Occurrence of Religious Symbolism in U.S. Sports Team Names and Mascots
Encyclopedia
The following is a list of American sports team names and mascots that draw upon religious symbolism
. Given the prevalence of Christian
groups and institutions in the United States, the vast majority of these symbols, though basically generic, can be assumed to come from Christian sources. However, teams deriving their image from symbols belonging to other systems of religious and pseudo-religious belief have also been included, and where a lack of symbolic representation in the sports world is conspicuous—as with Jewish teams and organizations—there follows discussion as to why.
Most of the teams listed here belong to schools and not franchises. The reasons for why are subject to debate. Schools are places where administrators, teachers, and parents act as a community to give students education in local values and in many places these values come from religious institutions like churches and synagogues. So schools often become de facto representatives of a community's religious ideals as well as visual representatives of that community at a state, national, and international level. These conditions combine to make school sports a place for religious symbols, after they get filtered through the secular values of both the nation at large and sport itself. This filtering produces mixed-value mascots like "Demon Deacons" of Wake Forest University
and the "Hustlin' Quakers" of U. Penn.
Despite the politically sensitive nature of religious issues in America there has not been much controversy over religious imagery in sport. Subtle spins on generic symbols like the crusader have come under attack for their insensitivity, but by and large religiously inspired team names and mascots have not been scrutinized. This is in contrast to team names and mascots from Native American cultural sources. This should be a point of interest in studying sport and religion in America.
The institutions listed below—some of which are Catholic
—endorse religious symbolism either by the team name or individual mascots. Some are negative, menacing symbols such as the various Demons and Devils, but a majority of them take on positive connotations within Catholicism. These include the Saints, Angels, Friars and Knights. The latter is considered Catholic because knights were agents of the Catholic Church and, like crusaders, helped in converting individuals (sometimes by force) and "protecting the faith" against outside enemies.
Corlis McGee, president of Eastern Nazarene College
, said, "There's a growing awareness that the connotation of the word has changed, and the Crusader no longer represents the positive message of Christian love we want to share with the world." Other universities have decided to keep the mascot as a way to honor their histories and constantly remind students to "communicate our desire to bring the good news and cross into every situation we encountered."
Schools who have done away with the "Crusaders" mascot include Eastern Nazarene College (now the Lions), The University of the Incarnate Word (the new mascot, the Cardinals, was chosen by students) and Wheaton College
.
Other schools have retained the name "Crusaders" as their team name and mascot, including Valparaiso University
, and the Northwest Nazarene University
.
. As the list suggests the visual vocabulary of non-Catholic Christianity, particularly in American sport, does not differ significantly from Catholic Christianity. What distinguishes this section has less to do with symbols themselves and more with context. Six of these schools are affiliated with the NCAA and one is affiliated with the NAIA.
Interestingly, the majority of these schools are located in Southeastern coastal states like North Carolina
or South Carolina
. In this part of the country religiously affiliated colleges and universities have existed since colonial times, when the majority of European Americans living in North American colonies were Protestant Christians. The religiously inspired team names and mascots are a part of this legacy, and associations between school spirit and local religious belief are therefore more historically acceptable in this part of the country.
Still, it is interesting that, in spite of this legacy, the teams at most Protestant affiliated colleges and schools do not identify with religious symbols. There are nearly 1,000 Protestant colleges and universities in the U.S. alone. But out of all of these, only 14 identify with religious names or mascots. That's less than 1%.
This makes sense, because not all of these names and mascots were inspired by religion. The origin of the famous Duke
Blue Devil mascot for instance can be traced back to the World War I era. Units of French soldiers called "les Diables Beus" marshalled won fame in America. They inspired the Duke student body to make the Blue Devil the school's official mascot in 1911. The name was much more unpopular with the Methodism than with anyone else.
The inspiration for a name or mascot also comes from relationships and in particular, rivalries with other schools. Until 1937 Wake Forest's men's athletics teams were known as "the Deacons," "the Baptists," or "Old Gold and Black." But after hiring a new coach and having way more success the school was looking for a way to show its prowess. They beat Duke in a game of football and the president prasied them for "fighting like demons" to clinch the win, so the name stuck http://www.wfu.edu/history/HST_WFU/deacon.htm. So the process of inventing an image for a sports team comes from relationships. Clubs and teams can make their images visual reminders of a meaningful moment in school nhisotry. Again, the suggested correlation between sports team mascots and the totems comes in to play as some Native American tribes mixed images of vanquished enemies with their own to assimilate their powers.
Powerful images of demons, devils and knights remind us of the mascots of Catholic teams, but Protestant teams also draw on symbols from their own beliefs, generally involving religious leadership and including Deacons, Preachers, Evangels, Quakers and Fightin Christians.
There are no professional teams that use distinctly symbolism, maybe because of differences between different denominations and their beliefs. But it is probably explained better by the lack of religious symbols in pro-team names whose economic motives to reach a wider audience drive them to less sectarian symbolism.
Devils are one of the most common mascots throughout American sports. This can likely be attributed to Christian beliefs being the most common of religions in the U.S. The devil is normally used as a fierce, intimidating image to represent teams.
Religious symbolism
Religious symbolism is the use of symbols, including archetypes, acts, artwork, events, or natural phenomena, by a religion. Religions view religious texts, rituals, and works of art as symbols of compelling ideas or ideals...
. Given the prevalence of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
groups and institutions in the United States, the vast majority of these symbols, though basically generic, can be assumed to come from Christian sources. However, teams deriving their image from symbols belonging to other systems of religious and pseudo-religious belief have also been included, and where a lack of symbolic representation in the sports world is conspicuous—as with Jewish teams and organizations—there follows discussion as to why.
Mascots as visual representation
Sports clubs and teams base their image or mascot on variety of factors, such as the desire of athletes to pick a symbol that will convey the things they are supposed to possess, such as strength, courage, aggression and endurance. Scholars have drawn connections to confirm this between desires such as these and the religious totems found in polythesim, where visual representations of animals are used as symbols to express the physical and spiritual qualities of community. In this adoration of a mascot by a school or company can be seen as religiously significant. However, economic factors must also be considered as both schools and sports franchise owners want to make money. Just as vast revenue can be generated by an appealing, marketable symbol so can profits be lost if the symbol in question, is offensive enough to alienate potential fans. This consideration as well can explain why sectarian religious symbols are rarely used in sports team names and mascots.Most of the teams listed here belong to schools and not franchises. The reasons for why are subject to debate. Schools are places where administrators, teachers, and parents act as a community to give students education in local values and in many places these values come from religious institutions like churches and synagogues. So schools often become de facto representatives of a community's religious ideals as well as visual representatives of that community at a state, national, and international level. These conditions combine to make school sports a place for religious symbols, after they get filtered through the secular values of both the nation at large and sport itself. This filtering produces mixed-value mascots like "Demon Deacons" of Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
and the "Hustlin' Quakers" of U. Penn.
Despite the politically sensitive nature of religious issues in America there has not been much controversy over religious imagery in sport. Subtle spins on generic symbols like the crusader have come under attack for their insensitivity, but by and large religiously inspired team names and mascots have not been scrutinized. This is in contrast to team names and mascots from Native American cultural sources. This should be a point of interest in studying sport and religion in America.
Catholic symbolism
There seems to be a clustering of religiously inspired mascots and team symbols in the American Midwest. This area's population is predominantly Protestant or Calvinist and the culture of the Midwest tends to be conservative. This may be a reason for the preponderance of religion symbolism in even non-religious schools and institutions, but does not explain why this symbolism would be Catholic in nature.The institutions listed below—some of which are Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
—endorse religious symbolism either by the team name or individual mascots. Some are negative, menacing symbols such as the various Demons and Devils, but a majority of them take on positive connotations within Catholicism. These include the Saints, Angels, Friars and Knights. The latter is considered Catholic because knights were agents of the Catholic Church and, like crusaders, helped in converting individuals (sometimes by force) and "protecting the faith" against outside enemies.
Colleges and universities
- DePaul UniversityDePaul UniversityDePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
Demons, mascot DIBS (Demon in a Blue Suit) - Holy Cross CollegeHoly Cross CollegeHoly Cross College may refer to:*Holy Cross College , Bangladesh*Holy Cross College , in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States*Holy Cross College , Western Province, Sri Lanka*Holy Cross College...
Saints - King’s College Monarchs
- Marymount Saints
- New Jersey City University Gothic Knights
- Providence CollegeProvidence CollegeProvidence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
Friars - Saint Michael's Bible College Purple Knights
- Siena College Saints, mascot Bernie "Saint" Bernard
- Thomas More College Saints, mascot "Tommy Mo," or "Tommy Moria," a Renaissance Englishman in motley parachute pants.
- University of Saint ThomasUniversity of St. Thomas (Minnesota)The University of St. Thomas is a private, Catholic, liberal arts, and archdiocesan university located in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States...
Tommies, mascot representing St. Thomas Aquinas. - Saint John's University Johnnies, mascot representing St. John the Revelator.
Primary, middle, and secondary schools
- Archbishop Bergan Knights
- Grand Island Central Crusaders
- Mount Michael Benedictine Catholic Knights
- Norfolk Catholic Knights (VA)
- Omaha Marian Crusaders
- St. Thomas Aquinas Knights
Non-affiliated sports teams and franchises
- New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, professional footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. The franchise was named "the Saints" by popular vote on November 1, 1966—All Saint's Day. The name ostensibly refers to the popular gospel tune "When the Saints Go Marching InWhen the Saints Go Marching In"When the Saints Go Marching In", often referred to as "The Saints", is an American gospel hymn that has taken on certain aspects of folk music. The precise origins of the song are not known. Though it originated as a spiritual, today people are more likely to hear it played by a jazz band...
". - San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, professional baseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond... - San Antonio MissionsSan Antonio MissionsThe San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
, profession baseball
Drum corps
- The Saints drum corp, sponsored by Our Lady of Peace Church in Fords, N.J. Their original hats had a cross in the center of the medallion, and the Saints logo is the intersection of a halo and a cross. They disbanded in 1987.
- The Knights Drum and Bugle Corp in Kewanee, Illinois (discontinued in 1998).
- Black Knights Drum Corps of Burbank, California (discontinued in 2001).
- Rochester Crusaders Drum Corp of Rochester, New York.
- Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, founded in 1932, is the second-oldest junior drum and bugle corps in the nation and a founding member of Drum Corps International.
- California Crusaders Drum Corp in Carson, California (discontinued in 1979)
- Conquistadors Drum Corp from Southern San Francisco, CA
- Emerald Knights Drum Corp of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Issue related to "The Crusaders"
The University of the Incarnate Word decided in 2007 that it would perhaps be seen to be more open to students, instructors and parents of different faiths. The school decided that the name was "inappropriate for a Catholic institution with a multicultural mission."Corlis McGee, president of Eastern Nazarene College
Eastern Nazarene College
The Eastern Nazarene College is a private, coeducational college of the liberal arts and sciences in Quincy, Massachusetts near Boston, in the New England region of the United States. Known for its strong religious affiliation, distinctive liberal arts core curriculum, and excellence in science...
, said, "There's a growing awareness that the connotation of the word has changed, and the Crusader no longer represents the positive message of Christian love we want to share with the world." Other universities have decided to keep the mascot as a way to honor their histories and constantly remind students to "communicate our desire to bring the good news and cross into every situation we encountered."
Schools who have done away with the "Crusaders" mascot include Eastern Nazarene College (now the Lions), The University of the Incarnate Word (the new mascot, the Cardinals, was chosen by students) and Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
.
Other schools have retained the name "Crusaders" as their team name and mascot, including Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
, and the Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University is a private Christian liberal arts college located in Nampa, Idaho.-History:Eugene Emerson organized a combination grade school and Bible school in 1913 as Idaho Holiness School...
.
Protestant symbolism
Included here are team names and mascots associated with ProtestantismProtestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
. As the list suggests the visual vocabulary of non-Catholic Christianity, particularly in American sport, does not differ significantly from Catholic Christianity. What distinguishes this section has less to do with symbols themselves and more with context. Six of these schools are affiliated with the NCAA and one is affiliated with the NAIA.
Interestingly, the majority of these schools are located in Southeastern coastal states like North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
or South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. In this part of the country religiously affiliated colleges and universities have existed since colonial times, when the majority of European Americans living in North American colonies were Protestant Christians. The religiously inspired team names and mascots are a part of this legacy, and associations between school spirit and local religious belief are therefore more historically acceptable in this part of the country.
Still, it is interesting that, in spite of this legacy, the teams at most Protestant affiliated colleges and schools do not identify with religious symbols. There are nearly 1,000 Protestant colleges and universities in the U.S. alone. But out of all of these, only 14 identify with religious names or mascots. That's less than 1%.
This makes sense, because not all of these names and mascots were inspired by religion. The origin of the famous Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
Blue Devil mascot for instance can be traced back to the World War I era. Units of French soldiers called "les Diables Beus" marshalled won fame in America. They inspired the Duke student body to make the Blue Devil the school's official mascot in 1911. The name was much more unpopular with the Methodism than with anyone else.
The inspiration for a name or mascot also comes from relationships and in particular, rivalries with other schools. Until 1937 Wake Forest's men's athletics teams were known as "the Deacons," "the Baptists," or "Old Gold and Black." But after hiring a new coach and having way more success the school was looking for a way to show its prowess. They beat Duke in a game of football and the president prasied them for "fighting like demons" to clinch the win, so the name stuck http://www.wfu.edu/history/HST_WFU/deacon.htm. So the process of inventing an image for a sports team comes from relationships. Clubs and teams can make their images visual reminders of a meaningful moment in school nhisotry. Again, the suggested correlation between sports team mascots and the totems comes in to play as some Native American tribes mixed images of vanquished enemies with their own to assimilate their powers.
Powerful images of demons, devils and knights remind us of the mascots of Catholic teams, but Protestant teams also draw on symbols from their own beliefs, generally involving religious leadership and including Deacons, Preachers, Evangels, Quakers and Fightin Christians.
There are no professional teams that use distinctly symbolism, maybe because of differences between different denominations and their beliefs. But it is probably explained better by the lack of religious symbols in pro-team names whose economic motives to reach a wider audience drive them to less sectarian symbolism.
Colleges and universities
- Bloomfield CollegeBloomfield CollegeBloomfield College is a four-year private liberal arts college located in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Bloomfield College is chartered by the State of New Jersey and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools...
Deacons, Seventh Day Adventist (NJ) - Duke UniversityDuke UniversityDuke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
Blue Devils, Methodist (NC) - Earlham CollegeEarlham CollegeEarlham College is a liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. It was founded in 1847 by Quakers and has approximately 1,200 students.The president is John David Dawson...
Hustlin' Quakers, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Mascot Mr. Quaker. (IN) - Elon UniversityElon UniversityElon University is a private liberal arts university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Elon College, it became Elon University on June 1, 2001. The campus is a botanical garden and features oak trees, brick sidewalks, fountains, and lakes...
Phoenixes, previously the Fightin’ Christians (NC) - Guilford CollegeGuilford CollegeGuilford College, founded in 1837 by members of the Religious Society of Friends , is an independent college whose stated mission is to: provide a transformative, practical and excellent liberal arts education that produces critical thinkers in an inclusive, diverse environment, guided by Quaker...
Quakers, Religious Society of Friends (NC) - Johnson Bible CollegeJohnson Bible CollegeJohnson University is a private, co-educational college located six miles southeast of Knoxville, Tennessee....
, Church of Christ. Men's athletics teams nicknamed Preachers, women's nicknamed Evangels. (KY) - Kenyon CollegeKenyon CollegeKenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
Lords and Ladies, Episcopal (OH) - Lincoln Christian College and SeminaryLincoln Christian College and SeminaryLincoln Christian University , formerly Lincoln Christian College and Seminary , comprises a School of Undergraduate Studies, a Seminary, and the Hargrove School, all located in Lincoln, Illinois...
Angels, Church of Christ (IL) - Meredith CollegeMeredith CollegeMeredith College is a liberal arts women's college located in Raleigh, North Carolina. For the 2010-2011 academic year, there were approximately 2,300 students enrolled, including about 350 graduate students, making Meredith the largest women's college in the southeastern United States...
Avenging Angels (NC) - Mid-American Christian UniversityMid-American Christian UniversityMid-America Christian University is a liberal arts college in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. MACU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and the Oklahoma Commission on Teacher Preparation...
Evangels, Church of God in Anderson, Indiana (OK) - North Carolina Wesleyan CollegeNorth Carolina Wesleyan CollegeNorth Carolina Wesleyan College is a private four-year coeducational, liberal arts college, located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Founded in 1956, the school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and offers a number of preprofessional programs...
Battling Bishops in Rocky Mount NC (Methodist) - Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. Known unofficially as the Fighting Presbyterian Ministers until 1924 (IL). - University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of PennsylvaniaThe University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
Quakers, Non sectarian (PA) - Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso UniversityValparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
Crusaders, Lutheran. Formerly the Uhlans, a kind of light infantry. (IN) - Wake Forest UniversityWake Forest UniversityWake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
"Demon" Deacons, Baptist. (NC)
Primary, middle, and secondary schools
- Lincoln Christian School Crusaders (GA)
- Southside Christian School Sabres (SC)
- Christ Church Episcopal School Cavaliers (SC)
- Shannon Forest Christian School Crusaders (SC)
- Franklin Central School Purple Devils (NY)
Other religions
- Orlando Magic, professional basketball
- Washington Wizards, professional basketball
- Dakota Wizards, professional basketball
- Kansas City WizardsKansas City WizardsSporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
, professional soccer (Originally called the Wiz, now called Sporting Kansas City) - Stockton ThunderStockton ThunderThe Stockton Thunder are a minor league professional ice hockey team from Stockton, California. The Thunder are a member of the ECHL, and began playing in the 2005–06 season. The Stockton Arena is their home ice, providing a capacity for 9,737 fans...
, professional hockey uses the Norse god Thor as mascot
Generic and/or ambiguous
Most teams with mascots such as "Devils" or "Wizards" have little to no affiliation with any religious groups. They may choose their mascots for the purpose of intimidating their opponents. Mascots are usually depicted as mischievous or even cute and have little spiritual representation.Devils are one of the most common mascots throughout American sports. This can likely be attributed to Christian beliefs being the most common of religions in the U.S. The devil is normally used as a fierce, intimidating image to represent teams.
Colleges and universities
- Arizona State University Sun Devils, mascot Sparky the Sun Devil
- Dickinson College Red Devils
- Farleigh Dickinson University (Metropolitan Campus) Knights
- Farleigh Dickinson College at Florham Devils
- Furman University Paladians (SC)
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana Demons, mascot Vic the Demon
- Old Dominion University Monarchs
- Rutgers University at New Brunswick Scarlet Knights
- UCF Knights
- United States Military Academy Black Knights
Primary, middle, and secondary schools
- Plattsmouth Community School Blue Devils
- South Platte Public School Blue Knights
- Wayne Community School Blue Devils
- Wynot Public School Blue Devils
- A.C. New Knights
Non-affiliated sports teams and franchises
- New Jersey DevilsNew Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, professional hockey - Albany DevilsAlbany DevilsThe Albany Devils are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League , founded in 2010. The top AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League 's New Jersey Devils, the team has as its home the Times Union Center in Albany, New York...
, professional hockey - Sacramento KingsSacramento KingsThe Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, professional basketball. Mascot Slamson the Lion, an allusion to the Old Testament figure Samson. - Idaho Falls ChukarsIdaho Falls ChukarsThe Idaho Falls Chukars are a minor league baseball affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They play in Idaho Falls, Idaho, at Melaleuca Field which holds 3,400 fans. The dimensions of the ball park are 340'left, 400'center, 350'right. The playing surface is Natural Grass...
, professional baseball. Formerly the Angels (1964–81), the Braves (1986–91, 93-99), and the Padres (2000–03). - Fort Meyers Miracle, professional baseball
See also
- Collegiate sport ritual in the United StatesCollegiate sport ritual in the United StatesThere are a multitude of rituals associated with collegiate sporting events across the United States. Varying by sport, demographics, and location, sporting rituals often become essential to the preparation, organization, and game-day experience...
- List of mascots
- List of sports team names and mascots derived from indigenous peoples
- Native American mascot controversyNative American mascot controversyThe propriety of using Native American mascots and images in sports has been a topic of debate in the United States and Canada since the 1960s.Americans have had a history of drawing inspiration from native peoples and "playing Indian" that dates back at least to the 18th century...
- TotemTotemA totem is a stipulated ancestor of a group of people, such as a family, clan, group, lineage, or tribe.Totems support larger groups than the individual person. In kinship and descent, if the apical ancestor of a clan is nonhuman, it is called a totem...