| Every sports team in the world has a mascot. But | | | | between two teams. |
| what are they and what is their purpose? From the | | | | It can be almost amusing to see grown men and |
| dictionary definition of mascot, it is either an animal, | | | | women as well as children dressing up in jerseys |
| person or object likened to a talisman to bring good | | | | designed to look just like the players uniforms, and |
| luck to a team. This behavior emulating the | | | | yet no matter how gaudy and out of place they |
| near-idolization of sport mascot designs has been | | | | may look, on game day if you're not wearing one, |
| going on for centuries and is very apparent within | | | | you are out of style. And even in high school are |
| native cultures of indigenous peoples. The people of | | | | usually treated to the first taste of fame when |
| Papua New Guinea, do a dance, while decorated with | | | | strangers wear jerseys with their name on the back, |
| colors and feathers representing a local majestic bird | | | | all in the name of sport. |
| of prey as a sign of bravery and for good luck in the | | | | Mascot can be a central part of the history and lore |
| hunt. | | | | of the school or community. The Saints |
| In fairness, it is appropriate to ask if the concept of | | | | demonstrated the ability to lift an entire community |
| the mascot is just to sell things. With any particular | | | | by representing their city. A football team and the |
| university, your professional sports team could | | | | name came to represent the people lifting |
| certainly convince you, that was the case. But it may | | | | themselves up after a devastating hurricane. When |
| be more precise to consider that the mascot is a | | | | the Saints actually won the Super Bowl the people in |
| way for the diverse community of tens to condense | | | | the town of New Orleans, stated in interviews that it |
| into one cohesive and supportive unit. If you're a fan | | | | was a good omen for the city. In this case, the |
| of a team called the Bulldogs, it is almost certain you | | | | mascot took on a much larger meaning than the |
| have a shirt jacket, hat or some other emblazoned | | | | name of a football team. |
| with bulldog. | | | | It is possible, however, for a mascot to stir up |
| Perhaps originally the idea of dressing up or | | | | unanticipated trouble. For many non-natives any |
| camouflaging oneself to look like a majestic animal | | | | reference to Native Americans is meant to honor the |
| was done in the hopes of somehow channeling the | | | | bravery, integrity, and honesty the indigenous |
| ferocious spirit into oneself. And there is certainly | | | | Americans have come to represent. But during |
| something to that regarding sports teams, which is | | | | football games when an entire crowd starts making |
| why the majority of physical sports to something | | | | any symbolic tomahawk gesture, it is not always |
| fearsome or ferocious as a mascot to inspire the | | | | received a positive light. |
| team's success. Those who have graduated from an | | | | There have been numerous attempts to eliminate or |
| institute seem to never leave the mascot behind. | | | | reduce references to Native Americans as mascots |
| Mascots may help sell a lot of trinkets but there's a | | | | for sporting teams. Inevitably, the icons remain but |
| more serious side to it. They are truly motivational | | | | only after heated discussions which may largely be a |
| images. The team, school and community actually | | | | healthy approach to keeping respect for one another |
| embrace the mascot is an overarching identity. And a | | | | in the limelight. This is just another example of how |
| two-college town one can immediately identify the | | | | the emblems of sports and specifically sport design |
| we-they aura in almost any public gathering area. It | | | | mascots and bring out emotions and feelings beyond |
| becomes almost half of all, close to a rivalry game | | | | just a sporting team. |