Do You Like Sports Mascots?

[turkeysandwich]

I've never liked sports mascots.
It probably comes from 2 incidents I had as a kid.

When I was 12 or 13 I was at a Memphis Chicks double-A baseball game and the special guest was The Phillie Phanatic. I went to a restroom that was kinda out by itself behind the stadium. As I walked out of the restroom, the Phillie Phanatic came flying by from around the corner on his four-wheeler. I literally had to jump out of the way and hit my elbow on the drinking fountain to avoid being run over. The Phanatic never looked by he just kept driving about 50 MPH out into the parking lot. There was no one else around and only I witnessed this, but I was almost killed by the Phillie Phanatic.

Also I met the San Diego Chicken (I think he was already called The Famous Chicken at that point) at a Team USA Olympic trials game. I shook his hand and it was so sweaty that I looked at my own hand it was drenched in sweat after I shook his. I was about 10 and I was grossed out and almost puked.

I guess I've never been the demographic of people that enjoy mascots, because I have always been a sports fan and I never needed something else to entertain me at a ballgame. Plus I don't think the stuff they do is funny anyway.

What do you guys think about mascots? Anyone else have "tramatic" sports mascot stories?

[Big L]

I do they're funny to see dancing around and stuff

[Cyno]

Can live with or without them. Don't really care at all that the Yanks and Giants don't really have mascots, but I like N.J. Devil.

[juvijuiceisloose]

Benny the Bull, the Phoenix Suns Gorilla, and the San Diego Chicken are the only ones who should be allowed to exist.

At least in Pro Sports.

[triplethreatmark]

I'm indifferent towards mascots, with one exception though:




Bailey is awesome.

[Deleted]

I respect it as a medium.

Their job isn't all that much different from pro wrestling, really.

They too have to get themself over within the confines of a ridiculous outfit/character premise.

[ohiofan1]

I really like College Sports mascots, that is where they fit best at.

[CMWaters]

Aug 11, 2012 21:50:32 GMT -5 juvijuiceisloose said:

Benny the Bull, the Phoenix Suns Gorilla, and the San Diego Chicken are the only ones who should be allowed to exist.

At least in Pro Sports.

And this one:

[Goldenbane]

I like them just fine, and don't have a problem with them one way or another.

[tigermaskxxxvii]

In general I have no problem with mascots. The only problem I have is when you just wanna be left alone and watch the game (or just enjoy whatever promotional event the mascot is at) and they try to get you to participate in whatever the mascot is trying to get started and instead of moving on to a more willing particpant they start poking at your side or do the "Awww, this guy's being a grouch. Hey everybody, don't you think this guy should participate in whatever the hell it is that I'm doing but he doesn't want to do?"

[Deleted]

the Suns Gorilla and Baxter the Bobcat are awesome and unique, but then I may be slightly biased.

[Demented]

The K.C. Chiefs mascot is a wolf.

A wolf.

WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE CHIEFS?

At least we got Warpaint back.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

All the others are just guys in suits.

[h]

Capering makes me uncomfortable.

And don't even get me started on antics.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

I love mascots.

[Bo Rida]

Not really but as long as they don't try and be the centre of attention I don't mind them.

However our captain scoring a rare goal to give us a record 106 points and celebrating by tackling our mascot to the ground followed by most of the team jumping on top of them is one of my favourite football moments.

I used to like it when rival mascots would be allowed to fight but these days the plastic idiots don't even travel to away games. Talking of away games singing "What the f***ing hell is that" at some of the weirder mascots is always fun.

[B'Cup x]

no love for Stomper? x

[Deleted]

I don't want to "date" myself, but I was 4. I remember visiting my aunt in a San Diego suburb and they had a parade near-by one day. One of the best parts was meeting the "KGB 101" Chicken. (I even got a T-shirt with the Chicken lounging on top of the call letters. Pretty sure it was a hand-me-down from my cousin.)
Not long after the Chicken was released from the station, the San Diego Padres picked him up...and he's been an icon of sports mascots ever since. (I love the Chicken.)

A few years ago, I was at a Gary (IN, yes we have a team and they're pretty good) SouthShore Railcats game, and they have two mascots: Rusty & Rascal. Rascal was tottering around the concourse on a scooter while I was in line waiting for my hot dog. The little turd almost runs me over.
So every time they have some sort of mascot competition (better dancer, a footrace, etc.), I cheer for Rusty. Screw you, Rascal!

(As a White Sox fan, mascots can go to hell. We had Ribbie [the way "RBI" looks like its pronounced] & Roobarb [another word for jeer, raspberry, Bronx cheer], and now we have Southpaw. Ugly things. But for a while they had a cartoon "Waldo The White Sox Wolf"...but the team sucked. Waldo would come up on the big screen in the beginning of a rally and howl. So my theory is: the uglier the mascot, the better the team.)

[4real]

Love mascots. Arsenal's mascot Gunnersaurus may be a bit ridicolous but I smile every time I see him outside the Emirates hanging around with fans. I have huge respect for somebody who spends that length of time in a hot costume like that.

And everytime I've see Mandevile and Wenlock jumping up and down when there's an athletics race I can't help laughing.

[babyfootball]

I still love the Phanatic, even if he is a careless and negligent driver.