Former New York Giants' star linebacker Lawrence Taylor's championship ring from Super Bowl XXV was sold at auction by Taylor's son T.J. for a total of $230,431. That's Super Bowl 25 for us normal humans who don't want to engage in the pageantry of the Roman numerals preferred by the NFL to "add" something (I'm not sure what) to the hype surrounding the "ultimate game" that's played every single year.
Current Giants' star Osi Umenyiora's attempt to bolster his Twitter following by inserting himself into the drama fell flat. After saying that he'd purchase the ring at any cost and give it back to Taylor if he reached 500,000 followers by auction time, he made it to 55,000.
I guess Taylor's Super Bowl ring wasn't enough of a worthwhile cause for the Twittersphere to band together to follow Umenyiora and support his decision to waste a ridiculous amount of money on something stupid.
The whole this is just that. Ridiculous and stupid. Apparently Taylor had given the ring to his son and said he was fine with whatever decision T.J. made as to what to do with it.
I don't think people understand the thinking of people who were involved in playing the game and winning the championship. It's not a pleasant realization to know that these possessions that so many people say, "if I ever had that, I'd never give it up" are not cherished to that degree by the participants. For many, it's a bauble that isn't doing them any good sitting in a safe deposit box or a drawer or closet in their home. Taylor especially has shown little interest in being involved with the game of football following his retirement.
If you listen to him analyze the game, he'd be a brilliant broadcaster. He's not interested.
If you listen to him talk about little wrinkles that player can and should use to advantage themselves, he'd be a successful coach. He's not interested.
Taylor could be a scout or a front office person, but it's not what he wants to do.
He's done some acting, professional wrestling and commercials with various levels of competence and success. But he's never shown a serious desire to become a breakout star in anything other than playing the game of football. That's what he was great at and he doesn't do it anymore.
His Super Bowl ring was sold and it's no one's business. Even if it was, Taylor himself doesn't care, so why should we?