PERSON-AS-ANIMAL:

1. Phoenix Suns: The Gorilla
The Gorilla practically invented the trampoline-aided slam dunk (and he's been doing it for 25 years) … which is the equivalent of being a NASCAR driver and coming up with the idea of turning left. Hey, how else do you become a member of the inaugural induction class of the Mascot Hall of Fame?

2. San Diego Chicken
Another member of the inaugural induction class of the Mascot Hall of Fame, the San Diego Chicken has been around longer than most of us. He even cracked the list of The Top 100 Most Powerful People in Sports of the 20th Century by the Sporting News. We could go on and on, but it just wouldn't be fair … and we would have to mention "The Baseball Bunch" and that wouldn't be fair to Johnny Bench.

3. University of California at Santa Cruz: Banana Slugs
Some people have been rooting for the Slugs for years, but most of us didn't even know they existed until "Pulp Fiction" came out. Still, nothing says intimidation quite like a yellow mollusk. Sorry Sea Lions (the chancellor's choice), the students spoke, and in Santa Cruz the slugs rule.

4. University of Florida: Albert E. Gator
Albert is a true renaissance man among mascots. Sure, he cheers on his beloved Florida Gators, but he's been known to dabble in television (as a "SportsCenter" pitchman) and romance (as an attendant at the Mike and Mike wedding sweepstakes). Sure, everyone else in the SEC would like to make a wallet out of him, but constantly losing to Florida will do that to people.

5. San Antonio Spurs: The Coyote
Dunker, karate expert, champion … The Coyote (if he could speak) would tell you he has as much to do with the Spurs' three titles as Tim Duncan. Currently in his 24th season, the Coyote has rooted on everyone from George Gervin to Tony Parker.

Photo credits: Getty Images, AP