It?s a sad time in college football.
One of the sports all-time greats passed away just a few months away from resuming a storied career in which he went 87-27 with two Southeastern Conference titles and seven victories in nine bowl games.
Rest in peace, Uga VI.
The Churchillian English bulldog and symbol of University of Georgia sports, passed away of congestive heart failure after spending nine seasons as the school?s winningest mascot. He was 10 ? in human years.
“Uga VI was a damn good mascot and a damn good dog,” Damon Evans, the school?s athletics director, said to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Frank W. “Sonny” Seiler, who owned Uga VI and his five predecessors who served as Georgia?s mascot, said one of the dog?s relatives will take Uga VI?s place on the sideline.
Uga VI will be buried inside a marble vault at the university?s football field, Sanford Stadium, next to his ancesetors.
The next mascot has a big collar to fill. In 1997, Uga V was on the cover of Sports Illustrated and appeared in the movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” alongside Kevin Spacey. The newest UGA will have an air-conditioned dog house and receive free travel courtesy of Delta Airlines to away games. And he?ll also have hordes of fans waiting to pet him.
“People pet him so much his head gets sore,” Seiler once said of his line of Ugas. “He?s like a politician who shakes too many hands.”
Here?s a look at the greatest mascot in all of sports: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgCuyBliw6c&feature=related
So until the Univerisity of Georgia names its next mascot, here are the Top 5 1/2 Mascots ? until Uga VII starts roaming the sidelines.
1. The Duck, University of Oregon
After watching this clip ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_aaYih92ss ? you?ll know why we put him atop the list. We were scared he would beat the hell out of us like he did to the Houston Cougar. We didn?t want the Duck to be all over us like a grand jury on Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.
2. BillThe Goat, Navy
The Chicago Cubs are reportedly trying to buy Bill from the Academy in an effort to reverse the team?s curse, which apparently started in 1945. That?s when the Cubs? owner kicked a goat and its owner, Billy Sianis, from the stadium because the goat smelled too badly. Sianis left the stadium, but not before cursing the franchise, saying it would not play in the World Series at Wrigley Field again. Maybe if the Cubs acquire Bill, they?ll win the World Series.
You?ll agree Bill is pretty strong, and may be strong enough to fight a curse after you watch him here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IySmvm2F3k
3. Bernie The Brewer, Milwaukee Brewers
Totally fitting. Bernie is known for sliding down a slide after every home run or Brewers? victory. The Brewers are known for sliding down the standings every August and September. It?s a match made in beer heaven. We?ll drink to that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2slA1Ef6Ko
4. Rocky, Denver Nuggets
He fought Charles Barkley, and knows how to dunk a ball like nobody?s business. But he was at his best when the Los Angeles Lakers came to town for the playoffs this spring. Check out what our favorite mountain lion did: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEfdq-WbZMw
5. Testudo, University of Maryland
We put Testudo here because we wanted to see something affilaited with Maryland?s football team ranked. But man, can Testudo bust a move. We haven?t seen dancing like that since Gary Williams talked about why so many of the area?s best high school players sign letters of intent to play at other colleges.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsXeu9j5C-0
5 1/2 Smokey, University of Tennessee
Any animal that can accompany you on a hunting trip and to a football game is a special beast. Smokey is pretty happy because with the passing of Uga VI, he?s the top dog in the SEC ? at least for now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5dSPKWXanw&feature=related
WHAT WE LIKED: Spain winning its first European Championship in 44 years with a 1-0 victory over Germany on Sunday in Austria. The victory establishes Spain as the premier team on the continent and again relegates Germany to the status of bride?s maid.
WHAT WE DON?T LIKE: Team USA realizing just now that one of the key pieces to its gold medal hopes has a cracked sternum. Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic?s freak of nature is one of just three big men on the squad?s roster and was penciled in as a starter. Apparently, Coach Mike Krzyzewski and managing director Jerry Colangelo were looking for a level of difficutly to win gold. Start with beating Argentina, the defending champion.
STAR OF THE DAY
WHITE SOX FANS
OK, we mean “star” in name alone because of the way they make fools of themselves on this YouTube clip during their weekend series against the Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field. Look for the guy in the Thome jersey to throw aboslute haymakers in the beginning and then a total jerk in his ?World Champion White Sox T-shirt? get beat up by a security around the 2:40 mark. Somewhere, Philadelphia fans are smiling. Also, note the volume, as there is some foul language heard in the background. Stay classy Chicago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1oGqLZW7yg&eurl=http://thebiglead.com/
DONKEY OF THE DAY
If the Orioles? potential All-Star closer gets the credit when things are going well, he has to take the heat when they are going bad. After walking Dimitri “De-Meat Hook” Young to put the tying run aboard, he threw a meatball bigger than the one?s they serve at Amicci?s in Little Italy right down the middle to ogre/buffet killer/professional baseball player Ronnie Belliard. The journeyman, who is battling the Mendoza and waist lines, didn?t miss, depositing a 1-2 pitch into the bleachers in left field to make the Orioles losers and Sherrill our Donkey.
? Compiled by Baltimore Examiner sports staff
