Ever wonder to yourself, “I wonder what the person in that mascot costume really looks like?” Maybe not.
It is one of those things I wonder about…me and Jerry Seinfeld (and maybe George Costanza). Sometimes we actually find out what a mascot really look like. Hence, May 7, 2008 when the Cincinnati Red’s mascot, Mr. Red, rolled of the back of the back of a golf cart while taking a lap around the field causing decapitation of his head.
Luckily for Mr. Red, he was able to located his large “baseball like” head and stick it back on without to much fuss. The New York Yankees don’t have to worry about their mascot losing its head as their mascot is the The Commissioner’s Trophy (just kidding, well not really, but I do love the Reds too). Now, I’ve had my fair share of “mascot encounters and/or situations” in my 30 years of living.
First, during my senior year in college, I was supposed to be the Georgetown College Tiger. However, over Christmas break that year, the Tiger head “mysteriously” disappeared and never resurfaced. Last fall, I had a wonderful mascot encounter. You see, for approximately five years I had been “stalking” the Florida Gator mascots, Albert and Alberta. I wish to have my picture taken with them (see fabulous photos on my Facebook page) but had never quite figured out how to make it happen.
I would like to explain explicitly, I am not a Florida fan – just an Albert & Alberta fan (and thank you again Albert & Alberta for taking the time to take a few photos with me even though the security guard thought I was trying to get on the field to meet Tim Tebow even though I told him that was not the case due to the fact that Mr. Tebow had the Swine Flu and then was later unconsciousness).
My second year in college, while at a UK football game the mascot, Mr. Wildcat, stole my hot dog…then he tried to give it back to me. I told him “no thanks”. That’s just gross…I didn’t know where that paw had been. The truth is mascot costumes most likely stink (I’ve never actually been in a mascot costume due to the unfortunate “Tiger head” hijacking incident at G’town College – but I suspect they do) to a point where Febreeze, Downy or the little Snuggles Teddy Bear can’t even help.
So basically mascots are in those nasty costumes in 90 degree weather during September/October football games and have to “mascot perform” at basketball games in arenas that feel even more like a sauna then the fabulous one at your health club.
So really, how do they do it??
