“You play to win the game,” Herm Edwards, the former NFL coach, once philosophized. In sports, the ring is the thing – and if not that then a medal, cup or some other decorative keepsake imbued with the history and prestige of a championship. Fans spend years emotionally investing in shiny baubles they’ll likely never commune with beyond a fleeting glimpse at a victory parade or civic rally, even as these trophy quests shape their lives and identities. But in the end, bragging rights are the best they can hope for; the hardware itself remains out of reach.
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