You're staring at the grid. The black-and-white squares are mocking you. You see the clue: "Many of them have mascots." It’s four letters. Your brain immediately goes to sports teams, but that’s five letters. Colleges? Seven.
Then it hits you. ADTS.
Wait, no. That’s not right. You try CERE. As in cereals? No. Finally, you realize it’s ORGS. Or maybe TEAMS if the grid allows. But specifically, in the world of the New York Times Crossword, this clue often points toward CEREALS or RELS or even SODA.
If you’ve spent any time at all on the NYT Crossword app, you know that the "Many of them have mascots" NYT clue is a classic piece of "crosswordese." It’s a phrase that pops up frequently because the vowel-to-consonant ratio is just too good for constructors to pass up. But honestly, it’s about more than just filling a grid. It’s about how we categorize our world through brands and characters.
The Anatomy of the Mascot Clue
Crossword puzzles are basically a secret language. Will Shortz, the legendary editor, has a specific way of signaling what he wants from you. When a clue says "Many of them have mascots," it is rarely asking for a deep dive into sports history. It’s looking for a broad category.
Usually, the answer is ADTS (advertisements) or ORGS (organizations). Sometimes, it’s more specific. If it’s six letters, you’re looking at CEREAL. Think about it. Tony the Tiger. Toucan Sam. The Lucky Charms Leprechaun. These aren't just characters; they are the pillars of the Saturday morning experience for millions of people.
Why do we care? Because mascots work. They bridge the gap between a cold, corporate entity and a human connection. You aren't buying toasted oat flour; you're hanging out with a Bee.
Why the NYT Loves This Clue
Constructors like Joel Fagliano or Sam Ezersky need "glue." That’s what they call the short, common words that hold the big, flashy "theme" entries together. Words like AREA, ERAS, and ETUI (that weird needle case nobody actually uses) are the bread and butter of the grid.
"Many of them have mascots" is a gift to a constructor. It can lead to:
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- ADS: The three-letter powerhouse.
- TEAMS: The five-letter staple.
- SCHOOLS: The seven-letter challenge.
- CEREALS: The breakfast classic.
The NYT Crossword is designed to get harder as the week goes on. A Monday clue for "Many of them have mascots" might be very straightforward. By Saturday? The clue might be "Tony and Sam’s groups," forcing you to realize that Tony and Sam aren't people, but a tiger and a toucan.
Mascots Beyond the Grid
It’s kinda wild when you think about how mascots have changed. Back in the day, a mascot was just a guy in a felt suit at a football game. Now, they are social media juggernauts. Have you seen the Duolingo Owl? That bird is unhinged. It threatens users who miss their Spanish lessons, and people love it.
That’s a far cry from the Pillsbury Doughboy just getting poked in the stomach.
In the business world, a mascot serves as a "brand heuristic." Basically, it’s a mental shortcut. When you see the Michelin Man (whose name is actually Bibendum, by the way—look it up for your next trivia night), you don't think "vulcanized rubber products." You think "safety" and "legacy."
The Cereal Connection
If the answer to your crossword clue is CEREALS, you're tapping into a very specific type of marketing history. In the 1950s and 60s, cereal companies realized that parents didn't buy the cereal; kids did. And kids liked friends.
The mascot became a proxy for a friend. This is why "Many of them have mascots" is such a potent clue. It triggers a nostalgic reflex. You aren't just solving a puzzle; you're remembering a kitchen table from twenty years ago.
Common Pitfalls for Solvers
The biggest mistake people make with "Many of them have mascots NYT" is thinking too literally. They try to name a specific mascot.
"Is it... GRITTY?"
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No. It’s never Gritty. (Though Gritty should probably be in every crossword).
The trick is to look at the pluralization. "Many of them..." almost always means the answer will end in an S. If you have a four-letter word ending in S, and the clue is about mascots, ORGS or ADS are your best bets.
If it’s a Friday or Saturday puzzle, the clue might be "Many of them have mascots?"—note the question mark. That question mark is a warning. It means there’s a pun or a misdirection involved. In that case, the answer might not be a group at all. It could be something like PARTS, referring to a parade where people wear giant costumes.
The Psychology of the Solve
There is a dopamine hit when you crack a clue like this. It’s that "Aha!" moment. Crosswords are a test of your ability to see patterns where others see chaos.
When you see "Many of them have mascots," your brain goes through a rapid-fire elimination process:
- Is it sports? (Too specific).
- Is it companies? (Maybe, let's see the length).
- Is it breakfast? (Aha, CEREALS!).
This process keeps the brain sharp. It's why doctors often recommend puzzles for older adults. It builds cognitive reserve.
Real Examples from Recent Grids
Let's look at some actual instances. In a 2023 puzzle, the clue was simply "Many of them have mascots." The answer was RELS. This was a bit of a "groaner" for some solvers. "Rels" is short for "religions" or "relatives," but in this specific context, it was a stretch that some players felt didn't quite land.
Another time, the clue led to PROS. As in professional sports teams.
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The sheer variety of answers for this one clue shows why the NYT Crossword remains the gold standard. It keeps you on your toes. It refuses to be predictable.
How to Get Better at the NYT Crossword
If you’re struggling with these kinds of clues, you've gotta start thinking like a constructor. They have a limited set of words they can use. They are trapped by the black squares.
Start looking for "filler" words. Learn the common three-letter and four-letter answers. If you see a clue about mascots, and you have _ D S, just put in the A. Don't wait. It’s almost certainly ADS.
Also, pay attention to the theme. If the rest of the puzzle is about breakfast foods, and you see the mascot clue, don't put in ORGS. It’s CEREALS. Context is everything.
The Evolution of the Mascot
We’re seeing a shift now. Traditional mascots are being replaced by "influencer" personas. But for the NYT Crossword, the classics remain. You’ll see ELSIE (the Borden cow) or SPUDS (MacKenzie) long before you see a TikTok star.
The puzzle is a time capsule. It preserves the language of the 20th century while slowly integrating the 21st. "Many of them have mascots" is a bridge between those two worlds. It’s a reminder that whether it’s 1954 or 2026, we like our information delivered with a smiling face—even if that face belongs to a giant green giant or a guy made of dough.
Actionable Insights for Crossword Success
To master the "Many of them have mascots NYT" style clues and improve your overall solve time, follow these specific strategies:
- Watch the Tense and Number: If the clue is plural ("Many of them..."), the answer is almost certainly plural. Mark that final S in the grid immediately to give yourself a hook for the crossing words.
- Identify the "Vibe" of the Day: Monday and Tuesday puzzles will use this clue for ADS or TEAMS. Friday and Saturday puzzles will likely use it for something more abstract like ORGS or a punny reference.
- Study the "Shortz Era" Staples: Keep a mental list of common four-letter words that fit this clue: ADS, ORGS, RELS, PROS, and CANS (some beer/soda brands).
- Use the Crosses: If you're stuck on whether it's ADS or ORGS, look at the first letter. A vertical clue crossing that first box will usually clarify if you need an A or an O within seconds.
- Don't Overthink: Most solvers fail because they look for a specific name (like "Phillie Phanatic") instead of the category. In the NYT Crossword, the clue "Many of them have mascots" is a category request 99% of the time.
By shifting your perspective from "What is a mascot?" to "What group uses mascots?", you'll stop getting stuck on these mid-range clues and start finishing your grids with much less frustration.