photo of mascots in less troubled times, via washington state university [#] (not pictured, Oregon beaver who refused to come to his fellow mascot’s aid)

Is there a better story in today’s news than this? The scene from closing time in Pioneer Square last Saturday night, made even better by the fact that it was witnessed by the Mayor and Seattle’s embattled police chief:

… Seattle’s top law dog helped break up a sidewalk fight between a bar patron and a man in an eagle suit. Lt. Kenneth Hicks, shift commander at the precinct that includes Pioneer Square, was leading Kerlikowske on a closing-time tour of the club district when the senior officers witnessed a man-on-eagle fracas …

The officers watched as a 30-year-old Seattle man shoved the eagle to the curb and then stomped on the costumed man’s back as the eagle’s costumed confederate — a man dressed as a beaver — looked on.

…

While a police spokesman couldn’t confirm the identity of those involved, police records list the eagle’s hometown as Cheney — home to the Eastern Washington University Eagles. The beaver hailed from Corvallis, Ore., abode of the Beavers of Oregon State University. [p-i]

As hilarious as this is (and really, wouldn’t a mascot festival be amazing enough on its own?), I can’t imagine that this confrontation resulting from too many competitive school mascots in one place bodes well for nightlife regulations.

(also via public editor [#])