Rings

Clayton Kershaw’s 2025 teammates had already received their World Series rings in a pregame ceremony Friday at Dodger Stadium when the future Hall of Famer jogged out of the dugout wearing his No. 22 Dodgers jersey.

He took the ball from manager Dave Roberts on the mound and delivered the ceremonial first pitch. Then the team re-emerged to present Kershaw with his ring.

“For me it’s just a great ending to my career,” Kershaw said when asked what the new ring meant to him. “I couldn’t have scripted it any better.”

A detailed look at the inside of the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series championship ring.

(The Champions Collective)

Though his playing days are over, Kershaw’s time with the Dodgers will continue. He’s joining the front office as a special assistant, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly.

The Dodgers’ ring ceremony was the second part of a two-day celebration of the team’s 2025 World Series title. On opening day, the Dodgers brought out their trophies from back-to-back World Series titles and raised their new championship banner.

“I’m excited,” Kershaw said a couple hours earlier, after watching the Dodgers take batting practice before facing the Arizona Diamondbacks. “It’s why we play, is to win some of these rings. I heard the ring is pretty over the top; I haven’t seen it yet.”

Over the top, indeed.

A detailed look at the inside of the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series championship ring.

(The Champions Collective)

The diamond- and sapphire-encrusted rings highlight the back-to-back nature of last year’s World Series victory. They include engravings of the 2024 and 2025 trophies on both the outside and inside of the ring.

The L.A. logo is made up of 17 custom-cut blue sapphires, one for every postseason game the Dodgers played last year.

On the underside side of the ring, the four playoff series are listed, along with “11.01.25,” the date of Game 7 of the World Series.

The ring top holds dirt collected from home plate during Game 7, visible through a glass window when the ring is opened. Inside the ring sits a bespoke band that’s also set with sapphires and a diamond.

Dodgers players (from left) Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Max Muncy show off their World Series rings before beating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on Friday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

In a nod to the fan base, the total attendance figure for the 2025 season (4,012,470) gleams in blue on the bottom of the ring. Each players’ ring is also personalized with his signature, last name and number.

“Anytime you get to celebrate one more time with your teammates, it’s pretty special,” Kershaw said. “I know they’ve got to move on to this season, but I don’t have to. So I’m just going to keep relishing it. It’ll be great.”

Kershaw was already in town for work. He appeared on NBC’s broadcast of the Dodgers’ 8-2 win Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

A detailed look at the side of the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series championship ring.

(The Champions Collective)

“It’s just talking baseball,” Kershaw said. “So if people want to hear me talk about baseball, I can do that all day. I love baseball.”

His new role with the Dodgers, first reported by the Athletic, is another form of talking baseball.

“Probably not physically here in L.A.,” Kershaw said. “But definitely, I’m sure I’ll watch games. I still want to be a part of the Dodgers, so if I can help in some small piece, I will.”

A detailed look at the side of the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series championship ring.

(The Champions Collective)

Because Kershaw joined Team USA for the World Baseball Classic and then jumped into part-time broadcasting, he hasn’t fully experienced retirement yet. He said he doesn’t miss playing, but he misses the people.

“There’s a freedom with retirement,” Kershaw said. “If you don’t want to work out, you don’t have to. If your back hurts, it doesn’t matter. If your arm hurts, it doesn’t matter. You get to see a lot more stuff, be around for everything. So there’s a lot of great parts. It doesn’t take away from how special playing this game is, but there’s a lot of really awesome parts about being home.”

The “Harry Potter” team did not need a divination expert to know its cast would encounter some “unpleasant and aggressive behavior.”

HBO boss Casey Bloys told multiple outlets this week that the network had taken precautions anticipating the vitriol the “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” actors would face. Ghanian-English actor Paapa Essiedu recently spoke out about the racist abuse and death threats he has received since the announcement that he had been cast as potions professor Severus Snape.

“With all actors on any kind of big IP shows — and this is obviously one of those where you’ve got, you know, passionate fans, people with a lot of opinions — it can get scary in places,” Bloys told Variety in an interview published Tuesday. “So for any show like that, we anticipated it and tried to have training, you know, best practices in terms of social media and how to handle it. And obviously we’ve got a serious security team.”

Essiedu, who is portraying the enigmatic but ultimately heroic Hogwarts professor first brought to life by Alan Rickman in the original “Harry Potter” films, has opened up about the racist abuse he has received from those who believe a Black man should not be playing the fictional wizard.

“I’ve been told, ‘Quit or I’ll murder you,’” he said in an interview with the Times of London. “The reality is that if I look at Instagram, I will see somebody saying, ‘I’m going to come to your house and kill you.’”

“[N]obody should have to encounter this for doing their job … And I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t affect me emotionally,” Essiedu added.

This is not the first time that fans of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World novels expressed outrage over the casting of a Black actor in an adaptation. There was a similar outcry in 2016 when Noma Dumezweni was cast to play Hermione Granger in the original London production of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”

It’s also not a situation unique to “Harry Potter.” Racist vitriol has been hurled toward actors in other genre franchises, including fantasy shows such as “House of the Dragon” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” as well as those involved in “Star Wars” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Bloys also told Deadline in an interview published Wednesday that they had “anticipated there would be a lot of interest in all of [the actors], and interest can tip over into more unpleasant and aggressive behavior.”

“We talked to them about what to expect, what to expect on social media and how we handle it, but any kind of security that’s needed is an unfortunate aspect of doing IP shows,” he said. “We just try to be mindful and monitor it.”

Essiedu also told the Times of London that “the [racist] abuse fuels” him.

“[It] makes me more passionate about making this character my own, because I think of how I felt as a kid,” he said. “I would imagine myself at Hogwarts on broomsticks, and the idea that a kid like me can see themselves represented in that world? That’s motivation to not be intimidated by someone saying they’d rather I died instead of doing work I’m going to be really proud of.”

THIS valley might look like your average spot in Switzerland with towering mountains and pretty chalet adorned villages – but it has a whopping 72 waterfalls.

It’s called Lauterbrunnen which literally translates to ‘loud springs’ after the crashing sound of falling water.

It’s known for its car-free mountain villages filled with pretty chalets and shops – but what draws visitors to it is the sheer amount of cascading waterfalls, of which there are over 70.

One of the largest and most well-known is the Staubbachfall Waterfall, which sits in the village of Lauterbrunnen – named after the valley.

It’s 297metres tall and is the highest free-falling waterfall in Switzerland.

In perspective, this is almost as high as London’s Shard, which stands at 309metres tall.

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There are lots of viewpoints to see the Staubbachfall Waterfall, and those who want to get up close and personal can take the small path to the foot of the falls.

During the summertime, the falls are illuminated in the evenings.

Another waterfall is called Mürrenbachfall, which is even taller, and the water falls from a height of 417 metres.

There’s also the Trümmelbach Falls which a series of 10 unique underground waterfalls – and the largest of their kind Europe.

These impressive waterfalls have made their way through a mountain valley over thousands of years.

Visitors can see them on man-made paths, which are ticketed and cost around £15.

Thanks to its position at the base of the Swiss Alps, Lauterbrunnen is also a sought out ski destination.

As part of the Jungfrau Ski Region, it’s a great place to hit the slopes with 275km of runs and 40 ski lifts.

The best time to visit depends on whether you want to see the waterfalls in all their spring glory, or explore the village in time for ski season.

For those who want to take advantage of hiking, visit between June and September.

Or for a winter wonderland experience, go between January and February.

Unsurprisingly, visitors have described it as “breathtaking” and like “stepping into a storybook”.

The valley has also been compared to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth.

And it could have been the inspiration for the author, who visited in 1911.

Not only can you explore the village of Lauterbrunnen by foot, you can also see it and its neighbouring villages by cableway.

Just opposite the main train station is a 100 person cableway that runs from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren.

In just four minutes it climbs 686 metres and has been said to have “breathtaking views.”

Other nearby mountain villages are Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald and Stechelberg.

For more on exploring Europe, one writer went on Europe’s ‘Route 66’ with 46 attractions and beautiful beaches along the way.

And another writer went hiking in Switzerland and found cheese, chocolate and a new set of muscles she never knew she had.

Lord of the Rings fans are spoilt for choice with 10 UK destinations that “transport” you to Middle Earth – without the cost and effort of a flight to New Zealand where the film adaptations were made

Fans of The Lord of the Rings could be in for a treat, with 10 locations right here in the UK that “transport you to Middle Earth”.

The beloved trilogy, penned by JRR Tolkien, introduced countless fans to a fantastical world brimming with hobbits, elves, wizards and a host of other magical – and terrifying – creatures. Renowned filmmaker Peter Jackson famously brought the trilogy to life on the big screen, utilising his native New Zealand to recreate many of the iconic locations so vividly depicted in the best-selling book series.

If you don’t have the resources or the time to jet off halfway around the globe to immerse yourself in the world of The Lord of the Rings, there are plenty of picturesque spots right here in the UK that fit the bill.

Content creators Emily and Lucy, who have a passion for hiking and promoting local destinations, recently shared a carousel of images on Instagram showcasing 10 locations that bear a resemblance to Middle Earth.

In the caption accompanying their photos, they wrote: “Hiking through The Shire, Misty Mountains and Mordor just like Frodo and Sam – let’s transport you to Middle Earth right here in the UK.

“Just to be clear, this is our personal interpretation and imaginative comparison – not a documented statement about Tolkien’s real-life inspirations.”

Dragon’s Back

Middle Earth inspiration: The Shire

Emily and Lucy said: “The iconic landscape looks like sleeping Smaug the dragon from The Hobbit.”

This renowned trail, located in Powys, Wales, is famous for its winding shape which invites comparisons to mythical creatures.

It’s steep and challenging but provides stunning, panoramic views of the Welsh countryside.

Thor’s Cave

Middle Earth inspiration: Gollum’s Cave

The girls said: “Smeagol would love hiding away in this ancient cave high in the misty mountains with his Precious.”

This natural cavern is located in a steep limestone crag, in the scenic Peak District. It has an instantly recognisable arched entrance, and provides spectacular views across the valley.

Yorkshire Moors

Middle Earth inspiration: Rohan

The hikers continued: “Picture the Rohirrim army led by King Theodon riding to battle across these wild moors.”

Atmospheric, brooding and expansive, the Yorkshire Moors are renowned for their beauty. In North Yorkshire, this tourist destination is home to one of Britain’s largest stretches of heather moorland.

Gordale Scar

Middle Earth inspiration: Helm’s Deep

Emily and Lucy said: “It’s rumoured that JRR Tolkien did actually visit and draw inspiration from this place for his fortress built within a gorge with a stream running through.”

This limestone ravine is situated near Malham in North Yorkshire.

Pooles Cavern

Middle Earth inspiration: Mines of Moria

The nature fans said: “What lurks in the deep? A balrog? An army of orcs? Probably just some natural limestone and a gift shop [to be honest].”

A historic landmark and celebrated tourist attraction “known as one of the finest caves in Derbyshire”.

Arthur’s Seat

Middle Earth inspiration: Mordor

They said: “Hard to imagine but this was once an active volcano – the perfect place to cast the One Ring into the fire!”

An incredibly famous landmark in Edinburgh, it’s the principal peak of a group of hills that draw countless tourists and locals alike.

Sherwood Forest

Middle Earth inspiration: Fangorn Forest

They explained: “This legendary place, once Robin Hood’s stomping ground, could also have been home to the giant Ents. The Major Oak pictured below is thought to be 1,100 years old!! Can you imagine it coming to life?”

This renowned, ancient woodland can be found in Nottinghamshire.

Lud’s Church

Middle Earth inspiration: Shelob’s Lair

The LOTR enthusiasts said: “This eerie cavern has been the setting for many a spooky folktale – so why not a giant spider waiting to lure you in?”

Located in Buxton, this atmospheric spot is a deep, moss-covered abyss steeped in history and myths.

Old East Buxton Lime Kiln

Middle Earth inspiration: Minas Tirith

The hikers conceded: “Okay, okay! It may not be as grand as Boromir’s home and capital city but with a little imagination, you could explore this abandoned kiln as the rightful King of Gondor.”

These Derbyshire-based industrial heritage structures can be discovered along the Peak District’s trail and make for a popular hiking spot. They were used for converting limestone into quicklime.

The Giant’s Causeway

Middle Earth inspiration: Mount Doom

Emily and Lucy added: “A little cheat as we’ve already covered Mordor but another tribute to a once active volcano but in Northern Ireland! When it erupted thousands of years ago, it formed these hexagonal pillars.”

This iconic and celebrated nature reserve is situated in Northern Ireland and holds designated World Heritage Site status. An extraordinary natural phenomenon, its 40,000 interlocking basalt columns create a fascinating spectacle.