Mickey Mouse ring

English

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.

Noun

Mickey Mouse ring (plural Mickey Mouse rings)

1. (informal, derogatory, sports, US) A championship in a sporting competition that is perceived to be of lower quality than other championships due to weaker competition.
   • 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^[1]:

     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.

   • 2020 December 31, Marc Stein, “From Kobe to LeBron: Tragedy and Triumph in the N.B.A.”, in New York Times:

     Occasional jabs about James and his supposed 'Mickey Mouse' ring haven’t really stuck.

   • 2021 March 17, “The Medic: NCAA's March Madness offers real threat for pandemic madness”, in Daily Trojan, University of Southern California, page 1:

     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.

   • 2021 June 17, Adam Caparell, “'Stop putting an Asterisk on Every NBA Champion'”, in Complex Sports Magazine:

     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.

   • 2021 July 15, Ethan Moutes, “It’s time to retire the notion of a ‘Mickey Mouse ring’”, in The Daily Californian:

     Basically, a Mickey Mouse ring is a championship that is not earned and seems to come “easily.”

   • 2021 October 7, “Who to Root for in the Playoffs Now”, in SB Nation:

     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!

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see Mickey Mouse,‎ ring.
   • 2010 July 11, Terry Kovel, “Each cupboard had its own special purpose”, in The Flint Journal‎^[2], page C3:

     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?

   • 2018, All India Gems, Jewels Federation, “Pandora marks 90 years of Mickey Mouse with limited edition charm”, in Policies on Gems and Precious Stones:

     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.

   • 2020 March 3, Maureen O’Donnell, “Jan Brent, a giving suburban Montessori preschool teacher, dead of COVID at 72”, in Chicago Sun-Times, News:

     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."