The best failed sports ideas on Kickstarter

This is Kickstarter. Some products funded on the crowd funding service are really good like bringing back Reading Rainbow, on occasion something silly like Potato Salad will be funded. These failed Kickstarters from the world of sports will quickly tell you why they didn’t work out.

Goal: $25,000

Received: $2,836

Best backer gift: One puppet, two finger puppets and a thank you card for $100

These were a series of hand and finger puppets modeled after NCAA mascots, but it was unclear if they ever secured the rights to schools from the NCAA. Their material used the Wichita State Shocker, which kind of looked like a mop had a baby with something from Fraggle Rock.

What are they up to now? The creators of the Kickstarter could not be reached for comment.

Goal: $5,000

Received: $0

Best backer gift: 12 boxes of Popsicles for $100

These were designed to be Popsicles that weren’t made of Gatorade, but just FLAVORED like Gatorade. They boasted to be 26” long, claiming to be the longest Popsicle in the world. However, the creators probably underestimated the fact that most people don’t drink Gatorade for the flavor -- it’s for a purpose.

What are they up to now? The creators of Sports Popsicles could not be reached for comment. There is no product on the market.

Goal: $7,200

Received: $35.00

Best backer gift: A telephone call into the show, which cost $150

Meet Hal D. Cottingham. He’s a Georgia sports fan with a green screen who ran a sports show on YouTube for a little while. The background of his show was Alabama’s football stadium, and the audio had ... issues.

What are they up to now? I sent Hal a message and it appears things are going well! Good work, Hal!

I decided to attend broadcasting school in Atlanta. I finished in December and I plan on launching a podcast with applied learning. I have a passion in sports broadcasting/writing and I plan on sharing it.

Goal: $3,500

Received: $0

Best backer gift: One FeeZBall, which was basically a tennis ball for $20.

FeeZBall was supposed to be the next big sport. A combination of tennis and hockey, the instructional video makes it look like you need to play this in the dirt. Sadly there was very little audio to their instructional video, and mostly sounded like heavy breathing.

What are they up to now? I received a very sad message from FeeZBall creator Darren Foss.

“no I have no funding and it’s hard to know what to do now :(”

Goal: $30,000

Received: $45.00

Best backer gift: Naming two of the mascots for $2,000

Aside from the fact this looks like something furries would REALLY dig, The Mascots was a strangely concieved show. It didn’t have mascots anyone recognized, or even look-alikes. It just looked like a bunch of anthopomorhized animals that said “Bro” a lot, presumably because they were supposed to be “Average American teenagers.”

What are they up to now? The creators of “The Mascots” did not return my messages.

Goal: $10,000

Received: $2,350

Best backer goal: They’ll follow you on Twitter for $50

Sports and the City promised to be Sex and the City but with sports. However, it’s hard to see where these crossed ... at all. Ultimately it was planned to be a 17-week broadcast on UStream during the 2012 NFL season, but almost nothing NFL related was mentioned in their three-minute teaser video outside of the word “shoulder pads.”

What are they up to now? My message was not returned.

Goal: $600,000

Received: $200

Best backer goal: One mailbox for $200.

SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS! The creators of “Motor Sport Mailboxes” didn’t need a Kickstarter, they needed a Shark Tank investment. This product was supposed to revolutionize the world of mailboxes as we know them by putting a NASCAR on top. This would make your mailbox cost $200. It was approved by the U.S. Postal Service, but the cost was ASTRONOMICAL.

Where are they now? I did not receive an answer from the creators. NASCAR.com sells mailboxes, but they’re not nearly this cool.