Knicks reportedly turned fake championship ring offers into cybersecurity lesson for employees

There are surprisingly few constants when it comes to sports teams handing out championship rings.

We know a championship ring is going to be gaudy. We know the players who won that championship will get one. We know there will be some sort of ceremony. But beyond that, it’s really up to the team how far they want to go with it, especially when it comes to the number of employees who actually get one.

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That uncertainty has become relevant thanks to the New York Knicks’ breakthrough.

The Athletic’s Joe Vardon reports that in September, several Madison Square Garden employees received an email offering recipients a first glimpse at their championship rings, with two designs to choose from for their new jewelry:

“Congratulations, your Employee Championship Ring is here,” the email read.

“(Employee name), this one is on the house. MSG is issuing a complimentary employee championship ring. The same jeweler, the same craftsmanship, personalized with your name. No cost to you.

“There are two designs to choose from: Championship Gold and Garden Classic. Reserve the one you want below.”

Some number of employees clicked the link in the email. Instead of a ring, their reward was, reportedly, a mandatory cybersecurity class, as the email was an elaborate phishing test orchestrated to address Dolan’s concerns about cybersecurity.

Making that situation even more bizarre is that many longtime Madison Square Garden employees, including some who work in the Knicks’ business operations, reportedly won’t be receiving rings at all.

The Knicks are still working on getting their championship rings to the right people.

(USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)

Again, there is no set rule for which employees receive championship rings, but owners are often generous in that regard, though most employees receive toned-down rings in comparison to the diamond-encrusted monsters the players get. And the employees who don’t get them usually aren’t psychologically haunted by fake ring offers from their own company.

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The coaching staff pretty much always get rings as well, but the Knicks reportedly differed from the norm…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/knicks-reportedly-turned-fake-championship-ring-offers-into-cybersecurity-lesson-for-employees-032951440.html

Author : Jack Baer

Publish date : 2026-10-23 03:29:00

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