by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
Just ahead of the AFL preseason launch, the Brisbane Lions announced that the Irwin family - Terri, Bindi and Robert - would be ambassadors for the club. Terri is the widow of the late wildlife conservationist Steve, who died tragically after a fatal encounter with a stingray. Of course, Irwin was most famous as the Crocodile Hunter. Terri and her two children were on hand at the Gabba for the announcement and brought with them several residents of their Australian Zoo, including a pair of Sumatran tiger cubs.
Brisbane Lion Daniel Merrett said the club was excited about having the Irwins and their Zoo and Wildlife Warrior charity as partners. He acknowledged the family's icon status in Queensland and worldwide fame as conservationists. Merrett said, “It’s not every day you see a tiger cub running around the Gabba, it’s been a very surreal experience. It’s sad to think such an amazing creature is in danger of becoming extinct ... we are pumped to get Terri and the kids to the Gabba ... we are just as excited to see some of the boys donning the khaki and jumping on board as Wildlife Warriors.”
Terri said she and her children were equally excited to support the Lions, saying the two-legged Lions were "champion athletes and true Wildlife Warriors."
For the record, Steve was an Essendon supporter.
Source Clare Pettyfor, Brisbane Media Release