Last week the man who played ‘Pat Patriot’, the mascot for the New England Patriots was arrested in a prostitution sting.
This is not an isolated incident inside the world of professional mascots. In 2006 Benny the Bull (Chicago Bull’s mascot) was charged with misdemeanor battery for throwing a punch at the sheriff’s deputy. Sadly it was not the first offense for the storied franchise. In 2004 the slam-dunking mascot “Da Bull” was arrested for allegedly selling marijuana from his car.
Even the Pittsburgh drug trials of 1985 (the catalyst for a baseball-related cocaine scandal which resulted in the harshest Major League Baseball penalties since the Black Sox scandal of 1919) couldn’t avoid mascot involvement. Pirate Parrot was implicated for buying cocaine and introducing a few of the ballplayers to a local drug dealer.
Here’s a sampling of other news-making mascot related incidents courtesy of Sports Illustrated:
August 1988 — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda exchanges fisticuffs with the Philly Phanatic after the mascot does a routine using a doll of Lasorda as a punching bag.
September 1989 — Miami’s Sebastian the Ibis leads the Hurricanes onto the field for their annual clash with Florida State carrying a fire extinguisher — intending to douse the Seminoles’ famous flaming spear. Five police officers surround the mascot, slam him against a wall and empty his extinguisher.
January 1991 — The world famous San Diego Chicken grabs a Chicago Bulls cheerleader, dances with her and rolls her on the floor. She later sues and is awarded $317,000 in damages.
October 1992 — A fight between mascots breaks out during Northeast Louisiana’s homecoming game against Northwestern State, with Northwestern’s Vic the Demon landing a series of haymakers after Chief Brave Spirit rips off his head.
April 1994 — Arizona’s Wilbur Wildcat blows out his knee tackling Arkansas’ Razorbacks from behind during a Final Four game.
August 1994 — Colorado Rockies radio announcer Jeff Kingery shoves and curses Dinger the Dinosaur after the team mascot falls down a step and bumps into the broadcaster during game action.
October 1994 — At an exhibition game in Puerto Rico, the Miami Heat’s Burnie pulls a female spectator onto the court by her legs. The woman, wife of a local Supreme Court justice, is not amused. Burnie is convicted of aggravated assault and later sued for $1 million.
February 1995 — Don Jackson, coach of the International Hockey League’s Cincinnati Cyclones, is suspended 10 games and fined $1,000 for climbing over the glass and attacking Atlanta Knights mascot Sir Slapshot, who had hit the glass while Jackson was leaning on it.
February 1995 — During an ESPN-televised timeout, the Stanford Tree and Cal’s Oski engage in a legendary wrestling match after Oski apparently taunts the Stanford student section. The two have to be separated by police, but no charges are filed.
Rocky the Mountain Lion Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/
Getty Images
April 1995 — In what will become a running feud over the years, Denver Nuggets mascot Rocky the Mountain Lion challenges the Phoenix Suns’ Charles Barkley to a friendly boxing match — only to get clocked in the face.
October 1995 — In separate incidents less than a week apart, Seattle’s Mariner Moose roller blades into an outfield wall, breaking his ankle, and the Cleveland Indians’ Slider falls six feet off an outfield wall, tearing his knee ligament.
October 1995 — Cal offensive tackle Tarik Glenn slugs Benny Beaver on his way into the locker room after the Oregon mascot — a 5-foot-9, 135-pound woman — taps the 6-6, 330-pounder on the shoulder with an inflatable hammer. Later that season, Arizona’s 6-5, 305-pound Frank Middleton punches Benny in the head.
October 1995 — The Anaheim Mighty Ducks’ Wild Wing performs a stunt in which he he jumps a “wall of fire” … but doesn’t make it all the way over and is set aflame.
November 1996 — Wisconsin mascot Bucky the Badger is arrested and issued a $141.50 ticket for crowd surfing in the student section. When asked by the booking officer to spell his name, the student begins by saying, “Badger. B-A-D-G … ”
September 1997 — While waiting inside a zamboni machine as part of an unveiling ceremony before the Carolina Hurricanes’ first preseason game, the person playing the mascot Stormy has a major anxiety attack, never comes out and is taken to the hospital.
July 2000 — Florida’s Billy the Marlin accidentally hits an elderly man in the eye with a tightly wadded T-shirt launched out of a pressurized gun, temporarily knocking him unconscious. The man later files suit but it is unsuccessful.
Hey, it’s a small price to pay, right?
I’ve always found mascots kind of creepy. Now I know that they are also insane!
wow, this is like the ultimate timeline of sport mascot indiscretions. this is awesome, thanks!
I imagine being a mascot is pretty self-selective re: the kind of people who end up in the ranks to make it in that suit. You make a living where your identity is obscured by a big furry animal or human caricature suit, you get beat up by onlookers, need to exude big energy and personality, while generating public stunts. You get to roll around with cheerleaders but they often have no interest in you because you’re either too creepy looking or just cute and cuddly. It’s like being a rock star but with less money, no fame, or benefits.