We think of mascots as harmless, fuzzy creatures who shoot prizes into the stands and work hard to entertain fans at sporting events.

That is, until they interrupt play, serve as middlemen in drug deals (Pirate Parrot, Pittsburgh, 1985) or otherwise become part of the story.

Then all bets are off, and sometimes a price is paid.

Wednesday night in Cleveland, Indiana Pacers forward David West, the former Xavier University standout, sent the Cavaliers mascot to the hospital with a “playful” pregame punch.

Moondog was eventually fine, but the 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward seemed shaken.

“I feel terrible about that, I really do,” West told reporters after the game. “Make sure he knows I’m sorry. It was definitely an accident.”

There’s a school of thought (all in good fun, usually) that says mascots need to be put in their place every once in a while, no matter how cute or how many squeals of delight they elicit from children.

That’s actually what happened after a soccer game in 2008 when a Wright State player delivered a blow to the snout of Rowdy Raider, supposedly for holding a wayward ball too long and slowing down the pace of play.

The dustup caught the attention of WSU Athletic Director Bob Grant, who, according to a Dayton Daily News account, issued a “declaration of student-athlete appreciation.”

At least Rowdy didn’t require hospitalization.

To be on the safe side, maybe it’s simply time for mascots to stay out of the way.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland@ DaytonDailyNews.com