When you think of the top 10 sports experiences, mascots often steal the spotlight—sometimes for all the wrong reasons. These costumed characters can be as entertaining as they are eye‑catching, but a few have crossed the line into downright ugly territory. Buckle up as we count down the ten sports teams whose mascots might make you wince.

Why These Mascots Belong in the Top 10 Sports List

10 Nittany Lion at Penn State

Penn State University, nestled in State College, Pennsylvania, boasts one of the most storied college football programs in the nation. Its official mascot, the Nittany Lion, has prowled the sidelines since 1907, inspired by the wild mountain lions that once roamed the nearby Nittany Mountains.

The lion stands as a symbol of strength, courage, and loyalty, beloved by students, alumni, and fans alike. You’ll spot the Nittany Lion leading the Nittany Lions onto the gridiron, roaring before every game and even making appearances at graduations, charity drives, and other campus celebrations.

Although some fans find the creature cute or cartoonish, the mascot has undergone several redesigns to look tougher and more athletic. Today’s version is a hulking feline with rippling muscles, razor‑sharp claws, and a fierce, focused expression meant to intimidate opponents.

9 WuShock at Wichita State

Wichita State University, home of the Shockers, introduced WuShock as its mascot back in 1936. Over the decades, the character has been reshaped to mirror changing tastes and eras, evolving from a simple wheat stalk to a full‑blown, muscular embodiment of the university’s agrarian roots.

The current WuShock resembles a buff, anthropomorphic bundle of wheat, complete with bulging biceps, a furrowed brow, and a steely glare. The wheat motif pays homage to Kansas’s farming heritage, while the “Shockers” nickname recalls the historic practice of “shocking” wheat into bundles.

WuShock may not win any beauty contests, but his energetic personality has earned him a legion of fans. He’s famous for high‑octane stunts, acrobatic flips, and wild dance moves that get crowds on their feet and roaring for more.

Despite his popularity, WuShock faced controversy early on. Some critics felt the mascot perpetuated a negative stereotype of rural Kansas, even calling for its removal. Over time, however, the character has become a cherished emblem of both the university and the state.

8 Hip Hop at Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers, a storied NBA franchise dating back to 1946, have tried a few mascots over the years, but none have sparked as much conversation as Hip Hop, the team’s current rabbit mascot.

Hip Hop dons a basketball jersey and showcases impressive break‑dancing routines during halftime, adding a splash of flair to the game‑day experience. Yet, his design has been widely panned for its disproportionate head‑to‑body ratio and a grin that borders on creepy.

Instead of opting for a fierce animal or a heroic human figure, the 76ers settled on a rabbit, a choice that many fans found puzzling. The mascot’s oversized head, mismatched limbs, and unsettling smile have earned him a spot on many “ugliest mascot” lists.

Before Hip Hop, the Sixers featured a bald eagle named Big Shot, who retired in 1996, followed briefly by a moose called Phil E. Moose. Both of those mascots were also short‑lived, making way for the rabbit’s long‑term tenure.

Since his debut in 1997, Hip Hop has become a fan favorite despite his looks, thanks to his electrifying halftime shows and playful interactions. He’s even made appearances on ESPN, The Today Show, and other national media outlets.

7 Squatch at Seattle Supersonics

The Seattle Supersonics, a former NBA franchise that called Seattle home from 1967 until its relocation in 2008, sported a mascot named Squatch, a nod to the Pacific Northwest’s legendary cryptid.

Squatch is based on the mythical Sasquatch, or Bigfoot—a towering, shaggy, ape‑like creature said to roam the region’s dense forests. While the mascot adopts a more friendly, cartoonish look, he still carries the wild eyes and oversized feet that give him a slightly unsettling vibe.

Since becoming the official mascot in 1993, Squatch has earned a special place in the hearts of Supersonics fans. He energizes crowds with high‑energy dance moves, goofy antics, and even daring halftime dunks, proving that even a “bigfoot” can be a crowd‑pleaser.

6 Friar Dom at Providence College

Providence College, a private Catholic liberal arts school in Rhode Island with a proud basketball tradition, fields a mascot known as Friar Dom. This towering, bald friar sports a fluffy white beard, a black robe, and a gleaming gold cross.

The college originally used a mule named Betsy to haul equipment, but a 1947 student costume of a friar captured the crowd’s imagination, cementing the religious figure as the school’s emblem ever since.

Despite his imposing head and abundant facial hair, Friar Dom is a beloved fixture at Providence games. He leads the student section in chants, hypes up the crowd, and embodies the school’s religious heritage and commitment to service.

5 Tree at Stanford University

Stanford University, nestled in Silicon Valley, is renowned for academic excellence and athletic prowess. Yet its unofficial mascot, the Stanford Tree, has become a source of endless fascination and occasional bewilderment.

The Tree is a flamboyant creation of green fabric, featuring a goofy, oversized tree face with a massive nose, a crooked grin, and spindly limbs that make the wearer look more like an insect than a plant.

The concept originated in 1975 when a group of students sought a fresh mascot for the university. Initially rejected by the administration, the Tree was banned from official events, but students persisted, dressing up and marching at games.

In 1981, Stanford finally recognized the Tree as an official mascot—on the condition that it could not speak or interact with the crowd. This quirky restriction has led to some awkward, silent dancing moments during games.

Despite its odd appearance and history, the Stanford Tree has become an iconic symbol of the university’s quirky, irreverent spirit, beloved by alumni and students alike.

4 King Cake Baby at New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans, soaring in the NBA, introduced a mascot steeped in Mardi Gras tradition: the King Cake Baby. This tiny plastic baby, traditionally hidden inside a sweet cake for good luck, was transformed into a full‑time mascot in 2014.

With an oversized head, beady eyes, and a grin that borders on the nightmarish, the King Cake Baby quickly earned a reputation as one of the ugliest mascots in professional sports.

Beyond its unsettling looks, the baby has a mischievous streak, often pulling pranks on unsuspecting fans and even startling players—once causing a player to tumble after a surprise ambush.

3 Boltman at San Diego Chargers

Boltman, the electrifying mascot of the San Diego Chargers (now the Los Angeles Chargers), is a hybrid of man and lightning bolt that has sparked more cringe than cheers.

Debuting in 1996 thanks to die‑hard fan Dan Jauregui, Boltman features an oversized, bolt‑shaped head, red‑blue goggles, and a maniacal grin, giving him the aura of a mad scientist stitched together from electricity.

The character’s bolt‑shaped antennae jut from his head like cybernetic extensions, reinforcing his uncanny, cyborg‑like appearance.

Despite the questionable aesthetics, Boltman is a fixture at every home game, firing up the crowd with sideline dances, backflips, and T‑shirt tosses, ensuring the Chargers’ fans feel the literal charge of the arena.

2 Blue Blob at Xavier University

Xavier University, a private Catholic institution in Cincinnati, Ohio, fields a mascot unlike any other: the Blue Blob. Introduced in 1985, the Blob was designed to mirror the school’s blue‑and‑white color scheme.

The creature is a featureless, gelatinous figure with two bulging eyes and a wide, toothy grin, resembling a cross between a blueberry and a low‑budget horror‑movie monster.

Even with its unconventional looks, the Blue Blob has become central to Xavier’s identity, appearing at virtually every Musketeer sporting event, cheering the teams, and entertaining fans. The mascot’s performances have even earned him the 2007 Mascot National Championship.

1 Willie the Wave at Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University, perched along Malibu’s stunning coastline, boasts a mascot that mirrors its oceanic setting—Willie the Wave. This blue wave sports arms, legs, and a cartoonish face with bulging eyes and a cheesy grin.

Designed in 1945 to replace the live pelican “Captain Pelican,” Willie was chosen to honor the university’s seaside location, though his execution resembles a low‑budget children’s cartoon character.

Despite the less‑than‑glamorous appearance, Willie has been energizing Pepperdine crowds since 1945 with lively dance moves and a knack for pumping up the audience at every sporting event, earning a special place in the hearts of students and alumni.

When you think of 10 iconic mascots, you probably picture roaring lions, a cheeky pizza villain, or a gleamingly clean man in a white hat. Yet behind those familiar faces lie stories that range from heroic survival to bizarre mishaps, and sometimes even a touch of criminal drama. Below we dive into the surprising backstories that make each of these mascots truly unforgettable.

Why These 10 Iconic Mascots Matter

Each mascot on this list has left a unique imprint on pop culture, sports, politics, or cuisine. Their origins—whether accidental, intentional, or downright strange—show just how powerful a well‑crafted character can be for a brand, a nation, or even a naval ship.

10 The MGM Lion

It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t recognize the roaring lion that opens every MGM film. Before the famous gold‑lettered logo appears, a majestic lion bellows, setting the stage for cinematic magic. What most viewers never realize is that one of the lions who played that role led a life far more eventful than the silver screen would suggest.

Jackie, the second feline to don the mantle, earned his fame by becoming the first lion whose roar was actually recorded and synced to the opening graphic. Beyond his vocal debut, Jackie survived a pair of train wrecks, withstood a tremor that rattled the very tracks he rode, and escaped an on‑set explosion. After a pilot was forced to crash‑land, Jackie found himself stranded in the Arizona desert for four days. Those near‑miraculous escapades earned him the nickname “Leo the Lucky,” a moniker that still echoes through Hollywood lore.

9 Domino’s

Domino’s may dominate pizza delivery, but its mascot has slipped into near‑oblivion—largely because of a bizarre and tragic turn of events. In 1986 the chain rolled out a new campaign starring “The Noid,” a cartoonish, wide‑eyed character whose mission was to sabotage pizza deliveries, turning every mishap into comic chaos.

What no one could have foreseen was the impact on a local man named Kenneth Lamar Noid of Atlanta. In 1989, feeling targeted by the brand’s teasing, he stormed a Domino’s outlet, brandishing a firearm and taking two employees hostage. His demands were eclectic: $100,000, a copy of the book The Widow’s Son, a getaway vehicle, and, unsurprisingly, two pizzas and a salad. Though his actions were undeniably criminal, the episode cemented the Noid’s place in mascot infamy.

8 Mr. Clean

Many brands slap a title in front of a proper name—think Dr. Pepper or Aunt Bessie—and we accept it without question. Mr. Clean follows that tradition, but the people behind the brand decided to peel back the mystery and give their gleaming hero a full name.

The clean‑cut character we’ve known since 1958 is officially Mr. Veritably Clean. Since his debut, he’s been the face of Procter & Gamble’s cleaning line, embodying the promise of spotless surfaces and sparkling results.

7 Burger King

The Burger King character first emerged in Florida in 1955, appearing on billboards and menu boards before finally stepping onto television screens in the late 1960s as an animated figure. By 1976, the mascot was given a live‑action makeover: a bearded, red‑haired king who reigned over burger ads for decades.

After being retired in 2011, the king made a surprising comeback in 2015, popping up in the entourage of Floyd Mayweather Jr. at his bout with Manny Pacquiao. Rumor has it the fast‑food giant paid a cool $1 million for the cameo, a move that left the boxing world both bewildered and amused.

6 Jackass

During the heated 1828 U.S. presidential race, opponent newspapers routinely labeled Andrew Jackson a “jackass.” Rather than taking offense, Jackson recognized the donkey’s virtues—its steadfastness and willingness to bear burdens for others.

What began as a slur turned into a badge of pride, and the donkey soon became the emblem of Jackson’s campaign. The symbol endured beyond his presidency, eventually evolving into the official mascot of the Democratic Party.

5 The Florida Gators

When researchers at the University of Florida’s College of Medicine concocted the sports‑drink Gatorade, they tapped into the school’s long‑standing alligator motif. The creature appears on the university’s daily newspaper, The Independent Florida Alligator, and proudly represents the Florida Gators athletic teams.

Its official mascot status was almost accidental. In 1908 a local vendor began selling pennants bearing the university’s name alongside a simple alligator silhouette. The image stuck, and because Gatorade was created by university staff, the school receives a 20 % royalty on every bottle sold. The Gatorade Trust, founded in 1967, has since amassed more than $1 billion—enough to buy a whole herd of actual alligators.

4 Timothy The Tortoise

Unlike the commercial mascots above, Timothy the Tortoise served a purely morale‑boosting purpose aboard the HMS Queen. Early 19th‑century sailors weren’t sure how to determine a tortoise’s sex, so Timothy was mistakenly thought to be male—though she was, in fact, female.

Timothy witnessed the 1854 Siege of Sevastapol, making her the last known living creature to have seen the Crimean War when she passed away in 2004—outliving the final veteran of that conflict by 64 years. After service on the Queen, she transferred to HMS Princess Charlotte and finally retired to Powderham Castle in 1935.

3 Columbia Pictures

In 1991, 28‑year‑old Jenny Joseph was asked to model for the Columbia Pictures logo during a lunch break. Though she’d never modeled before, she fit the bill because she resembled the iconic Torch Lady that had represented the studio since 1924.

The resulting photograph became the basis for the modern logo, complete with an amusingly visible extension cord dangling from the torch. Industry insiders have affectionately dubbed Jenny the “Harper Lee” of modeling—she landed one legendary gig and then stepped away from the spotlight.

2 Billy The Goat

Billy the Goat was Manchester United’s third mascot, following a goose (which allegedly got gobbled up as a Christmas dinner) and a dog. By tradition, the mascot would join the players for a post‑match drink at the local pub.

After United clinched the 1909 FA Cup, Billy partook in the celebration a little too enthusiastically, downing more champagne than his goat‑sized stomach could handle. He succumbed to alcohol poisoning that very night. His skull was later preserved and now resides in the club’s museum, a bittersweet reminder of a bygone era.

1 Lobster

A Malibu restaurant found itself in hot water during the mid‑1990s when animal‑rights activists pressed for the freedom of lobsters. Actress Mary Tyler Moore offered $1,000 to free the restaurant’s resident lobster, even likening lobsters to humans who “flirt” and “feel pain.” Radio host Rush Limbaugh countered with a $2,000 offer to eat the creature.

The owner declined both proposals, opting instead to keep the crustacean as a mascot. The 65‑year‑old lobster was christened “Spike” and remained the restaurant’s quirky emblem for the rest of his life.

Spike earned a reputation as a pop‑culture aficionado and an invaluable member of any pub‑quiz team, cementing his place among the most unconventional mascots ever recorded.

It’s Olympic season, which means only one thing: people dressed up in funny outfits. And that’s not referring to the athletes themselves. Ever since the first official mascot was unveiled in 1972 – ‘Waldi’ the dachshund for the Munich Games – mascots have become a staple of the Olympics; a crowd‑pleasing way to showcase the host nation’s culture, heritage, and a dash of whimsy. While the idea sounds noble, the execution sometimes veers into the bizarre, leaving us with a collection of characters that are as puzzling as they are memorable. That’s why we’ve compiled this top 10 crazy countdown of the most outlandish Olympic mascots ever to grace the opening ceremonies.

Why These Mascots Make the Top 10 Crazy List

Each mascot on this roster was chosen for its sheer eccentricity, design quirks, or the sheer audacity of its concept. Some look like they were ripped from a children’s storybook, others feel like experimental art projects, and a few simply make you wonder what the designers were smoking. Below, we break down each one, complete with original images and a splash of commentary.

1 Schneeman

When Innsbruck, Austria hosted the 1976 Winter Games, the organizers wanted a mascot that would capture both the Alpine chill and the nation’s tradition. The result was Schneeman – a stubby snowman sporting a Tyrolean‑style hat that looked more like a cowboy’s cap than a frosty headpiece. Intended to embody the “Games of Simplicity,” Schneeman’s torso‑head hybrid design, complete with molded shoes/gloves, made him resemble a candy‑colored M&M rather than a classic snowman, earning him a spot on our crazy list.

2 Hidy‑Howdy

Named after two friendly greetings, this duo of cowboy‑dressed polar bears represented Western Canadian hospitality at the 1988 Calgary Games. While the concept sounded warm, the execution was… unsettling. The massive, furry bear suits looked like oversized teddy bears with five‑o’clock shadows, and the fact that a sweaty adult was hidden inside added an extra layer of creepiness, cementing their place among the most bizarre mascots ever.

3 Magique

The 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics introduced Magique, a snow‑imp that was part‑man, part‑star, and entirely impossible. Designed to symbolize imagination, dreams, and “shooting for the stars,” Magique’s hybrid form reminded viewers that the Games are about more than scores – they’re about aspiration. Interestingly, Magique was selected over a more conventional mountain goat named Chamois, making his oddity a deliberate choice.

4 Norwegian Children

The 1994 Lillehammer Games featured a pair of Norwegian children as mascots. Their innocent smiles and hand‑in‑hand pose suggested purity, yet they were dressed in stylized Viking garb – a nod to Norway’s fierce, seafaring past. The juxtaposition of childlike innocence with the historically brutal image of Vikings created a quirky, almost contradictory mascot duo.

5 Izzy

First appearing as “Whatizit” at the close of the 1992 Barcelona Games, Izzy was later reshaped into a blue, amorphous figure with a face and tennis shoes for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Designed by DESIGNefx, Izzy was the first computer‑generated mascot, meant to embody the emerging Silicon Age. In practice, he resembled a melted computer mouse, lacking any clear national symbolism, and quickly became infamous for his meaningless design.

6 Athena and Phevos

The 2004 Athens Games, a return to the birthplace of the Olympics, introduced two child mascots named Athena and Phevos. Intended to blend ancient Greek heritage with modern youth, they were fashioned after ancient dolls, resulting in figures with wide feet and elongated necks that resembled Erlenmeyer flasks. Their peculiar proportions left many wondering if ancient Greek children really looked like that.

7 Neve and Gliz

At the 2006 Turin Games, Italy presented Neve and Gliz as winter‑themed mascots. Neve, meaning “snow” in Italian, sported a snowball for a head, while Gliz – short for “ghiaccio,” Italian for ice – appeared as an ice‑cube counterpart. Their blocky, Gumby‑like appearance, with Neve portrayed as a chick and Gliz as a dude, added a whimsical, if slightly odd, charm to the festivities.

8 Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, Nini

The 2008 Beijing Olympics featured a quintet of mascots: Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini. Their names form the phrase “Beijing huan ying ni,” meaning “Beijing welcomes you.” Each represented one of the Olympic rings and a Feng Shui element: a fish, a panda, an Olympic flame, a Tibetan antelope, and a swallow. While the concept was rich in symbolism, the resulting designs – especially the elongated necks and disproportionate feet – looked more like laboratory glassware than friendly ambassadors.

9 Miga, Quatchi, Sumi, Mukmuk

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Games introduced a quartet of characters inspired by North American folklore. Miga, a sea‑bear hybrid (orca‑kermode whale‑bear), loved surfing and snowboarding. Quatchi, a sasquatch‑type figure, carried a camera and dreamed of being a hockey goalie. Sumi, a spirit animal with Thunderbird wings and black‑bear legs, embodied nature. Their sidekick, Mukmuk, a marmot whose name derives from the Chinuk Wawa word for “food,” was known for his insatiable appetite. Together, they brought a playful, myth‑laden vibe to the Games.

10 Wenlock and Mandeville

The London 2012 Olympics showcased Wenlock and Mandeville, two stylized steel drops with camera‑eye designs, paying homage to the city’s Industrial Revolution heritage. While intended to symbolize progress and technology, their sleek, metallic forms evoked images of futuristic robots or even the Terminator, leaving many spectators scratching their heads at the abstract representation.

From snow‑covered snowmen to sleek steel drops, the Olympic mascot tradition has never shied away from bold, sometimes bewildering creativity. Whether you love them or cringe at them, these ten characters undeniably earned their spot on our top 10 crazy roster.

Mascots have been around for quite a while; one of the first mascots was a taxidermy mount in 1908 for the Chicago Cubs. However, it wasn’t until 1964 that live costumed mascots began to appear. It wasn’t long after that costumed mascots became an expected part of many sports teams, universities, companies, organizations, and schools.

Most mascots make sense and go with an associated name. However, other mascots are totally out there. Some of the mascots are loveable despite their bizarre design. Others make you scratch your head and wonder what the designers were thinking. Here are ten weird mascots you likely haven’t heard about.

10 Stanford Tree

Technically, the Stanford Tree is the mascot of the band. But the Tree actually symbolizes the city of Palo Alto, which has a Redwood tree as its logo. As it happens, Stanford University also has a tree on its official seal, proving just how inseparable the university and Palo Alto really are.

The school never had an official mascot due to no one agreeing on any one candidate. Around 1975, the band performed several halftime shows that slyly introduced mascots they thought would work for the school. The Stanford Tree received such a positive reaction that the band decided to keep it around.

Now, the Stanford Tree has become part of many other university traditions. One tradition is known as Full Moon on the Quad. This tradition started back in the 19th century. Men in the senior class would kiss women in the freshman class and sometimes exchange roses. Today, the tradition boils down to kissing as many people as possible. In that one night, the Stanford Tree may receive at least 1,000 kisses.

9 Blue Blob

In 1985, Xavier University already had a mascot, D’Artagnan, the musketeer. However, Sally Watson, the spirit squad coordinator, worried that the sword-carrying character scared kids. So Sally decided to design a softer, more loveable mascot.

Since his introduction, the Blue Blob has been part of sporting events and even appeared in two SportsCenter commercials. But unfortunately, the Blue Blob doesn’t have much of an origin story which caused many students to come up with their own version.

So today, the question remains, what is the Blue Blob? But that is the thing; he is just a blob. He is blue, furry, and an energetic character that even adults love. The mascot also has a two-foot-long tongue that he uses to lick fans. The Blue Blob even has its own merchandise.

Anyone can wear the Blue Blob costume, but the candidate must meet one requirement. The Blue Blob cannot be taller than D’Artagnan. Beyond that, anything goes.

8 WuShock

In 1904, football manager R.J. Kirk needed a name for the Wichita State University team (formerly Fairmount College). R.J. settled on the Wheatshockers. This came about because many football players earned tuition and board harvesting—otherwise known as “shocking”—wheat.

Later, the name was shortened to Shockers. Until 1948, the university used a simple shock of wheat as its symbol. In 1948, junior Wilbur Elsea won the Kappa Pi honorary society’s competition to design a mascot representing the school’s spirit.

In October 1948, the school newspaper ran an advertisement asking students to submit names for the new mascot. Freshman Jack Kersting submitted the name WuShock.

However, it wasn’t until 1954 that the mascot received a 3-D representation, with a costumed being created by a WU cheerleader and members of the art department.

7 Mysterious Fish

In Japan, one of the weirdest mascots is the Mysterious Fish. The mascot was introduced in May 2017 by the Chiba Lotte Marines baseball team. The mascot begins as an angler fish with legs. However, the Fish reveals new forms throughout the game, including a skeleton fish.

Mysterious Fish has worked with Hawaiian Airlines since 2018. However, in 2021 the person playing the character announced his retirement. Unfortunately, this also meant the Fish would retire instead of having someone new fill his fins.

6 Fighting Okra

Delta State University has always had two mascots. The official mascot has been the Statesman due to the role State Rep. Walter Sillers, Jr. played in the school’s location. However, in the 1980s, a series of events led to the student body adopting an unofficial mascot.

The students never felt a Statesman was very intimidating. One day some university basketball players and baseball players were talking in the “Court of Governors” dormitory. Basketball player Houston Williamson expressed how the Fighting Statesmen wasn’t frightening to opponents. It also didn’t help that the mascot was temporarily prohibited from athletic activities due to a physical altercation with another mascot.

Everyone in the group agreed with Williamson and said a mascot needed to be mean and green. A lively discussion ensued, and the players made many suggestions. Baseball pitcher Bob Black suggested okra because the fruit is green, fuzzy, and tough. But it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that the Fighting Okra was adopted as the unofficial mascot.

5 Y’all Star the Water Tower

Y’all Star the Water Tower, the mascot of the Florence Y’alls, hosted his first game on May 13, 2016. The inspiration for this mascot came from the famous water tower in Florence, Kentucky.

The water tower was first built in 1974 and sported the words Florence Mall. However, due to the location of the actual Florence Mall and legal complications, something had to be done. So, the city changed the M on the water tower to a Y, reading Florence Y’all. The water tower quickly became a regional landmark.

The baseball team was initially called the Florence Freedom. In 2020, the group changed its name to Florence Y’Alls to honor the water tower.

4 Crusty the Pie

In 2019, Wigan Athletic, a member of the professional association football club (or soccer, depending on your preference), ran a Primary Schools competition to develop a mascot. The team didn’t have a mascot and decided the time was ripe to have one.

Wigan Athletic ran the competition to give the team a mascot and get the creative juices flowing for local children. In addition, the competition would teach the children to take the initiative. Most of the entries were some sort of pie design because apparently everyone in Wigan loves pies.

The winners were local children Cayden and Neve, who presented Crusty the Pie. The children were given the honor of introducing the mascot alongside former England international Peter Reid.

3 Kingsley

Kingsley, the monobrowed mascot, was designed by David Shrigley for the Scottish football team Patrick Thistle. The problem is that no one seems to like the character or know what he is supposed to be. The poor mascot has gone so far as to be branded the mascot nobody loves.

The character looks like a sun with one eyebrow and buck teeth. Despite looking totally strange, Kingsley has become part of the team. Fans and out-of-towners want a piece of him. Jay McGhee, the man within the costume, finds the head quite helpful in storing his water bottle, phone, and keys.

2 Youppi

The name Youppi means “Yippee” in French. Youppi represents the Montreal Canadiens (formerly known as the Montreal Expos). The mascot is a furry, orange character with an exclamation mark as his jersey number. Youppi entered the sports arena in 1979 and continued to be part of the team until 2004.

Youppi also happens to be the first mascot to be thrown out of a Major League Baseball game. On August 23, during the 1989 season, the mascot took a running leap and landed hard and noisily on the visitor’s dugout in the 11th inning. Youppi then snuck into a front-row seat. Later, the mascot was allowed back into the game but was confined to the team’s dugout roof.

In 2005, Youppi switched from baseball to the world of hockey. By December 2019, the loveable orange character was voted into the Mascot Hall of Fame. Youppi is the first Canadian mascot to receive this honor.

1 Phillie Phanatic

Phillie Phanatic didn’t have the usual introduction most new mascots receive. Instead of making a big announcement, the poor creature from the Galapagos Islands just came onto the field. The spectators saw the giant, green, furry creature and laughed at his antics.

Even though Phanatic’s debut wasn’t made into a big deal, it was still a success. The Phanatic’s inception began with former Phillies owner and Vice President Bill Giles deciding that his team needed a mascot like the San Diego Chicken so more families would come to the games.

Bill Giles originally asked Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, to design the new mascot. However, Henson declined and passed the opportunity on to Bonnie Erickson, who created Miss Piggy, Waldorf, and Statler.

David Raymond was the first person to fill the costume. Unfortunately, his first night as the Phanatic didn’t go quite as planned. Raymond fell over a railing accidentally, and the fans laughed. Raymond quickly adopted falling and slapstick humor into his act.

In 1994, Tom Burgoyne took over Phanatic duties. Burgoyne easily took up the Phanatic’s personality and built on it. Burgoyne began to ride around on an ATV, mock the opposition, and shoot hot dogs from a hot dog cannon.

When it comes to choosing the perfect mascot, colleges, universities, schools, and professional teams decide on the most standout animals or characters that radiate strength and power in teamwork. The job of a mascot is to warm up the crowd and walk around campus and fields while engaging in fun activities. Most athletic teams whether high school or professional, stick to common mascots like tigers, bulldogs, eagles, etc. But a few decided to stray away from the clichéd path and be creative.

However, in the process lost out on an appropriate or satisfactory appearance. Some mascots turned out to be so hideous that they now feature on well-known media platforms and have gained loads of popularity as well as hate. Ranging from frightening to pathetic, here are 10 of the worst, yet oddly popular mascots in the world.

10. Fighting Pickle – University of North Carolina School of Arts

This mascot represents the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and is a masked, French-looking bright green pickle, sporting a blue beret. He first originated when the student body requested the designing team for some sort of representation of the Arts subjects taught at the university. This is the reason why the Fighting Pickle holds a large paintbrush, and a clapper board, and wears a piano patterned belt/tutu. However, it is still unknown why they decided to choose a pickle to represent their art.

The college states that they intended Mr. Pickle to have a unique look but the outcome looked so strange that it was declared the most unconventional college mascot in an online competition with a total of 2800 votes. Despite the bad reviews he’s received, the university decided to keep him as their mascot, even to this date.

9. WuShock – Wichita State University

WuShock or Wu for short is an energetic, yellow, giant stalk of wheat from Wichita State University. For a bundle of wheat, most find it odd that he wears sweatpants and a crewneck, and his facial features have often been compared to an angry Donald Trump. He refers to all students and teammates as ‘shockers’, which is also the name of the school’s athletic teams. The “shock” in his name stands for the process of shocking during wheat harvesting which is a very common practice in Kansas.

Traditionally, shocking used to be the vocation of the majority of the students. They were known to work on a nearby wheat field when they weren’t in college. Wu has been the proud mascot of WSU since 1948 and after his introduction, he gained so much popularity, that even Jimmy Fallon mentioned him in a joke on an episode of ‘The Tonight Show’.

This vegetable-inspired mascot has been Scottsdale Community College’s official mascot since 1972, and as the name suggests, is an artichoke. He is said to look more like a “kids cartoon” rather than someone supposed to spread cheer or pride. Artie came to life when students voted on him as a joke, in protest of most of the school’s budget being used for sports rather than academics. The students purposely wanted the representation of the school team to be “lame”. But Artie, the jolly vegetable very soon became a lovable character and a favorite among fans.

Despite the obvious problem that a vegetable has nothing to do with sports, Artie was hated only because of his childlike looks. People say he should’ve been more appropriate for college students and not for kindergarten birthday parties. Even so, this outcome of random teen rebellion got a chance to meet the famous NFL player Patrick Peterson from the Arizona Cardinals American football team.

7. Keggy the Keg – Dartmouth College

As the name suggests, Keggy is a Keg of beer, who was shockingly approved to be the mascot of a college as prestigious as Dartmouth. Most institutes would go to any measures to cease such gatherings or keg parties to minimize parent concern, but Dartmouth claims to embrace such activity. Keggy is a huge silver keg with a smiling face and when introduced, was loved by all students. However, he was soon banned from home games on the grounds of inappropriate behavior that listing schools or parents did not approve of.

He rose from the ashes again 5 years later and is now the unofficial mascot who makes appearances at events where no parents or outsiders are involved. Keggy was recognized all over the media, including a mention on ESPN and being referred to in Playboy Magazine as “some stupid beer thing”.

6. The Fighting Okra – Delta State University

Following a physical altercation, the Delta State University’s official Statesmen mascot was temporarily suspended. As a replacement, the Fighting Okra won a student vote to be the college’s unofficial mascot. He is a grim-faced large Okra, wearing dull boxing gloves. The students and team players believe the Fighting Okra is more fierce and frightening than their Statesmen mascot and looks better with the team and cheer squad to visiting athletic teams. It was originally the baseball and basketball players who decided their interim mascot needed to be more “mean and green”.

But in doing so, they caused their University to be known most commonly for its weird Okra mascot and found themselves on many “worst mascots” lists. But the articles didn’t faze them, and they continued to occasionally bring Fighting Okra out onto the field again.

5. Stanford Tree – Stanford University

Stanford has been commonly known for its beautiful redwoods in the area, which gave reason to the University’s band to select a tree as their unofficial mascot. The Stanford Tree also appears as the institute’s logo and has often put on a show at athletic events that involve the band since 1975. The costume which was formerly introduced by Christine Hutson, comprised of a tree with huge eyes and what people say is red lipstick on his lips.

But the role of the Stanford Tree is taken so seriously that every year an audition is held to see who can fit his shoes best. Some students even take it upon themselves to create their own Stanford Tree costume and sport it around campus for big school events. The Tree gained most of its popularity from “worst mascots” lists in America.

4. Weezy the Boll Weevil – University of Arkansas

What is often mistaken as an alien, the University of Arkansas’ Weezy is a boll weevil insect that feeds on flowers. The green wooly-skinned mascot wears a jersey and has a long droopy nose and two long antennas. He is often seen with his supporting character “Blossom” who is a flower he feeds off of.

As inappropriate as that sounds, many people wait for the opportunity or an opening available to be Weezy or Blossom, because the selected student is given a generous scholarship in exchange. Weezy’s team the “Boll Weevils” was recently ranked the No.1 funniest team name by Deseret News and was No.19 on the 2011 list of worst mascots.

3. Battling Bishop – North Carolina Wesleyan College

The Battling Bishop athletes from North Carolina Wesleyan College, are represented by a bishop in a full-length red robe and black waistband and have been their mascot since 1925. Mr. Bishop received a makeover in 2010 when his encouraging smile was replaced by an angry frown which most students felt looked too serious and stern for a sports mascot.

It has also been mentioned on most media platforms that a bishop is a very odd symbol for sports teams, hence Mr. Bishop is only recognized in negative conversations. However, NCWC refuses to change its mascot since the school has explained that they have an important history involving bishops who rode horses, which is what inspired them to choose Mr. Bishop.

2. Speedy the Geoduck – Evergreen State College

 A Geoduck is a large slimy mud-burrowing mollusk found on the west coast of North America where it is sold to be eaten raw and weighs over two pounds. Speedy, when first designed by Evergreen State College, looked like an alien with a shocked visage, adorned in a taco shell and shorts. The college stated they wanted a mascot different from other typical and aggressive mascots and Speedy represented their essence or college motto, which is to be willing to “dig deep for what one wants to achieve”.

Over the years Speedy has received many makeovers, from looking like a “bamboozled pickle taco” to a very literal real-life-looking geoduck that has been labeled “disgusting”, to the newest and most loved mascot, which looks like a warm approachable turtle. Speedy is considered famous and has been mentioned in Time Magazine, on Fox Sports, BuzzFeed, the Huffington Post, and many other media platforms.

1. King Cake Baby – New Orleans Pelicans

This mascot has sent shivers down the spines of children as well as adults due to its appearance, which has several times been referred to as “nightmare material”. King Cake Baby is a crown-wearing, giant-sized baby in diapers that don’t fit, with an “I Love Baby Cake” bib around his neck. King cake traditionally, is a donut-shaped cake within which bakers would hide a little plastic baby and whoever found it in their piece of cake was considered to receive good luck and blessings or sometimes even considered a pregnancy prediction.

But how a king baby cake fits the needs of the NBA New Orleans’s Pelicans team is a question no one has been able to answer. He has been named the most grotesque and disturbing mascot by innumerable articles. Pierre the Pelican is the official mascot of the New Orleans team but when King Cake Baby makes occasional appearances close to the Mardi Gras festival in the USA, his impact unsettles everyone on and off the basketball court.