Summer Olympics Mascots Through the Years (1972-2012)

Wenlock and Mandeville, 2012 London Summer Olympics Mascots

Those cycloptic 2012 Summer Olympics mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville, are weird.

But London shouldn’t feel so bad, most Olympics mascots just are.

Here are all the official Summer Olympics mascots since the first, Waldi the dachshund, of those ill-fated 1972 Games.

Click on the links below to learn more about each of the mascots,  including their design, selection and symbolic meanings.

Follow me on Twitter @VinGetz.

2012 London Summer Olympics Mascots

Wenlock and Mandeville (Drops of Steel)

2012 London Summer Olympics Mascots Wenlock and Mandeville

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2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Mascots

Fuwa (Good Luck Dolls): Beibei (Fish), Jingjing (Panda), Huanhuan (Olympic Flame), Yingying (Tibetan Antelope) and Nini (Swallow)

2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Mascots, Fuwa: Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini

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2004 Athens Summer Olympics Mascots

Daidala (Ancient Greek Sculptures as Children): Athena and Phevos (Sister and Brother)

2004 Athens Summer Olympics Mascots Athena and Phevos

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2000 Sydney Summer Olympics Mascots

Syd (Platypus), Millie (Echidna) and Olly (Kookaburra)

2000 Sydney Summer Olympics Mascots Syd, Millie and Olly

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1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics Mascot

Whatizit or Izzy (Digital Cartoon Character)

1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics Mascot Izzy

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1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics Mascot

Cobi (Catalan Sheepdog)

1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics Mascot Cobi

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1988 Seoul Summer Olympics Mascots

Hodori and Hosuni (Tiger Cubs)

1988 Seoul Summer Olympics Mascots Hodori and Hosuni

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1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics Mascot

Sam (Bald Eagle)

1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics Mascot Sam

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1980 Moscow Summer Olympics Mascot

Misha (Bear Cub)

1980 Moscow Summer Olympics Mascot Misha

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1976 Montreal Summer Olympics Mascot

Amik (Beaver)

1976 Montreal Summer Olympics Mascot Amik

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1972 Munich Summer Olympics Mascot

Waldi (Dachshund)

1972 Munich Summer Olympics Mascot Waldi

Photos: wenlock-mandeville.com /  guestofaguest.com / torchrelay.beijing2008.cn / sportige.com / telegraph.co.uk / washingtonpost.com /olympics.time.com / washingtonpost.com / telegraph.co.uk / englishrussia.com / canadiandesignresource.ca / p-and-w.blogspot.com

NFL Teams Slap Record 21 with Franchise Tags. All Franchise Tags (2008-2012)

The New Orleans Saints Tagged Drew Brees

This year, a record 21 teams have named franchise players.

What are franchise tags and franchise players anyway?

For a full explanation, check out my Bleacher Report colleague Samer Ismail’s 2012 Free Agency: How Franchise Tags Really Work.

Below, check out every franchise player of the past five years and the team that tagged them.

Follow me on Twitter @VinGetz.

2012 NFL Franchise Tags
1.	Arizona Cardinals	Calais Campbell	DL
2.	Atlanta Falcons	Brent Grimes	CB
3.	Baltimore Ravens	Ray Rice	RB
4.	Chicago Bears	Matt Forte	RB
5.	Cincinnati Bengals	Mike Nugent	K
6.	Cleveland Browns	Phil Dawson	K
7.	Dallas Cowboys	Anthony Spencer	LB
8.	Denver Broncos	Matt Prater	K
9.	Detroit Lions	Cliff Avril	DE
10.	Indianapolis Colts	Robert Mathis	DE
11.	Jacksonville Jaguars	Josh Scobee	K
12.	Kansas City Chiefs	Dwayne Bowe	WR
13.	New England Patriots	Wes Welker	WR
14.	New Orleans Saints	Drew Brees	QB
15.	New York Giants	Steve Weatherford	P
16.	Oakland Raiders	Tyvon Branch	S
17.	Philadelphia Eagles	DeSean Jackson	WR
18.	San Francisco 49ers	Dashon Goldson	S
19.	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Connor Barth	K
20.	Tennessee Titans	Michael Griffin	S
21.	Washington Redskins	Fred Davis	TE
2011 NFL Franchise Tags
1.	Baltimore Ravens	Haloti Ngata	DT
2.	Carolina Panthers	Ryan Kalil	C
3.	Cleveland Browns	Phil Dawson	K
4.	Indianapolis Colts	Peyton Manning	QB
5.	Jacksonville Jaguars	Marcedes Lewis	TE
6.	Kansas City Chiefs	Tamba Hali	LB
7.	Miami Dolphins	Paul Soliai	DT
8.	Minnesota Vikings	Chad Greenway	LB
9.	New England Patriots	Logan Mankins	OG
10.	New York Jets	David Harris	LB
11.	Oakland Raiders	Kamerion Wimbley	LB
12.	Philadelphia Eagles	Michael Vick	QB
13.	Pittsburgh Steelers	LaMarr Woodley	LB
14.	San Diego Chargers	Vincent Jackson	WR
2010 NFL Franchise Tags
1.	Green Bay Packers	Ryan Pickett	DT
2.	New England Patriots	Vince Wilfork	DT
3.	Oakland Raiders	Richard Seymour	DE
4.	Pittsburgh Steelers	Jeff Reed	K
5.	San Francisco 49ers	Aubrayo Franklin	DT
6.	Seattle Seahawks	Olindo Mare	K
2009 NFL Franchise Tags
1.	Arizona Cardinals	Karlos Dansby	LB
2.	Atlanta Falcons	Michael Koenen	P
3.	Baltimore Ravens	Terrell Suggs	LB
4.	Carolina Panthers	Julius Peppers	DE
5.	Cincinnati Bengals	Shayne Graham	K
6.	Houston Texans	Dunta Robinson	CB
7.	New England Patriots	Matt Cassel	QB
8.	New York Giants	Brandon Jacobs	RB
9.	Pittsburgh Steelers	Max Starks	T
10.	San Diego Chargers	Darren Sproles	RB
11.	Seattle Seahawks	Leroy Hill	LB
12.	St. Louis Rams	Oshiomogho Atogwe	S
13.	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Antonio Bryant	WR
14.	Tennessee Titans	Bo Sciafe	TE
2008 NFL Franchise Tags
1.	Arizona Cardinals	Karlos Dansby	LB
2.	Baltimore Ravens	Terrell Suggs	LB
3.	Carolina Panthers	Jordan Gross	OT
4.	Cincinnati Bengals	Stacy Andrews	OT
5.	Dallas Cowboys	Ken Hamlin	S
6.	Green Bay Packers	Corey Williams	DT
7.	Indianapolis Colts	Dallas Clark	TE
8.	Kansas City Chiefs	Jared Allen	DE
9.	Oakland Raiders	Nnamdi Asomugha	CB
10.	Philadelphia Eagles	L.J. Smith	TE
11.	Seattle Seahawks	Marcus Trufant	CB
12.	Tennessee Titans	Albert Haynesworth	DT

Photo: cbssports.com

Forbes: America’s Most Influential Athletes, 2008-2012

Jimmie Johnson Repeats Again - This Time as Forbes' Most Influential Athlete

Forbes is at it again. The magazine has just come out with 2012’s top 10 most influential athletes in America.

NASCAR‘s Jimmie Johnson repeats as the most influential sportsman in the country.

But, man, influence is fleeting. Half the list has changed since last year, and only two – Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning – remain from 2010.

So, what does the mag mean by influence?

Back when Forbes first came out with this list in 2008, they defined it as being “just as powerful off the field as on it. People listen to what they say and buy the products they endorse.”

“Influential athletes make excellent endorsers and proponents for social causes. They are also well transitioned to make the jump into entertainment, says E-Poll’s Philpott.”

The public “want[s] to hear what [they] say and follow [their] example.”

But the public, apparently, is mostly fickle. There’s a good bit of turnover when you look at all of Forbes’ most influential lists: 2008, 2010-2012. There was no list in 2009.

My how baseball has fallen. What, no Derek Jeter?

Follow me on Twitter @VinGetz!

Forbes 2012 Most Influential Athletes
1.	Jimmie Johnson	NASCAR
2.	Tim Tebow	NFL
3.	Peyton Manning	NFL
4.	Manny Pacquiao	Boxing
5.	Tom Brady	NFL
6.	Aaron Rodgers	NFL
7.	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	NASCAR
8.	Drew Brees	NFL
9.	Eli Manning	NFL
10.	Jeremy Lin	NBA
Forbes 2011 Most Influential Athletes
1.	Jimmie Johnson	NASCAR
2.	Tom Brady	NFL
3.	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	NASCAR
4.	Shaquille O’Neal	NBA
5.	Michael Phelps	Swimming
6.	Troy Polamalu	NFL
7.	Peyton Manning	NFL
8.	Jeff Gordon	NASCAR
9.	LeBron James	NBA
10.	Tim Tebow	NFL
Forbes 2010 Most Influential Athletes
1.	Lance Armstrong	Cycling
2.	LeBron James	NBA
3.	Tim Tebow	NCAA Football
4.	Shaun White	Snowboarding
5.	Shaquille O’Neal	NBA
6.	Peyton Manning	NFL
7.	Kevin Garnett	NBA
8.	Kobe Bryant	NBA
9.	Apolo Anton Ohno	Speed Skating
10.	Dwyane Wade	NBA
Forbes 2008 Most Influential Athletes
1.	Tiger Woods	PGA
1.	Lance Armstrong	Cycling
3.	Tony Hawk	Skateboarding
4.	Peyton Manning	NFL
5.	Michael Phelps	Swimming
6.	LeBron James	NBA
7.	Shaquille O’Neal	NBA
8.	Danica Patrick	NASCAR
9.	Kevin Garnett	NBA
10.	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	NASCAR

Photo: topics.mlive.com