Put A Lid On It

Later tonight, within seconds of the end of the Super Bowl, players and coaches on the winning team will continue the now-entrenched custom on putting on a hat saying "Super Bowl XLI Champion" or some such thing. You see this in most team sports now, pro and college, and in some cases the post-championship look includes a T-shirt as well.

When did this ridiculous practice begin? And, more important, how do we get it to stop?

I suppose it's a promotional tie-in to the sale of such merchandise, but I can't imagine anyone not already inclined to buy such things being persuaded to do so by the sight of Bill Belichick in a hat or a T-shirt. Half the time the hats and shirts still have their price tags dangling from them, instantly transforming their wearers from newly crowned champions to participants in a bizarre mass Minnie Pearl tribute.

Please stop it.