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November 23, 2008 3:40:30 CST

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4 Stories

 Critics Make Sport
 of Olympic Mascots 

'Fuwa' are in the firing line ahead of Beijing Games

Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal Jul 23, 08 3:30 CDT
(Newser) - The troubled run-up to the Beijing Games hasn't spared the cartoon mascots, the Wall Street Journal reports. China's critics have already created mock characters for the five—like "GenGen Genocide"—and superstitious Chinese fear a link between the "witch dolls" and the disasters the country has suffered this year. The already hyper-commercialized "Fuwa," or good-luck dolls, are a fish, panda, Tibetan antelope, swallow and the Olympic flame. More »

More about:  China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Olympic Games • 2000 Sydney Olympics • mascot

Olympic Omens Worry Superstitious Chinese

An unfortunate 2008 has some talking of a 'curse of the Olympic mascots'

Christian Science Monitor Christian Science Monitor Jun 21, 08 11:11 CDT
(Newser) - Superstitious beliefs the Communists once tried to stamp out have been making a comeback in China, the Christian Science Monitor reports, especially in this troubled Olympic year. The Games are set to begin on August 8, as 8 sounds like fortune in Mandarin, making 8/8/8 an especially lucky date, but the country has been anything but lucky in recent months. More »

More about:  China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Chinese • superstition • mascot

America's Top 10 Mascots

From Mr. Met to Benny the Bull, Forbes ranks its faves

Forbes Forbes Jan 17, 08 6:52 PM CST
(Newser) - Mascots have danced, tumbled, and roused American sports fans for decades. Some have even gained a little prestige over the years. Forbes lists its Top 10: Phillie Phanatic. Around since '78, this green creature once scuffled with Tommy Lasorda and inspired an announcer to say that "baseball is being invaded by the Muppets." San Diego Chicken. The first modern mascot, he was fired by the Padres after (some say) he got too big for his feathers. He later sparked fans in other sports and became a mini-celeb in his own right. Mr. Met. This baseball-faced mascot has been soothing the pains of New York's "other" team for more than 40 years. More »

Nazi 'Mascot' Tells His Story

Jewish boy became
SS plaything, kept
secret until 1997

BBC BBC Aug 21, 07 11:33 CDT
(Newser) - A new book details the secret history of a Jewish boy who became a mascot for the Nazi SS. After fleeing a Belarus village on the day his family was massacred, the 5-year-old was rescued by a Nazi soldier who gave him a new name—Alex Kurzem— and identity as a Russian orphan, the BBC reports. He then became an entertainer for soldiers, and was advertised as “the Reich’s youngest Nazi.” More »

More about:  Nazi • World War II • Jews • Holocaust • orphan • Belarus • mascot

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