It's Game Over for the Mascot Hall, and THIS Decision All But Confirms It

 It's over.

I never thought I would ever think that the Mascot Hall of Fame, as a building, would ever disappear. It just seemed like the kind of thing that could last forever.

But today's announcement that the 2024 Induction Class would be celebrated not with one Induction Ceremony - but 4 INDIVIDUAL ones in their hometowns - all but waves the checkered flag on the building in Whiting, Indiana - a few hours from my home.

It's over.

No Induction Ceremony on August 10. No more Induction Ceremonies ever, at least not in a physical building where mascot fans can gather together and celebrate the newest members of the Hall.

No more opportunities to meet and greet mascots you've never met before.

No more Fur Tie Fundraisers.

No more Mascot Conferences.

It's got to be over.

There's no reason for the Hall to make this decision if it didn't know that the building would soon be closing.

BP has won. The City of Whiting has won. The fun-killers have won.

They're gonna get their office space, and a cherished place to celebrate the unsung heroes of sport will forever be gone - again, not in terms of there being a Hall period, but no more physical building to have those memories and opportunities.

That building, the people that made that building, and the mascots themselves have all become like a 2nd family to me. Any time I made that drive to Whiting, once I made that turn onto Front Street and saw Reggy's face on the side of the building, I would always say, "Hello again, second family. It's good to see you again."

I just never thought I would have to say goodbye to it, on a permanent level.

I understand the reasons why it's leaving. The goal was for the museum to be self-sustaining, and have it be a part of one giant sports complex. Those plans never materialized, so the museum had to fend for itself. It just couldn't. It was losing more money for the city than it was making.

Yes, the museum has been great for tourism. Yes, it has its passionate following. Yes, it's won numerous awards and appeared on plenty of shows.

But tourism and attention alone wasn't enough to keep it afloat.

It's kind of a hopeless feeling for me that I couldn't do more. I was a member for many years, but I could only afford to do the $35 yearly membership - the lowest level possible. I won a few items at the silent auctions during the fundraiser, the most notable and cherished being a game-worn jersey of SJ Sharkie from the San Jose Sharks. I've bought many items from the gift shop over the years.

And yet, even after all that, it's still going to be disappearing as a physical building.

The Mascot Hall hasn't officially said that it's closing for good. I have reached out to the staff to ask if today's decision is a sign that the hammer is being dropped.

But I think I know the answer I'm going to get.

I have to make one final trip to Whiting before it's gone. I'm going to take a ton of pictures, because I want to remember what made the facility so amazing to enjoy. I want to truly cherish the final time I'm going to be there.

I will not soon forget the many highlights I had there.

My first Induction Weekend/Meet-and-Greet in 2019, when I was wearing my Royals uniform as Sluggerrr was part of the Induction class. Who should be the first mascot I meet when I go upstairs on the 3rd floor Furitorium for the breakfast? Sluggerrr, right there at the door. Yes, fate can be a cruel mistress, but when it's on your side, it can be a sweet moment. Sluggerrr was also my 50th mascot met, so it was extra special. I met so many other mascots that day, including legends like Aubie, Nittany Lion, Phillie Phanatic, Gorilla, Coyote, and Benny the Bull. But also some of my favorites and good friends like YouDee and Southpaw.

How about August 2019, when the NHL Mascot Conference made its first appearance at the Hall? Hosted by Tommy Hawk, it was great to catch up with several mascot friends I had met in Nashville in 2016, such as my good friends ThunderBug, Gnash, Slapshot and Bailey. But finally getting to meet Sparky the Dragon from the Islanders was the big highlight, along with Gritty from the Flyers.

I finally got to meet the Oriole Bird from the Baltimore Orioles in December 2019. I always appreciated him because he wears actual stirrups, and he's one of two in MLB that do, along with my favorite, Sluggerrr.

Then I didn't get to meet a mascot for 625 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic [and I even survived it myself in January 2021]. But on September 11, 2021, the streak ended thanks to Homer the Dragon's appearance at the Hall. And he was an absolute treat and blast with us mascot fans. I even got 'chomped' by this lovable mascot from the Charlotte Knights, the White Sox' affiliate.

Another highlight was on November 5, 2021 at the fundraiser. The Cleveland Guardians' mascot Slider and the Hot Dogs played some tunes with their band before the inductees were announced. Not only did I get to sing WITH the band, but I EVEN GOT TO PLAY MUSTARD'S GUITAR. Right then and there, Mustard became my favorite of the group. Unfortunately, the Dogs turned their backs on him and demoted him down to the minor leagues. I'm still upset with the team over that decision, but I love Mustard forever for his kindness in that moment.

Getting to meet Globie from the Harlem Globetrotters in 2022 was an absolute treat, and then I met my 75th mascot overall on January 21, 2023 when DIBS from DePaul made an appearance at the Hall. DIBS could not have been more nice and outstanding, and I showed how much I appreciated his love and support. I became a DePaul fan right then and there, and now support the basketball program hardcore. DIBS was also a finalist for the 2024 class, and we had several conversations on Instagram and Twitter about trying to get him inducted. I know he won't stop trying, even if there won't be a physical building anymore. Love you always, DIBS.

Finally, 2023 was also a huge year in that I finally got to meet one of my favorite minor league mascots in Shelldon from the Daytona Tortugas. I also got to meet the 2023 inductees, Slugger the Sea Dog and Otto the Orange. The year ended when I got to meet several MLB mascots I hadn't met before at their Mascot Madness event. Wally, Fredbird, Bernie Brewer, and Lou Seal were a joy to meet. But the major highlight was meeting three of my other favorites of teams that I support: Mr. and Mrs. Met from the New York Mets, and Dinger from the Colorado Rockies. I kept my tears of joy in that day, but I was definitely emotional on the inside as I met these three amazing mascots.

The last four mascots I will ever end up meeting at the Hall would be Sparky from the Chicago Fire, Skates from the Chicago Wolves, Gus T. Bull from the Windy City Bulls, and Bearcat from the Cincinnati Bearcats.

I've met 92 mascots in person over 14 years. 35 of those mascots, I've met at the Mascot Hall.

Not having that building and opportunity to meet more is going to be a major blow to me. If I'm going to meet any of those mascots on my bucket list, they will either have to come to Indiana, or I'd have to go to their neck of the woods.

But even as I prepare to say farewell, I want to say THANK YOU to all those who made that building special. Thank you to all those who made that building unique. Thank you to all those who made every single event worth attending.

Just......THANK YOU. I can't say it enough. I can't express it enough.

I will be FOREVER GRATEFUL to every single moment I had in that building. Every smile, every laugh, every cry, every dance, every meeting, every hug, every handshake, every fist-bump...everything.

Thank you all for everything you did for mascot fans and the city of Whiting over your time here. And even though you won't be in my backyard anymore, it won't stop me from loving the furternity.

NOTHING can ever do that - because that's what the fun-killers would want.

Thank you for everything you did FOR ME. If I made you smile as much as the mascots made me smile, then I accomplished my goal.

I love you, Mascot Hall of Fame.

Forever.

The Mascot Hall of Fame MIGHT Be On The Move. Just Keep Punching Me In The Damn Heart

 You know, it was hard enough when I didn't get a chance to meet the Mad Ant before he was officially retired, and then paraded around at only select events like the temporary puppet that he was.

That was a punch to the gut, and the heart, in and of itself.

The closest I ever actually got to the Mad Ant was getting a picture with the original costume at Georgetown Entertainment in Fort Wayne [which, by the way, is an amazing facility - it's not their fault the team left Fort Wayne or eventually died in Indy.]

But the news that I saw today, on a Facebook post from a friend of mine who actually works at the Mascot Hall of Fame...

...It feels like I've been punched 99 more times in the heart.

Now, I will preface this by saying this: THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL. I want to make that crystal clear before I go any further.

But the fact that this is even under consideration royally makes me angry, frustrated, and upset.

Okay. Here's essentially the skinny.

The City of Whiting has presented a proposal to developers to turn the entire Stadium District into - wait for it - an office complex.

Yep, they literally want to pave paradise and put in....well, yes, a parking lot, but also OFFICE SPACE.

So, let me get this straight, City of Whiting.

You want to remove something from your city that brings joy and happiness to so many children and adults?

You want to remove something from your city that has made you a top tourist destination in the Chicagoland area and beyond?

You want to remove something from your city that just won a USA Today award for Best Pop Culture Museum of the Year?

You want to remove something from your city that provides so much entertainment and love to your community and beyond?

And you want to replace it......WITH OFFICE SPACE?

I have no words for how absolutely stupid and delirious that is.

Granted, the current mayor and management of the city have no ties to the Mascot Hall - they may not see it as "theirs". That's because the previous mayor, Joe Stahura, made the phone call to Dave Raymond to bring the physical building to the city.

But once he was forced out of office due to a scandal, new leadership took over - and clearly, this potential move shows that they couldn't give one damn about the Mascot Hall.

Now again, I reiterate: this is just a PROPOSAL. It may not happen at all.

But it could.

And I seriously have to now consider the possibility of losing a facility that has become a 2nd home to me....a staff that has become a 2nd family......and all the missed opportunities I would have of meeting more mascots.

Y'all have to understand.

Of the 92 mascots I have met in person, 37 happened at the Mascot Hall of Fame. That's ALMOST half, if you do the math.

Nearly every single mascot I've met since 2019 has been at the Hall: 37 of the last 43 I've met.

If that were to leave the state of Indiana and go hours away from me...I don't know if I could be able to ever go back.

Would it even be WORTH it to remain a member at that point?

I don't know. I don't even want to THINK about making that decision. But again, the possibility now exists that I may have to.

And the timing of this couldn't be worse, as we are RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of The VOTE for the 2024 Induction Class.

What do you want to bet the City of Whiting timed that on purpose just to take a giant dump on mascot fans everywhere?

It wouldn't surprise me at this point.

But again...this is all speculation at this present time. It's only a proposal. No ink has been signed on the dotted line yet. No official decision has been made. No plans to move have been presented.

I need to focus on the here and now, and continue my voting for my #DriveForFive in 2024: DIBS, NJ Devil, Mrs. Met, Jaxson, and Sebastian the Ibis.

But now, every time I go to the Mascot Hall from here on out, one lingering thought will be floating in the back of my mind:

"Cherish every moment, every minute, every SECOND that you are in that building. Because, just maybe, it could be the last time you ever do."

I hope and pray that day never comes. But if by some chance it does, I'll be prepared. I'll have a good long cry. I'll pick myself up, dust myself off, and keep going.

But it will leave, without a doubt, a giant mascot-sized hole in my heart.

After being punched 99 times.

 

The Mad Ant Is SLOWLY Being Phased Out, and It's Frustrating

 I have lost all trust and respect for the Indiana G-League franchise.

Sorry, I'm not calling them by their one-year, placeholder name, the Mad Ants.

Because the franchise clearly has zero respect for that nickname, or the Mad Ant mascot, anymore.

The Mad Ant mascot is now nothing more than an independent part-timer, owned by Pacers Sports and Entertainment, forced to do their bidding until the end of the G-League season.

After that, the franchise will cast him off, along with the nickname, into the dump bin forever.

They'll move to Noblesville, get their fancy new arena, and start over with a nickname and mascot I guarantee won't be as good or creative.

And I won't support it.

They lost me after one game back in December.

I thought for sure that since they were keeping the team name for one more season, all the entertainment would stay for G-League games.

NOPE!

No sign of cheerleaders, drumline, Mad Ant...nothing.

Lame.

So I assumed the Mad Ant had already been retired, the costume scrapped, forever forgotten.

I dedicated my 2024 calendar to him and lamented over the loss of such a unique mascot.

Today, that heartbreak came rushing back.

Because this is the start of NBA Allstar week in Indianapolis, and local mascots got together at the Indy Airport to kick off the celebration.

Oh hey, there's Boomer, Freddy Fever, Nitro, Rowdie, Blue, Hink...

...who is that on the floor to the right of Boomer -

NO.

NO WAY.

Yep.

It's Mad Ant.

How?! Bucking how?

I guess PSE told him to appear. They own him now, they control his schedule.

He can't be at the games, but he can show up randomly without any advance notification.

Got it.

He's slowly being phased out, and it's sad to see.

He can't even wear his own shoes anymore - he has to wear the same model Boomer does.

He can't wear a jersey with the name of the team and number on it - he has to wear one that just says "The Mad Ant".

The franchise has made it clear that they no longer give a damn about the name, the mascot, or the fans.

They will slowly phase him out and then try to market their shiny new toy.

Well, I hate to break it to you, Indiana G-League team.

But you've lost me.

I'm going to root for G League teams that don't treat mascots like garbage and don't give a giant middle finger to the fans.

Good luck with your new toy, but it will NEVER be as good or unique as what the Mad Ant was.

I truly feel sorry for the Mad Ant. I really do.

And when a franchise is making me feel sorry for the mascot they're getting rid of, that shows that they are a team that can't be trusted.

Mad Ant, I'm sorry for how they are treating you. I can only hope that our paths can cross before you disappear forever. Because trust me, if they do, I will shed tears - but they will be tears of joy, not pain.

Major League Baseball Thoughts, Iowa AGAIN, and the loss of Thrash

A lot to blog about in the world of mascots lately (considering I haven't had a post on here since January):
First off, I was simply browsing pics of the White Sox's awesome mascot, Southpaw, and I thought to myself...I don't believe I have shared my thoughts on the mascots of Major League Baseball. I rated the NHL and NFL (I believe, don't quote me on the latter, but I KNOW I did the NHL), so I guess it's time to talk about the MLB mascots. I'm really not going to rank these, I'm just going to go alphabetical and share my thoughts.

Ace (Toronto Blue Jays): DEFINITELY one of my favorites. Not many teams - college or pro - use the blue jay nickname, and I'd say Ace pulls off the look the best. A lot of people complain that his name has nothing to do with the team name, but Ace is a common mascot nickname, anyway (see Green Bay Gamblers, along with countless others).
Baxter the Bobcat (Arizona Diamondbacks): As you can probably guess, I'm a HUGE FAN of this one. You can't exactly make a diamondback fan-friendly, so you pick...a bobcat. The back story must be interesting for this one, but the look is SWEET.
Bernie Brewer (Milwaukee Brewers): Meh.
Billy the Marlin (Florida Marlins): DOWNRIGHT AWESOME. Mad respect for Billy. And stop throwing things at his truck, for gosh sake!
Dinger (Colorado Rockies): Uh. Looks like Barney's long lost brother. Or cousin. Or something.
Fredbird (St. Louis Cardinals): I've seen other cardinals look more intimidating. Take Louisville's for instance.
Homer (Atlanta Braves): Mr. Met's distant cousin. Nothing to see here, move along.
Junction Jack (Houston Astros): I have NEVER UNDERSTOOD what a jackrabbit has to do with Houston, or the Astros, for that matter. He looks like he could be related to the Nesquik Bunny.
Lou Seal (San Francisco Giants): BAD ASS and unique. The shades are a nice touch.
Mariner Moose (Seattle Mariners): For some reason, I have had respect for the Moose ever since he broke his ankle skating into that wall. Is that a bad thing?
Mr. Met (New York Mets): Besides Southpaw, my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. Perfect in every way, and one of the classics.
Mr. Red (Cincinnati Reds): Again, fairly similar to Mr. Met or Homer.
Oriole Bird (Baltimore Orioles): AWESOME. Unlike some other mascots, this one rocks REAL stirrups and socks.
Paws (Detroit Tigers): Looks like it could be the cousin of Who-Dey from the Bengals.
Phillie Phanatic (Philadelphia Phillies): I understand it's a classic, but I've never been sold on it because of its *ahem* fakeness in one area.
Pirate Parrot (Pittsburgh Pirates): Eh. Middle of the road.
Rangers Captain (Texas Rangers): Does anyone else think he looks like Boomer or Sooner from Oklahoma?
Raymond (Tampa Bay Rays): FRIKIN. AWESOME.
Screech (Washington Nationals): Slapshot of the Capitals looks more like an eagle than you ever will.
Slider (Cleveland Indians): Because, obviously, you can't have an Indian as your mascot, you choose...whatever this thing is. Why is he in the Hall of Fame again?
Sluggerrr (Kansas City Royals): Okay, if you're wanting to look like a lion, you're not even trying. The crown doesn't even look right. And again...fakeness where it shouldn't be. What an annoyance.
*UPDATE*: Upon further review, I think I MAY have been a little harsh on 'ol Sluggerrr. In past versions of the mascots, the stirrups were fake. But in more recent shots, they actually look real and legit. So he earns a few more points in my book for that, but I've still seen better lions out there.
Southpaw (Chicago White Sox): Normally, this would fall in the Slider category, but since the White Sox are my team, I can't diss Southpaw. He works.
Stomper (Oakland Athletics): Pretty interesting back story behind this one. Besides, there aren't very many elephant mascots anyway. I like it.
Swinging Friar (San Diego Padres): Because you can't do anything else for Padres, can you?
T.C. Bear (Minnesota Twins): *ahem* No comment.
Wally the Green Monster (Boston Red Sox): One of the most unique ones out there.

So there's my take on the mascots of baseball.
Now, on to another topic that I had previously given up on, but I briefly revived when I did a simple search on Google Shopping.
I think I have *FINALLY* discovered what Herky gets from the Iowa athletic department in terms of his hosiery. Turns out that Twin City Knitting (which APPARENTLY is only a special order service, as I predicted) makes a sock called "Premier Collegiate" that looks JUST LIKE the NFL style socks, and you can make them solid colors.
BAM, said Emeril Lagasse, mystery solved.
So this finally answers the question I've been trying to figure out for years: "Will I ever get to wear the Herky sock?" The answer is ultimately NO unless I can find it on EBay or somewhere like that.

Finally, I can't remember if I addressed it in the prior post, but I need to if I hadn't.
One of my favorite mascots is no more.
The Atlanta Thrashers are also no more, as they were sold to a new ownership group to become the Winnipeg Jets, beginning next season.
That means that Thrash is now unemployed and looking for work.
According to his Twitter (which last I checked was still active) many people were suggesting the Hawks or Braves pick him up, which I would definitely support. Or who knows, maybe somewhere else in Atlanta will take him.
But ultimately, if Thrash does not find a new gig, I will definitely never forget the moments that just made me smile about Thrash - his energy, his dedication to the Thrashers, his look, that time he was running around the stands in nothing but undies, and who could forget the time he stole the Zamboni, was arrested, put in jail, and only was released after fans bought a certain amount of tickets.
Ah, the memories.
Thank you Thrash, for all you did on and off the ice. Wherever you go, I hope you keep entertaining an audience with the same energy and passion you did for the Thrashers. Good luck to you!

Congrats to Big Blue & "The Chase Never Stops"

A couple things to blog about today.
First, I wanted to extend a congratulations to Old Dominion University and their mascot, Big Blue, for winning the 2010 Capital One Mascot of the Year competition. Who would have thunk that a first-time mascot could SIMPLY DOMINATE and win it all? Don't get me wrong - first timers have won it before - but I can't recall a mascot that won it in more dominating fashion. It was his title to lose all season, and his fans stepped up when they needed to, especially against Oregon's Duck in the semifinals. Well done!
And second...
If you notice the title, you probably know what I'm referring to.
The chase NEVER stops when it comes to Boomer.
He is one ELUSIVE cat, let me tell you!
I had a FIFTH - FIFTH - opportunity last night at the Logansport/Harrison game to get at least a picture, but when I went down towards the end of the third quarter to check the concourse, POOF - gone.
What do I have to do?
Let's count now...two Purdue games, a Pacers game, a draft party, and the Harrison game.
What is it going to take for me to obtain what I've longed for?
I've made it pretty clear to Pacers brass that I'm one of Boomer's biggest fans, and certainly his biggest fan in Logansport.
I've got a Fathead of him on my wall. I've got a Boomer hat. I got a shirt FROM THE PACERS THEMSELVES that I wore at last night's game.
Nada. And still nada.
I guess I just have to keep trying. It's really all I can do. I'm not the type of person that just lies down and gives up (most of the time).
But I won't give up when it comes to this.
No way.
Like the kids chasing Lucky for his Lucky Charms, or the Trix rabbit just wanting some Trix, or Tom chasing Jerry, or Wile E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner...you get the idea.
The chase never stops. And someday, I hope to finally cross the finish line with victory in my grasp.
For now...I can only keep dreaming. But hey, dreams are a nice consolation until then, right?

The Iowa Search: I've Basically Given Up

Well, I can deny it no longer.
I guess, after all the time and money I spent, it was kind of a fruitless search.
For countless years, combing over countless pictures, I have been nitpicking, scouring, and simply trying to determine only one thing when it comes to the mascot of the University of Iowa.
Now, don't get me wrong - Herky the Hawk is a sweet mascot in the Big Ten (compared to some of the others *COUGH NORTHWESTERN COUGH*), and I love the fact that he has two different forms for football and basketball (hooray for non-consistency!), but when it came to the football version, I was intrigued by only ONE THING that made him stand out from the other bird mascots out there.
The white socks.
Now, before I go any further (I know, I tend to digress a lot when it comes to any subject), I must say that I have respect for socks when it comes to team uniforms. You could say I'm a bit of a collector. I have plenty of hockey ones to match team jerseys, football, baseball, etc. to go with my favorite teams.
But the Iowa search...it always seemed to elude me.
I couldn't pinpoint EXACTLY what they were. What brand? How high do they go?
This search probably started around 4 years ago, when Herky brought his Hawkeyes to Ross-Ade for the first time. From the moment I saw him, I immediately was intrigued. It's also how I basically started my love/hate relationship when it comes to Iowa football.
But I immediately began scouring the Internet for answers.
All I was getting was a mix of photos, with different looking ones.
So I looked at several and bought several...and nothing seemed even close.
Yet recently (like over the past couple weeks), I finally had my epiphany.
According to recent Flickr photos, it looks to me like Herky is basically wearing the same style of sock that NFL players wear (and I know, because I have Miami Dolphins ones that are similar), but it's just the solid white without the team colors intertwined. Stretchy at the top, cotton at the bottom.
But I've scoured and searched and there's nothing Reebok has that's like that.
So I've basically concluded that Iowa special ordered a bunch of them just for them and only them.
Which universities and their athletic departments have discretion to do. I have nothing wrong with that.
But I've also discovered that not EVERY Herky over time wears the same ones. On the contrary.
Herkies have come and gone, and even though the COSTUME itself really hasn't changed, I guess the person inside (or the athletic department, who knows) has the say on the bottom half of the outlook.
OH....
That was when I realized.
ANYTHING that I get could be a Herky sock.
It doesn't have to be EXACTLY like it, because shoot, it may change every year. Like I said, I've seen so many images and there have been different styles over the years.
So...yeah.
In a way, I feel like I've wasted a lot over the years, trying to pinpoint something that is constantly changing.
But at least now I can say that I've admitted it.
I give up.
You win, Iowa. You win, Herky. Look however you want, I'm just a fan, and I'll cheer and look however I want too.
Besides...when I'm watching Iowa football, I usually rock my black-and-white football socks that match the players for luck.
But who knows? Maybe one day I'll switch it up like Herky.
We'll see.

First Mascot Pic, Iowa Relationship, Capital One, Thoughts On Rufus

A couple big news stories in the mascot world lately that I feel like I need to address.
First, BIG NEWS FOR ME! I got my first picture with any mascot, EVER!
What's that?
No...before you ask, UNFORTUNATELY, it wasn't Boomer.
I wish, right?
But it was just as cool.
I went to the Logansport/Twin Lakes football game to start the season (rooting for Logansport, because if you've seen my other blog, Pherson's Thoughts, you KNOW how I feel about my alma mater's FB team), and FINALLY, after many years of not even being at football games, FELIX THE CAT finally wanders the stands at home games!
THANK YOU!
About time was all I could say.
He mostly hangs around the student section (like he does at basketball games as well), but toward the end of the game when Logan was putting a 26-7 pasting on the Indians, my best friend Nate took a quick shot before we left.
OH, IT FELT SO GRAND.
And the picture turned out great.
Of course it's on my Facebook. But Facebook's down today, so...you can check it out some other time if you haven't already.
*STORY NUMBER TWO: MY RELATIONSHIP WITH IOWA*
Maybe I've explained this story before, and maybe I haven't, but I feel like I need to.
I kinda have a love/hate relationship when it comes to the Iowa Hawkeyes.
I respect Iowa's traditions, stadium, all that stuff. And their fans are nuts.
And, as many of you know, I definitely have MAD respect for Herky the Hawk.
It's like, I've been trying to find out for years what EXACT KIND of white socks the football version wears on Saturdays (and I think I'm getting very close, but the quest continues).
But when it comes to Iowa...well...look at it this way.
I'm a Purdue grad.
I root for Purdue all the time, in anything.
I root for Iowa in football. Their basketball team is kinda yuck, but I'll still hope they do well.
HOWEVER...when Purdue plays Iowa in football especially, I have to root for Purdue. Got to.
AND...I HAVE TO MOCK IOWA.
I know, it sounds mean, but yeah, I mock the flapping arms chant, I make hawk-screeching noises, I do whatever to get on Iowa fans' nerves.
But that's only one game.
Iowa fans must be thankful that Purdue doesn't play them in football this year.
*STORY NUMBER THREE: CAPITAL ONE MASCOT CHALLENGE*
The Capital One Mascot Challenge is in full swing, and quite frankly, it looks like a two-mascot race.
Big Blue of Old Dominion is rolling in at least over 60,000 votes a week and is far ahead of the competition. Smokey of Tennessee is a close second, and Monte of Montana (a former 2-time champion) is also in the mix. The Bird of Air Force is once again on this year's team, but unfortunately is hardly getting any support and his chances of making the playoffs don't look very promising unless he gets more votes. C'MON PEOPLE! VOTE FOR THE BIRD! GET HIM TO THE NEXT ROUND! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!
Goldy of Minnesota is also on this year's team, but he's not faring so hot either.
And also on the team is THE NUTHEAD, aka Brutus of Ohio State. Which is the perfect segway for our final story...
*STORY NUMBER FOUR: RUFUS THE BOBCAT IS AMAZING!*
God bless you, Rufus the Bobcat.
God bless you, Brendon or whatever your name is.
So what if Ohio University banned you from any further athletic affiliation? You don't even go there anymore.
You did an AMAZING thing on Saturday afternoon. Even if the football team you were pulling for blowed and didn't have a chance in the world of beating Ohio State, you made the best play for Ohio U all day.
NOW - BEFORE ANYBODY SAYS ANYTHING - do I condone violence? No.
Do I condone mascot violence? No.
But do I think it's funny that THE STUPIDEST MASCOT IN THE BIG TEN got just desserts from someone that only tried out for the job because he was out for Brutus?
HELL YEAH!
And by the way, Nuthead - RUFUS DRIVES A MOTORCYCLE to lead the team on the field. What do you have? The Nutmobile? The Buckeye Special? No. YOU'VE GOT NOTHING. You're stupid looking, not intimidating in any way, and I would slap the smile off your face just like Rufus tried to do to you.
Again, way to go, Rufus. You did what many other Big Ten fans of other universities longed to do, but never had the courage to do.
Oh, and another memo to Ohio State - It doesn't matter what happens in this year's game. I was still at the one where we OWNED YOU in West Lafayette in 2009 when no one gave us a chance. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE ANY OPPONENT.
That being said, I will laugh my you-know-what off if you lose to Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Hey, will the Eagle attack Brutus too?
Just a thought. :-)