Cleveland Cavaliers Employees Get Their Championship Bling [PHOTOS]

CLEVELAND, OH — When the Cavaliers punched their ticket to the NBA Finals after a tough series against Toronto, Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cavs, wanted to make sure everyone in the organization knew that they played an important role in the accomplishment.

Gilbert flew all employees out to Game One in Oakland to cheer the Cavs on against the Golden State Warriors. Unfortunately, the Cavs lost that first game on the road.

After the Cavs overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat the Warriors in 7 games, Gilbert and his partners wanted to make sure all employees and even those who were contracted by the Cavs were recognized with a championship ring.

Everyone from concessions, to Cleveland police officers, to the janitorial crew got fitted for a ring. The estimated cost — around $1 million.

Joe Ayala, a member of the Cavs security force, received his ring on Thursday in a quick ceremony with other full-time employees at Quicken Loans Arena.

As part of the security team, Ayala was one of the first in line to get his rings — yes, rings, plural. The Lake Erie Monsters are part of the same group that owns the Cavs, and since the Monsters won the AHL Calder Cup last season, all employees involved with the Monsters got rings also.

Ayala described the ceremony as "surreal," Dan Gilbert, David Griffin, minority owners and the president were all up there along with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

Ayala added that the ceremony was cool and personal in spite of the tight time constraints due to the home game scheduled that evening against the Clippers. Both Dan Gilbert and David Griffin thanked him by name, shook his hand, patted him on the back and said "great job, Joe."

The rings are not the same as the rings the players received but they are without a doubt, seriously impressive. Manufactured by Baron Championship Rings, both rings are striking, the Monsters championship ring looks like a premium class ring with an image of the Calder Cup and the Cavs championship is huge with a significant heft to it (that is a real diamond at the top of the O'Brien trophy on the ring's face).

Joe said he didn't realize this until he took the ring home, but his name is incorporated into the design on the side of the Cavs ring.

Another fun fact about the Cavs rings is that on the side opposite the face of the ring, there is a series of seven jewels with the white jewels representing Warriors wins and red jewels representing Cavs wins. The best part are the consecutive three red jewels on the end as a tribute to the Cavs overcoming the 3-1 deficit and beating the Warriors in Oakland. Ayala called it a "a fun dig at Golden State."

"This ring is pretty much a family heirloom now," Ayala said. Adding that it will be with him until he's "dead and gone."

Regarding wearing the ring, Joe was quick to say that he would not be wearing it and after this week, the ring will be going to an "undisclosed location" such as a safety deposit box.

When asked if he thought if he would get to add a second championship ring to that safety deposit box, Ayala pointed out it was still early in the season but if the Cavs do make it to the Finals he hopes it's not against Golden State, adding, "I'd like to go to a different city."

In addition to being part of the Cavs security team, Ayala is also an accomplished artist, to check out his work, click the link to visit the JOE AYALA GALLERY.

Joe lives in Lakewood, Ohio with his wife, Stephanie, who is an instructor at Fuzion Martial Arts and their son Julian.

See also:

• ICYMI: Watch LeBron and the Cavs Dance After a Touchdown During Ohio State-Michigan Game
• Cleveland Cavaliers Visit the White House
• Watch: Cavs Return to Cleveland; Parade Scheduled
• Streaker Makes Statement at Game Four of NBA Finals in Cleveland, Cavs Do Not
• Cavs Win, Forcing Game 7 and Steph Curry's Wife Tweets Her Frustrations

Photos by Rick Uldricks/Patch