D Mascot

[pragma]

In article <44207264.2020209 at bar.com>, kris says...
>
>I don't know if others share this observation, but does it seem like the 
>whole "mascot" thing is particularly American? Seems quite prevalent in 
>sports and so on. You'd rarely see such a thing in Europe, for example. 

Now that I think about it, you're right.  I think it's a product of being in
such a hyper-capitalist society/culture; *everything* is a commodity.

>And perhaps it's just me who finds it vaguely amusing to imagine some 
>sort of giant wobbly Chicken|Goofy|BigBird thing prancing about on 
>behalf of Australian or Kiwi Rugby teams?

And now I can't get the image of giant foam-rubber prawns and wallabys out of my
head.  That would be utterly surreal.

Lets get some solid examples of what's wrong here.  From my neck of the woods:

Hockey - Capitals: Slapshot the Eagle
Football - DC United: Talon the Eagle
Baseball - Nationals: Screech the Eagle
Basketball - Wizards: G-Wiz (don't ask)
US Football - Redskins: None

Yes, these are all as lame as they sound - I think that's kind of the point with
mascots, its more for the kids anyway.  Google for pictures if you must. :)

And I conclude by saying that the Redskins are the only ones around here that
have managed any kind of tasteful PR image, which has likely come about for a
combination of (sadly) PC reasons and being corraled by a very image conscious
league.  So they're very much the exception here.

>There's definately a "team" element associated with mascots, which I 
>suppose is reflected in the corporate arena by a marketing logo? Seems 
>like it all comes down to branding? If so, then the D-dude is perhaps a 
>bit "back of the napkin" type of thing, from a branding perspective? I 
>hate to say it, but D-dude doesn't add anything at all in terms of 
>"professionalism" ~ to D as a product. Perhaps the contrary, actually. 
>For me, D-dude has always had a waft of, umm, shallow hubris? But then I 
>just ignore brandings anyway.
>
>I guess it comes down to which audience the /Branding/ for D is intended 
>to help seduce

Well, judging by the frappr D group map, leaning towoards a more global appeal
(read: less US centric) would be a better move.  You mentioned Rugby - maybe D
should adopt a more football* or rugby club-banner type of branding instead?

"Learn D - Its like C only with fewer scrums."
"Use D - unlike C++ and FIFA approved equipment, it won't hurt your head."

(*Ya know, the kind you play with your feet?) 

- EricAnderton at yahoo