FX.co ★ What to do with it: the most ridiculous sports trophies
What to do with it: the most ridiculous sports trophies
In the beer style
In 2021, the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the Formula 1 calendar. This stage of the World Championship in motor racing has not been held for 35 years, so the organizers decided not just to modernize the old trophy, but to make a fundamentally new award. The brewing company Heineken worked on the creation of the cup. The designers «molded» a large green glass from recycled bottles. Many drivers have criticized the beer concept, with 2021 Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen calling the trophy ugly.
What a harvest!
The Cincinnati Masters tennis tournament, which takes place in the US state of Ohio, has a rich history. The first tournament was held back in 1899. Since then, 13 different silver, crystal and ceramic trophies have been raffled off. However, since 2010, the Cincinnati Masters tournament has had a permanent award - the Rookwood Cup. The trophy is an oblong vase depicting green branches, on which tennis balls hang instead of fruits. Unfortunately, not all athletes liked this kind of creativity.
Like an easter egg
The Los Cabos tennis tournament has been held in Mexico since 2016 and, despite its young age, is very popular. The thing is that these competitions have the highest prize fund among all ATP 250 tournaments, the size of which is constantly growing. Thus, in 2022, more than $822,000 were played at the Los Cabos tournament, this prize pool is 37% more than last year. The only drawback of this event is its trophy. he award is made in the form of a large tennis ball, which is «painted» with colorful flowers. Because of this, many see the similarity of the cup with an Easter egg.
Just like an urchin
Another ridiculous trophy, according to some tennis players, is awarded at the ATP-250 tournament in Winston-Salem (USA). The organizers say that the main award of this championship is made in the form of a Moravian star, which is considered a symbol of Christmas in the West. However, athletes believe that the trophy has much more resemblance to a sea urchin than to a popular Christmas decoration.
In the shape of a tree
No less original trophy is awarded to tennis players for winning the Rolex Paris Masters. The award is made in the form of a tree with 56 branches. That is how many athletes traditionally take part in this tournament. It is also interesting that each branch is signed with the name of the champion in golden letters. Despite the conceptual idea of the trophy, not everyone likes it. Many athletes admit that they would be more happy with an ordinary cup.
Winning cockerel
The Sanderson Farms Championship is a professional golf tournament held annually in Mississippi, USA. Its winners get an unusual trophy in the shape of a rooster. However, this is not surprising when you know who is the general sponsor of the championship. Since 2013, the competition has been funded by Sanderson Farms, which is considered the third largest poultry corporation in America.
Pearl kitsch
Another strange award is given to the world's strongest golfers at the Qatar Masters. The golf championship has been held on the Arabian Peninsula since 1998. Every year, its winner receives a huge gilded shell as a reward. Interestingly, the clam shell is open, but inside it is not a pearl, but a golf ball. For many athletes, such a trophy seems too pompous.
Just a cobblestone
And this award, on the contrary, is considered too simple. The organizers of the famous Paris-Roubaix cycling race did not bother about the trophy. Since the end of the 19th century, the winners of these competitions have been awarded a piece of stone placed on a small pedestal. This is exactly the case when injustice just rolls over. The route of the Paris-Roubaix race is called one of the most difficult to pass, because it has many cobbled sections. Of course, victory in such a competition implies a more impressive trophy.
Looks like Shrek
The Libertadores Cup, which is awarded annually to the best football club in South America, is made of silver and bronze. It is made in the shape of a globe on a pedestal, on the top of which is a football player preparing to hit the ball. Today it is one of the most recognizable trophies in the world of sports. However, he is constantly ridiculed. Many athletes call the cup awkward because the award resembles the cartoon character Shrek, especially from a distance.
Urn with ashes
The Ashes Match Series award completes the top 10 most ridiculous sports trophies. The annual cricket tournament between the teams of England and Australia has been held since the end of the 19th century. Since then, its winners receive a small urn with ashes as a trophy. It is believed that when the Australians win, they get an urn containing the ashes of a deceased English cricketer. And vice versa: the British for their victory over rivals receive an urn containing the ashes of the deceased Australian cricket.
