Super Bowl’s real prize

For 33 years, thousands of helmet-wearing gladiators have fought to bring home the rings. Few do. Fewer than 4,000 Super Bowl rings exist. Each year the rings are different. More diamonds. More gold. More luster. That’s why they’re worth so much. In collectibility. And in pride.

“The Super Bowl ring is the single most impressive symbol of being a champion in all sports,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jones says.

The National Football League will pick up the tab for 125 rings at $5,000 each for the team that wins Jan. 30’s big game. The losing team get about half that for it’s rings. Many players refuse to wear the consolation rings, which they believe symbolize defeat.

The NFL sets the price limit to avoid ring one-upmanship among the teams. Too late for that. Club owners, who contract directly with the ring makers, often add more glitz than $5,000 will buy.

Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis had this piece of advice for Al LoCasale, his executive assistant, who was in charge of ordering the team’s Super Bowl rings in 1977: “I want to be able to wear the ring in front of the queen of England and not be embarrassed.”

The bigger the better
Players want rings that look like headlights. It’s the ultimate mine-is-bigger-than-yours syndrome. That’s one of the reason rings have grown so gaudy.

William “Refrigerator” Perry, defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears’ 1986 Super Bowl team and one of the biggest men to play pro ball, owns the largest Super Bowl ring made: size 23. That’s as big as a half dollar. Perry had the ring sized for his middle finger. Bears punter Maury Buford recalls asking Perry why. Perry smiled his gapp toothed grin and responded, “You get more gold that way.”