The ring’s the thing, not the trophy.
Many pro athletes compete to rock the gaudiest, most expensive pieces of jewelry and pass them down the generations like priceless heirlooms.
It’s not some championship trophy encased in glass at team headquarters, but a portable metaphor guaranteed to stop traffic in any social or business situation.
The power of the bling was on display again Thursday as Los Angeles Rams players, coaches, and staff were awarded their Super Bowl LVI championship rings.
As usual in a sports arms race, the Rams had to make sure their championship bauble was bigger and better than those before it.
- The ring features 20 carats of white diamonds for the heaviest weight in sports history.
- On the outside, they’re personalized with the name of the player or coach and the team’s winning score over the Cincinnati Bengals. Inside are the game scores from the Ram’s Playoff run.
- They also feature a twist-off top with a mini SoFi Stadium inside, as well as pieces of the game-winning ball and SoFi’s turf.
The club tweeted a video of QB Matthew Stafford and Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp showing them off to friends and family, with the caption: “Some really big rings.”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady has the most Super Bowl rings with seven. Bill Russell and Maurice Richard of the respective Boston Celtics and Montreal Canadiens dynasties of the 1950s and ‘60s won 11 championship rings apiece.
The Rams’ eight-time Pro Bowler Aaron Donald has won enough hardware over his football career to fill a small warehouse, but there was no disguising the joy on his face as he danced around with the ultimate sports reward at Thursday’s ceremony.
“Ring me! RING ME!,” screamed Donald.
