arthur's Court, for example) or (2) someone who is extremely famous.

Here's a sampling of L Word references in more than 500 press releases on PR Newswire over the last 60 days. Which ones fit our description?

• legendary journalist Dan Rather
• legendary Pittsburgh Steeler Franco Harris
• legendary music photographer Rob Shanahan
• legendary songwriter Carole King
• legendary West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd
• legendary music mogul Kevin Liles
• legendary concert promoter Leonard Rowe
• legendary software developer Kent Beck
• the world's most legendary queen, Cleopatra
• legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman
• the legendary Waikiki Beach

Cleopatra: legend; Kevin Liles: just a record producer

By our count, the only bona fide legend here is Cleopatra. While Dan Rather, Robert Byrd, and Carole King are well known in certain circles (and even may be nice guys, to boot), it would be a stretch to call them extremely famous. Waikiki Beach is a nice place to sip a pina colada, but please show us the legends that have been written about it.

As for Kent Beck, Leonard Rowe, and Kevin Liles, all we can say is, "Huh?"

PR professionals take note: the L Word should be used sparingly, if at all.

Not the Same Old, Same Old: Just in Time for Summer, Fun, Fashionable Sterling Silver Ballpark Cuff Links

Summer is heating up with major sporting events on every continent.

We've spent a good part of the week watching the World Cup and Wimbledon. (We're still marveling over that unbelievable Isner-Mahut marathon fifth set!)

Brooklyn's Ebbets Field, home of the Dodgers, then – and now!

With another week of top-notch tennis and two of soccer ahead, we'll be up most nights into the wee hours cheering on our favorite players and teams.

But long after the dust has settled at the All England Tennis Club and the last of South Africa's vuvuzelas are silenced, we'll still have four months of baseball to look forward to.

This bring us to our newest gift suggestion for clients and friends who (1) are mad about sports and (2) get properly dressed for work at least a few days a week.

What we're talking about here are handsome sterling silver cuff links inset with wood salvaged from the stadium seats of such historic ballparks as Yankee Stadium, Ebbets Field, The Polo Grounds, Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium, and seven others.

Ballpark Cuff Links, from top, Wrigley Field, Chicago;
Yankee Stadium, New York; Busch Stadium, St. Louis

Do not laugh! Apart from serving a utilitarian purpose for the dapper man or chic woman who knows that French cuffs are once again in vogue*, our ballpark cuff links are also collectible.

At the very least, wearing them is going to lead to some interesting conversations and maybe even new business or romantic relationships.

Each pair is unique: the painted surfaces of these unusual cuff links may be uneven or multicolored due to multiple layers of paint.

The cuff links are hallmarked with the name of the ballpark on the back and come with a certificate of authenticity. They are nicely gift boxed, too.

The price ranges from $150 - $270 per pair, depending on the scarcity of wood. To borrow from Will Rogers, they're not making wooden seats anymore. And some of these stadiums were torn down a long time ago. The ones still standing have had low-maintenance-but-still-tacky plastic seats for a decade or more.

Our ballpark cuff make memorable gifts for the man or woman has everything, but most assuredly not these! We think you should give them to all of your important clients, every cast member of your TV show or movie, and all of the groomsmen in your summer wedding.

Don't forget your friends who are coming over to watch the All-Star Game on July 13. Imagine how surprised and delighted they'll be.

We sell these in multiples of five or more, any assortment of teams you would like. Please phone us at (310) 581-6710 to place your order.

If you want just one pair, or would like to see the complete list of teams, click here.

*Not that they really ever went out of style. They're timeless, like Fred Astaire or a hot fudge sundae.