Moldy Peaches

After 26 years of patrolling the god awful surroundings of various Montreal Expos homes, the Montreal Canadiens announced this weekend the official lifetime adoption of Youppi! as the organization’s new mascot.

Youppi!, age unknown, will make history in becoming the first mascot in professional sports history to move from one league to another when he makes his in-game debut with the Canadiens in October 2005. The beloved orange-furred creature, a staple at Olympic Stadium from 1979 through 2004 while with Major League Baseball’s Montreal Expos, found himself without a home when the latter franchise moved to Washington.

Youppi! will also be a very valuable asset for the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation. There could not be, in fact, a more natural association - it is like gravy, cheese and fries.