Sad Suits: the Top 15 Worst Mascots in Sports History
Being one of the worst mascots in sports history is more embarrassing than running around in a costume at sports games as your profession.
While being a mascot may not be the most dignified of life callings, a man or woman can at least take pride when he or she is an excellent mascot. The Phillie Phanatic probably walks with his head held high, even when his head isn’t shoved inside a giant, green dragon-thing’s head. The same can’t be said for the poor souls on this list.
These are the top fifteen worst mascots in sports:
15. Tampa Bay Rays – Raymond
WBUR
Unlike the hit family sitcom, very few people love Raymond. He is the strange, dog-like creature that, for some reason, represents the Tampa Bay Rays, and much like the Phillie Phanatic, he isn’t anything; he’s just a furry creature. But unlike the Phillie Phanatic, Raymond sucks.
Also, no one knows why he isn’t at least some form of a manta ray. But rather than use the likeness of their actual team name, Tampa Bay elected to entertain their fans with the help of what looks like a blue sheepdog that sneezed so hard he exploded his snout. And for that, they earned the fifth spot on this prestigious list.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder – Rumble the Bison
NBA
He is the anthropomorphic buffalo mascot for the Thunder. His name is Rumble. He throws down monster slam-dunks. And his hair is finer than any other maiden’s in all the land. It makes absolutely no sense. The focus group that came up with Rumble wanted him to be challenging in every manner, but they felt it was important he had the flowing locks of a Vidal Sassoon model.
On top of that, they gave him the most innocent pair of giant doe eyes. He dribbles with the fierceness of Bambi and throws down with the strength of Farrah Fawcett. Rumble is a genuine walking paradox.
Although Rumble’s contradictions might have led him to be placed on the list of the worst mascots in sports.
However, that doesn’t dismiss the fact Rumble once won the Mascot of the Year award in 2009.
Surprisingly, Rumble won the Mascot of the Year six months after he debuted as the mascot for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Rumble’s trademark entrance is the banging of a bass drum. The tale behind the story of Rumble is an old one. According to the Oklahoma City Thunder website, a bison struck by lightning transformed into the super-powered bison known today as Rumble.
13. San Diego Chargers – Bolt Man
Fox5 San Diego
Part man. Part lightning bolt. All jerk. Bolt Man is the ill-conceived mascot of the San Diego Chargers, and he’s about as pleasing to the eye as a Carrot Top boudoir shoot. This cartoonish abomination is essentially a frat boy lightning bolt; he’s wearing slick black sunglasses, sporting a massive, self-satisfied smile, and is completely jacked up on steroids. He’s not on the list of Hall-of-Famers.
He’s the first mascot ever that qualifies as a complete and total douche. Not only do you not want to root for Bolt Man, but you wouldn’t trust him alone with your daughter for a second. Thank goodness he did not make it to their move to Los Angeles.
12. Southern Illinois Salukis – Saluki
Lawrence Journal-World
This deserves a spot as one of the worst mascots in sports history.
Sometimes, mascots are weird and awkward. Sometimes they’re nonsensical. And sometimes they are just straight-up terrifying. If you look at the Southern Illinois Saluki, you know it falls squarely into the last category. A Saluki is an ancient Egyptian hunting dog, but this thing somehow turned out looking like a bloodthirsty, zombie poodle hell-bent on death and destruction. While kids tend to like most mascots, we’re willing to bet that no child has gotten within five feet of Saluki’s cold eyes and razor-sharp teeth without immediately crapping their pants.
Like the Dallas Cowboys’ Rowdy, Southern Illinois University initially didn’t play under the name Saluki but used Maroon from 1913 to 1962 and adopted the name and mascot of “Saluki” in 1951.
One of the reasons why an ancient Egyptian dog was picked as the mascot was probably because Southern Illinois is known as Little Egypt.
11. Dallas Cowboys – Rowdy
Holy hell. What a creep. Have you seen this guy? There is something so unsettling about the mascot representing the Dallas Cowboys since 1996. It seems that whoever came up with Rowdy’s look was probably going for a happy, kid-friendly type of vibe, but something must have been lost in translation because what they wound up with was a face that falls less on the side of happy and more on the side of clinically insane. Based on the look in those eyes, as quickly as he’s taken a picture with your kid, Rowdy will smack the ice cream out of your kid’s hand and then revel in the sadness.
Before making it to the top of the list of worst mascots in sports, Rowdy was known and marketed by his creators under the name Big D. That sounds weird. But perhaps the Cowboys saw something that we don’t. At their inauguration for Rowdy, the name and appearance of the original Big D changed to what we know now as Rowdy, the worst mascot in history.
10. Los Angeles Clippers – Chuck the Condor
Mark J. Terrill/AP
In 2016, there was a new mascot introduced to the Clippers team. The reviews of this mascot were mixed, but they were mostly negative.
Some sports critics claimed that Chuck looks like Toucan Sam, the Fruit Loops bird. The coach seemed to like it, claiming the mascot fit the team and the city well, but we weren’t convinced.
9. San Francisco Giants – Crazy Crab
San Francisco Giants/ YouTube
The next mascot was only around for the 1984 season. Why, you may ask? Well, at the time, the Giants were playing poorly. To boast spirits, the management decided to create the Crazy Crab. Fans were both confused and terrified every time they saw him.
He was so disliked that they decided to eliminate him after one season. In 2008, he appeared at a Giants game when they gave away Crazy Grab bobbleheads.
8. Columbus Blue Jackets – Stinger
Andrew Weber/US PRESSWIRE
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a reasonably new team in the NHL. Over the years, they have become better. Shortly after they started playing, they introduced their new mascot, Stinger. The PR team said Stinger is a “Bug with an Attitude.”
He is supposed to characterize the citizens of Columbus, known for their hard work and pride in their team. Unfortunately, his scary eyes are haunting, and his mean smile makes you want to run and hide. We hope that the Columbus community enjoys him!
7. Golden State Warriors – Thunder
Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
In 1997, the Warriors were introduced to Dub Nation, Thunder. He was a muscular mascot that had a thunder face. What made him super cool was his sunglasses. The fans liked him for his fantastic acrobatics and how he could get anyone excited for the game.
After only 11 years on the team, Thunder, the mascot was retired because of the new group, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
6. Philadelphia Flyers – Gritty
Ben Solomon/Philadelphia Flyers
In September 2018, the Philadelphia Flyers introduced Gritty as their new mascot. The internet and fans alike were horrified to learn that this mascot existed. The ridiculous orange fiend has crazy eyes, hips that move better than Sharika’s, and weird hand movements.
People recognize him all across America because he looks like he will haunt you in your nightmares. It’s a confusing move by the Flyers, but the city loves Gritty.
5. Philadelphia 76ers – Hip Hop the Rabbit
6abc
Before the new 76ers mascot came around, they started with Hip Hop. He was a rabbit that gave the crowd a bunch of awesome acrobatic moves.
He was unliked, though, because his costume was ugly.
4. Ohio State University – Brutus Buckeye
Ohio State Buckeyes
If you aren’t an Ohio State fan, you might be rolling your eyes every time you see this mascot run out on the field.
They were so unoriginal with their mascot that they made it a nut. Boring!
Shop Ohio State Store3. Miami Heat – Burnie
Sports Illustrated
People do not like Burnie because he is too high-energy and looks weird.
This guy is supposed to be a fireball. Now, we need some clarification!
Shop Miami Heat Store2. Washington Nationals – Screech
Robot Butt
What kind of name is Screech? Well, this bird was introduced over 15 years ago.
Even though he has a terrible name, fans love to see him around the stadium!
1. Miami Marlins – Billy the Marlin
Miami Herald
The marketing team needed to be thinking of this mascot. The poorly designed marlin looks like a clownfish!
But the sad thing is, the other mascots around the league probably laugh at him behind his back.
Shop Marlin StoreThere they are, the not-so-proud members of the fraternity of horrendous mascots. The sad thing is that there were so many more candidates that this list could’ve easily been a top 25 (we’re looking at you, UC Santa Cruz’s Banana Slugs). If you’re convinced that we left some mess-of-a-mascot off our list, throw together a list of your own and tell those guys whose lives consist of dancing in a monkey suit just how useless you think they are.
