Championship Trophies

[Game7-91]

As the NFL marked the end of its season with the presentation of the Super Bowl Trophy, I thought it might be a fun distraction from the gloom and doom of the current state of MLB to determine which pro sports league has the best championship trophy.

For my part, I watched the presentation of the Super Bowl trophy, and have to say it seemed quite underwhelming to me. With all the build-up and over the top spectacle that only the NFL can provide, I look for something more substantial, not anticlimactic . This does not rise to the occasion imho. NFL, you can do better! Your trophy reminds me of Spinal Tap's Stonehenge monument in concert:

MLB Commissioner's Trophy is more  substantial, but really, if it can be coddled like a toddler, it falls behind #1 on my list. And Manfred's infamous quote a few years back, "It's just a piece of metal", well, too close to the truth my friend. And by the way, how could the wind blow these pennants in two different directions simultaneously? The pennant poles remind me of Covid test nasal swabs. And I dont like that. Time to update the design boys.

 

The NBA OBrien trophy? Just doesnt cut it. When an extended index finger is 25% of the length of the trophy, well, lets just say this one needs a lot of help. Although it wins the award for Shiniest, overall this is just a weak, weak entrant. 

 

And finally, my #1.  A few years back, when I was about 7, my older brother had graduated into junior high gym class, and with that, proudly hung his strap-and-cup outfit over the bed leg as proof positive of his coming of age. He told me only real men get to wear cups, and someday, if I stopped being a dweeb, I might get the privilege too, but it had to be earned. When I later overheard a few of the Big People in my house talking about who would get to skate the Stanley Cup, I  wondered who Stanley was, and why would anyone want to skate around showing off his piece of personal protection equipment.

But then seeing the ritual and celebration on the tube, I was hooked. I don't watch hockey much, at all actually, but will always tune in for the game when Lord Stanley's Cup will be presented, and the Der Mensch of the pro hockey world get to Skate the Cup, in a ritual that approaches religious transcendence. This is a Real Trophy. Lifting it recognizes effort, as it should. Retaining the names of all those who have gone before. Handing on the one and same trophy. It all adds up to a clear winner in my book.

 

What is your favorite trophy?

Are you optimistic that MLB will present a 2022 World Series Championship Commissioner's Trophy?

Will the Twins claim Commissioners trophy #3? This year, or ever?

Hope springs eternal, here's to the Champions, and to the hope we will celebrate a MLB champion come November, December, whenever, in 2022.

 

[Original_JB]

As trophies and storied lore go, I don't think anything approaches Lord Stanley. 

[glunn]

I like the flags on the MLB trophy.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think it’s pretty obvious that the Stanley Cup is the best. The fact that it passes and is added on makes it transient and wonderful.

My second favorite is MLB. The flags make it a trophy of legend; it doesn’t have a ball or any indicator of its origin, only flags symbolizing the players involved. 

[Nine of twelve]

I don't know how this can be sustainable, but one cool thing about the Stanley Cup is each winning player's name being engraved on it.

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, Nine of twelve said:

I don't know how this can be sustainable, but one cool thing about the Stanley Cup is each winning player's name being engraved on it.

They would have to keep adding to the base, but 100 years from now that could make it too tall to fit anywhere. They may have to fashion a new one, so whoever wins, parades around with two cups, the one they can add names to and the original

[Original_JB]

1 hour ago, Nine of twelve said:

I don't know how this can be sustainable, but one cool thing about the Stanley Cup is each winning player's name being engraved on it.

The top layer of the lower 'rings' get rotated out over time and a fresh blank one is inserted on the bottom for the latest winners. 

[Nine of twelve]

10 hours ago, Original_JB said:

The top layer of the lower 'rings' get rotated out over time and a fresh blank one is inserted on the bottom for the latest winners. 

Obviously I didn't know that. Via Google, I found out that names stay on the cup for 52-65 years. Every 13 years a band is removed and put on display.

[stringer bell]

I think the trophy for MLB is runner-up to Lord Stanley’s Cup. 

IMG_1400 2.HEIC

[glunn]

On 2/23/2022 at 9:32 PM, Brock Beauchamp said:

I think it’s pretty obvious that the Stanley Cup is the best. The fact that it passes and is added on makes it transient and wonderful.

My second favorite is MLB. The flags make it a trophy of legend; it doesn’t have a ball or any indicator of its origin, only flags symbolizing the players involved. 

I thought that the flags symbolized the teams.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

On 3/1/2022 at 1:26 PM, glunn said:

I thought that the flags symbolized the teams.

[adorduan]

The Stanley cup, and it's not even close. Players get their name on it, the tradition of each player getting it for day to take wherever they want. The crazy stories of what has happened to it over the years. And it's the hardest one to win.

[glunn]

17 hours ago, Sconnie said:

Thanks, Sconnie.

Can I buy the NFT of that?