FORT MYERS, Fla. – This is how well things are going at the home of the World Series Champions.

The biggest controversy at the Red Sox minor league complex this week wasn’t about steroids or even about A-Rod.

It was about the bling.

For the first time in 86 years, the Sox are dealing with handing out the rewards of a championship. The biggest symbol of that championship is the long-awaited ring. The Sox are reportedly prepared to be very gracious, handing out some 500 rings to players, staff, and other contributors to the cause.

The problem is that the Sox were thinking of handing out those rings in a special ceremony. A ceremony held independently of a game. A ceremony not held prior to the home opener, when the Sox will play the Yankees.

In the first days of Spring Training, team officials talked about decorum and not wanting to rub the Yankees’ noses in the championship. Perhaps, they thought, it would be better to do it on a night when the Sox and their fans could enjoy it without the New Yorkers present.

That, of course, was not what Red Sox Nation wanted. They wanted the Yankees standing on the other side of the field, remembering “What Could Have Been.” They wanted to relish in the Yankees losing as much as they wanted to remember the Sox winning.

Now, Ring-gate is over. The fans spoke out, overwhelmingly in favor of passing out the rings April 11. The Red Sox responded by creating three separate events.

“It looks like we’ve come up with the Triple Crown,” said Dr. Charles Steinberg, executive vice-president of public affairs. “The first jewel is that we will be faithful to our original instincts and present the rings Opening Day. The second jewel is that we will also honor the idea that had come forth about using it to help our charitable causes, so that night we’ll have the Welcome Home’ dinner that benefits the Red Sox Foundation, and the players will have them on public display for the first time then.

“The third jewel would be that we would possibly have the next day at Fenway Park an open opportunity, say for a nominal fee for the Red Sox Foundation, for parents and children and grandparents to see some rings up close along with the World Series trophy, let’s say, so that you are ensuring that everybody gets a chance to see them; whether or not you’re so fortunate enough to have Opening Day tickets, whether or not you’re so fortunate enough to have tickets to a Red Sox Foundation dinner.”

That day would be similar to the daytime tribute to Ted Williams which allowed fans a chance to walk around the Fenway warning track and pay tribute to the late Hall of Famer. The Sox believe they have covered all the bases with this plan. They still will be mindful of not rubbing the Yankees’ noses in the ceremony, regardless of what most fans want.

“I think we can do it in a way that helps parents use baseball as a vehicle to teach good sportsmanship and the lessons of life.”

Dr. Steinberg ruled out my idea of having Alex Rodriguez hand deliver each ring to the champions, perhaps with a slap on the arm as well. Apparently, the Sox will do things with a little more class than that.

Which is fine. As long as they do it on Opening Day.

Lewiston native Tom Caron is a sports analyst for Bruins and Red Sox telecasts.