Being a Kentucky player, coach or employee apparently wasn't a prerequisite when school officials were determining who would receive championship rings commemorating the Wildcats' 2012 national title.
Rapper Drake showed that over the weekend when he posted a photo of his personalized ring on instagram complete with his nickname "Drizzy" etched on one side.
Why would Drake receive a ring when he didn't draw up a single play or score any baskets last season? Well, those are fair questions but Drake has become one of Kentucky's most visible celebrity fans since the arrival of John Calipari three years ago.
He coached one of the intrasquad teams at Big Blue Madness in 2009. He sat behind the bench during the NCAA tournament in 2010. And he invited Calipari and the entire Wildcats team on stage with him during a concert in Lexington two years ago, even leading a C-A-T-S cheer and performing the John Wall dance on stage.
"They gave me a chance to actually come in and talk to them early in the season," Drake told CoachCal.com in 2010. "Just them listening to me, I think we all connected. They're all my boys. This is my family."
It's definitely unusual for a college team to present a famous fan with a championship ring, but surely Drake isn't the celebrity with some jewelry from the team he supports. Actor Jack Nicholson has to have received a ring from the Lakers after at least one of their championships considering he has been a courtside regular at their games for decades.
While plenty will argue that giving a ring to Drake cheapens what they symbolize, the rap superstar has contributed to the Wildcats' success in at least one regard. Unparalleled recruiting has fueled Kentucky's back-to-back Final Four appearances, and having Drake as a celebrity fan can only help that cause.
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