Mickey Mouse ring
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: Mickey Mouse rings
Etymology: Likely from Mickey Mouse (“of inferior quality”), or in reference to the 2020 NBA Bubble shortened basketball season held at Walt Disney World, or both of these; with ring as a metonym for “championship” after the Championship ring presented to members of winning teams.
Senses: examples: text: After the Lakers won their little Mickey Mouse ring, LeBron went to the church of victimhood as he often does, and talked about what a ‘huge challenge’ it was to be in Orlando.
ref: 2020 December 3, Will Leitner, quoting Ben Maller, “The Ben Maller Show: 'Stop Acting Like LeBron's Championship at the NBA's Bubble Was Challenging'”, in Fox Sports Radio:
text: Occasional jabs about James and his supposed 'Mickey Mouse' ring haven’t really stuck.
ref: 2020 December 31, Marc Stein, “From Kobe to LeBron: Tragedy and Triumph in the N.B.A.”, in New York Times:
text: But this upsets many fans, leading to widespread comments all over social media such as a Mickey Mouse Ring/Win/Championship (in reference to how the NBA bubble was at Disney World) to underline how these competitions are not authentic enough because of coronavirus's impact on how well teams can play.
ref: 2021 March 17, “The Medic: NCAA's March Madness offers real threat for pandemic madness”, in Daily Trojan, University of Southern California, page 1:
text: Lakers/LeBron haters have lamely labeled last year’s title, which featured a mental and emotional toll unlike any other in NBA history, a Mickey Mouse ring.
ref: 2021 June 17, Adam Caparell, “'Stop putting an Asterisk on Every NBA Champion'”, in Complex Sports Magazine:
topics: ball-games
basketball
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: The 2020 NBA championship won by the Los Angeles Lakers.
examples: text: Basically, a Mickey Mouse ring is a championship that is not earned and seems to come “easily.”
ref: 2021 July 15, Ethan Moutes, “It’s time to retire the notion of a ‘Mickey Mouse ring’”, in The Daily Californian:
text: But this upsets many fans, leading to widespread comments all over social media such as a Mickey Mouse Ring/Win/Championship (in reference to how the NBA bubble was at Disney World) to underline how these competitions are not authentic enough because of coronavirus's impact on how well teams can play.
ref: 2021 March 17, “The Medic: NCAA's March Madness offers real threat for pandemic madness”, in Daily Trojan, University of Southern California, page 1:
text: I do not want them to win a ring again. If the Dodgers win, at least it will remove the “Mickey Mouse ring” thing which would be a fair criticism if it was literally any other team than the Dodgers who actually have been the best team in baseball for a while!
ref: 2021 October 7, “Who to Root for in the Playoffs Now”, in SB Nation:
topics: hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: Any championship in a sporting competition that is perceived to be of lower quality than other championships due to weaker competition or circumstances.
examples: text: Q: I have a child’s Mickey Mouse ring. I think it’s sterling silver and from the 1930s. Could you please tell me what it’s worth?
ref: 2010 July 11, Terry Kovel, “Each cupboard had its own special purpose”, in The Flint Journal, archived from the original on 19 Jul 2021, page C3:
text: In addition, Pandora has also added some new charms to style alongside this limited edition piece, including a sterling silver Mickey Mouse ring, a stone-encrusted Minnie Mouse charm and an exclusive Mary Poppins capsule collection, which features an enamel umbrella charm and Mary Poppins Bag charm, decorated with clear gemstones.
ref: 2018, All India Gems, Jewels Federation, “Pandora marks 90 years of Mickey Mouse with limited edition charm”, in Policies on Gems and Precious Stones:
text: One time on a trip to Walt Disney World, he bought her a Mickey Mouse ring.
"She had that kind of sense of humor," he said. It wasn't a diamond, but "I think the Mickey Mouse ring probably meant more to her."
ref: 2020 March 3, Maureen O’Donnell, “Jan Brent, a giving suburban Montessori preschool teacher, dead of COVID at 72”, in Chicago Sun-Times, News:
glosses: Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see Mickey Mouse, ring.