The ancient Romans kept their trophies closer to home. Instead of a tribute to the victors and gods in the vicinity of the victory, the Romans had their commemorative trophies constructed in Rome. These trophies were often magnificent, and included columns and arches atop a foundation. Outside Rome, there are huge stone memorials that were originally crowned with sculpted stone trophies…remnants of these trophies from long ago.

There is little knowledge about awards of trophies given during the Middle Ages. However, in the New World, chalices, or two-handled cups, were given to winners of sporting events as early as at least the very late 1600s. An exquisite example of this is a small two-handled sterling cup in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, that was given to the winner of a short horse race between two towns in New England about 1699. It’s named the and is called the Kyp Cup as it was fabricated by silversmith Jesse Kyp . Chalices were primarily associated with sporting events, and were typically made in silver. They were awarded in horse racing, boating and early automobile racing. Sporting awards still often take the form of a cup, including the Davis Cup, a major tennis trophy first awarded in 1900, the Stanley Cup, given to National Hockey League champs (1894), and the World Cup, given since 1967 to top male and female alpine skiers, to name a few.

“The next challenge for me? Of course I’d like to be the new island manager in 2011.” He added: “I had a taste of it at the Island Games, and what a fantastic week that was.”

Thousands of South African football fans, many sporting the national team’s shirt, queued for hours in Khayelitsha, one of Cape Town’s townships, to have their picture taken next to the solid gold trophy.

The World Cup trophy is only allowed to be touched by the winners and by heads of state. On arrival in South Africa, it was taken to Johannesburg to Nelson Mandela by the head of FIFA, Jerome Valcke. Mandela, of course, could touch the trophy, and was photographed grinning with his hand on the globe that tops the trophy. Mandela has been heavily involved in the arrangements for the World Cup, and Valcke said there was no question that he wouldn’t be the first stop the trophy made on its tour of the first ever African country to host the tournament.

The trophy, prior to its tour of 33 South African cities, had been on an international tour covering 81,000 miles and 86 different countries. After the tour it will be taken to Soweto, where the opening match between South Africa and Mexico will take place on June 11th.

Whilst there is not much chance of the South African team getting their hands on the statuette, as rank outsiders in the competition, thousands of fans will at least get the opportunity to see the majestic golden trophy close up and get a picture with it.

The World Cup Trophy is actually the third World Cup trophy that has been made. The original was won outright by Brazil in 1970, and so a second of the original Jules Rimet trophies was made. This was stolen in 1983 and never found. The trophy had been stolen once before and found a few days later under a bush wrapped in newspaper (found by a dog called Pickles – this is the kind of thing that comes up in pub quizzes so remember it), but after the 1983 theft a new trophy was designed, made of solid 18 carat gold. Lifting the trophy is not as easy as the elated winners will undoubtedly make it look – it weighs over 6 kilos (13.6lbs), which is 5 kilos of solid gold and a malachite base. Unlike the original, this trophy cannot be won outright, the winners of every tournament do get to keep a gold plated replica, however.

Some D-TagZ feature a more classic look with just black etching, while the others are funkier and have a soft enamel colorfill. Just like the medals, they call come with an engraving plate for the reverse side so you can still add a name or personal message and logo.

Your recipients will love the look of the Dog-TagZ. Not only will they be cool to wear but they will recognize all players for their hard work!

Show team spirit with Sports Trophies

sports trophies

Many companies have Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, Bowling or Soccer teams. It’s a great way to promote team spirit outside of the office!

Championship trophies are perfect to celebrate a victory. But, even if your team doesn’t win the top honor, they should still be rewarded for their time and effort. Each player is showing team spirit by participating in after-hours activities and representing the company in a competition.

Trophies are available for most team sports for as little as $3 a piece. Both male and female figures can be placed on a trophy base. A special Trophy Cup or Plaque engraved with their name and company logo shows appreciation for a Team Captain.

Your employees will be proud to display their sports team participation trophies!

trophies & awards

The Rhinos are attempting to win an unprecedented third consecutive Super League title, as well as a second straight World Club Challenge. Sinfield has also set his sights on victory in the Challenge Cup.

“We want all the trophies. The Challenge Cup is something that has eluded me in my career and it’s something I’m desperate to get my hands on but no more than the Super League trophy,” he said.

“The success we’ve had has spurred us on for more. It gets better every year and to be part of what we have experienced at Old Trafford again would be something special.

“And why not? Someone has got to win it so why not us? We’ve got a great squad, although we understand we’re going to be a big scalp for everyone this year.”
Squad

The reigning champions have added former Australian international Danny Buderus and New Zealand Test forward Greg Eastwood to their squad in the off-season.

Sinfield believes that they, along with the younger players who have secured a spot in the senior squad this season, make the Rhinos even stronger than last year.

“We’ve recruited pretty well. To bring in someone like Danny Buderus is a major coup for the club and I expect big things from Greg Eastwood when he comes,” he added.

“Add to that four or five younger lads we’ve pulled into the squad who look every bit Super League players.

“I feeling it’s turning more into a squad game every season and the team with the strongest squad invariably wins it. Our prospects are good.”

Originally posted at Skysports.com

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation would like to recognize and honor their 2008 award winners. The following horses and riders have been awarded trophies for their excellence in competition for the 2008 show year.

Wellington, FL’s, Margie Engle took home the John H. Fritz Cup after she won the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Show Jumping Championship this fall. Engle rode Hidden Creek’s Quervo Gold and Hidden Creek’s Pamina L to the win in the two-phase class.

The Markham Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Mr. & Mrs. Charles D. Plumb, is given every year to the top young rider under the age of 21 competing in the USEF National Eventing Championship or who places highest in the USET Spring/Fall events. The highest-placed rider in the spring and fall events this year was 18-year-old Madeline Blackman of Ringoes, NJ, with Gordonstown.

There were three other three-day eventing trophies awarded this year as well. The winner of the Pinnacle Cup was Phillip Dutton, who was the highest-placed U.S. rider at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****. Dutton, of West Grove, PA. He won the event on Connaught, owned by Bruce Duchossois. This is the second year in a row that the Pinnacle Cup has gone to Dutton.

Fellow Olympic team member Amy Tryon of Duvall, WA, was a double winner. She won the Gladstone Challenge Trophy at the National Open Spring Championship with Leyland, who is owned by the Nicholson family. She also won the Fall Three-Day Championship with Coal Creek, co-owned by Tryon and Katherine Sullivan.

The USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals are held every year for riders on the East Coast and West Coast. The winner of the West Coast Finals was Hannah Selleck of Thousand Oaks, CA. She was awarded the Denali Memorial Perpetual Trophy, which was donated by Mrs. Maya Z. Hamburger. Her trainer, Karen Healey, was given the Leading Trainer Award, donated by Hugh Cassidy III.

Sophie Benjamin of Rancho Santa Fe, CA, made the trip to Gladstone to win the East Coast Finals and took home the French Leave Perpetual Trophy, donated by the Gerald A. Nielsen family. Her trainer, Stacia Madden, also won the Leading Trainer Award.

The win and trophy for the National Intermediaire I Championship for dressage went to Michelle Gibson of Wellington, FL, and Don Angelo, owned by Diamante Farms. The trophy was donated by Ivan Bezugloff, Jr. Kassandra Barteau of Gilberts, IL, notched her second win in a row on Gabriella at the USEF Dressage Young Rider Championship. For her win, Barteau was awarded the Riders’ Cup/Terry Koenig Memorial Trophy.

The Moore Memorial Trophy is presented every year to the National Champion Pairs Driver. This year’s winner was Lisa Singer of Chadds Ford, PA. Fellow driver Chester C. Weber of Ocala, FL, won the USEF National Driving Championship for Four-in-Hand Teams for the sixth year in a row and took home the Reginald C. Vanderbilt Cup, which was donated by Georgiana and Noel F. Bowers.

The Margo O’Callaghan Trophy, which was originally called the Contenders’ Cup, was presented to Rebecca Hart of Erie, PA. Hart and Norteassa won the USEF National Para-Equestrian Championship this year.

Craig Schmersal of Overbrook, OK, piloted Mr. Dual Rey to the USEF National Open Reining Championship this year and took home the reining trophy to round out a year of top competition.

The USET Foundation would like to congratulate all of the equestrian athletes who competed this year and wish the best for everyone in 2009.

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is the non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high-performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation.

Originally posted by Jennifer Wood.

Heisman Trophy Winner Bradford Returns to Oklahoma Next Season
Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) — University of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford wants to emulate Jason White, who led the Sooners to a second national championship game appearance the year after he won the 2003 Heisman Trophy.

Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner, said yesterday he’ll return for his junior year. White’s feat was repeated the following year by Matt Leinart, who led the University of Southern California to the Bowl Championship Series title game in 2005, the year after he won the trophy.

Tight end Jermaine Gresham, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and offensive tackle Trent Williams will join Bradford in their quest for a second BCS championship title after the 2009 season.

“They understand the value of gaining another year of experience and improving their position in the draft along with the value of either finishing their degree or being within a few hours of completing it,” said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.

Bradford, 21, an Oklahoma City native, led college football’s top division with 50 passing touchdowns last season, directing an offense that scored more than 60 points in five straight games.

“If I’d gone one way or the other it would’ve been the right decision,” Bradford said yesterday at a televised press conference. “But I do feel like I’ve made the right decision by coming back.”

He was last year’s most efficient passer in Football Bowl Subdivision play and broke the National Collegiate Athletic Association record for touchdown passes during his freshman and sophomore seasons with 86.

Bradford’s 4,720 yards passing last year ranked him third in the country behind Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell and Houston’s Case Keenum.

Bradford and University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman winner, are the only sophomores to win the award, which goes to the top college football player.

Tebow, who finished third in the Heisman voting in 2008, announced Jan. 11 during a ceremony celebrating the Gators’ 24- 14 win over the Sooners in the Bowl Championship Series title game that he’ll return for his senior season.

Bradford completed 26 of 41 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns in the title-game defeat.

Originally posted by Mason Levinson.

Bradford beat out fellow quarterbacks Colt McCoy of Texas and 2008 Heisman winner Tim Tebow of Florida for the bronze statue. He garnered 1,726 points for the win, with McCoy placing second at 1,604 points and Tebow third with 1,575 points.

“Wow, I really don’t think I can put it into words. It’s kind of a surreal experience,” Bradford said moments after winning.

But as usual, he was quick to give credit to family and coaches.

“I would like to thank my parents. From a young age they pushed me for greatness. They instilled a hard work ethic in me,” Bradford said. “I’ve got to thank my coaches. Coach (Bob) Stoops probably puts in more hours than any coach in the country. I’ve got to give a special thanks to coach (Josh) Heupel. He was one of my heroes growing up. I dreamed about playing for Oklahoma and watching him play. Now to call him my coach and learn from him everyday and everything he does for me, I can’t thank him enough.”

He also thanked his teammates, who helped him post the gaudy statistics to win the award.

“I was surrounded by such a strong supporting cast. I feel like I’m up here representing them,” Bradford said. “This is an individual award, but I feel like I’m receiving it on behalf of them.”

With his teammates’ help, Bradford has put together a record-breaking season. He has attempted 442 passes, completing 302 for a 68.3 completion percentage. He has thrown for 4,464 yards and 48 touchdowns and is the triggerman for an offense that has scored a NCAA-record 702 points. The team has also scored 60 or more points in five straight games.

Bradford is the second sophomore in NCAA history to win the award – following Tebow – and the second Sooner in five years to win the Heisman. Former Sooners quarterback Jason White won it in 2003.
He also is the first Native American to win the greatest individual trophy in college football. And though he didn’t grow up identifying with his Cherokee heritage, he wants to use his status to inspire other Cherokees and Native Americans.

“I feel like that’s another blessing God’s given me. He’s given me a great platform, especially within the Cherokee Nation. For me to be an example for those kids, I really look at it as a great opportunity for me,” he said.

Principal Chief Chad Smith said he agrees that Bradford along with Sequoyah High School graduates Nathan Stanley (a freshman quarterback at the University of Mississippi) and Angel Goodrich (a freshman point guard at Kansas University) serve as role models for younger Cherokees.

“People like Sam and some of our other young kids, they encourage and inspire kids to think, ‘If they can do it, we can do it,’” Smith said. “That’s the valuable purpose of a role model.”

Bradford is believed to be the first Native American to quarterback a major college program since Sonny Sixkiller led the Washington Huskies in the early 1970s.

Sixkiller, who was born in Tahlequah, is now a 57-year-old senior associate general manager at ISP, the University of Washington’s sports licensing properties division. He said he regrets not meeting Bradford when OU beat Washington 55-14 on Sept. 13 in Seattle and that he might have given Bradford the advice to embrace the Cherokee culture.

“I think they can look with pride on one with heritage and one that kids can relate to,” Sixkiller said. “It’s just huge. Every little bit that’s positive helps, and that’s what he’s doing.”

But despite the hero status and the Heisman glitz, Bradford said his focus is still on the goals the team set before the season – winning the Big 12 and Bowl Championship Series titles.

The Sooners won the Big 12 championship Dec. 6 in Kansas City, Kan., with a 62-21 victory over the Missouri Tigers. Bradford played the game with torn ligaments in his non-throwing left hand, an injury he suffered a week earlier against Oklahoma State.

The injury isn’t expected to keep him from missing the BCS national title game Jan. 8 when the Sooners play Tebow’s Florida Gators.

“We’re ready to meet that challenge. We’re ready to get back to work and get ready for the eighth. When we started the season, winning the national championship was the first goal we put down as a team. I’ve thought about the game everyday since we won the Big 12,” Bradford said.

Because of his outstanding play the past two seasons, the speculation about whether he will leave early for the NFL has started. NFL scouts and experts have said if Bradford declares for the NFL draft, he would certainly be a top five pick. Some NFL draft analysts have Bradford rated as the top player available in the draft.

However, Bradford said he isn’t looking that far ahead.

“We have a huge game in front of us, so I’m not going to think about that decision. After the game, I’ll gather all the information that’s necessary to make the correct decision,” he said.

Bradford has also collected other hardware besides the Heisman. The Touchdown Club of Columbus, Ohio awarded Bradford with the Sammy Baugh Trophy, as the nation’s top passer, and the Chic Harley Award as its player of the year. It’s the first time in the club’s 54-year history one player has won both awards.

On Dec. 11, he won the Davey O’Brien Trophy for being the nation’s top quarterback. He also was named to the Associated Press’ All-Big 12 first team at quarterback.

Originally posted By Wesley Mahan at Cherokeephoenix.org.

They’re 10 golden, gleaming trophies, each touting him as a “winner” at T-ball, soccer, basketball. The most recent is a pewter mega-monument he earned playing football—on a team that lost every game by about 30 points.

While certainly a winner in my book, the kid has never once been on a championship team. Or even a mediocre one. Still, he has received more trophies than birthday cakes in his life. And he’s not alone.
Mini-athletes get trophies these days just for showing up. They’re de rigeur, as much a part of kids’ sports now as Gatorade and ghastly, costly team photos. At the end-of-season pizza party (also a given), every team member gets a sizable statuette on an engraved pedestal. Play-off teams probably get bigger ones; ahem, I, wouldn’t know.

“Claire got a soccer trophy even though she sat on her fanny and cried through every practice,” says a mom I know.

What’s the cost of being so generous with awards that were once reserved for the best of the best? Are we championing mediocrity? Will our kids expect “atta boys” for everything they do?

“There is a definite shift toward an ‘everybody wins’ attitude in sports these days,” says a local dad. “It’s good and bad.” Getting a trophy was his five-year-old daughter’s favorite part of her first soccer season—which explains why, at the start of the next season, she came off the field asking, “Where’s my trophy?”

Trophy inflation seems to have started with the self-esteem movement of the 1980s, when pop psychology convinced us that “effort” matters more than “success.” Some called this progress; others deemed it hogwash.

“I abhor awarding trophies willy-nilly,” says a soccer, basketball, and baseball coach. “I have strong suspicions the trophy industry is behind the ‘trophies for everyone’ tradition.” An outrageous accusation? Perhaps. “I suspect the Trophy-Industrial Complex is behind the subprime debacle, as well.”

In real life, loss comes frequently—elections, jobs, relationships—and it forces us to reassess our performance and try harder next time. Isn’t it better to let our kids taste disappointment now, when the terms are small, than to “protect” them from it till they’re grown?

A friend of mine who works in human resources says that, as young adults, the “participation trophy generation” exudes a distinct sense of entitlement. “We don’t give merit raises,” she finds herself explaining, “just for doing your job.”

But not everyone is anti-trophy. Proponents say the token effigies bolster kids’ spirits after a brutal season.

“We aren’t rewarding them for not winning,” argues one coach. “We’re rewarding them for showing up regularly, practicing, working as a team, learning the skills and rules of the game, playing through disappointment and pain.”

Well, when you put it like that …

“Kids can be so hard on themselves and feel undeserving even when they played well,” adds my cousin, whose children play up to four sports at a time. “Some kids have uber-competitive parents and a little trophy may be their only positive reinforcement.”

It’s a fair point. It’s not like we’ve stopped scoring the games; kids, it turns out, are keenly aware of the difference between bench-warming trophies and VIP trophies. And while they may treasure a thanks-for-playing memento as a souvenir from an exacting season, they’ll be the first to tell you this: It’s small consolation for failure.

“There are only three trophies I’m really proud of,” says a sensible fifth-grader I know, who has won big in soccer, hoops, and music. “The rest I call ‘loser trophies‘ because you get them for losing.

“I actually think they’re a waste of metal.”
Originally posted by Starshine Roshell.