A few weeks ago, a video of the Oregon Ducks mascot beating up the Houston Cougar was all over sports news reports because it was announced that the Duck had been suspended for one game. If you haven't seen this masterpiece, I'm sure you can find it on the Internet.
It got me thinking about mascots. Sure, Victor E. Bull is pretty funny looking, which is what I personally look for in my favorite mascots. But who is the best? Why does Buffalo have two mascots anyway? That second one is a question for another day.
There are plenty of other funny looking mascots out there. How does one narrow it down? I know who I think is the best, but what about the opinion of others? There needs to be a hall of fame for this sort of thing to ensure that multiple people are in agreement.
Oh, wait. There is. After going to www.mascothalloffame.com, I've already determined that I need to make a road trip to Newark, DE some time in the near future to visit the best Hall of Fame in the world.
However, with classes towards this thing called a "degree" and some position called "sports editor" at a certain student publication, unfortunately I'm postponing my amazing trip. I'm not sure how soon this will be, but I know I will make it there.
Luckily for me, the inductees are online. The initial class, which was inducted in 2005, is rock-solid. The Phillie Phanatic, Suns Gorilla, and The Famous San Diego Chicken are an impressive start to the hall.
I decided to read the information for the Phillie Phanatic, my second-favorite mascot. The first line describes him as "a furry green creature with a cylindrical beak containing a tongue that sticks out." Who could not love a mascot that could be described like that?
I looked at the other inductees to the hall of fame. With three professional mascots and three college mascots in the 2006 class, I was disappointed to see my top choice was not listed.
Was I wrong? Was it only my brother and my friends who have seen my stuffed version of the mascot who agree with me? Yes, I am a college male with a stuffed toy. I admit it. That's not the issue here.
I didn't give up hope when I saw that there was a list of the 2007 candidates. Mr. Met was listed. Another good choice that I hope gets in. That grin on his baseball head makes me smile.
After a little more searching, I found what I was looking for. There he was, as one of the college candidates. Big Red of Western Kentucky University will hopefully be a member of the 2007 class.
Big Red is truly the goofiest looking mascot of them all. WKU is known as the Hilltoppers, so I guess that's what he's supposed to be, but nobody really knows. He's just a red, weird-looking blob and I think it's awesome.
If the picture here doesn't give you enough reason to believe that he is the best mascot ever, there is a video on the Web where Big Red does all kinds of things.
The video shows Big Red doing the usual for mascots. He jumps into the stands. He tries to dunk a basketball. He falls on the floor in his attempts to dunk said ball; I found this quite humorous. He rides out on a motorcycle with a bandana on, something that also looks funny on a big red blob. He dances.
Nothing out of the ordinary, right? Oh yeah, I forgot to mention he also pretends to eat peoples' heads. You read that correctly and if you watch the video you will find it amusing.
I say that you will like him, but maybe you won't share my opinion based on the video alone. As unbelievable as it may seem, maybe eating peoples' heads isn't your thing. Fortunately, there is also a biography on Big Red, which mentions his impressive honors.
According to the Web site, Big Red is a three-time member of the Capital One All-American Mascot team and a candidate for Mascot of the Year in 2003 and 2004. He has also done charity work and appeared at the Special Olympics. Big Red is an all-around good guy.
I hope that by the time I make my trip, Big Red will be an official member of the Mascot Hall of Fame. Even if he doesn't make it this year, there is always next year.
Speaking of next year, there will probably be some new candidates to vote for in 2008. Maybe I can vote for another mascot that seems also seems like a good guy. Maybe I can vote for the Oregon Duck.
