Many are accusing Baekho Ho, South Korea’s delightful tiger mascot, of flopping like it’s a bad thing. I see the actions of the cartoonish figure during Monday’s friendly against Uruguay differently: I see them as downright heroic.
They are the actions of a mascot who has done his homework. He has fully immersed himself in the game of soccer and has tailored his routine to fit an environment which rewards taking a dive. Look how immediate Baekho Ho’s reaction is after being jostled in the face by an errant soccer ball. That suggests pre-planning.
I just hope he’s OK. A ball lightly touching an engorged mascot head can be fatal.
[H/T: 101 Great Goals]