NFL mascots are beloved by fans of all ages, but they especially hold a special place in the hearts of kids. These larger-than-life characters bring a sense of fun and excitement to every game, and their interactions with young fans can create lasting memories. Kids are naturally drawn to the colorful and animated personalities of NFL mascots. Whether it's a giant bear, a towering eagle, or a spunky dolphin, these mascots captivate the attention and imagination of young fans. Children love to see their favorite mascot pumping up the crowd, doing funny dances, and engaging with fans in the stands. One of the most exciting moments for kids is when they have the opportunity to meet an NFL mascot in person.
Nfl mascots vs kids
By Paul Lukas
Special to Page 2
It was December 20th, and the Dolphins were wearing those stupid orange jerseys. Fortunately, Uni Watch aide-de-camp Ruth Wedes found something else to focus on. "What's up with the dolphin on their helmets?" she asked.
Ah yes, the Dolphins' dolphin -- a subject upon which Uni Watch was only too happy to expound: "Yeah, the dolphin's helmet has an 'M' on it. He should actually have a helmet with a dolphin on it, like the players do. And then that dolphin would have a helmet too, so you'd have a dolphin with a helmet with a dolphin with a helmet, and so on, creating an infinite regression, which would be so cool! Why didn't they design it that way? What a bunch of idi--"
"No," said Wedes, abruptly interrupting Uni Watch's reverie. "I don't care what's on the dolphin's helmet. Why is he wearing a helmet in the first place? The other teams don't put helmets on their animals."
A quick survey of the league's mascots reveals that Wedes was on to something (she's since been promoted to Uni Watch attach� for her efforts). The animals appearing on the uniforms of the Ravens, Jaguars, Texans, Bills, Broncos, Eagles, Lions, Falcons, Panthers, Cardinals, Rams, and Seahawks aren't just helmetless, they're devoid of any football-related imagery. Same goes for the non-uni secondary logos used by the Bears and Bengals. And the Colts, despite their equine team name, don't even have a logo horse (although they used to -- and he wore a helmet!).
It turns out that the Dolphins are the only NFL team that currently has a football-themed logo critter. And the NFL isn't the only league that prefers to depict its mascots in a non-sporty setting. Here's a quick survey of the animal-adorned teams from the four major pro sports leagues:
| ANIMAL-ADORNED TEAMS | ||||
| Plain animals | Animals wearing uniforms or equipment | Animals shown with balls or equipment | ||
*Team name not animal-based, but animal appears on uniform
**Animal not shown on uniform, but is part of team's brand imagery
This lopsided breakdown caught Uni Watch by surprise. After all, everyone knows the best mascot ever is Pittsburgh's skating penguin (whose original, portlier version, complete with a scarf, looked even cooler). All the best humanoid logo characters are athletically inclined, too: Pat Patriot; the Swinging Friar; Lucky the Leprechaun; Mr. Met; the Cincinnati Running Man (not to mention his old-school predecessor); and, of course, Beer Barrel Man (who apparently was a five-tool player, given his depictions here, here, and here). So why aren't there more sporty animals?
As it turns out, there used to be. In addition to the aforementioned Colts, here's a quick rundown of current teams whose animal mascots were once players, not just cheerleaders (with a tip of the Uni Watch cap to the invaluable LogoServer Web site):
MLB: Cardinals, Cubs, Blue Jays, and Orioles (whose logos have also included this, this, and this).
Why have so many teams moved away from athletic animals? "It's part of a larger trend toward more sophisticated logos," says uni and logo designer Todd Radom. "A lot of the old logos were drawn by newspaper cartoonists, but now computers make it easy to do slicker designs. And these aren't just mascots anymore -- they're corporate marketing tools. Something like the old Milwaukee Buck would never be viable today. It would be shot down in two seconds -- they'd think it was too goofy, not aggressive enough."
That's too bad, and not just for fans of animal athletes. In the current marketing environment, we aren't likely to see cool humanoid characters either, like the ones once used by the Steelers and Pistons.
Meanwhile, it turns out that there's something else unusual about the Dolphins' mascot: Look closely and you'll see that his helmet actually covers his blowhole instead of his skull. How's the poor guy supposed to breathe? No wonder the NFL's other mascots don't want to suit up.
Numbers Game
There was a lot of speculation about what uni number Randy Johnson would wear with the Yankees, because his familiar 51 is already worn by Bernie Williams. This got Uni Watch thinking about the rich history of players bartering and negotiating for coveted uniform numbers. The best story ever may be the current saga of the Redskins' Clinton Portis, who initially offered to box a teammate for his number, then agreed to buy the number for $40,000, and is now being sued for non-payment.
As for Johnson, he's going to wear 41. It's not yet clear whether this is a reference to his age or to the number of cameramen he plans to assault this season.
This & That
Several months ago, in a column about retired numbers, Uni Watch opined that teams that relocate and change their names tend to start their retired number rosters from scratch. But reader Ferdinand Cesarano (whose brother Michael is the man behind the excellent Mets Uniform Timeline) has pointed out several such teams that have continued to honor their old retirees.
The Sacramento Kings, for example, have kept 14 retired for Oscar Robertson, who played for the franchise when it was called the Cincinnati Royals. In the NFL, the Titans have kept the old Oilers numbers retired. And in the NHL, the Coyotes (who used to be the Winnipeg Jets) and Hurricanes (formerly the Hartford Whalers) continue to honor their forebears. A chastened Uni Watch stands corrected.
Last month's survey of football facemasks prompted reader Gary Streeting to turn up some great old team portraits that show players posing with strap-on noseguards (see additional portraits here, here, and here). This crude protector, which was patented back in 1891 and was fairly common among high school and college players in the early 1900s, could arguably be called the first facemask, even though it appeared well before the helmet itself.
Finally, Uni Watch's year-in-review item about Quad Cities Swing's uneven numeral sizes led reader Big C to point out that the St. Louis Blues did something similar in the late 1990s. Which in turn reminded Uni Watch that the Islanders had those weird seasickness-inducing numbers during the team's short-lived Gorton's Fisherman phase. Now there's a logo character who could've used a bit more work.
Paul Lukas's cat, Roscoe, does not wear a helmet, although he does like to crash into things. Archives of pre-Page 2 "Uni Watch" columns are available here. Got a uni-related question or comment? Send it here.
Mascots vs. Kids Halftime Game | 2022
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Hysterical mascots vs kids American Football match 'must be adopted by Premier League'
Never mind Todd Boehly's ridiculous north against south Premier League showdown, a hysterical mascots versus kids clash is the way to go.
Known as Pee Wees vs Mascots in the United States, the final pre-season NFL outings have a history of turning into anarchy during the half-time interval, as 6ft+ mascots across the nation line up to face children in a chance for vengeance.
Enraged by all the spillages and constant requests for photographs, the mascots have an opportunity for brutal demoralisation, which plays out into the greatest of sporting occasions. Sack off your disrespect for relegation, this is the Americanisation we need in this country!
The traditional half-time NFL viewing would make a far grander spectacle than yet another exhausting end-of-season affair - as well as providing some celebratory cheer.
Think Gunnersaurus trying to two-foot someone on the halfway line or Fred the Red attempting the 'siuuu' celebration.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should the Premier League introduce a kids v mascots game? Let us know in the comments section.
NFL teams host a mascot vs kids match during half-time of their final pre-season game The mascots are known to take no prisonersIt appears the ground-breaking idea is already favoured by Premier League fans.
"It is my fervent opinion that the Americans themselves vastly underrate their own masterpiece. Who would have a Pro Bowl when you could have this instead," commented one supporter, taking aim at the north v south equivalent match in America.
Premier League fans want a UK version"West Brom’s boiler mascot wouldn’t take any prisoners," joked a second fan clearly in favour of implementing a similar showpiece in the Premier League.
"Can’t lie if I watched Boilerman two foot a small child it would be the highlight of the season," harked another Baggies supporter.
"A career for [Boris] Johnson where he would actually excel," jibbed a fourth in reference to the former Prime Minister's historical no-nonsense approach when competing against children at rugby and football.
"I enjoyed watching this. Haha! Lets get this over to England. Pronto!" commented a fifth.
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One of the most exciting moments for kids is when they have the opportunity to meet an NFL mascot in person. Many teams host events specifically for young fans, such as "meet and greets" or "mascot days" where kids can get up close and personal with their favorite mascot. These interactions often include high-fives, hugs, and even playful antics like pretending to tackle or chase the mascots.
For kids, meeting an NFL mascot can be a dream come true. It creates a sense of connection to the team and the sport, and can inspire a lifelong love for football. In addition to the excitement of meeting the mascot, kids often receive small gifts or souvenirs, like autographed photos or miniatures of the mascot, further enhancing their experience. Beyond the game, NFL mascots also play important roles in the community. They often visit schools, hospitals, and charity events, spreading joy and positivity wherever they go. Kids who may not have the opportunity to attend a game can still have the chance to meet and interact with mascots, helping to foster a sense of inclusivity and bringing smiles to those who need it most. In conclusion, NFL mascots hold a special place in the hearts of kids. Whether it's the sheer entertainment value they bring to games, the chance to meet them in person, or their involvement in community outreach, mascots have a unique ability to create magical moments for young fans. Their vibrant personalities and engaging interactions make them icons of fun and excitement for kids and fans of all ages..
Reviews for "The Colorful World of NFL Mascots: How They Infuse Joy into Kids' Lives"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Nfl mascots vs kids". The premise sounded hilarious, but the execution fell flat for me. The jokes were predictable and the interactions between the mascots and kids felt forced. It felt like the show was trying too hard to be funny and ended up being cringe-worthy instead. I think they relied too heavily on physical comedy and didn't focus enough on creating engaging and entertaining content. Overall, I wouldn't recommend "Nfl mascots vs kids" to anyone looking for a good laugh.
2. John - 1/5 - "Nfl mascots vs kids" was a complete waste of my time. The entire show felt gimmicky and lacked any depth. It seemed like they were trying to cash in on the popularity of both mascots and children, without putting much effort into producing quality entertainment. The interactions between the mascots and kids felt forced and scripted, and I didn't find any genuine moments that made me laugh or engage with the show. I would strongly advise against wasting your time on this show and instead, find something more worthwhile to watch.
3. Emma - 2/5 - As a fan of the NFL, I was excited to watch "Nfl mascots vs kids", but it fell short of my expectations. While the concept had potential, the execution was lackluster. The show relied too heavily on slapstick humor and repetitive gags, which became tiresome after a while. I also found the interactions between the mascots and kids to be contrived, lacking any genuine chemistry or comedic timing. Overall, "Nfl mascots vs kids" didn't live up to its promise and left me feeling underwhelmed.