Comments on: The Sweeper: In Defense of Mascots http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/24/the-sweeper-in-defense-of-mascots/ A soccer blog featuring essays, news and photography exploring soccer around the world Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:59:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: In Quest of a Mascot | Inside Minnesota Soccer http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/24/the-sweeper-in-defense-of-mascots/comment-page-1/#comment-21267 In Quest of a Mascot | Inside Minnesota Soccer Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:09:57 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7979#comment-21267 [...] Beside reading Hayes’ article, Pitch Invasion also picked up on the Nessy story and Tom Dunmore throws his two cents in as well with his: In Defense of Mascots. [...] [...] Beside reading Hayes’ article, Pitch Invasion also picked up on the Nessy story and Tom Dunmore throws his two cents in as well with his: In Defense of Mascots. [...]

]]> By: Bobby http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/24/the-sweeper-in-defense-of-mascots/comment-page-1/#comment-21196 Bobby Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:27:17 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7979#comment-21196 I don't mind mascots, honestly, and I consider myself somewhat of a traditionalist. They don't hurt anything, nor do they cheapen anything. They don't even really have to mean anything, I mean Arsenal have a dinosaur! Oita's mascot manages to both freak me out and make me smile somehow. Now cheerleaders I take exception to. I don’t mind mascots, honestly, and I consider myself somewhat of a traditionalist. They don’t hurt anything, nor do they cheapen anything. They don’t even really have to mean anything, I mean Arsenal have a dinosaur!

Oita’s mascot manages to both freak me out and make me smile somehow.

Now cheerleaders I take exception to.

]]> By: John http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/24/the-sweeper-in-defense-of-mascots/comment-page-1/#comment-21195 John Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:46:56 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7979#comment-21195 Next year, I somehow think no anthropomorphic MLS mascot is going to want to get into a fight with Timber Joey, especially if accessories are allowed. Thanks for the good article. Next year, I somehow think no anthropomorphic MLS mascot is going to want to get into a fight with Timber Joey, especially if accessories are allowed.

Thanks for the good article.

]]> By: dokool http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/24/the-sweeper-in-defense-of-mascots/comment-page-1/#comment-21190 dokool Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:40:46 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7979#comment-21190 Here in Japan mascots are pretty much a rule because of the following three demographics: -kids -women who go to matches with their friends to squeal about how cute the players are -women who go to matches with their boyfriends These are all notable demographics in the "buying lots of merchandise" department. Us FC Tokyo supporters were mascotless until last year when we got Tokyo Dorompa: http://www.fctokyo.co.jp/images/etc/dorompa_090123.jpg There was initially some criticism especially after he was "introduced" on TV and he turned out to have a Disguised Rapist Voice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX4_sRv3EL8 but we eventually grew to love him. He can rollerblade, ride a unicycle, breakdance, and looks absolutely dapper in a tux: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xhs3WQXY8oQ/SvMFIjjjfGI/AAAAAAAABNg/rQU9XdIzuyQ/s400/dorompa03.jpg Insofar as mascots allow for smaller teams to make some merchandising revenue and are a great way to have some community outreach, they're a pretty good all-around value. Militantly anti-mascot supporters take themselves too seriously. Here in Japan mascots are pretty much a rule because of the following three demographics:

-kids
-women who go to matches with their friends to squeal about how cute the players are
-women who go to matches with their boyfriends

These are all notable demographics in the “buying lots of merchandise” department.

Us FC Tokyo supporters were mascotless until last year when we got Tokyo Dorompa:

http://www.fctokyo.co.jp/images/etc/dorompa_090123.jpg

There was initially some criticism especially after he was “introduced” on TV and he turned out to have a Disguised Rapist Voice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX4_sRv3EL8

but we eventually grew to love him. He can rollerblade, ride a unicycle, breakdance, and looks absolutely dapper in a tux:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xhs3WQXY8oQ/SvMFIjjjfGI/AAAAAAAABNg/rQU9XdIzuyQ/s400/dorompa03.jpg

Insofar as mascots allow for smaller teams to make some merchandising revenue and are a great way to have some community outreach, they’re a pretty good all-around value. Militantly anti-mascot supporters take themselves too seriously.

]]> By: Evan http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/24/the-sweeper-in-defense-of-mascots/comment-page-1/#comment-21186 Evan Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:33:24 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7979#comment-21186 The Galaxy has Cosmo, a sort of frog-looking thing from outerspace. But the original Galaxy mascot was Twizzle, a spaceman that looked like he was wearing a biohazard suit: http://www.sports-mascots.co.uk/bigtwizzleLos_AngelesGalaxy.gif The Galaxy has Cosmo, a sort of frog-looking thing from outerspace. But the original Galaxy mascot was Twizzle, a spaceman that looked like he was wearing a biohazard suit:

http://www.sports-mascots.co.uk/bigtwizzleLos_AngelesGalaxy.gif

]]> By: Adrian Ludbrook http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/24/the-sweeper-in-defense-of-mascots/comment-page-1/#comment-21185 Adrian Ludbrook Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:19:51 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7979#comment-21185 That's Captain Canary in the picture, I hate that bloody Budgie! As for the mascot Grand National, our mascots are two horses, Bluey and Crazee, representing the Suffolk Punch on the Ipswich badge - horses, in a 'horse' race. Sould do well you'd think. Couple of donkeys more like, they even got beat by the Southend shrimp! Get the mascots scrapping as has happened here a few times (Swansea's Cyril the Swan's a bit handy apparently) and watch the MLS DEMAND mascots! Nothing's funnier than grown men dressed as giant animals having a ruckus. Final mascot factoid, one year the winning mascot at 'the National' was disqualified after it was discovered inside the mascot was not the usual person but a ringer, a trained athlete. Stewards got suspicious when he romped home by 10 lengths. And really finally I've just realised I need to get out more, I know far too much about mascots than is healthy. That’s Captain Canary in the picture, I hate that bloody Budgie!

As for the mascot Grand National, our mascots are two horses, Bluey and Crazee, representing the Suffolk Punch on the Ipswich badge – horses, in a ‘horse’ race. Sould do well you’d think. Couple of donkeys more like, they even got beat by the Southend shrimp!

Get the mascots scrapping as has happened here a few times (Swansea’s Cyril the Swan’s a bit handy apparently) and watch the MLS DEMAND mascots! Nothing’s funnier than grown men dressed as giant animals having a ruckus.

Final mascot factoid, one year the winning mascot at ‘the National’ was disqualified after it was discovered inside the mascot was not the usual person but a ringer, a trained athlete. Stewards got suspicious when he romped home by 10 lengths.

And really finally I’ve just realised I need to get out more, I know far too much about mascots than is healthy.

]]> By: CarsmileSteve http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/02/24/the-sweeper-in-defense-of-mascots/comment-page-1/#comment-21178 CarsmileSteve Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:12:57 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=7979#comment-21178 most importantly, no mascots, no Mascot Grand National!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oQ5WG2NjtA most importantly, no mascots, no Mascot Grand National!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oQ5WG2NjtA

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