Press Kit · 2026

MascotMadness

The greatest mascots in sports. One bracket. You decide who advances.

What Is Mascot Madness?

Mascot Madness is a fan-driven bracket tournament produced by Derek Likes Sports, a sports podcast that prides itself on getting back to the heart of why sports exist: fun. 76 mascots from across professional sports enter the bracket. Only one will be crowned champion.

The event unfolds across multiple voting rounds: a Vote-In Round to determine the final bracket spots, followed by the First Round, Second Round, Silly Sixteen, Energetic Eight, Fun-Filled Four, and the Championship. Fans vote online between rounds, with results driving the narrative week by week.

"In a sports landscape dominated by parlay bets, scandals, and parlay bet scandals, Derek Likes Sports gets back to why sports exist in the first place: fun."

Mascot Madness applies the infectious energy of bracket season to the one thing every sports fan can agree on: mascots are great. It's interactive, deeply researched, and built to spark genuine debate.

The event is accompanied by a dedicated 10-episode podcast series - from a Selection Show on March 15 through round reviews, previews, and a Champion Reveal finale - giving the tournament a narrative backbone that develops week by week.


Why It's Worth Covering

It's a genuine community event. Mascot Madness isn't a listicle; it's a multi-week, multi-round interactive experience where fans have real stakes. Every vote shapes the bracket. Every round produces a winner and a loser worth debating about.

It celebrates overlooked sports history. Each mascot comes with a story. Mascot Madness is an excuse to dig into the weird, wonderful, and wildly underappreciated corners of sports lore, the kind of content Derek Likes Sports was made for.

It's genuinely fun. The bracket format, the round names (Silly Sixteen, Energetic Eight, Fun-Filled Four), the research, it's all designed to make sports feel like the joyful thing it's supposed to be.


About The Host

Mascot Madness is produced by Derek Adam Thomas, the host of Derek Likes Sports and a filmmaker and content creator with a passion for the stories that get lost in the shuffle.

Derek Adam Thomas
Derek Adam Thomas
Host · Derek Likes Sports

Derek Adam Thomas is a filmmaker and content creator who runs two YouTube channels reaching over 31,000 subscribers combined. His general channel covers history, geography, and curiosity-driven content. Derek Likes Sports, and he wants to tell you why you should too.


Fast Facts

Mascot Madness · Quick Reference
FormatBracket tournament, fan voting
Competitors76 sports mascots
RoundsVote-In, First, Second, Silly Sixteen, Energetic Eight, Fun-Filled Four, Championship
Episodes10-episode podcast arc — Selection Show through Champion Reveal
Platformderekadamthomas.com/mascotmadness
Produced ByDerek Likes Sports podcast
YouTube Reach31K+ subscribers (Derek Adam Thomas), 129 subscribers (Derek Likes Sports)
Listen OnSpotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, RSS
Social@dereklikessports (Instagram, Bluesky)

Press Assets

The following logos and images are available for use in coverage of Mascot Madness. For additional assets or high-resolution files, contact us directly.

Mascot Madness Logo Mascot Madness Logo
Derek Likes Sports Logo Derek Likes Sports Logo
DLS Logo DLS Logo
Host Photo Host Photo — Derek Adam Thomas

Get In Touch

For interview requests, coverage inquiries, or additional assets, please reach out directly.

Derek Adam Thomas

Creator & Host, Derek Likes Sports & Mascot Madness

📧 me@derekadamthomas.com

🌐 derekadamthomas.com/mascotmadness

🔒 The site is available now — use password gritty if prompted before March 15.

📷 @dereklikessports

Mascot Madness Nav