You can't teach good taste. Or trade for it. Or sign it as a free agent.

The Chicago White Sox, fresh off their victory in the World Series, got their rings in a ceremony preceding yesterday's loss to the Cleveland Indians.

You might not realize the White Sox actually won the World Series, since the television ratings were at an all-time low. More people actually watched the World Series BEFORE television was invented than watched last year's series. Interesting fact.

The rings...well, what can I say, Elvis would've been proud. They were designed by team owner Jerry Reinsdorf's wife. Even though the team colors are silver, black, and white, for some reason, the rings were made of gold, as you can see below.
Even Puff Daddy (excuse me, that's DIDDY) would think this ring is hideous.

As an added bonus to the cheeseball ceremony, where front office employees emerged from centerfield in a cloud of dry ice, dressed in tuxedos with tails and Sox caps on, the team gave a ring to shortstop Luis Aparicio, who played on the 1959 champs. I wonder if Shoeless Joe Jackson's extended family and the Comiskeys got rings, too.

The Sox also gave away 20,000 "replica" rings made of cheesy fake gold, dozens of which promptly turned up on eBay. Never mind the fact that the replicas look nothing like the actual rings. A few fans were near tears on the news last night, and two mustached burly fellas proclaimed they were going to wear the rings to work today. Niiiice.

Today, the Sox gave away replicas of the World Series trophy.
I believe next homestand they are giving away replicas of Ozzie Guillen's mustache, and rub-on Bill Ligue Junior replica tattooes.

Stay classy, south side. Stay classy.