Games of Thrones

American Kristin Armstrong won something more important than a gold medal: a few moments on the throne. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

As the last few racers crossed the finish line the camera quickly showed a woman (who I later learned had currently been in first place), sitting on a huge gold plated throne.

From what I could gather*, the rider who currently had the best time sat in the gilded throne until another rider set a new fastest time and dethroned her.

It was phenomenal, and now I want it in everything -- sports to start with, but if every aspect of life involved competing to sit in an 8-foot tall gold-crested throne? How awesome would that be?

So how to make this work?

My first idea was to use it for the All Star Weekend three-point shooting contest, where the current leader gets to sit in the throne and wait to be topped. But then I realized if the throne was sitting there, someone would inevitably try a million terrible times to dunk over it.

We'll get back to this.

The easiest choice. The clubhouse leader now becomes the throne leader. His seat is placed on a scaffold built of arches and columns and he looks down on the 18th green. This would be awesome.

Idea No. 2: This already happened, so it's a bit of a copout, but former Lakers coach Phil Jackson used to have an oversized chair brought with the team on the road. Perhaps all coaches should have this? I'll keep thinking.

The starting pitcher sits on a throne behind home plate while his team is at bat, staring down his opposition. This probably would work better in the American League where there is a designated hitter so the pitcher could stay in the throne all game wouldn't have to waste his time trying to bat.

Idea No. 3: Anything -- anything at all -- that makes it impossible for LeBron James to sit in it.

I like this one best. You score a goal, you sit on the throne at center ice between the penalty boxes. And you stay there until someone else scores a goal. Imagine Pavel Datsyuk on a breakaway with the coach yelling from the bench, "Pass! Pass!" because he doesn't want his team without its best player.

Plus imagine how intense it would be watching Sidney Crosby**, after he scored an early goal to give the Pens a 1-0, having to sit for two periods waiting for his chance to return to the ice.

Close call in the fourth quarter: Did Frisman Jackson*** get both down? Referee Ed Hochuli wants to check out the replay. Where is the replay booth?

That's right. It's at the top of a marble staircase, facing the front of huge chair that has been draped in velvet and features intricate, hand-carved details.

Do you have any more ideas? How could this be applied to everyday life?

(*) I later found out that all the potential medalists get to sit in a throne, which I can only assume are constructed from the element of their current spot. Nobody wants to sit in bronze throne.

(**) CONCUSSION JOKE: Crosby probably wouldn't even remember scoring the goal or why he's sitting there!

(***) While we're adding a gilded throne to everything, we should also bring Frisman Jackson back to the NFL.