Team Mascots

October 25, 2012

Watching the World Series between Detroit and San Francisco two things come to mind.

1.  Don Larsen pitched his perfect World Series game on October 8, 1956.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Larsen).  That's when the series should be played, at the start of October, not the end, finishing in November.  Brrr.  The NBA season will open before baseball is done and go well into summer. Baseball is summer, football is fall, basketball and hockey are winter.

2.  Team mascots have long been a hot button for me.  My definition of an acceptable team mascot,from middle school through the professional ranks, has three components:  (1) ferocity (2) intimidation and (3) fear.  In other words, a mascot should bring all three in the mind of opponents.  These are my general criteria for mascots.  Acceptable - animals, usually with fur, preferably striking fear if you encounter them face-to-face, manly icons, and fierce Native Americans.  Unacceptable - birds, fish, inanimate made up names, cuddly/furry animals, and most humans.  A sample list:

OK:  Longhorns, Bears, Tigers, Lions, Eagles, War Eagles, Wolverines, Bruins, Badgers, Giants, Lumberjacks, Cougars, Bearcats, Seminoles, Cowboys, Red Raiders, Raiders, Wildcats, Chiefs, Braves, Buffaloes (Buffs), Indians, Blackhawks, Warriors, Tomahawks, Arrows, Indians, Redskins (my high school), Utes, Steelers, Mustangs, WolfPack, Wolves, Dragons, Panthers, Snakes, Sharks, Razorbacks, Bulldogs, Rams, Hawks, Gators, Grizzlies, Crocodiles, Cobras, Vikings, Coyotes, Colts, Broncos, Bobcats.

Marginal:  Trojans (a guy in a skirt on a horse is marginal, at best), Horned frogs (unless you've touched one), Celtics, Blue Devils, Gamecocks, Rebels, Pandas, Cubs, Yellow Jackets, Hornets and Bees (close call on these three).

Not OK: cardinals, orioles, blue jays, packers,  jayhawks, hoyas, ducks and beavers (please), phillies, heat, shockers, thunder, corn huskers, mariners, commodores, tar heels, camels, lakers, green wave, crimson tide, hurricanes, hokies, mud hens, turkeys, owls, 49'ers, sun devils, knickerbockers, pistons, pacers, gophers, twins, terrapins, orange men (red men ok, men named after a fruit? Not ok.), buckeyes.

And the two most offensive and totally unacceptable:  aggies and sooners.

October 16, 2012

We had 12 members and no guests or visiting Rotarians.

After Steve and Ted beat me up about Texas losing a football game, the meeting proceded.  Caitlin announced her Crohn's Foundation fund raiser, a muscle car show, on Thursday Dec. 6, and Ken announced that our Christmas party is Tuesday, Dec. 4.  Francie did not announce it, but I think there is a board meeting next Tuesday after the regular meeting, somewhere off property.

Our small crowd was livened by the speaker, Chloe Powell, current Miss Helldorado Rodeo.  She tried out for Miss Nevada Rodeo, but was not selected.  However, there were some Elks Club members present and they asked her to be their Queen.  The competition involved judgement in horsemanship on two horses picked at random as well as beauty. She plans to try again for the state title in April with more experience under her belt buckle, which she wore along with big hat and smile.

Chloe graduated from Faith Lutheran in 2008 where she was Key Club president.  She got her first horse at age 7 and has never looked back, competing in barrel racing and pole bending as a teenager.  Currently she rides cutting horses and participates in Western Pleasure, which is a competition that encompasses how naturally the horse moves and the posture and aesthetics of the rider, among other things. The Elks ask her to speak to elementary students and other groups, which she happily does, since she talks real good.  Did I mention that smile? Photo attached.

Chloe told us a lot about her experiences with horses and cattle, and was a delightful breath of fresh air to our club meeting.