Comments on: Is It A Duck? A Chicken? A Dinosaur?…Or Something Else?

By: Kelly Heatly

Kelly Heatly — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 15:53:36 +0000

The single best mascot in the world of sports is LSU’s Mike the Tiger — powerful, memorable, and classic. According to LSU tradition, the Tigers will score a touchdown for every time Mike growls before the game. Keep on growling, Mike!

By: Bob Graham

Bob Graham — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:59:14 +0000

Time to give props to Sam the Minuteman, mascot of the UMASS Minutemen!Sam became the mascot in 1974, replacing Metwampie the Native American, back in less politically correct times when the team was called the Massachusetts Redmen. There was a movement afoot a few years ago to change the mascot to a “non-gender specific animal” to make it more “marketable”. Sam was almost replaced by a Grey Wolf, but there was a huge outcry from students, alumni, and residents of Massachusetts (it also turned out that Grey Wolves was the name of an elite Nazi assignation squad, or so I’ve heard…).

Sam has been a great ambassador for UMASS and ties back to the history of the Commonwealth. Metawampie is still around, though. There’s a statue of him on the UMASS Campus and legend has it that if a virgin ever graduates from UMASS the statue will drop it’s bow.

My second favorite is T-Bone, the Irish Setter, mascot of my daughter’s alma mater, Pace University in NY. The team is called the Pace Setters. Gotta love it.

I’ve sent Merril some pictures via e-mail. Perhaps he’ll be able to post.

By: kath

kath — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:30:19 +0000

Here in Manchvegas (Manchester, NH) we have the Manchester Monarch, the AHL affiliate of the LA Kings.
The Monarch’s mascot is “Max” the lion. He’s fabulous. The kids adore him and he’s great fun to watch during the games.
Even thought he blocked my daughter’s shot (which would have been a goal) during one the in-between period exhibition games that the youth league plays at the games, she still LOVES Max!
kath

By: Stephenie King Gordon

Stephenie King Gordon — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:19:44 +0000

I like Otto the Orange (Syracuse) because it’s just ridiculous that an Orange is their mascot!!!! I don’t know how long Otto has been around nor when they were forced to go from “orangemen” to just “oranges”. Regardless of the history, he’s cute and round and looks happy and makes me giggle.