This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/31/2012.
The United States Football League was a professional league which played its games from 1983-1985 during the spring and summer months. Founded by David Dixon, a New Orleans art and antique dealer, the USFL announced its formation on May 11, 1982, at the 21 Club in New York City. In the league’s inaugural season, the Michigan Panthers got off to a rocky 1-4 start. Panthers owner, A. Alfred Taubman decided he was willing to pay to fill the holes on his team with NFL caliber talent. Early in the season, the Panthers signed NFL vets guard Thom Dornbrook, tackle Ray Pinney, fullback Cleo Miller and defensive end John Banaszak. The team gelled, winning 11 of the final 13 games, edging out Chicago for the Central Division title. They dispatched Oakland in the playoffs 37–21 and weathered a frantic comeback by the Stars to become the first league champions. This size 11.25, 10k gold players ring weighs 32 grams and was presented to cornerback Ron Osborne after his rookie season when he was part of the 1983 Michigan Panthers USFL Championship team. The top panel reads “MICHIGAN PANTHERS USFL CHAMPIONS” surrounding twelve round-cut diamonds and a synthetic red stone. The ring has a total diamond weight of 1.0-carats. The right panel features the player name “OSBORNE” in relief above a casted image of the Panthers logo and “FS 23”, Osborne’s position and number. The left panel reads “1983” in relief above a casted image of the USFL Championship Trophy and “INAUGURAL YEAR” and a small banner that reads “1983 USFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - DENVER, COLORADO - PANTHERS 24 - STARS 22”. The inside of the ring is stamped “10K©JOSTENS”. The ring is in NRMT condition.