Mascot Hall of Fame
Let me preface this by saying, generally, I don't like mascots at sporting events. They're basically a needless distraction from the game, like cheerleaders and dizzy-bat contests. I realize I'll probably feel differently when I have kids.
That being said, I've got to give it up to the Phillie Phanatic for his rightful induction into the new Mascot Hall of Fame. Of course, how could he not get in? Dave Raymond, the first Phanatic, is running this hall. I grew up with the Phillies and now, just as when I was an easy-to-please 10-year-old, find his antics genuinely funny (even with a new guy in the costume).
Also entering this goofball Hall of Fame were the San Diego Chicken (not so great, but a mascot original) and the Phoenix Suns Gorilla, who probably got in for his dunking ability.
Who got unfairly snubbed? Mickey Mouse? Nah. Ronald McDonald? Overrated. Harvey Hound, the Calgary Flames dog who had his tongue famously snatched by Oilers coach Craig MacTavish? Maybe next year.
The two I'd like to see get in: Hoops, the former Washington Bullets mascot who was ejected from an NBA game by thin-skinned ref Steve Javie, and Youppi! -- Le Grand Orange -- who rattled around cavernous Stade Olympique all those years for the Expos. He didn't head to Washington with the Nationals. So, s'il vous plait, Hall voters: throw Quebec a bone, induct Youppi!
Comments (6)
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I'm not ready to give the nod to Youppi. He's just kind of bizarre and I could never figure out his connection with the Expos. That said, I was glad to catch a glimpse of him at an Expos game before the team headed to D.C.
Posted on August 18, 2005 9:09 AM
Jason, I hate do this ... but I've got to agree with Jeff about Youppi. Yes, he was bizarre. Yes, he seemed to have only a tangential relationship to the Expos. And yes, he had a question mark on the back of his jersey. But that was part of his greatness! After all, what is an Expo? Why was there baseball in Montreal? Why do people speak French in Canada? All bizarre questions befitting a bizarre mascot. Short of having Jean Paul Sartre as the team's mascot, Youppi was the best choice. And he made the most of it. A clear hall-of-famer. Maybe not first ballot. But definitely an HOFer.
Now, what about the Capital City Goofball?
Posted on August 18, 2005 2:39 PM
As far as the current crop of mascots goes, Sir Purr of the Carolina Panthers is a definite future first-ballot HOF'er.
Honestly, I once heard a couple of Panther players mention Sir Purr in post-game interviews, saying they had never seen a guy work so hard to rally a crowd.
S.P. also gets points for being absolutely dominant in the halftime college vs. pro mascot game the Panthers hold every year. I mean, he just tormented the N.C. State Wolf one year.
Posted on August 18, 2005 5:10 PM
Amazing, and sad, as it is, colleagues Rob Daniels, Jim Young and I spent most of today's podcast discussing Mascot Hall of Fame snubs, potential future inductees and some of the best and worst college mascots. Check it out at the Web site tomorrow morning when it goes up.
We did Sir Purr a disservice -- don't think he got a mention, but he's obviously doing a great job rallying the masses.
Oh, and when I say "le Grande Orange," I don't mean for Youppi to be confused with Syracuse's big orange mascot -- the human pin cushion.
Posted on August 18, 2005 5:19 PM
a) Calling Mickey Mouse a "mascot" seems a bit off, though I know Disney has owned a couple of pro teams in its day.
b) I'd vote for "Big Red" at Western Kentucky, who I believe was supposed to represent a hill (for the Hilltoppers), but always looked like a big red Hershey's Kiss.
Also, that original troupe of trampoline dunkers in patriotic colors, whose name escapes me right now. Also, Max Patkin.
Posted on August 24, 2005 9:44 PM
I am Hoops the former mascot, and I deffinetely think I should be in the Hall of Fame
Posted on October 16, 2006 4:25 PM