In a quirky twist of fate, mascots from various sports teams found themselves competing in a soccer match. This unexpected event brought together beloved characters such as the San Diego Chicken, the Philadelphia Phillies' Phanatic, and the Toronto Raptors' Raptor, all donning soccer uniforms instead of their usual attire. The crowd was buzzing with excitement as they watched these iconic figures show off their soccer skills. The game kicked off with the San Diego Chicken scoring a goal within the first few minutes, showcasing his agility and speed. The Phanatic, known for his playful antics, tried to distract the opposing team by dancing and waving his foam finger in the air. Meanwhile, the Raptor displayed incredible dribbling skills, eluding defenders with ease.
Inspired by leopards, a common feature in South Africa, ‘Zakumi’ was the mascot for the 2010 World Cup. The ‘ZA’ in its name stood for South Africa, while ‘Kumi’ meant 10 in various African languages. Zakumi also sported green and gold colours, an ode to the sports kits of the African nation.
Devil from the New Jersey Devils hockey team stands 7 feet tall with horns and is an impish rascal, pulling other mascots tails when they re not looking, making jokes, punctuated by who me. Devil from the New Jersey Devils hockey team stands 7 feet tall with horns and is an impish rascal, pulling other mascots tails when they re not looking, making jokes, punctuated by who me.
Meanwhile, the Raptor displayed incredible dribbling skills, eluding defenders with ease. As the match progressed, the mascots displayed an impressive level of soccer know-how. They seamlessly passed the ball to each other, showing great teamwork.
Mascot Soccer 2012
This year’s mascot soccer game pitted sports team mascots against a team made up of Crew sponsor mascots. The rosters were as follows:
Team Mascots: Crew Cat, Stinger (CBJ), Rosie Red and Mr. Red (Cincinnati Reds), Krash (Clippers), Sir C.C. and Moondog (Cleveland Cavaliers.)
Photo by Sam Fahmi
Sponsor Mascots: Biscuit and Gravy (Bob Evans), B.C. (Roosters), Honey Bee (Lifeline), Pepe the Penguin (Kroger), Sub Dude (Subway), Cozy Cat (Columbia Gas), and Kona (Kona Ice.)
Photo by Sam Fahmi
The end result was a 5-1 shellacking by the team mascots. The scoring summary:
TM: Crew Cat (unassisted)
TM: Stinger (unassisted)
TM: Sir C.C. (Stinger)
SM: Sub Dude (unassisted)
TM: Stinger (Moondog)
TM: Mr. Red (Moondog)
Photo by Sam Fahmi
Here are some notes and observations as I watched the game with my buddies Flick and Z-man. Flick dominates this because his voice was loud enough to cut through the crowd noise.
* Flick: “We brought Mr. Red and Rosie Red, but we didn’t bring Mr. Redleg because he’s too busy laughing at the Pirates.”
Me: “Are Mr. Red and Rosie Red married?”
Flick: “No, but they have the same last name. They’re brother and sister.”
* Flick: “How is Stinger allowed to play? Isn’t he locked out?”
* Flick: “Hey Moondog! Stop touching Mr. Red! You’re going to put your stink on him! I don’t want your Cavaliers stink on him!”
* Z-man: “I like the Cleveland Cavaliers dog there. He’s got a small head, so he can see well, and he’s got pretty normal footwear. All of those corporate guys are horrible. How can they even see anything?”
* Me, as Stinger celebrated a goal: “Why is stinger running around doing airplane wings when he already has wings of his own?”
* Flick, upon watching Mr. Red knock down Sub Dude by kicking the ball off his face: “And the Reds go high and inside! That was like Homer Bailey brushing back that fat catcher, McHenry.”
* Flick: “The bee is from Lifeline, which is weird since bees give up their lives for their queen.”
* Flick: “Pepe’s just hanging out. It’s too hot out for a penguin.”
* Flick, upon Mr. Red putting the team mascots ahead 5-1: “If there’s one thing the Reds can do, it’s close out a game.”
*Flick, in summary: “Corporate mascots can’t compete. Pepe’s stacking ice cream all day. Rooster’s Guy, I don’t know if he runs the store or spends all day scared that he’s going to be the next meal. The Bob Evans guys are named Biscuits & Gravy—not exactly a name you’d associate with a pregame meal.”
If you want some slow-motion highlights with music—and who wouldn’t?— watch here:
SUB DUDE INTERVIEW
After the game, I caught up with Sub Dude, the Subway mascot, for this exclusive interview. I swear I am not making this interview up.
SS: “You took a good whack out there. What was it like playing in the mascot game?”
SD: “That was a great time. I did not realize that the ball was that hard. If I kicked the ball, it hardly moved. I learned I had to kick it with my knee. Then the Reds guy took a point blank shot at my face and knocked me over. Then he gave me CPR, which is what I remembered when I woke up.”
Photo by Sam Fahmi
SS: “The sponsor team appeared to be no match for the sports mascots.”
SD: “We had a lot of slow people. We didn’t have anybody athletic on our team. It was a stacked deck out there.”
SS: “Yeah, because the mascots get to train with their teams all the time, whereas the sponsor mascots have other jobs. Like Flick said, Pepe is stacking ice cream all day…”
SD: “At least I had the proper training diet, with all of my Subway subs. We ARE the official training restaurant.”
SS: “So what was it like for you down on the field?
SD: “I brought my soccer cleats and the field was perfect. It got hot inside the mascot costume really fast.”
SS: “What’s next for the sponsor team after this humiliating defeat?”
SD: “We’re going to retire for the rest of the year unless the Reds want to bring us to one of the playoff games.”
SS: “Wait, do you play mascot baseball too?”
SD: “No. It would be hard. You can’t see anything out there.”
SS: “It did seem that the sponsor mascot costumes were more of an impediment. You were the only one with normal footwear.”
SD: “Pepe’s feet are tied together. That’s a problem.”
SS: “While you had suitable footwear, I think the sandwich part of you probably made things difficult.”
SD: “The mascot costume keeps bouncing up and down. Now that I know what it’s like to run in it, I would have done a better job tying it down.”
SS: “Walk me through the goal, which came after an egregious 40-yard handball goal by the rooster, which I disallowed.”
SD: “It was a quick restart by the goal itself, and I was poaching.”
Designed by freelance artist Reg Hoye WIllie, it still lives on as an iconic moment in the history of the World Cup and paved the way for mascots to become an integral part of the tournament.
Spectators were astounded by their athletic ability and the tricks they pulled off on the field. The mascots seemed to be enjoying themselves, as they laughed and cheered each other on throughout the game. The crowd couldn't help but root for their favorite mascot to score a goal. Every time one of them approached the net, fans held their breath in anticipation. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with cheers and applause ringing out. In the end, the San Diego Chicken emerged as the star player, scoring an impressive hat trick. The Phanatic and the Raptor also managed to score a goal each, showcasing their individual skill sets. The match ended with a resounding victory for the mascots, much to the delight of the crowd. This unique event highlighted the camaraderie and sportsmanship among mascots. It served as a reminder that these larger-than-life characters bring joy to fans and unite sports communities. The soccer match showcased their athletic prowess and showcased the playful spirit they embody. The mascots left the field to thunderous applause, their quirky soccer match having created lasting memories for all those fortunate enough to witness it..
Reviews for "The Mascot Marathon: Soccer’s Most Exciting Event"
1. Jessica - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with this soccer match between mascots. The whole idea sounded fun and entertaining, but the execution fell flat. The mascots seemed uncoordinated and their movements were clunky. The game lacked any real excitement or skill. Overall, I found it to be a boring and unimpressive event.
2. Mike - 1/5 stars - I couldn't believe how ridiculous and unnecessary this soccer match between mascots was. It was clear that no one had any real talent or skill in playing soccer, and it showed throughout the entire match. Instead of being entertained, I found myself cringing at the awkward and clumsy attempts at playing the game. I would not recommend wasting your time watching this embarrassing display.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for this soccer match featuring mascots, but it did not live up to my expectations. The mascots lacked fluidity and coordination, making the game hard to watch. Additionally, the overall atmosphere was lacking, with minimal audience engagement and energy. While the concept was good in theory, the execution left much to be desired. I would suggest finding a different sporting event to watch if you're looking for true entertainment.