The worst mascot in the NCAA tournament

New Mexico State lost by 20 points in the second-round of the NCAA tournament, a poor performance befitting their pathetic mascot, Pistol Pete.

When you think of a mascot, you think of someone sweating while wearing a giant head and peering out of a mesh hole in the mouth. You think of a furry, anthropomorphic animal. You think of something that takes you away from reality.

New Mexico State's mascot appears to be little more than a solitary man with an oversized mustache, leather vest and two replica guns. It looks like the costume worn by the kid whose mom completely forgot it was Halloween.

His use of guns is surprising too. Pistol Pete is based on a real figure who avenged the murder of his father in the late-1800s, Frank Eaton. New Mexico State says he "exemplifies the cowboy spirit and the old west culture of NMSU."

That's cool and all. I can't believe the guns haven't been petitioned out of existence. I'm not saying they should or shouldn't be, just that sensitivities about such things are at an all-time high. It's always jarring when you see a reminder of the not-so-politically-correct past, like when you watch old movies and remember that people used to be allowed to smoke on planes.

There are other cowboy-like mascots in Division I and both look like mascots.

Here's Oklahoma State's:

Sue Ogrocki/AP

And Wyoming's:

Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports

No offense to NMSU's Pistol Pete, but I know who I'm picking if there was a showdown at the O.K. Corral and it's not the guy whose hat is barely 10 gallons.

Though Pistol Pete's rough Thursday upset us, we're pleased that it gives us the chance to post this fantastic excerpt from a 2009 Associated Press story about a fight between Pete and Utah State's bull mascot, Big Blue:

The bull confronted Pistol Pete and ripped off his fake mustache after a fan wearing a Nevada shirt offered $100 to the student in the costume, modeled after Paul Bunyan's Blue Ox, if he would do so. The cowboy then chased the bull to half court, jumped on his back and tried unsuccessfully to pull him to the floor. He then started to try to choke his rival before retreating to his end of the court.

Both mascots were suspended for one game.

Photos: The mascots of college basketball

None
The Oregon Ducks mascot performs during a timeout of a second-round game with the Oklahoma State Cowboys at HP Pavilion.  Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
None
The Saint Louis Billikens mascot performs during the first half of a second-round game against New Mexico State at HP Pavilion.  Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
None
Sparty, the mascot for the Michigan State Spartans, performs during a second-round game against Valparaiso at The Palace at Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich.  Gregory Shamus, Getty Images
Related story Fullscreen
None
Butler Bulldogs mascot Blue III stands on the court during a timeout in a game against the Duquesne Dukes earlier this season at Hinkle Fieldhouse.  Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
None
North Carolina A&T Aggies mascot performs against the Liberty Flames in the first half during the first round of the 2013 NCAA tournament.  Frank Victores, USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
Sam the Minuteman, Massachusetts' mascot
Massachusetts mascot Sam the Minuteman in action during a game against VCU on March 16.  Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
The Vanderbilt Commodore
The Vanderbilt Commodore takes the floor during Vanderbilt's game against Mississippi on March 16.  Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian the Ibis
Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian the Ibis roots on the team during the ACC tournament championship game on March 17.  Bob Leverone AP
Related story Fullscreen
Rocky the Bull, USF
South Florida's mascot Rocky the Bull cheers on the team during a game against Seton Hall on March 12.  Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
The Cincinnati Bearcat
The Cincinnati Bearcat takes the floor during the Bearcat's 61-44 win over Providence on March 13.  Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
West Virginia's Mountaineer
West Virginia's mascot, the Moutaineer, is unique because the person portraying the Moutaineer changes every year. Rebecca Durst is the Mountaineer during this 2010 game against Cincinnati  David Saffran-US PRESSWIRE
Related story Fullscreen
Ole Miss' Rebel Black Bear
The University of Mississippi Rebel Black Bear roots on the team during Ole Miss' 87-83 win over Alabama on March 5.  Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
Seton Hall Mascot
The Seton Hall mascot in action during the Pirates' 46-42 OT win over South Florida on March 12.  Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
Gonzaga mascot Spike the Bulldog
Spike the Bulldog cheers on Gonzaga during during the Zags' 66-48 win over Loyola Marymount in the West Coast Conference tournament.  Isaac Brekken AP
Related story Fullscreen
Kentucky's Wildcat
The Kentucky Wildcat performs with the cheerleaders during Kentucky's  John Bazemore AP
Related story Fullscreen
Oklahoma State mascot Pistol Pete
Oklahoma State mascot Pistol Pete in action during the Cowboys 68-67 OT loss to Kansas.  Sue Ogrocki AP
Related story Fullscreen
Big Al the Alabama mascot
Big Al, the Alabama mascot, plays the drums during the Crimson Tide's 64-56 win over Mississippi State on Feb. 20.  Kelly Lambert-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
The Stanford Tree
One of the more famous mascots, the Stanford Tree performs during a 65-60 loss to Washington on Jan. 12.  Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
The Duke Blue Devil
The Duke Blue Devil performs on the court during Duke's game against Maryland in the ACC tournament on March 15.  Bob Leverone AP
Related story Fullscreen
Mrs. Wuf of N.C. State
One of the two N.C. State mascots, Mrs. Wuf is seen playing with a ref during the Wolfpack's 80-63 win against Virginia Tech in the ACC tournament on March 14.  Gerry Broome AP
Related story Fullscreen
Goldy Gopher, the Minnesota mascot
Goldy Gopher, the Minnesota mascot, performs during the Gopher's game against Illinois in the Big 10 tournament on March 14.  Jonathan Daniel Getty Images
Related story Fullscreen
Pouncer the Memphis mascot
Pouncer, the mascot for the Memphis Tigers, in action during Memphis' 85-74 win over Tulsa in the Conference USA tournament on March 15.  Sue Ogrocki AP
Related story Fullscreen
Albert the Florida Gators mascot
Florida's mascot Albert fires up the fans during the Gators' 80-58 win over LSU in the SEC tournament on March 15.  Andy Lyons Getty Images
Related story Fullscreen
Jack the Bulldog is Georgetown's mascot
Georgetown's mascot Jack the Bulldog performs during the Hoyas' overtime loss to Syracuse in the Big East tournament on March 15.  Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
Syracuse mascot Otto the Orange
Syracuse mascot Otto the Orange in action during Syracuse's 58-55 OT win over rival Georgetown in the Big East tournament on March 15.  Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
The Wake Forest Demon Deacon
The Wake Forest Demon Deacon in action during Wake's game against Maryland in the ACC tournament on March 14.  JD Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
Iowa State mascot Cy the Cardinal
Iowa State's mascot Cy the Cardinal performs during the Cyclones' 73-66 win over Oklahoma on March 14.  Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen
Oklahoma mascot Sooner
Sooner, who along with Boomer is the Oklahoma mascot, gets the fans pumped up during a game against Iowa State on March 14.  Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Related story Fullscreen

Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: