Friday, January 23, 2009

Mascot Madness

Mermaids and bobcats—oh my! Tuesday's police blotter item involving the Diamondbacks' mascot made us wonder: Who else in the NL West has a mascot? Answer: Everybody except the Dodgers. Hallelujah!

mascot (team)
inspiration
unfortunate reality


D. Baxter the Bobcat
(Diamondbacks)
Lynx rufus endemic to Arizona


(click to enlarge)


Dinger
(Rockies)
first Triceratops fossils, found in Colorado


The Swinging Friar*
(Padres)
padre --> father --> friar (although "friar" is actually derived from the French frère, or "brother") Nothing fires up a crowd like a hulking mendicant devoted to poverty, chastity and obedience! Add to his name a contradictory modifier suggesting sexual experimentation, and everybody's happy! Or confused! Whatever!


Lou Seal
(Giants)
harbor seals in the San Francisco Bay Name sounds female, yet character is purportedly male ("Full Name: Luigi Francisco Seal"). Its oversized noggin is an unfortunate reminder of someone...we can't quite remember who....

*unofficial mascot of the Padres: The San Diego Chicken

8 comments:

Eric Karros said...

Is it just me or does the Swinging Friar look like Pete Rose?

Steve Sax said...

I bet he does.

Bryan said...

although i understand the idea that the bobcat is from arizona, shouldn't a team named after an animal use that animal for a mascot?

Orel said...

I think the snake costume presented some logistical problems.

Steve Sax said...

Not only do I agree with Bryan, I vote that we change the Rockies' team name to the Colorado Dingers.

Mike said...

What about the Parrot Pirate that smuggled cocaine for Dave Parker and Willie Stargell?

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Lou Seal?

I prefer Lou Zer.

MR.F said...

I agree with Bryan.