Champ's Cola The word "champion" tends to imply someone who is well-known because of their inherent success in a competitive field. But considering the reality of cultural fracturing, with subcultures breeding even smaller and smaller communities with their own distinct hierarchies and icons, it's become more common that a champion to some is an unknown to others. Take "George Prince," the muscle-bound figure decorating cans of Champ's Cola. Cawy, a Cuban soda company that took refuge in Miami following that country's Communist revolution, considers Prince to be something of a great figure---in fact, the first word beneath George's rather cartoonish, gargantuan frame is "champion." And yet, his name is unfamiliar. Even the Internet, that almighty resource of hard-to-find information, couldn't dredge up anything about the existence of the same George Prince that's associated with Champ's Cola, besides the fact that Cawy has slapped his likeness on soda cans. There's George W. Prince, a deceased Congressman from Illinois; George M. Prince, who co-founded creativity research company Synectics, Inc.; there's even the 1976 George Prince ferry disaster. But George Prince, the champion of Cawy brand sodas? Not so much. There's been some brief research into his existence. Back in 2010 Miami New Times called him "a muscle man from an era long past," though it appears Prince is not only alive and kicking but still involved in the world of strength competitions: He appears to co-sponsor Miami Bodybuilding Championships at Physique World Gym in Hialeah, Florida. Prince's background aside, it's his image, or the one Cawy has selected, that's important to Champ's Cola. The idea the company is trying to convey is that its brand of pop is in the upper echelon of soft-drinks, that it's sort of the champagne of sodas. Using Prince's likeness has nothing to do with how important his name may or may not be and everything to do with the idea that his muscular arms and torso convey an image of superiority. The soda itself certainly stands out: It's a light cola with hints of a licorice flavor reminiscent of cream soda. It's sweet and tasty, but it has an unfortunate side-effect---it can leave your mouth sticky and leave your brain seeking more liquid to rid that uncomfortable feeling. But, perhaps that's just an intended side-effect meant to keep people cracking open new cans of Champ's Cola: Maybe that's key to making a champion beverage.