Six things: Weird mascots

We take a look at some left of centre, different and just plain weird sporting mascots around the world that fans have come to know and love.

1. Sammy the Banana Slug

The mascot of University of California, Santa Cruz, came into being after a groundswell of support from the student body. When the university first entered the NCAA in 1980, the powers that be were determined to install a sea lion as the school's mascot but a rally in favour of the banana slug (common in the many redwood trees on campus) swayed their thinking.

2. Naranjito the Orange

When Spain won the right to host the 1982 FIFA World Cup the sport's governing body wanted to come up with something with a local flavour so they settled on the humble orange. The smiling Naranjito, derived from the Spanish word for orange, was dressed in the country's strip and given a soccer ball. Ole!

3. Artie the Fighting Artichoke

The mascot of Scottsdale Community College came into being thanks to an act of rebellion by the student body. The student government was embroiled in a tiff with the faculty over funding when a mascot was set to be voted on so the student government chose three obscure would-be mascots (the other two were the Rutabagas and the Scoundrels) and Artie swept to power.  

4. The Mighty Ducks

The NHL's Mighty Ducks of Anaheim are a case of life imitating art. Well, at least in as much as an Emilio Estevez movie can be regarded as art. Following the success of Disney's 1992 flick The Mighty Ducks, the Walt Disney Company was awarded an expansion licence for a new team to play in the NHL from 1993. Following a change in ownership in 2005, the word 'Mighty' was dropped from the title.

5. The Phillie Phanatic

The mascot of Major League Baseball team the Philadelphia Phillies is one of the most recognisable figures in US sports, but no one knows what he/she is exactly supposed to be. Tall, green, furry and fat, the Phanatic first graced the ballpark in 1978 and has been amusing fans and annoying opposition teams ever since.

6. The Anchormen

Rhode Island College sports teams are known as the Anchormen but, quite disappointingly, a search of their website did not uncover Will Ferrell aka Ron Burgundy clad in Rhode Island maroon in a fittingly inspirational, steely-eyed pose. That would have been much cooler than the sailor swinging an anchor that serves as their mascot. Stay classy, Rhode Island.