The Mascot Minute: This Week in Mascot News
New week, new mascots doing entirely too much. Here’s what happened in Mascot Land.
Portland Fire Debuts Rose, a Glitter-Breathing Dragon
The WNBA’s newest franchise introduced its mascot during Sunday’s game at Moda Center: Rose, a pink dragon with a signature move nobody saw coming — breathing glitter instead of fire. Rose even has her own in-arena lair fans can visit on game days. Somewhere, actual fire-breathing dragons are filing a complaint about being upstaged. (Source: Yahoo Sports)
Kumamon Is Back on the Clock
Kumamoto Prefecture’s beloved mascot Kumamon has officially resumed public duties after taking time off following the Kumamoto earthquake. The black bear with the perpetually rosy cheeks is one of Japan’s most recognized mascots, and his return is being treated as genuinely good news across the region — proof that sometimes a mascot coming back to work is a story worth celebrating. (Source: The Mainichi)
John Oliver Turns a Beef with Buc-ee’s Into $500K for Charity
Buc-ee’s, the Texas travel-center giant, has built a habit of suing small businesses over mascots and logos it claims look too similar to its own. John Oliver responded the way John Oliver responds to things: by launching a parody merch shop starring Mr. Nutterbutter, a 7-foot squirrel mascot dressed suspiciously like Buc-ee’s own beaver. The “Buc-Off Shop” has raised nearly $500,000 for Hunger Free America — turning corporate pettiness into an actual public good, one squirrel-branded umbrella at a time. (Source: Yahoo Entertainment)
Bon Jovi Was Secretly Pat Patriot the Whole Time
For Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel’s 51st birthday, owner Robert Kraft arranged a surprise: the rookie class sang “Happy Birthday” while team mascot Pat Patriot stood by. Then Pat took off his head — revealing rock legend Jon Bon Jovi underneath the whole time. A living, breathing reminder that literally anyone could be under that costume, and you’d never know until the big reveal. (Source: TMZ Sports)
Meet Bernie, Bernalillo County’s New Spokes-Sheep
New Mexico’s Bernalillo County introduced its newest team member this week: Bernie, a mascot modeled after the Dahl sheep already featured on the county’s official logo. Local government mascots don’t always get the spotlight, but Bernie’s got the credentials — the sheep has quietly represented the county’s brand for years before finally getting a face (and a name) to go with it.
Hull City Unveils “Bricky,” a 6’3″ Sentient Brick
Hull City fans opened their Premier League season a little confused, discovering the club had introduced Bricky — a six-foot-three walking, talking brick mascot representing stadium sponsor MKM Building Supplies. Fans had joked about wanting “a brick wall” in defense. Hull heard them, and took it about as literally as possible.
Broncos’ Thunder Program Changes Hands After 33 Years
Denver’s beloved live horse mascot Thunder is getting a new team behind the reins, as Thunder Spirit LLC steps back after more than three decades of running the program. A new operation takes over the reins (pun very much intended) heading into the season — same horse, same Mile High magic, new crew making it happen.
T-Rac Makes an Unlikely Friend
Tennessee Titans mascot T-Rac recently met Gizzard, a rescued raccoon from Nashville’s Vermin Sanctuary — and by all accounts, the two hit it off famously. A real raccoon meeting a mascot raccoon is exactly the kind of crossover event nobody asked for and everybody needed. (Source: The Tennessean)
