Mascots.

It seems every professional sports team has a mascot. Some make sense and really resonate with the team name, and some you have to scratch your head to figure out what were they thinking? In the case of Benny the Bull he is a great fit for the Chicago Bulls.

Benny is a bit rambunctious; he runs on the court, leaps over chairs and sprays Silly String into the hair of unsuspecting fans. He’s a lot of fun to watch, unless you are the center of his attention---then the fun might stop if you are not playing along with it.

At the game last Friday night, Benny was in full form. Before the game he raced around the court with the huge Bulls flag, sat on the laps of some very attractive women who were there with their boyfriends and husbands, and ran up the steps banging a drum. He doesn’t care---he has fun. One of the funniest incidents that night involved a woman who apparently was enjoying herself a little too much as she swayed back and forth in a drunken dance with him. She was doing everything she could to show off and boy he loves to give people like this a hard time.

As a part of the game, t-shirts and other items are thrown and shot into the stands. Benny made a point of letting this woman know if she danced right, she was going to be the lucky winner of a shirt. She gave it her all and you could tell she was sure she was going to be the proud recipient of a cheap Bulls shirt. She was wrong as it went sailing into the stands several rows in back of her. The crowd roared with laughter. She not only was embarrassed but it was all captured on the “JumboTron” for the entire stadium to see.

Later on in the game he wanted to make amends and gave her a pair of men’s briefs that look like they came from the men’s room. She was not happy but we were.

I have seen other mascots perform at stadiums but Benny the Bull is my favorite; yes he can be annoying, and he has had punches thrown at him for embarrassing the wrong person, but he certainly brings the fans to their feet. That’s what he’s supposed to do, right?

The photo above signifies what a mascot is really all about at games. They are an extension of the team---and when all goes well, they help keep the flow of the game heading in the right direction. They also understand that the game is great for kids---that’s why I like this picture. When you are with Benny, he is there to make you enjoy what’s going on when the action stops on the court---when he puts his arm around you, he wants you to know he is happy you came to spend time with him.

Thanks for stopping by.