Mac the Knife

Neither of these would be chosen. They're both awful, particularly the Seahawks design.

Not to pick on you but rather to help: it's "addition," not "edition."

The original Halas/Hunt Trophies were contrived in the 80's, if I remember correctly a few years before the Rozelle (SB MVP) trophy was. The new designs blow, but the old ones weren't all that great, either. The originals were big and fairly bulky; the new ones meanwhile are too small. Tiffany should've went with something a little less abstract.

IMHO, If the Seahawks repeat, they should go with an identical top design, save having two Lombardi's instead of one. I think aside from the use of their "G" you could really determine much from the Packers design though - it looks considerably different from its previous rings, so who's to say they'll go in a new direction? The Patriots and Colts are also question marks, as the players seem to have a great deal of input into the designs. The career durations of players being what they are, roster turnover for both teams has been significant since either last won a Super Bowl (8 years for the Colts, 10 for the Pats). Consequently, while I think you're right to an extent, past designs may not be very indicative.

There's not been a single Cowboys ring design I've cared for - and not because I dislike the team. The vast majority of SB rings, along with conference championship awards, have been beautiful aesthetically. But each of the Cowboy rings, along with some others (e.g., the 49'ers ring from XIX, the Washington ring from XXII, and the Giants ring from XXV) are designs I look at and wonder, "Man, imagine what designs they turned down to choose that one."

My personal over/under on how long before the folks at NFL Business Ventures (nee NFL Properties) shuts this operation down because it's not licensed? 10 1/2 days.

I like the design. It's busy without being TOO busy. Maybe some customization could be had by changing the stones surrounding "National Champions" with stones reflecting team colors, but otherwise pretty solid.

Apparently the winning team will have little input on what appears on the CFB playoff championship rings... Simulpost!

Since the 2 Big XII Teams today got snubbed in the first College Football Playoff because the Big XII did not crown a true single Championship I thought I would let you all know it wasn’t always this way. The Big XII was formed in 1996 and from 1996 to 2010 they did have a Big XII Title Game. This photo I created of these player rings that I have in my personal collection represents the Championship Rings from the first 12 years of the Big XII. After teams left the Big XII leaving the conference with only 10 schools the conference stopped with the title game in 2011, I would guess the fallout of todays news the Big XII might try to add 2 more teams in the future as this was one of the main reasons why the conference stopped having a Title Game. Or I can see the conference once again have the Big XII Title Game next year even though they would have to determine a South and North division again. Experts say with 10 teams it makes having a title game a bit tough but I would guess the Big XII offices this week will be very busy with calls from angry fans, alumni and even teams wanting answers about the future of the Big XII Conference. There are a number of things I hate about collegiate football, too many to count actually, but a few that stick out... - The NCAA requires 12 teams in a conference to stage a championship game. Let the conference figure out its own structure. - The Big 10 having 14 (is it still only 14?) members, and the Big 12 having only 10. There ought to be a law against that; false advertising or something. - The ability of 11 teams from one conference to qualify for one of the 39 different postseason Bowl games. Come to think of it, the fact that there are 39 :censored:ing Bowl games annoys me. /getoffmylawn

He's estate planning. If he dies, his heirs would have to have the rings appraised, and depending on the overall size of his estate could be taxed on them. If he sells them himself and keeps things liquid (e.g., putting the cash in a safe somewhere), he bears any tax liability from sale income (as opposed to incurring liability from the inheritance and the sale), and he can tell his heirs "When I die, that money is at X." I've had thoughts about doing this myself (i.e., buying Chinese replicas of my Raider rings), but the quality of the reproduction has always seemed pretty spotty (not that I expect perfection). How have yours compared generally?

I've always thought that a Steelers championship ring should consist simply of the Steelers helmet logo; a circle, filled with nothing but appropriately colored stones (grey outline, gold/red/blue hypocycloids, the rest diamonds). No "World Champions," "Pittsburgh Steelers," no 6 or 7 stones being larger than the others. A "logo ring," commemorating the championship on the shanks alone.

Actually, teams have an extremely high level of involvement in the design process, which is why there are so many atrocities amongst championship rings in recent years. Herff Jones simply did what their clients asked. I am not sure how it works or how demanding the teams are, however, if you look back at the super bowl losing rings from superbowl 38 (Panthers), 39 (Eagles), 40 (Seahawks) and 42 (Pats) and 43 (Cardinals), jostens kept making the same ring over and over again. Did every team say, I want the same ring? Perhaps Jostens gave them a price discount because they already had the molds? I have no idea, I'm just speculating, but how in the world was the same ring produced 5 times for 5 different teams? My guesses, and admittedly they're only guesses, are that... In the NFL's case, while the league allocates a certain amount toward championship rings for Super Bowl winners, it's up to the individual teams to fit the bill for 'mere' conference championship awards. Add to this that most players refuse to actually wear them, seeing them as a "loser's ring," and yeah, I think there might be something to that idea. It'd also explain why the Steelers went with watches a few years back. In the NBA's case, the league itself handled the purchase/allocation of championship rings each year.

Actually, teams have an extremely high level of involvement in the design process, which is why there are so many atrocities amongst championship rings in recent years. Herff Jones simply did what their clients asked.

The Super Bowl logo for this was pretty cool, giving the whole space vibe since the Super Bowl was in Houston. It's a shame the Astrodome never got a Super Bowl, because I think it could've supported at least one Super Bowl since it was, at one point deemed the "8th Wonder of the World". Todd Radom did the logo for XXXVIII. That wasn't his first choice, though - and having seen one of the other concepts he did for it, I agree with him. The Super Bowl logo for this was pretty cool, giving the whole space vibe since the Super Bowl was in Houston. It's a shame the Astrodome never got a Super Bowl, because I think it could've supported at least one Super Bowl since it was, at one point deemed the "8th Wonder of the World". ... you know, I never really thought of that before. The Astrodome was around the first time Houston hosted. Why was it at Rice? Seating capacity. The NFL at the time had a very rigid requirement that a stadium hosting a Super Bowl seat at least 72,000. The Astrodome was nowhere near that number. I went to IUP. I remember when we beat both your asses on a regular basis.

^^^ This. Granted I trolled ya a little on the headline, but the real story was just how close the move really was. Not one of us anticipated that had that vote gone down, we'd have had another Bob Irsay-like evacuation on our hands then and there. Would've been fun to watch, though.

Tiffany doesn't need PR promoting their work.

How close were the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes to relocating a year ago? Bob Irsay having the moving vans idling in the parking lot close... http://seattletimes.com/html/hockey/2024716050_seattlenhl07xml.html

Basically it's in the Raleigh area.

That's pretty sweet, right there.

If the VP is such a VIP, shouldn't we keep his PC on the QT? For if it leaks to the VC, then he might become an MIA and then we'd all be put on KP.

He donated his replacement rings. One of the originals went to his brother, another to his father, and a third to some other relative. Either way or both, he doesn't have 'em.

There's reason for that. In Bradshaw's case, he doesn't have any of his four. He gave away his first three to relatives, and lost the fourth in his last divorce settlement. In Lott's case, his hands are so mangled from his playing days (including a digit he had amputated just so he could keep playing) that I doubt any ring would fit properly.

The Raiders just yesterday released something to the effect that they're working on a deal to demolish the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum and put up new stadia for the A's and Raiders on the site. By 2018. To which someone in the City of Oakland said something to the effect of it's either a bluff, or "they're on crack." You can't help but laugh.