2015-07-21
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Supersize me baby, because this is one of the big daddies of trophies, symbolizing ice hockey supremacy in North America. A lot of us have trouble seeing the puck, but you can't miss the 15kg Stanley Cup.
It started off at about 18cm high and now it's just about tall enough to start going to school at 90cm.
The reason: winning coaches, players, management and club staff all get their names engraved on it. Naturally, there are more than a few engraving errors and who is to say that they have found them all.
Players from the champion club need a minimum of 41 games in the season to get their name on the trophy, while the canteen manager must churn out at least 10,000 hot dogs with mustard to make the cut (okay, I made the second bit up).
At this rate, the Stanley Cup might block out the sun around the turn of the next century although the cup has endured at least one operation to stunt its growth.
Footnote: One bloke has had his name misspelled on it five times.
The Ranfurly Shield - rugby is moved by goalposts
The most famous New Zealand sports trophy. This wooden, challenge shield was presented by the Governor-General, the Earl of Ranfurly, around the turn of the last century.
It initially sported a picture of a soccer game on the centrepiece. These days, an independent inquiry would be needed to sort the picture out, but back then, they simply drew in a couple of goalposts on top of the soccer goals.
(There might soon be calls to take the goalposts off since there is so much kicking in rugby).
Ranfurly legends are plenty, but not from recent times. The Log o' Wood has lost its revered place in New Zealand life.
The most famous upset occurred when Marlborough beat Canterbury in 1973. Controversies included North Auckland refusing late season challenges in 1978 - a move which led to their famous shield coach Ted Griffin boycotting games in protest.
The rest of the country has been getting its own back ever since by stealing Northland's best players and threatening to throw the team out of the first division. Forgiveness, guys. It's time to let bygones be bygones.
