March Madness Mascot battles

If you’re someone that doesn’t follow basketball, it’s virtually impossible to get away from all the chatter during March Madness. It’s bad enough it seems like that orange ball season lasts FOR-EV-ER but the pressure to get in the pools, either at work or for fun is IMMENSE.

Mar 16, 2014; Greensboro, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils mascot cheers up the crowd against the Virginia Cavaliers in the championship game of the ACC college basketball tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

So how does one handle the pressure and possible ribbing that can go along with the MADNESS? Boil it down to the basest and most primitive level – I’m talking ANIMAL level. Or as some would say it’s the MASCOT level.

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In this year’s bracket there are Wildcats in all 4 divisions but there could never be a final four of them because Davidson will not make it past the first round. Mascots that just shouldn’t happen are The Blue Blob D’Artagnan from Xavier, (also the Musketeers) and the Utah Utes is an ugly bird of some sort.

Xavier’s Blue Blob D’Artagnan

Some of the unique mascots are the Shockers (Wich St.), Chanticleers (Coastal Car.), Anteaters (UC Irvine), and Red Storm (St. John’s) which sounds cool but is just a red bird. But the BEST one has to be the UAB Blazers Dragon! I mean that’s pretty WICKED stuff right there. And yes, I picked them in my bracket. I mean shouldn’t a Dragon be more awesome than a cyclone. One is an event and the other lives a real life….well sort of.

Mar 8, 2015; Rosemont, IL, USA; St. John

Feline Persuasion (10): Wildcats (4), Bearcats, Panthers (2), Tigers (2), and Leopards

Canine category (7): Bulldogs (2), Huskies, College Terriers, Wolfpack, Great Danes, and Hoyas (that’s a bulldog to me)

People category contains Boilermakers, Pirates, Crusaders, Colonials, Fighting Irish, Cowboys (2), Musketeers, Aggies, Rebels, Friars, Blue Devils, Spartans and Lumberjacks. It’s quite a mix of good guys and bad but on the whole a pretty fun group. Sparty has good legs. Who doesn’t love a swashbuckling Pirate, Crusader or Muskateer? And toss in a Blue Devil to keep things interesting.

I don’t know what Hokies are, or Hoosiers, or Tarheels (seems to fit better here than in the human category and because I’ve picked Duke to win it all). I know what Buckeyes (Ohio St) are but it’s a stupid plant. Sooners, yeah kind of a person but kind of a prairie schooner. And the worst has to be Harvard.

Mar 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Members of the Harvard Crimson band cheer on their team against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half of a game in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veteran Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

My friend who attended Harvard said there is NO mascot but the interweb says John Harvard, or Crimson is the mascot. I asked my super smart friend who he cheered for when he went to sporting events during his 7 years of college (undergrad and law school) and he said, “I didn’t go to sporting events.” I’ve since deleted his contact information from my phone.

So there you have it. A mascot run down for this year. I pick ’em how I like ’em and for now I’m only down by 2 games! Let the March Madness continue!