Pros and Cons of Being a Sports Mascot

Back in high school, my buddies and I painted our chests and spelled out the name of our high school at football games, carrying on a longstanding tradition of upperclassmen becoming superfans.

And while we had a great time running around with an oversized bed sheet with the letter "H" on it, doing pushups following each score and posing with classmates and younger kids, we weren't the actual school mascot.

No, that duty went to some poor soul who was wearing a heat box of a costume, was forced to try out to get the gig and had to put up with people slapping the giant headpiece all the time.

The life the mascot can be a tough one, but here are some pros and cons to doing it.

Con: Expectations

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Like most things, the life of a mascot carries a lot of weight, responsibility and expectations.

Sure, these guys might look goofy and are supposed to act happy all the time, but as soon as something goes wrong or fans aren’t into it, people can turn on them fast.

For all the future mascots out there, remember to never have an off day—or you may be in the news for the wrong reasons.

Pro: Everyone Loves You

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Everyone wants to be loved, and besides the players on the court or field, the team mascot might be the most beloved in the entire stadium.

Breaking out dances and wild celebrations to get the crowd hyped up, kids and parents alike enjoy posing for pictures and being in the general vicinity of the mascot—which has to feel good.

Con: Danger

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There are plenty of people out there who like danger, but a mascot is required to enjoy it, with the people dressed in the costumes asked to perform insane, acrobatic tricks to get the crowd alive.

On top of the danger of doing crazy tricks comes the added risk of getting injured while doing something simple like dancing or racing onto the field before a game.

The last thing a team needs is having to replace the primary mascot with a backup, so try to stay healthy!

Pro: Lots of Publicity

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Some people may like to keep their lives private and out of the public eye—or at least try to with social media everywhere these days.

It’s safe to say that anyone who is a sports mascot isn’t one of those people, though.

Required to enjoy the spotlight by dancing in front of thousands at sporting events, everyone wants to take a picture with them, with the team itself using their likeness as a promotional tool.

It might not be the life of an A-list celeb, but it has to feel pretty cool nonetheless.

Con: When No One Shows Up

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This one probably sucks a hell of a lot more for the players themselves because, well, an empty stadium usually means that there aren’t enough people who actually want to see the team play.

But don’t sell short the effect it has on the team’s mascot, too.

With the duty of getting fans energized and keeping them entertained, when no one is actually in the seats, it has to be a little more difficult to do the job of a mascot.

Pro: Hanging with the Players

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There are several great perks of being the team’s mascot, but none might be bigger than getting on the field and hanging out with the players.

Sure, it’s not like talking to them as yourself, but even while wearing an oversized bald eagle costume, a picture with Robert Griffin III has to be an awesome feeling, one that still warrants bragging to friends about.

Besides that, it’s not like the mascot is always dressed in costume when behind the scenes, so I have a hunch they still chat up athletes even when not in costume.

Con: It's Hot as Hell Inside Those Things

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As I stated in the opener, while there are some legendary mascots out there—think the Phillie Phanatic or Brutus the Buckeye—that doesn’t always mean that the people inside of those costumes are always comfortable.

OK, it’s really safe to say that they aren’t.

That’s because when the outside temperature is 90-plus, it has to be about 15 degrees steamier inside of the suit, with the person in the outfit sweating profusely.

Hope they didn’t drink the night prior, otherwise it’ll be a long day.

Pro: Chicks Man...Hot Chicks

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The team mascot might not be the first person one of the many attractive girls think of when it comes to people associated with a sports team, but for the mascot himself, hanging out with all those hot girls definitely doesn't hurt his chances of scoring one.

Sure, they have a lot of responsibility and are probably burning up in that costume of theirs, but the joy of having a bunch of cheerleaders hanging around has to ease that pain.

Con: Tryouts

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Maybe this one should technically be a wash, because what an acrobatic person thrives on is the chance to put their moves on display.

Still, trying out for anything is stressful as hell, with the candidate wondering what routine to put together and, even after performing, questioning if they were good enough for the judges to get the gig.

It might be fun to watch, but actually trying out to be a mascot probably isn’t all that enjoyable.

Pro: Best Seat in the House

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Unlike those who spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on an amazing ticket to a game, the mascot simply pulls on their costume and shows up to the stadium, with access to nearly everywhere they want.

If that’s not cool, I don’t know what is.

Mascots might not get to sit down and actually watch every single play like those in the stands, but I’m sure they don’t mind seeing as how they’re on the field or court most of the time.

Con: All Those Pushups

Otto Kitsinger/Associated Press

A longstanding tradition of mascots everywhere, pushups are usually the go-to move for these poor souls during sporting events.

Most common in college football following scores, is there anything worse to do hundreds of times—especially if you’re the Oregon Duck!

Sure, they might help keep these people in shape, but as someone who was forced to do a ton of pushups as a superfan in high school, I can tell you that your arms are beat by about the third quarter of a blowout.

Pro: You Get to Go to All the Best Games

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

For all of us who can’t quite get tickets to the biggest games—or are just too cheap to buy them—the mascot is laughing all the way to the turnstile, because they have an up close and personal view.

While getting the chance to be on the field, meeting the players and being the one person who gets the crowd going is great, the possibility of going to a national or league title game has to be at the top of any mascot's list of favorite things.