Forbes Magazine just named America's Top 10 Sports Mascots, and #3 on their list was Mr. Met. #1 and #2 on the list, the Phillie Phanatic and the San Diego Chicken, are no-brainers. But Mr. Met coming in 3rd right behind those two? Seriously? It's a guy with a baseball for a head, named "Mr." plus the team's name? It couldn't be any less imaginative. And his entertainment skills are next to nothing so that doesn't explain the high showing either. Other than Mr. Met winning 3rd place, two major things are drastically out of whack with this list. First is that there are no college mascots, and there are some really great college mascots out there (and one truly horrible mascot). The other big problem is #9 on this list is "Rally", the mascot for the Atlanta Braves. How can a mascot who does not appear during ballgames and whom almost nobody even knew existed make the top 10?

One last thought on mascots: Remember the great mascot for the Montreal Expos, Youppi? (Well I do since I spent so many years within an hour of Montreal.) He's one of only three mascots inducted in the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown. Is he gone now that the Expos moved to DC? Nope, he stayed in Montreal but switched sports. He's now the mascot for the NHL's Montreal Canadiens.

Mr. Met's Bio on Mets.com
Mr. Met's MySpace Page

Labels: baseball