Beyond the arc
In the wacky world of sports, it never ceases to amaze me, teams can have some of the most bizarre mascots.
This past week when Marion played Eureka, I couldn't help but chuckle about their mascot — a tornado. It's wind, and I guess it can be pretty scary, but a mascot? Why not a bear or lion? Heck, how about a Warrior?
The Wichita semi-professional hockey team is the Thunder, another team with a weather fetish? What is it about weather that's intimidating? Give me a Spartan or a Bulldog any day, or give me something tough.
The St. John's University basketball team is the Red Storm. As if a storm isn't scary enough, they felt the need to add the intimidating color red — "yea, if the storm don't get 'em, the red will."
Then there are teams like Notre Dame, or the Fighting Irish as they're called. I've known a few Irish folks that can have a pretty good temper, but generally picture a raging Conan O'Brien when I think of "fighting Irish." Nonetheless, any mascot that's "fighting" must be pretty tough.
And who can forget those menacing Shockers from Wichita State University? If they can't beat you on the basketball court what are they going to do, whip you into submission with their wheat shock? Come on already.
And perhaps one of my biggest pet peeves in the sports world in the field of mascot monogram, is when a school calls its girls' team the "lady Warriors" or the "lady Cougars." Perhaps schools have accepted this label for their particular teams, but that doesn't make it right. Those in opposition, listen up.
You wouldn't have the "boy Warriors," or the "gentleman Cougars," so why in the world do you call them "lady" whatevers? They're either Warriors or they're not, plain and simple.
Well, that's quite enough ranting from me. But since folks are wrapped up in crazy mascot names, I ask you to consider the "Severely Neurotic Sports Editors" for your next team.
