This debate was sparked by an online article and subsequent discussion between co-workers. Any Google search will return a number of opinion pieces on the topic, but of course I'd like to hear the Cougar perspective.

We figured there are many factors to consider when determining the best trophy, including (but not limited to): Look/aesthetics, tradition, relevance/importance, name, and uniqueness.

But then there is the debate over how heavily you weigh each factor. Is it better to be a little odd but one-of-a-kind, or classically styled but cookie-cutter?

Our vote for the best trophy ended up landing on the Stanley Cup, though the Heisman, Lombardi, and Clarett Jug all got (informal) votes. The worst was less decisive, with some votes for NCAA Championship plaques and many more web-searched "write-ins". There are some pretty comically bad college football rivalry trophies out there: The Paddlewheel Trophy (Cincinnati vs. Pitt), The Telephone Trophy (Iowa State vs. Missouri), among others.

What are the best and worst trophies in (at least relatively mainstream) sports?