2011 Masters: Where the Green Jacket Ranks Among the Biggest Prizes in Sports

The 2011 Masters is rapidly approaching, and come Sunday, another golfer will slip on the distinguished green jacket that's deeply revered by every player who has taken a step on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National. 

That got me thinking.

Where does the green jacket rank among the biggest prizes in all of sports?

My criteria:

Look: How the trophy matches the sport, the championship, and it's overall attractiveness.

Legacy: How long the trophy has been in existence, as well as any cool ceremonies or traditions that have followed the trophy throughout its history.

11. Coaches' Trophy: College Football National Title Winner

College football is known for its pageantry, pride and deep roots in the American sports narrative. From the early contests between Ivy League schools, to today's prime-time showdowns of in-state rivals, there's not much more compelling to the American sports fan than a college football Saturday.

They have the biggest stadiums, the most passionate and usually rambunctious fan-bases, and a bowl system that dates back to the early 20th century.

On a team's quest to a National Title, we're shown glimpses of the Coaches Trophy, placed on the all-black base, but there's just something missing.

The Look:

The trophy itself makes sense, as it's a replica of a football. It's made from Waterford Crystal and weighs in at about eight pounds. Including the display, it's nearly 45 pounds, but the base is rarely held over the champions head in triumph.

The Legacy: 

The Coaches Trophy has been awarded since 1986, and a new one is made each year; it lacks history.   

10. Commissioner's Trophy: World Series Champion

Baseball was coined "America's Pastime" in the 20th century, and although football has slowly become more popular in the U.S., the World Series remains one of the most famous sporting events in the entire world. 

The players fight through an arduous 162-game schedule and battle into November to win the World Series Title, but rarely is raising of the Commissioners Trophy shown or discussed as the driving force behind each team's will to win the World Series. 

The Look:

It's one of the more attractive trophies, as it touches on baseball's rich history with 30 gold-plated pennants that represent each MLB team.

The Legacy:

The name itself doesn't carry any mystical story like some of the other prizes and has only been given to the World Series Champion since 1967.   

9. FIFA World Cup Trophy: World Cup Champion

The World Cup is the most well-known sports tournament on Earth. It's such an adored and intense event that some countries essentially shut down during their national team's match.

The four-year wait between each World Cup builds anxiety and excitement to monumental levels, and celebrations can last weeks for the country that wins this international event.

However, the trophy given to the winners falls short on a few levels.

The Look: 

It's a smaller trophy, but it's very sleek and is crafted from gold-plated sterling silver. It depicts Nike, the Greek God of victory holding the entire world over his head, which to me, is awesome. I'd still like the trophy for the biggest sporting event to be more grandiose.

It's not even 15 inches tall. 

The Legacy: 

The trophy was initially named the Jules Rimet Trophy, and was given to the winning country since the 1930 World Cup. After Brazil won that trophy in 1970, the new FIFA World Cup trophy was made, and has been awarded ever since.

8. Clarence Campbell / Prince of Wales Trophy : NHL's Conference Champions

It's been labeled as the least popular of America's four major sports, but hockey is very familiar with sought-after trophies. 

The Clarence Campbell Bowl is given to the winners of the NHL's Western Conference and the Prince of Wales Trophy (above) is given to the winners of the NHL's Eastern Conference. 

Why do these conference championship trophies get the edge over their football, basketball and baseball counterparts?

The Look:

Both the Clarence Campbell Bowl and the Prince of Wales Trophy are large, heavy pieces, yet they look totally different. The Clarence Campbell Bowl looks like the traditional "cup" we see in other sports, while the Prince of Wales Trophy is more elongated with hockey sticks encircling the cup itself. 

The Legacy:

The names are so esteemed, and have been given out since 1925-1926 (Prince of Wales) and 1967-1968 (Clarence Campbell, who served as NHL commissioner from 1946-1977)

The superstition behind these two awards are what makes them special. After erupting in total jubilation upon winning a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals, each victorious team coldly stares at the trophy or bowl because their journey is not yet complete.

That may seem like a slight to each trophy, but to me, it's a very famous spectacle of each award ceremony that keeps everyone watching.

Only in the last few years have the captains of the winning clubs posed for a picture with the trophies, but they've almost always given the camera a stern look.  

7. Larry O'Brien Trophy: NBA Champion

The NBA is gaining popularity across the globe and has become arguably the most flashy and star-studded sport in America. 

The Larry O'Brien Trophy is given to the champion, but the trophy itself, like many of its award-brethren, isn't especially revered by the players and coaches. 

The Look:

The trophy is a gold basketball falling into a gold net, although the rim and net form more of a tube-like structure than what we see at the end of each basketball court. It's not an overwhelmingly big trophy, but it's large enough to fit well with the mammoth basketball players that hold it after winning the title.

The Legacy:

The Larry O'Brien trophy has been awarded since 1977 (renamed in 1984) and is named after the commissioner of the NBA from 1975 to 1983.  

6. Claret Jug: British Open Champion

The British Open, or Open Championship, is the grandfather of professional golf's majors. It began in 1860 when it was first played in Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland.

It offers a different and often-times challenging venue that can make the greatest players in the world look foolish.

The Look:

The Claret Jug isn't very big, but it's silver base boasts all the past winners.

The Legacy:

It's been awarded since 1872, and it's shown every year being engraved at the final stages of each tournament (sorry, Jean Van de Velde). It is the oldest tournament as well as one of the oldest trophies. It's got to be toward the top of this list.  

5. Venus Rosewasher Dish / Wimbledon Trophies: Wimbledon Winners

Wimbledon is the premier tennis major, carrying the richest history, having started in 1877. The Championships, as Wimbledon is also known, have been played at the All England Club in London's suburb since the tournament's inception. 

Wimbledon's trophies, given to the men's and lady's singles championships actually match the prestige of the event.

The Look:

The Venus Rosewasher Dish, the award given to the lady's winner, is a huge salver that's nearly 19 inches, and was made in 1864.

The design is filled with mythical characters, which adds to the intrigue of the trophy.

The men's trophy doesn't have a name, but is very revered in the tennis world. It's been given since 1887 and is in the more traditional "Loving Cup" shape.

The Legacy

The legacy of Wimbledon gives to the trophies themselves, and having been awarded since the eighteen-hundreds, these two trophies are held in very high esteem.     

4. Ryder Cup: Winner of the Ryder Cup

The Ryder Cup is the most patriotic golf event in the sporting world, with fans from Europe and the United States filled with nationalism during the three-day outing, often exploding in ground-shaking roars upon each sunk putt.

The Look:

The Cup is as classic as they come.

The Legacy:

The Ryder Cup has been played since 1921, and the cup itself has been awarded to the winning team after the 1926 competition. 

3. Vince Lombardi Trophy: NFL Champion

The NFL is now America's Game. Vince Lombardi is synonymous with winning, and he's always been the face of the Super Bowl. 

With the media hyping football's biggest game more than ever, the Vince Lombardi Trophy is in the front of our minds during the winter months.

The Look:

It's of the bigger variety, compared to some other of the trophies on this list, and the tilted football on the long base is one of the more recognizable prizes in sports today. 

The Legacy: 

It's has been given to the winner of the Super Bowl since the game's inception in 1967, when Lombardi's Packers beat the Chiefs, 35-10. There's no traditional ceremony, but the trophy is usually passed around to each one of the winning team members following the game.  

2. Green Jacket: Winner of the Masters

The Masters are played on the same golf course every year, but the tournament never gets stale. Augusta National's beauty and course layout make Masters' Sunday one of the most watched afternoons in all of sports. 

The green jacket is a different prize, but it aligns with golf's dedication to preppy and fresh attire. 

The Look: 

Come on, it's a green sport coat, in the Masters. Fresh to death. 

The Legacy: 

It's been awarded since 1949, and the one-of-the-kind ceremony, when the previous winner places the jacket on the current winner, also aligns with golf's emphasis on etiquette.  

1. Lord Stanley's Cup: NHL's Champion

The NHL's hockey season concludes each season with one of the most emotional celebrations in all of sports.

Hockey players are often overlooked by the mainstream media, endure a very grueling season, and an even more chippy and physical postseason.

Lord Stanley's Cup is the most highly coveted object in all of sports. Just listen to the coaches and players during the playoffs.

The Look: 

It's a magnificent trophy, and it continues to grow as the years go on. With the roster of every team that's ever won the Cup engraved along the bottom, it's quite the trophy to see in person. It's the biggest trophy of the four major sports, standing over 35 inches tall and weighing in at nearly 35 pounds.

The Legacy: 

Look, hockey players seem to thirst to drink from Lord Stanley's Cup each spring and summer. The famed victory lap when the players hoist the trophy high above their heads and skate around the rink demonstrates how much Lord Stanley's Cup is coveted.