If you’ve ever wondered what’s going on inside Mr. Met’s gigantic head, this reading list is for you. Here’s how dancing chickens, slam-dunking gorillas, and wacky whatsits invaded the sidelines, plus tales of iconic (and occasionally infamous) sports mascots and the performers who bring them to life.
Image by Tom Fowlks/Getty Images
La Mascotte [LISTEN]
Furry, larger-than-life, foam-headed mascots may seem standard-issue for sports teams now, but this is only a relatively recent phenomenon in the history of professional sports.
The Mascot Whisperer
Max RubinThe New York Times
Dave Raymond practically invented the modern sports mascot. And over four decades, he has built a career on helping pro teams bring them to life.
The Monster in the Mirror
Michael BaumannThe Ringer
Gritty, the Philadelphia Flyers’ sensation-causing mascot, is a weird and scary avatar for a weird and scary time. The 7-foot-tall orange monster didn’t just put one city in touch with its identity: He is all things to all people. He is meme. He is messenger. He is message. And, in many respects, he is messianic.
For Aspiring Performers, The NBA Is The Best Place To Be A Mascot
Josh PlanosFiveThirtyEight
We talked to the people inside the plush, furry costumes that are symbols of North American sports teams.
What Is It? An Oral History of Izzy, the Mascot Marketing Snafu of Olympic Proportions
Max BlauAtlanta Magazine
Ten companies proposed a mascot. One was chosen. The winner would live in Olympic infamy.
‘Don’t Touch His Head:’ A Day in the Life of Mr. Met
James MontgomeryRolling Stone
Walk a mile in the size 16 shoes of NYC’s hardest-working mascot.
How the Original Suns Gorilla Has Dedicated His Life to Helping Others
Gina MizellThe Athletic
There was a Phoenix Suns Gorilla before the one who dunked. And he became one of the world’s iconic sports mascots by happenstance.
Googly Eyes, Sasquatch Suits and a Runaway Booger: Welcome to the Mascot Hall of Fame
Jake MalooleyESPN
Standing three floors high, it is the world’s only shrine to the immortals of the big-furry-costume realm.
How Cyril the Swan Became the UK’s Most Notorious Mascot
Jeff MayshHowler
Beginning in the late ’90s, Swansea City’s mascot was accused of all manner of fowl play, from inciting riots and head butting a referee to attacking other mascots and even a rival coach, all while saving the club’s financial fortunes. Then the nine-foot-tall bird became the prime suspect in a serious assault.
The Secret Life of Live Mascots
Ryan McGeeESPN
Uga, Bevo and Rameses are all household names to many college football faithful. See what life is like off the field for these living symbols of school pride.
The San Diego Chicken Heads Into a Sunset
Pete CroattoThe New York Times
Ted Giannoulas has spent more than 40 years as the man behind arguably the most famous mascot in sports. But he staves off the future, one night at a time.
Benny the Bull Has Accompanied a Mayor to China, Topped a Forbes List, and Been Arrested
Christopher BorrelliChicago Tribune
”First of all, before I get too far into this, Benny the Bull, the longtime clown prince of the Chicago Bulls, was not available to comment for this story.”
Gunnersaurus Explained: The Guy Who Dreamt Up Arsenal’s Mascot
Jim WeeksVice
Arsenal’s dinosaur mascot is arguably the most famous in the Premier League, but his connection to the club makes no sense. We spoke to the guy who dreamt him up.
Sudden Death: The Film Where Van Damme Fought a Penguin to Death
Matt EdwardsFilm Stories
If nothing else, it would be pointless to deny that Jean-Claude Van Damme fighting a giant penguin mascot is a positive experience for all of us who get to watch it.
Eyeballs, Bagels, and a Gigantic Hunk of Wasabi
Matthew J.X. MaladySlate
Inside the hilarious, treacherous, smelly world of minor league mascot races.
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An Explosive History of the T-Shirt Cannon
Jake RossenMental Floss
The apparel arms race at sporting events began when the San Antonio Spurs mascot wanted a way to launch free stuff to the fans in the upper deck.
BONUS READ: A Look Inside Japan’s Obsession With Bizarre Mascots
James DatorSB Nation
In the United States, mascots are designed to appeal to children and are typically associated with sports and consumer brands. This is not true in Japan, where almost every brand, prefecture, and local government is represented by a mascot, promoting everything from local produce to pachinko parlors and generating billions of dollars in the process.
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