Mr. Met fired after giving middle(?) finger to fans at Citi Field

The unwanted drama at Citi Field continues to unfurl and even the New York Mets baseball-headed mascot has gotten caught up in the losing and frustration.

On Wednesday night, that four-fingered freak, Mr. Met, reached his own breaking point and flipped what must be considered his middle digit at some fans during the 7-1 loss to the Brewers. The loss halted a modest a three-game winning streak for the Mets and ended one costume wearer's career for good.

A video posted by @adelucia35 on Twitter captured the moment when Mr. Met flipped the bird to a group of shouting fans as the mascot walked toward a tunnel through Citi Field.

The incident came on a night that marked the 53rd anniversary of Mr. Met’s debut as the team mascot. 

When even Mr. Met has enough...pic.twitter.com/HMxpaalU3v

— Scott Bisang (@sbis85) June 1, 2017

"We apologize for the inappropriate action of this employee," the Mets said in an email from the organization. 

"We do not condone this type of behavior. We are dealing with this matter internally."

A Mets official told The Associated Press more than one person wears the Mr. Met costume during each season, and the person who wore it Wednesday night will not work in the costume again.

All kind of funny considering the real middle finger to fans is the 23-28 record the team is holding up to them. 

Minnesota Wild apologize for skit after mascot beats rival with a baseball bat

The Minnesota Wild apologized to fans after the NHL team faced criticism over a skit where the team’s mascot beat a rival mascot with a bat during an intermission on the ice.

During a gathering of NHL mascots at Thursday night's game against the Canadiens, the Wild were throwing a “birthday party” for their mascot Nordy, when he apparently took a pie to the face from the Chicago Blackhawks mascot named Tommy Hawk. 

Then, when the blindfolded Nordy was supposed to hit a piñata held by Tommy Hawk, he instead took aim and swung the bat to beat his rival mascot like from some scene from The Sopranos — enthusiastically urged on by the arena announcer to "keep swinging."

After about 10 fake hits another mascot, the New Jersey Devil, stepped in and stopped the mayhem while other mascots worked to drag Tommy Hawk off the ice. Smile if you remember Office Space.

via GIPHY

Some fans criticized the display of violence rarely seen at any hockey game (snicker) and thought the Wild was "promoting violence in front of thousands of people and kids."

Meanwhile...this happened at intermission. @NordyWild pic.twitter.com/UVxIFrMPrC

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) January 13, 2017

One Twitter mom asked, "How exactly should I explain this to my kids?" 

So, of course the NHL contacted the Wild before the team issued a statement about the fake violence on ice:

"We apologize to anyone offended by the mascot skit Thursday night. It was certainly not our intention." 

Maybe they should have added We'll leave that to the players.

Kentucky high school changes ’Stallions’ name because it is sexist

A Kentucky high school bowed to political correctness pressure and so-called public outcry over the use of its mascot and its name “Stallions” and is planning to change them both because it was considered sexist.

Lexington's new Frederick Douglass High School changed its mind Tuesday — one day after announcing the Stallions name — and said students will now choose a new horse-themed mascot instead of the manly Stallion image.

Score another one for the PC Police and overly sensitive feelings.

The change of heart came after a Lexington woman created a petition on the change.org website against naming athletic teams and the school mascot after gender-specific personas.

Diane Cahill said she created the petition, to be delivered to Fayette County school board members, after the mascot was announced Monday. The petition said in part, that “it is inappropriate and sexist” that the mascot and name for the female sports teams is the Stallions.

The Change.org petition called for the Stallion to be replaced:

"This is inappropriate and sexist when you consider the definition from “YourDictionary” …”The definition of a stallion is a male horse that has not been castrated, used for breeding or is slang for a powerful and virile man who has a lot of lovers” …

School officials say they’ve received other community input about the Stallion's message, negative and positive, but ultimately decided to let incoming students decide on the mascot, albeit keeping with a “horse theme.”

Photo by Tony Mangia

"How did they come up with this? The connotation of stallions pertaining to a girls’ softball team or basketball team just seemed really, really strange to me — a male breeding horse,” Cahill said.

Anita Courtney invoked Title IX, noting that the Stallion “leaves out 50 percent of the student population” and is “not in keeping with the spirit of […] gender equity in sports.”

“[T]here was absolutely no intent to offend or upset anyone,” Fayette County Schools Superintendent Manny Caulk said.

“I’m very grateful to Superintendent Caulk for listening to our concerns [and] for reassessing this choice by getting input from students [and] parents," said Cahill.

Can’t wait for the Geldings football team to show up on the playing field — or maybe the Nags.

High school mascot re-enacts Harambe tragedy at football game

The Cincinnati Zoo recently deleted its social media accounts commemorating Harambe the gorilla in an attempt to quell the tide of Internet memes and jokes posted by snarky trolls.

And while all the complaints and petitions to halt the memes of the 17-year-old lowland silverback — who was shot with a rifle after dragging a three-year-old child throughout his enclosure — might have had some effect, that didn't stop two students at an Illinois high school from performing an easily recognizable re-enactment of the tragic incident at a recent high school football game.

During a game between Oswego East and West Joliet, the two teenagers entertained the crowd with a somewhat inappropriate performance which included Oswego East's mascot — wearing a gorilla costume — grabbing the other dressed as a small child and dragging him down the sideline.

At one point, the “gorilla” chased down a person in a banana costume who was holding a sign that read “R.I.P. Harambe” to a cheering crowd, as a video Snapchat showed.

The mascot also riled up the crowd by handing out high fives and prompting students in the stands to wave their arms in unison.

Harambe was fatally shot in May after little Isiah Dickerson fell into the animal's enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo, sparking outrage over the popular gorilla's death. The incident sparked a backlash around the world as people slammed both the zoo's actions and the boy's family members for failing to stop him.

FSU fans are told to stop wearing Native American headdresses to games

Florida State University's student government has passed a resolution discouraging Seminoles fans from wearing Native American headdresses at games.

The reason? They are not factual representation of the Seminole tribe.

The Student Government Association approved the non-binding, formal opinion by a 27-4 vote on April 20 asking the university's administration to consider adding the wearing of headdresses as a violation of the student code of conduct.

The SGA said it passed the resolution because many of the headdresses worn at athletic events are representative of other tribes — in particular Plains tribes like the Sioux, and not the Seminoles. 

Part of the resolution reads that the Senate "does not condone the wearing of headdresses because it inaccurately depicts the culture of the Seminole Tribe."

FSU student reps: No headdresses at Seminoles games (The Associated Press): Florida State University's studen... https://t.co/zIr1RedwQI

— FSU Seminoles (@fsusports) May 4, 2016

Even if the administration decided to add the headdress issue to the code of conduct, enforcing it could be difficult because of concerns that it might violate students' First Amendment right to free speech.

Florida State is one of four schools where the NCAA has approved the use of a Native American name and imagery because of its support of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

The others are Central Michigan University (Chippewas), University of Utah (Utes) and Mississippi College (Choctaws). Four Division I schools — Alcorn State, Bradley, Illinois and William & Mary — have Native American nicknames but do not use mascots or imagery.

Syracuse's Otto the Orange banned from ACC mascot game: Report

The Syracuse suspensions levied at Jim Boeheim by the NCAA last week didn't end with players and coaches. The punishment even included Otto the Orange, the team mascot:

The Atlantic Coast Conference held its annual mascot basketball game at halftime of the North Carolina-Louisville quarterfinal Thursday. Fourteen of the ACC’s 15 mascots played — from Mr. Wuf of NC State to Rameses of North Carolina to Sebastian the Ibis of Miami.

But no Otto.

College Basketball: Otto the Orange squeezed out of ACC mascot game, banned like team http://t.co/a1a5kuBaYP http://t.co/KbU6kwto1M
— PlayerPress (@playerpress) March 13, 2015

While a Syracuse banner still hangs next to banners for each school at the conference tournament, the ubiquitous orange fur ball is nowhere to be seen inside the Greensboro Coliseum.

Syracuse said back in February that it would keep itself out of this postseason in response to a lengthy NCAA investigation. The probe found the program committed academic violations, ignored drug test procedures and accepted payment for volunteer work at a YMCA.

But the Orange’s 'S' logo still appears on the tournament’s official souvenir T-shirts, along with the insignias of all the other schools.

Montclair State University to spend $210K on mascot sculpture: Report

The second-largest public college in New jersey is facing some criticism from students and graduates after agreeing to spend more than $200,000 on a 12-foot bronze statue of its mascot.

Montclair State University has committed to spending the huge sum of money for the creation of the large sculpture depicting the school’s feathered symbol — Red Hawk.

According to a report, trustees at the university approved spending up to $225,000 on the sculpture of the Red Hawk at their October meeting. The commissioned statue will cost $210,000, and be installed in front of the Panzer Athletic Center before the start of the fall semester this year, the report said.

School officials say about $100,000 of the cost of the statue will be paid for by the Student Government Association, which is funded through mandatory student fees with the rest coming from university funds. About $4,000 will be paid for by  private donations.

School officials told NorthJersey.com that the statue is meant to foster a greater sense of community on campus, raise school spirit, and generate excitement around its Division III athletics program.

But some students said it also raises questions about spending at the university.

Costs and enrollment have risen steadily at New Jersey’s public colleges and universities over the past decade — tuition and fees average 40 percent higher than the national norm — as they have embarked on high-profile capital projects and acquisitions.

Critics have complained of a lack of fiscal oversight from Trenton as the largely autonomous schools pursued projects large and small designed to raise their profiles, from a $102 million football stadium expansion at Rutgers to a $219,000 Chinese-made conference table recently purchased by Kean University for a new conference center.

The Red Hawk is used as a symbol on brochures and ID cards, and even the campus diner is named for the mascot, said university spokeswoman Suzanne Bronski.

Bronski said symbols are important in society at large and on campus, noting the historic bell tower that she said is “making the days and evenings brighter for thousands of members of this community.”

The Red Hawk is being crafted by Hanlon Sculpture Studio, which has done other school mascots, including the Seton Hall Pirate and Florida International University’s Golden Panther.

The studio, based in New Jersey, also created the statue of Yogi Berra that sits outside the Yogi Berra Museum on the Montclair campus and the Miss America statue in Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

At least Red Hawk comes with a good pedigree.

Seahawks mascot really...really likes punter Jon Ryan's girlfriend (PHOTO)

The Seattle Seahawks mascots found themselves in a couple of of public relations conundrums before Sunday's game against the Giants.

First, Taima the hawk got real cozy with a fan's shoulder.

But just when you thought things couldn't get more embarrassing, the human mascot, Blitz the Seahawk, goes and hits on a Seattle player's girlfriend — and it looks like he really is enjoying his selfie.

The tweet is from Seahawks punter Jon Ryan, and he makes no bones about how he feels about the feathered dude's PDA:

Hey Blitz next time u cozy up to my gf put that "situation" back in ur pants. pic.twitter.com/zQYNY5dHAQ
— Jon Ryan (@JonRyan9) November 10, 2014

At least Taima apologized for its indiscretion.

California high school 'retires' controversial Arab mascot: Report

A California high school is retiring a derisive Arab mascot which came under fire last year.

The bearded, scowling mascot with a large hooked nose who wears a head scarf did not appear at Coachella Valley High School’s season opening football game on Friday. A belly-dancing genie that often appears with the mascot during halftime was also absent.

The change was among the steps the Coachella Valley Unified School District is taking to give the offensive mascot a makeover, reported The Desert Sun.

The Arab mascot has existed since the 1920s to recognize the desert region’s reliance on date farming, a traditionally Middle Eastern crop. Over the years, the mascot evolved from a turban-wearing horseman carrying a lance to a standing figure with a scowl and a traditional head covering.

It came under fire last November when the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee sent a letter to the school district complaining that the mascot was stereotypical.

The district refused to change the school’s “Arabs” nickname, but it agreed to redesign the Arab face on the school logo.

Of the five designs submitted for consideration, the group favors this one:

Coachella Valley H.S. retires scowling Arab Mascot.... Here's what they are thinking for the new one. Do you like it? pic.twitter.com/t9xJ6rIUjN
— Coachella Valley (@AnInsidersGuide) August 30, 2014

Teddy Roosevelt destroys Pirates Pierogi with aerial assault (VIDEO)

Mascot races are getting downright nasty these days and Friday's action at Nationals Park might have taken this feud to a new level — or leveling.

In the case of the Pirates Pierogies and their ongoing rivalry with the Nationals' Racing Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt's famous foreign policy phrase, "speak softly and carry a big stick" just became "carry a huge flying kick" when you are in his house.

Old Teddy brought the heat and wrecked Potato Pete with a devastating clothesline move after hurling himself from a fold-up table.

And it just goes to show that it's always okay to add a little assault to your food.

Arencibia lands nutshot to Astros mascot from on-deck circle (VIDEO)

Most major leaguers know about the Houston Astros mascot's penchant for distracting opposing batters warming up before stepping up to the plate, but J.P. Arencibia wasn't having any of it Saturday night.

While Orbit loomed behind the on-deck circle, the Rangers first baseman decided to take matters into his own hands, so to speak, by using his bat to poke the annoying alien in his green fuzzies.

Orbit had the last laugh though — albeit in soprano — when Arencibia's tainted lumber whiffed for a strike three.

If you won't wear any pants Orbit, at least put on a cup.

Teddy wins Presidents Race with head bizarrely wrapped in tinfoil (VIDEO)

President Teddy scared a lot of fans Sunday after he showed up with his head completely wrapped in tinfoil for Sunday's President Race at Nationals Park. The makeshift "space helmet" was apparently some freaky tribute to the 45th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing — or an attempt at making the world's largest ball of foil.

But either way, it didn't hinder old Teddy from winning the race.

Too bad it wasn't Mr. Potato Head. But then, there probably wouldn't be enough chives and sour cream for everyone.

Astros mascot Orbit in underwear is a frightening sight (PHOTO)

Orbit was the Houston Astros' official mascot from 1990-99, but was replaced by Junction Jack from 2000-12. But now old Orbit is back and maybe now we know why he was sent away for a while. Kind of like that weird uncle who walks around in his skivvies.

Hopefully the green alien was off the Viagra and just carrying a bat yesterday.

HOW DO I UNSEE THIS RT @j_nelsn: @JWerthsBeard I am concerned. pic.twitter.com/hK7lGmRX0J
— Jayson Werth's Beard (@JWerthsBeard) April 30, 2014

Funny. When did Orbit start wearing underwear or pants in the first place?

Bootleg Cubs mascot punches dude for removing his head (VIDEO)

An imitation Chicago Cubs mascot punched out a man who removed his giant head in a Wrigleyville bar Saturday.

Clearly, this was NOT the Cubs' official Clark the Cub mascot — but some mutant version of the cuddly bear. While Clark was prancing around Wrigley Field, this brute was brawling with patrons in a saloon.

Kind of like those dirty Elmos who hang around Times Square.

The video starts off innocently enough, with the bootleg mascot posing for pictures with some fans, but things turn nasty when some dude behind him sneaks up and snatches his furry bear head from his shoulders.

It looks like a few words are exchanged and then the phony mascot  known as Billy Cub — who already has a reputation for being abusive and racially insensitive with fans — lays into the guy with his clenched bear paw.

The best part? When the mean mascot puts his head back on and looks around for any more takers.

Sochi Olympic bear tries to fit big head into little car (VIDEO)

Chalk up another unforeseen problem for planners at the Sochi Games. While not as serious as its injury-defying halfpipes, busted elevators or buddy toilets, no one seemed to plan ahead on how to get Sochi Olympic mascot's ginormous head into a tiny little car.

Rather than just removing its Keith Olbermann-sized noggin to sit shotgun, the Nightmare Bear stubbornly stays in character and stuffs himself into the backseat — head-first.

Chiefs mascot of 24 years seriously injured while rehearsing zip line routine

The man who has been the Kansas City Chiefs' mascot for more than two decades was in stable condition after being seriously injured this weekend while rehearsing a zip line routine at Arrowhead Stadium.

Dan Meers suffered serious injuries on Saturday when rehearsing a zip-line routine. His attorney, Tim Dollar, said his injuries appear to be related to the manner in which a third-party company secured the rigging, however an investigation is pending.

The 46-year-old Meers, who has been with the Chiefs as the team's beloved KC Wolf for 24 years, underwent surgery on Sunday and is in stable condition. The injury occurred while practicing for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers.

No description of Meers' specific injuries was available, but a longtime friend said Meers suffered a serious back injury.

"The injuries appear to be related to the manner in which a third-party company secured the riggings," Dollar, said. "However, an investigation is pending."

Kansas City Chiefs spokesman Ted Crews acknowledged Meers' injury on Monday but declined to give details about the accident or his condition.

While Meers doesn't perform the zip line routine every game, Dollar said, he was scheduled to do a slight variation of an entrance he'd done earlier this season.

Meers is married with three children.

California high school’s ‘Arab’ mascot considered offensive

A California high school is feeling the heat for the use of its "Arab" mascot at the school.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, based in Washington D.C., sent a letter to the Coachella Valley Unified School District Thursday stating the mascot, which is painted on the walls of Coachella Valley High School (Thermal, CA.), on the basketball gym floor and performed by a student during halftime of athletic events, are examples of gross stereotyping, which must not be tolerated.

"ADC strongly believes that use of the word and such imagery perpetuates demeaning stereotypes of Arabs and Arab Americans," wrote Abed Ayoub, legal and policy director for the committee. "The 'Arab' mascot image is a harmful form of ethnic stereotyping which should be eliminated. By allowing continued use of the term and imagery, you are commending and enforcing the negative stereotypes of an entire ethnic group, millions of whom are citizens of this nation."

The district's superintendent Darryl Adams could not be reached for comment Wednesday but a district representative said he has spoken to the committee and the Board of Education is scheduled to discuss the matter at its Nov. 21 meeting.

Ayoub said in an interview Wednesday he appreciates the sensitivity shown so far by the district and hopes to work with them on a solution for a new mascot. He declined to state what he wants the school to do — noting that should ultimately be decided by the district.

The pictures painted at the school include a man with a large nose, heavy beard, and wearing a Kffiay, or traditional Arab head covering. During sporting events a student dresses as the mascot comes out to music, while a female dressed as a belly dancer entertains him, Ayoub said.

The school has had a version of the mascot since 1910 and the local community has a connection to the Middle East because a lot of crops from the region are grown there locally, he said.

But the image originated decades ago and the context of the design has been lost. So it is easy to see why this unflattering "cartoon" character could be seen as offensive today.

But the community can keep its connection without using such stereotypical images, Ayoub believes.

"We live in a new America now," he said. "We're more racially sensitive and diverse. The logic used to pick that name no longer applies now."

Pictures of the evolution can be seen in this video by TV station WFMY2.

After Sept. 11, some people wanted the name changed so that the district would not be associated with terrorists, said David Hinkle, a 1961 Coachella Valley High School graduate to Al Jazeera America .

"I don't think it's meant to be insensitive," Hinkle said. "It's been that way for 50 or 60 years."

Denver Nuggets mascot hangs unconscious during pre-game introductions (VIDEO)

Shortly before the Denver Nuggets' game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night, the team’s mascot, “Rocky,” was lowered from the ceiling of the Pepsi Center to the floor as part of player introductions.

One problem was that Rocky was noticeably limp while being lowered from the rafters and then laid out on center court in front of the stunned fans. It looked more like an old-style Western lynching than a glorious entrance.

Poor Rocky was apparently unconscious during the whole thing. 

After the eerie entrance, the Nuggets said the person inside the getup wasn't injured and would be fine.

Nuggets mascot was just lowered from the ceiling limp and then just laid down on the floor. Wat pic.twitter.com/3RgWLV4i4c
— Dane Carbaugh (@danecarbaugh) November 2, 2013

'Rally Bear' banned from Dodger Stadium for six months

He showed up out of nowhere, was ejected in a flash but left an undeniably cheerful feeling in fans' hearts Monday night. Now the Los Angeles Dodgers "Rally Bear" has been slapped with a six-month ban from his home cave — Dodger Stadium.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the man behind the cute-and-cuddly suit was 50-year-old furniture store owner Mark Monninger of Rancho Cucamonga and he was hoping to promote the idea that the Dodgers should have a mascot.

"I'm not trying to promote any organization or cause.... I just want to show fans, this is what is out there, this is someone that can entertain you," he said (latimes.com). 

And the harmless stunt seemed to work.  The Dodgers did win that night.

Monninger was not arrested, but he faces the possibility should he violate his six-month suspension and show up. 

Down 3-to-1 in the NLCS against the Cardinals, it looks like the Dodgers are ready for their winter hibernation anyway.

Brooklyn Nets introduce new superhero mascot

The Brooklyn Nets introduced their new mascot the BrooklyKnight (sounds like Brooklynite) on Saturday night (knight?) and the verdict is still out if it'll wow fans like Go the Gorilla or be a laughing stock like Stuff the Magic Dragon.

If Jay-Z is the mastermind behind the new Nets uniforms and the Barclays Center soundtrack, comic-book fanboy and Nets center Brook Lopez has to be behind the new mascot's look.

The Nets claim he is the first superhero mascot in the NBA and was designed by Marvel Comics staffers.

The odd choice of character for the team — with metal knees and a bucket-like head — descended from the rafters onto the Barclays Center court.  In all honesty, he looked more like an extra from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" than a Brooklyn superhero.



After some debate, the Nets dumped their old furry mascot Sly Fox for the buff comic character when they bolted from New Jersey.

For the Nets,  a team that changed their image and went retro with old school uniforms, the flashy BrooklyKnight costume seems out of place in the Barclays Center.

A tsar would have been more apropos.