Recently, I was just thinking about sports in general and I started to think about some of the weird things involved with sports such as mascots, fan behavior, team names, etc.

Will someone please explain to me why the Seattle Mariners have a moose as a mascot? Mariners have to do with people of the sea because Seattle is towards the coast. That part makes sense, but what does a moose have to do with the ocean? Fill me in?

Another mascot that bothers me is the Philly Phanatic. I have no clue as to how the big green guy relates to baseball or to the Phillies in any way. It is just some random guy in a fat green suit that appears to be more fit for Sesame Street than a Major League Baseball Mascot.

I have never understood why fans need to be quiet at golf tournaments. Golfers are professional athletes and should be able to hit the ball despite the noise from the crowd. When Tiger goes to putt, it is dead silent. We can only imagine what it would be like if the arena was expected to be silent when Kobe Bryant stepped to the free throw line. Golf is one of the few sports where you are only allowed to cheer at select times and I disagree.

Although it may arguably be one of the best rivalries in college football, how intimidating is a game between the Ducks and the Beavers. When people think of football they think of tough guys playing a mean and physical game. The brutality and masculinity of it is something that we all love, but the Ducks and the Beavers? Those aren’t exactly the most intimidating team names out there.

Why is soccer the most popular sport in the world, but in one of the best sports countries of the world it is hardly relevant? The most popular sport in the world is probably the fifth most popular sport in the United States. Soccer follows the NFL, MLB, NBA, and the NHL.

Why are there sausage races at Miller Park in Milwaukee? It is just a stupid idea to begin with. I don’t want to watch some guy dressed up like a bratwurst, running around the field. But, maybe some people find that amusing?

Shaq has now decided that he can rap. Good for him. Some people will say that his rap was horrible and it was, but I don’t think that Shaq cares about public humiliation. Just look at his free throw stats or his acting “career”…

Where did Barry Zito go? The former CY Young award winner is currently 3-12 with an era just under 6.What has happened to him? $126 million bust. I guess I do have a little sympathy for Giants fans as they have to watch that debacle every fifth day as well as realize that they can’t sign free agents because Zito has taken up all of their money. I’m glad that I don’t have to deal with that.

Will Brett Favre really make a return? Would returning really be a good idea if he is unable to play for the Packers? It is also important to note that Brett was on the Madden cover. The “Madden Curse” could hit Brett and nobody would want Brett to go out in a bad way. However, he is already going out with his last pass being intercepted…

As much as I love being a part of it, the “Black Hole” and the Raider Nation are a bit over the top. Passionate fans are great, but it can only take you so far. The intimidation caused by the rowdy fans is lost when the visiting team realizes who they are actually playing against. When the fans are more intimidating than the team itself, you have a problem. No doubt about it, the Raiders have a problem…..or two……

Barrel Man is a Denver Broncos fan that attends every home game dressed in nothing but a barrel. What is the point of this? Are there people that actually enjoy seeing a fat half naked man run around in a barrel?

How can a team lose when throwing a no-hitter? Wow, at a baseball game it is truly possible to see something new each and every day. I would hate to be a member of that Angels team and realize that you lost a game without giving up a hit. This is even worse because it was a rivalry game. If I was an Angels fan, I would hate to go to school or work and listen to Dodger fans say, “Wow we didn’t even get a hit, but were still able to beat your team.”

Why do the Arizona Diamondbacks have a bobcat as their mascot? Please correct me if I’m wrong, but the last time I checked a Diamondback was a type of snake. Snakes and bobcats are nowhere near related so why is there a wildcat? The other problem I have with the stupid cat is that it is nicknamed Baxter. Baxter!!!!! Who in their right mind is going to be intimidated by Baxter? And what fans are going to be pumped up by some stupid cat named Baxter?

Maybe it is because I dislike the Angels, but the rally #### annoys me. What is the point of some dumb #### jumping up and down on the jumbotron? #### have nothing to do with Angels and the rally #### is simply annoying.

Warren Sapp is going to participate in Dancing with the Stars. Although he may have good footwork, I need to see this to believe it. Can anyone imagine a 6-2 300 pound man doing the tango with a small skinny dancer? Try picturing this without laughing…..

10. Pool: Why is pool on television? It is not on ESPN all the time, but when it is, I cannot imagine that the ratings are very good. How bored do people need to be to watch pool?

9. Poker: It is a card game!!!!!!!!! Anyone can play it. Lets show people with athletics abilities rather than people who sit around all day and play cards. Sure, they make alot of money and are very wealthy as a result of poker, but I don't want to spend my time watching people play cards. Poker is becoming very popular across the nation and I don't see why. Someone please explain it to me?

8. Speaking of no athletic abilities, why is "Madden Nation" constantly on ESPN2?: Who in Bristol, Connecticutt came up with the brilliant idea of taking men, who failed at thier day jobs because they sat at home and played video games all day, and putting them on national television? I'm glad that at least one person who wastes his life playing video games will end up with $100,000. Good for him. If you are willing to go on the show you might as well win the stupid thing.

7. The Scripps National Spelling Bee: It used to be on ESPN, but now moved to ABC. Does anyone actually watch this? Great for the kids involved they are smart and that will get them far. The also have the chance to be on national tv. Not many get that amazing opportunity. But, this show has to be a ratings killer. In the very least it is a self esteem killer for the rest of the nation as we all realize that there are 12 year olds smarter than us.

6. Fishing: The classic father-son activity. But why is it on tv? It is very slow paced and very hard to get into. There is plenty of things that I would rather watch on television instead of men cruising around trying to catch fish.

5. Tennis: Incredibly boring. Yes, it is a sport and does require athleticism, but it lacks the appeal of sports such as baseball, football, basketball, and hockey.

4. The WNBA "Super Woman" Commercials: We have all seen them. The commercials that have players saying things like "Your rec team could beat us because we are soft" and other things like that. It then says, "We know you wouldn't say that, neither would she." Guess what ESPN? Many of us would say that. There aren't many people that care about women's basketball. That was proven when the ABL (American Basketball League for women) folded due to bankruptcy.

3. College Softball: There has been nothing but softball on for the past few days. Softball is not fun to watch. Is there really anything else that needs to be said? Except I dont understand why ESPN is flooded with softball, but there is no trace of the men's college world series? People would much rather watch men play baseball then women play softball. There is no professional softball league for a reson!

2. Golf: Nothing to say. It is probably the most boring thing that they could put on tv. Period.

1. MLS: Yes, soccer is very popular. However, noone cares about the MLS. Soccer is not very popular in the United States and the true soccer fans watch European soccer as the competition is better. There aren't many people that watch soccer in America except for the casual fan who could live without it fairly easily.

Others that just missed my list: Nascar, Bowling, Horse Racing, Volleyball (people only watch for the girls), The Great Outdoors Games, World's Strongest Man.