Mascot’s Entertain – Not Scare!!

Teams select different Mascot’s for the sports they are involved in for various activities at different locations; albeit school, pro or amateur levels of the game and all are not only unique, but gifted.

The individuals how portray these quick to entertain and we should remember that any mascot portrays either the sponsor or local culture in that area of the team.

The mascot’s are inanimate objects normally have races, games or just overall entertainment for the fans attending the events.

Probably the most famous mascot is “The Chicken” who has been at various sporting events in different areas around the globe.

One other that is famous is the race held by the Milwaukee Brewers called the “Brewers Sausage Race.”

The Sausage Race is a promotion for the Klement’s Sausage Company, located in Milwaukee.

This normally takes place prior to the sixth inning of each game and at times some players have even been involved or taken part.

It can be a dangerous job at times as dating back to 2003 in a game between the Pirates and the Brewers, Randal Simon of the Pirates hit one of the sausages with a bat, requiring the Mascot (Women) to have medical attention.

The Milwaukee police eventually fined Simon for his actions and the incident eventually went on and became known as “Sausagegate.”

The Canucks have Fin, the Flames have Harvey the Hound who it’s reported is the NHL’s first ever Mascot.

Now we have a new on only this one is in Edmonton in of all places the new building and home for the Oilers.

They have named it Hunter which is to be known as Hunter the Canadian Lynx.

It was made and designed in Edmonton by a local International Mascot Corporation.

Apparently they are a world-wide leader in the design and manufacture of mascot costumes.

I am hearing that the Lynx was chosen as it was the most popular choice in a survey of 2,200 kindergarten to Grade 9 students.

The Oilers Senior VP of marketing told the Edmonton Sun that “they worked with the Edmonton Valley Zoo to identify some animals in the region to create some mascot concepts.”

Hunter is named after the late Bill Hunter who founded the Oilers franchise in the WHA in 1972.

He was eventually awarded the Order of Canada in 2000 and inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and passed away at the age of 82 in 2002.

The mascot will wear number 72 on the jersey as a tribute to Bill and what he meant to the City of Edmonton.

So now Edmonton has Punter for the CFL Eskimos and Hunter for the NHL Oilers.

The only concern is that “Hunter” is scaring the young kids.

Is this the right choice or not – you make the call?

Halloween’s just around the corner!!