My Overall Favorite Mascots

I have my share of favorite mascots, not just from the NHL, but the NBA, MLB, NFL, and even colleges and some minor league teams. Here, I give you my list of my 28 (for now) favorite mascots, along with their strengths and weaknesses, if any.

28. DUNCAN THE DOLPHIN
Jacksonville University
Strength: He's a dolphin, one of, if not my favorite, animals.
Weakness: The costumed version looks nothing like the real thing. He has huge teeth, whereas a dolphin's teeth are actually smaller, and he's a little big in size. Jacksonville's live mascot is a female dolphin named Nellie, which is actually pretty cool.

27. T-RAC
Tennessee Titans
Strengths: I love the name, and raccoons are probably prevalent around Tennessee, so it makes sense there. I also love the look on his face and the fact that he's got these huge claws on his paws.
Weaknesses: Nothing to do with the Titan nickname, and I can't exactly be a fan of the team because they're in the same division as the Indianapolis Colts, who I've been a fan of for life.

26. SULLY THE PELICAN
Lake Erie Monsters (minor league hockey)
Strengths: He actually wears the helmet that's shown in the team's logo, and I guess there are pelicans around Lake Erie, which is something I didn't even know. The story goes that Sully spotted the Lake Erie monster and wanted to protect the nearby citizens. Somehow, he eventually became the mascot of the hockey team as a way to give that message, I guess.
Weaknesses: A pelican isn't exactly the monster itself, and there are a few flaws in the actual costume itself.

25. SUPERFROG
Texas Christian University Horned Frogs
Strengths: I strongly believe that Horned Frogs is one of the coolest nicknames EVAR. C'mon, who has ever seen a horned frog? I certainly haven't, and I think it'd be pretty darn cool if I did. But he isn't just a frog, he's a SUPER frog, looking pretty big and pretty tough. Opponents are wary when they play TCU!
Weaknesses: None that I can find, except some might think the weird look on his face is kinda creepy.

24. THRASH
Atlanta Thrashers
Strengths: An all-business bird who tries his darndest to root for one of the worst teams in the NHL. He rocks the team uni and just looks simply awesome. Plus, as I mentioned in the last post, his jersey number is unique.
Weaknesses: There have been times where Thrash has simply embarrassed himself and the franchise, such as that time when he was in his underwear and the time when he was holding down a kid with his foot.

23. SLAPSHOT
Washington Capitals
Strengths: He's a bald eagle, which is the symbol of our country; he rocks the team uni; and he did his own crazy stunts as a spinoff of MTV's "Jackass" series, such as the shopping carts bit and being pulled on a sled by a Hummer inside the Verizon Center.
Weaknesses: None that I can find, but I bet others think he has kind of a dumb look on his face and seems too boring on the outside. Some patriots those people are.

22. HOPPY THE BLUEJAY
Johns Hopkins University
Strengths: Has a smile that says, "I'm all about the kids" and "I wanna give plenty of hugs". Is energetic on the sidelines, including during the lacrosse Final Four one year.
Weaknesses: I think the name is somewhat blah because blue jays don't hop, and the name alone sounds twisted. Also, his head is huge and he looks nothing like a blue jay. Plus, his feet are huge.

21. TOMMYHAWK
Chicago Blackhawks
Strengths: Rocks the team's jersey and hockey pants, along with 4 feathers similar to the team logo, and the name is a play on Tomahawk. Has a rockin' tail too. He's simply a cool lookin' bird.
Weaknesses: None.

20. WILLIE THE WARHAWK
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Strengths: Has huge muscles on his wings and definitely looks like a bird that means business, plus there's no such thing as a warhawk, so they had to create something and he's definitely unique.
Weaknesses: The look on his face doesn't scream tough, however. And I can't imagine a warhawk would be gray. It's a little too gray for me.

19. SOUTHPAW
Chicago White Sox
Strengths: You want unique? You got it with this one. A big, green furry creature that really no one knows what it is, but he rocks the team's uni and just looks so darn loveable.
Weaknesses: ...Nobody knows what the heck it is...that can also be an issue because someone will ask every time, "What the heck IS Southpaw, anyway?"

18. CY THE CARDINAL
Iowa State Cyclones
Strengths: A tough-looking cardinal with a smile that says "I'm ready to throw down on somebody today." He's got a big head and big feet, but the bonus is that he has claws on those feet, and those will intimidate any opponent.
Weaknesses: To this day, and probably for the rest of my life, I still will never figure out what a cardinal has to do with a cyclone.

17. BIG JAY
Kansas Jayhawks
Strengths: There's really no such thing as a Jayhawk, so again, the unique factor comes into play. But Big Jay looks pretty darn cool. A sweet looking beak, a nice blue body, and actually stylish looking shoes.
Weaknesses: This is the ONLY knock I have. In the Kansas logo, a claw sticks out of the back of the jayhawk's shoe. On the mascot, this ISN'T the case. It's inconsistency, I tells ya!

16. CHAMP
Vermont Lake Monsters
Strengths: Based on a (potentially) true lake monster! Champ is a pretty darn cool looking lake monster. His eyes roll around, he's got green scales and an orange chest, and he's clearly Vermont's biggest fan. Plus, he loves to play pranks on Vermont's opponents and ride around on his ATV.
Weaknesses: The non-believers, basically. Maybe Champ will just eat them.

15. MR. MET
New York Mets
Strengths: Again, this is pretty darn unique - a big smiling baseball rocking the Mets' multiple unis. How can you not love that?
Weaknesses: Sometimes, I've noticed a few other minor wardrobe malfunctions. Nothing to freak out about, though.

14. ACE
Green Bay Gamblers (USHL hockey)
Strengths: I was so happy when this team went back to their roots and their old bobcat logo, because their old mascot was UGLY! But this has cool written all over it, from the ace up his sleeve to his #21.
Weaknesses: The name is kinda generic since there are a lot of mascots with that name, but what else are you going to call it? They are the Gamblers, after all.

13. RAMESES (the costumed one, not the live one)
North Carolina Tar Heels
Strengths: Shares the same tough look as the live one, actually. Rocks the team uniforms and just looks like one awesome ram. Also, the story of Jason Ray turned from a tragedy to triumph after he became an organ donor.
Weaknesses: None that I can find, except for the fact that sometimes the real ones kill each other...

12. BIG RED
Arizona Cardinals
Strengths: Look what happens when they made this bird a little bit tougher looking - the Cards made their first Super Bowl in a long time. He rocks the team uni, has an awesome looking head, and rocks some cool lookin' shoes.
Weaknesses: Unfortunately, there is one minor wardrobe problem - the color of his socks (maroon) don't match the actual red color of the team.

11. ELI THE EAGLE
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Strengths: The beak looks awesome, he's actually the color of actual eagles, and he just looks so sleek and awesome. Plus, the logo is one of the toughest and baddest in the NCAA; he looks like a golden eagle you do NOT want to mess with!
Weaknesses: Unfortunately, the IUPUI Jaguar messed with him one time, and we all know the bad publicity that gave him...

10. CARDINAL BIRD
Louisville Cardinals
Strengths: A scowl on his face that says "Stay the heck out of my way" and huge, giant wings to soar past his opponents. Also, huge feet that simply scream cool.
Weaknesses: None.

9. CLUTCH
Lehigh Mountain Hawks
Strengths: He simply looks like a pretty cool mountain hawk, rocking the team uni and two other unique features: thick white socks and his talons actually come out of his shoes. Too cool.
Weaknesses: None.

8. ICEBURGH
Pittsburgh Penguins
Strengths: Has been a movie star, is simply so darn huggable and lovable, had a "moment" with Maxine Talbot, and simply looks too cool in any Penguins jersey. Plus, you can follow him on Twitter.
Weaknesses: I just wish that he had actual flippers instead of fingers; it would be more realistic.

7. T.D.
Miami Dolphins
Strengths: Rocks the team's uni, including the little helmet at the top of his head (like the team logo), and also drives around in an ATV. Plus, he takes any opportunity he can get to pose with the Dolphins' cheerleaders.
Weaknesses: The only knock I have is that he wears the Dolphins' team socks OVER his pants. Come on, nobody in the NFL does that, so why should you?

6. ACE
Toronto Blue Jays
Strengths: Unlike Hoppy, he actually looks like a blue jay, from the top of the blue crown to his black legs at the bottom. Plus, he's got muscles on his wings as well, and loves to do antics with the fans and impress the fans. He's simply one cool bird.
Weaknesses: Again, the name is too generic, but I also don't see what it has to do with Toronto or blue jays in general.

5. YOUDEE
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens
Strengths: Where to start? Member of the Mascot Hall of Fame, has won numerous awards and trophies from the UCA Championships to other mascot camps, friendly, outgoing, and UNLIKE the Kansas mascot he has huge claws at the back of his legs and rocks some pretty sweet footwear as well. This is one AWESOME hen!
Weaknesses: None.

4. HERKY THE HAWK
University of Iowa Hawkeyes
Strengths: It's kinda hard to have a hawkeye as a mascot, so why not the next best thing and make it a hawk? Herky is downright awesome, especially the football version: A big head rockin' the Iowa helmet, the full football uni, and some knee-high white socks. That's pretty frickin' sweet. I'm not a huge fan of the basketball version, but it works for that setting.
Weaknesses: None.

3. SJ SHARKIE
San Jose Sharks
Strengths: Has his own website, loves to gnaw on the heads of fans and friends everywhere, rocks the team uni, and is one of the more outgoing mascots in the NHL. He may be a shark and when it's game time it's all business, but otherwise he's so darn loveable.
Weaknesses: None.

2. THE BIRD
United States Air Force Academy Falcons
Strengths: The live falcon is pretty sweet, too, but The Bird is the icing on the cake. He's got a sweet looking beak, rocks the team jerseys, wears high orange socks that represent his 'legs', and even wears huge Nike shoes! This bird's got it ALL and I think it's awesome!
Weaknesses: None.

1. BOOMER
Indiana Pacers
Strengths: Show me any other mascot that can do the crazy dunks and tricks that Boomer can do. This panther is simply awesome. Living in Indiana and attending events that he's been at, I've tried to get the opportunity to meet him and get a picture, but apparently that's easier said than done because he's so darn sneaky. But he's acrobatic, he pumps up the crowd when times get tough for the Pacers, and he has a sweet looking tail. This is one cool cat.
Weaknesses: None.

Future posts will focus on any other mascots that are in the news and my thoughts on mascot-related stories.