The job of a team mascot is a thankless one -- you're in a hot, uncomfortable suit; you have to get the crowd pumped up; and you need some measure of skill as well, to keep people entertained. Still, mascots should beware of biting off more than they can chew.

For instance, anyone dressed like a giant cat should know better than to run at an exercise ball and try to use it as a platform to slam dunk a basketball.

As the cat writhes and grabs for his lower back, two referees pace impatiently and a handful of others on the sidelines don't even make the pretense of moving to see if he's OK. Now that's sportsmanship.

Like a trooper, the cat manages to get to his feet and carry his ball away, stuffed head held high. Hopefully his next trick will get a practice run first, just for safety reasons.