Your chance to do me a solid...
As most of you know, I'm a die-hard Memphis Tiger fan, and as such, I like to take the opportunity to show some Tiger pride when I can.
Now, all of you USC (and other folk, too) can take an opportunity to strike a mighty blow for Tigers everywhere.
You see, there's a Mascot competition at the Chicago Trib's website, and this round features my beloved Memphis Tiger Pouncer against the reviled, drunken, moronic Stanford Tree.
I'd certainly appreciate a little love for Pouncer. That would greatly rock.
Here's the link.
Thanks for the link so I could vote for the Tree! ;)
Posted by: Jim Hu | Apr 1, 2008 9:28:30 PM
I'm taking my odds in assuming that there are more non-Tree types here, and I think I'm probably right.
Posted by: Jay Johnson | Apr 1, 2008 10:30:55 PM
I dunno... I kinda have a love-hate relationship with the Tree. On the one hand, it's obnoxious and annoying. On the other hand, HA HA HA, it's a DRUNKEN TREE!!!
So I may have to sit this one out. But on the bright side, I will definitely be rooting for your Tigers in the Final Four. Purely out of friendship and Tennessee pride, you understand... nothing at all to do with my eternal loathing for their opponent... :)
Posted by: Brendan Loy | Apr 1, 2008 10:37:16 PM
As a Stanford alum, I'm biased for the Tree, but I also think it is a better mascot just because Tigers and Bears etc. are a dime a dozen. I mean, when you hear "GO TIGERS!", you have to think about who's playing. And there are plenty of times when both teams are Tigers (e.g Auburn-LSU, every year). According to this Wikipedia page,
And even though Eagles beats Tigers in popularity, Tigers is much more frequent for teams you've actually heard of (Memphis, Auburn, LSU, Clemson, Missouri, Princeton, Grambling). Your Tiger mascot just isn't nearly as memorable as your Tiger team. When you see the goofy tree, or USC's Trojan or ND's Leprechaun or even Western Kentucky's amorphous red thing, there isn't much doubt about who's playing.
The Tree is also especially noteworthy because it's an unofficial mascot, and because of its association with the Band. There are lots of cranky old farts who regularly write letters to the Bay Area papers (judging by my limited sample from when I visit home) denouncing everything about the Band (which created the Tree) and calling for Stanford to come up with some "respectable" alternative. Which, to me, would be really dumb.
So, even if it didn't involve one of my schools, I don't think I'd vote for Memphis in a mascot competition. Even if it was just for your own conference
Posted by: Jim Hu | Apr 1, 2008 11:41:43 PM
I'm with Brendan, i have a love hate relationship with the tree too, i love to hate it, you got my vote Jay!
Posted by: David K. | Apr 2, 2008 1:43:19 AM
Pouncer == better than the Tree.
So I voted thus. He's more lovable than said Tree, that's for sure. And I like the name.
Posted by: B. Minich | Apr 2, 2008 6:41:30 AM
Wow. That is one obnoxious picture of the Tree. Personally, I don't much care who wins this thing, but if it makes Jay happy...
Posted by: jlr | Apr 2, 2008 7:15:57 AM
Well, Bouncer got my vote, Jay. Without your plea for support, though, I would have gone with the Tree. I mean, think about it... lions, tigers, panthers, bears, eagles, cardinals, orioles -- and a tree. And if that weren't enough, a tree with a drinking problem. What a concept.
Bouncer is cuter, though.
BTW, Bouncer needs more votes. He's losing 59-41.
Posted by: Leanna Loomer | Apr 2, 2008 8:53:25 AM
Okay, okay, the combination of peer pressure and the sense of Bouncer being an underdog got me. I just voted for him. (With 10,509 votes in, it's Tree 57%, Bouncer 42%. I guess the other 1% was for Ralph Nader?)
Posted by: Brendan Lyo | Apr 2, 2008 11:07:25 AM
Isn't there a Trojan (left USC to join them) pitcher for the Memphis Tiger.
Posted by: | Apr 2, 2008 4:21:59 PM