Thu 25 Oct 2007
Best Mascot
The mascot whose work in was creative and enthusiastic, serving as a valuable tool for their team and in their community. All sports team characters and college mascots are eligible.
This is always a popular category for the Best of Awards. Last year it lead to some entertaining fodder for late night host Stephen Colbert, when he learned a Canadian mascot had beaten out his namesake Steagle Cobeagle the Eagle. We encourage you to nominate mascots and to link any YouTube videos that might help the panel if they have not seen the mascot’s work.
Gameops.com canvasses a panel of selected industry leaders for our “Best of Awards”. Their names are not used to encouraged them to add as much information as possible. Their collective input is considered when building the final award selections.
Our panel consists of active leaders in the game operations community and people who have the opportunity to see a range of teams and leagues. We do allow our panel to nominate your own act or services, but of course that bias will be considered in the process. We also limit any awards to products and services offered by Gameops.com, or we make note of it.
–Cudo
October 25th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
I’ll go ahead and nominate Phinley, the mascot for the Clearwater Threshers (Single-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies).
http://www.myspace.com/phinley
October 27th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
I think if your giving out a award for the best mascot you need to keep in mind one of the most entertaining mascot i have ever seen! his name is kooka bird! and not only was he funny and a great mascot to watch he also taught us how to stay safe while riding, our bikes and roller blading by wairing helmets!! my family and i have seen kooka bird a couple times and he is ” THE BEST”
October 27th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
check out www.myspace.com/crazymascots
November 6th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Great work from all of the mascots on the NBA level from Squatch’s insane stunt, Slamson hanging for his life, Sly making what has to be a record 20 birthday parties, and the Clutch karate video was one of the best I have seen.
I would be remissed if I did not nominate Bango from the Bucks as a candidate for mascot of the year. Consideration for the award is a value to the team and in the community and Bango this past season emerged as one of the most well-rounded entertainers out there. Over 200 community appearances, one creative skit/video every game, involvement in close to 75% of all in-game time outs and breaks as part of Bucks entertainment, high scores with fans and NBA evaluators, and on top of all of that, some of the most athletic & acrobatic stunts and dunks, and the emergence of one of the Rim Rockers which he choreographs, trains, and performs with.
Thank you for the consideration, and I hope all mascots keep up the great work.
November 8th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Pretty easy vote hear in my mind. The Hardest Working Mascot in all of Minor League Baseball…Parker. The Fresno Grizzlies, Triple A-Affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, has the greatest mascot in all of sports. Parker wins this category hands down. Check him out at http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=FresnoGrizzlies.
November 8th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
PARKER, PARKER, PARKER!!!
He is the hardest working mascot in all of baseball. His bright orange fur is noticeable from accross the stadium.
See the best mascot right here:
http://www.youtube.com/profileuser=FresnoGrizzlies
November 8th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
My vote is for Parker of the Fresno Grizzlies.
He is an incredible showman for the Minor League Level. He skydived into the stadium opening night, can complete any mascot gag out there from crotch falls to ATV wheelies, but he gets the fans involved like no other mascot that Fresno has ever seen.
On top of being a good performer, he is a great businessman as well. Check out some of his sponsors:
Vehicle = 2008 Nissan Titan, aka “Parker’s Pickup”
Autograph Hut = Parker’s Playhouse sponsored by Wienerschnitzel
Post Game = Parker’s Pitch
Kids Club = Parker’s Prospect, and their newsletter, Parker’s Post
A true star of the show, Parker is the key and most entertaining marketing tool that Fresno has ever seen in the Sports Marketplace.
November 16th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
I would like to nominate Stanley C. Panther from the Florida Panthers (NHL). Since I have been frequenting this site, I have never seen a hockey mascot make the ballot.
Stanley has brought so much energy to the Panthers games and has introduced a new wave of dances and skits that have proved to be quite popular amongst the fans.
In my opinion, hockey is one of the toughest sports to mascot because of the limitations of the ice (other sports, such as basketball, provide you with an accessible “stage” — i.e. the court — to use at your disposlal); but Stanley has gone beyond that and will stop at nothing to keep his fans entertained!
He has my VOTE!!!
November 21st, 2007 at 12:57 am
I would like to nominate The Raptor from the Toronto Raptors. This guy(or gal) is extremly funny, he is all over you tube, from his hijinks in the inflateable suit to his gymnastic skills he has it all. I also notice his activity in the community with Toronto Sick Kids Hospital, the NBA Cares program and many more events….hands down (or in this case, claws down) the obvious choice.