Mascot Miscues

Anyone who thinks that being a sports team mascot is easy duty should be re-educated by those who have donned an oversize head and waded into a crowd of rowdy sports fans!

In Portland, we are blessed by a bunch of great mascots, from the Portland Pirates “Crackers” and “Salty Pete” to the Red Claws “Crusher” to the Lewiston Maineiacs “Kollide” to perhaps the most beloved, The Portland Sea Dogs “Slugger”. Of course, we also have “Oakie” from Oakhurst Dairy and even the City of Portland has a mascot (which looks suspiciously like Slugger if you ask me)

Imagine crawling into a fur suit on an 85 degree day-expected to do gymnastics and pranks-all sorts of athletic maneuvers wearing a costume that inhibits walking let alone jumping and dancing!

Yet with all the poking and probing, pulling and yanking, the people behind the mask come back year after year. There must be something FUN to it all, although many children scream in terror when the mascot heads their way. Others are drawn like a magnet—and even adults act like children in the presence of a mascot.

Several quick videos today—of our local sports mascots—then a HILARIOUS montage of Mascot Bloopers!

Here is the introductory video for the Maine Red Claws mascot “Crusher”:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wv5S56QF5U


Ha! Now, here’s one for “Slugger” the Sea Dog:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQeAHHyjhko

Couldn’t find any Pirates mascot video, but here is the Maineiacs “Kollide”:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFTmKF9Ukc0

And NOW, the best---Mascot Bloopers—enjoy!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqCjrYgO3xw


I’d love to try out being a mascot—but wonder if I could LAST even one game in that stifling suit! And I think I am nearly alone in that desire…so, until you volunteer, be good to your mascots—they may be working harder than the athletes out there!

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