Brooklyn Nets will be mascot-free next season

The Brooklyn Nets will not have a mascot next season, after making the decision to ditch Brooklyn Knight earlier this year.

Author:
Extra Mustard
Publish date:
Sep 16, 2014

The Brooklyn Nets will not have a mascot next season, after making the decision to ditch Brooklyn Knight earlier this year.

• Giancarlo Stanton posts graphic pictures of his face

The Brooklyn Game reports that team officials had originally hoped to retool the much-maligned character or perhaps even bring in a brand new mascot. Instead, the team has decided to bravely enter the 2014-15 season with no mascot in place.

• Bryan Cranston performs MLB-inspired one-man show

NBA pundits have yet to weigh in on how the decision will help the team's championship aspirations, but young Nets fans are surely rejoicing that they can go to the game without fear of being forced to pose with a creepy mascot.

• GALLERY: BRAWLING MASCOTS

Brawling Mascots

Brutus Buckeye v. Rufus the Bobcat

The fur was flying in Columbus, Ohio, before the kickoff of the Ohio State-Ohio University football game. Ohio's mascot, Rufus, stalked Brutus Buckeye into the end zone, where he proceeded to punch the unsuspecting mascot several times in the head. It was later revealed that the man inside Rufus was not even enrolled at Ohio University. Inspired by this unique form of mascot mayhem, SI.com presents other costumed clashes from years past.

Eli the Eagle v. Jinx the Jaguar

While fighting between mascots might be humorous, it's not tolerated. Both the Oral Roberts mascot, Eli the Eagle, and the IUPUI mascot, Jinx the Jaguar, were ejected from the venue following this altercation.

T-Rac v. Viktor

Traditionally, mascots do everything they can to avoid removing their costumed noggins while in character. Thus, the severity of this affray is evident as the Minnesota Vikings mascot, Viktor, loses his head after a push from Tennessee Titans mascot T-Rac.

S.J. Sharkie v. Stanley C. Panther

San Jose Shark mascot S.J. Sharkie was so eager to take down Florida Panthers mascot Stanley C. Panther that Sharkie didn't even bother to drop his gloves, a faux paus in even the mascot brawling world.

Bucky Badger v. Herky the Hawk

Unlike most mascots, Iowa's Herky the Hawk sports a hard headpiece similar to a football helmet. Accordingly, it makes no sense for Herky to also be given the advantage of a thunder stick in his dispute with Wisconsin's Bucky Badger. But no one said mascot brawls were fair.

Jack the Bulldog v. Jonathan the Husky

Rivals for some years now, the Georgetown mascot, Jack the Bulldog, and UConn mascot, Jonathan the Husky, know each other's moves all too well. Here, Jack blocks an advance by Jonathan that he saw coming from miles away.

Fritzle v. Hermann

Not to be outdone by their American counterparts, the German soccer association boasted some altercations of its own. Here, Stuttgart mascot Fritzle attacks Hamburg mascot Hermann.

Thrash v. Tommyhawk v. Sparky the Dragon v. Stormy

In this scene of mascot mayhem, the mascots for the Atlanta Thrashers, the Chicago Blackhawks, the New York Islanders and the Carolina Hurricanes engage in the popcorn fight to end all popcorn fights.

Stormy v. Slapshot

Any honest fight needs a referee, and Atlanta Thrashers mascot Thrash was all to happy to officiate this skirmish between Stormy, the Carolina Hurricanes mascot, and Slapshot, the Washington Capitals mascot. The other mascots in the arena were smart enough to stay out of it.

Rocky the Mountain Lion v. Referee James Capers

Referee James Capers stopped the Denver Nuggets mascot in his tracks when Rocky tried to enter the game. While Capers wasn't fooled, Rocky does do a convincing impression of Nuggets center Chris Andersen.

K.C. Wolf v. Bengals fans

K.C. Wolf is a busy man. When not rallying fans at the Red Sea, he appears at minor league baseball games, parades, grand openings and numerous other events. Luckily for Chiefs fans, K.C. Wolf always has time to body slam Cincinnati Bengals fans.

Rocky the Mountain Lion v. Charles Barkley

The Denver Nuggets' mascot, Rocky the Mountain Lion, and Charles Barkley usually squared off for some playful antics whenever the Rockets visited the Mile High City. Rocky attempted to slug Barkley after the Rockets star stripped him of his costume earlier in the game, but unfortunately for Rocky -- and all mascots -- their plush mitts can turn even the most malicious jabs into tickle fights.

Phillie Phanatic v. An average Joe

Luckily for this brawler, the Phillie Phanatic left his ATV in the dugout before this sparring session.

K.C. Wolf v. Bengals fan

Bengals fans apparently didn't learn their lesson in January 2006. When they came back to Arrowhead Stadium later that year, the always diligent K.C. Wolf quickly disposed of them.

Rhody the Ram v. The Hawk

As earlier noted, you don't remove a mascot's head during the course of play. The University of Rhode Island mascot, Rhody, learned this the hard way after he knocked the face mask off the St. Joseph's mascot. In this image taken from television, the Hawk seeks his revenge.

Phillie Phanatic v. First base umpire Wally Bell

Does first base umpire Wally Bell really hate the Phillie Phanatic, or is he just not a fan of the Lady Gaga-inspired getup the Phanatic is sporting?

Big Stuff v. Puddles

It was a standoff between birds before the Winthrop-Oregon basketball game in March 2007. Winthrop's mascot, Big Stuff, should know better than to tangle with Puddles, who was suspended later that year for an altercation with Houston's mascot, Shasta.

Phillie Phanatic v. The Bird

It's impossible to tell whether this is a prelude to a rumble or a dance-off. Either way, both the Baltimore Oriole Bird and the Phillie Phanatic look focused and well-prepared.

- Brendan Maloy