Best Mascot
Since 2001 the Gameops.com Best of Awards have been awarded for excellence in game operations and entertainment. Over the years we have updated award categories and currently announce awards in seven categories. See our Best of Awards Home page.
Best Mascot:
The mascot whose work in was creative and enthusiastic, serving as a valuable tool for their team and in their community. All sports team characters and college mascots are eligible.
Past winners include: Coyote (Spurs NBA), The Raptor (Toronto NBA) and Parker (Fresno Grizzlies)
The 2008 Winner was Portland Timber Mascot, Timber Jim
Timber Jim might be the perfect mascot who never wore a fur suit. A real life timber industry worker who was a soccer fan, in 1978 he asked the (then) Portland Timbers if he could bring a chainsaw to the games….and the next game Timber Jim the “mascot” started to take shape. That team folded, but a new Timbers returned to Portland in 2001 and along with them the same Timber Jim (Serrill) returned with them.
Like many mascots Timber Jim leads the fans, beats a drum, maintains traditions and entertains the masses. But his perfect connection with the team might be unsurpassed. This is a real lumberjack who scales a 60 foot snag (partly or completely dead tree, often missing a top) standing at the top, he cuts off a round from a log with a chainsaw to celebrate each goal (while revving his chainsaw and engaging the crowd) and leads the crowd in cheers, chants and song.
Timber Jim announced his retirement in Jan 2008, performing in a Farewell Game for the Timbers in April 2008. The team held a special tribute for him, including a shirt giveaway and is still sorting out how to replace him, which may not really be possible.
And if you only watch one video on the Best of Awards page, this might be the best one to get a sense of Timber Jim’s show, accomplishments, and connection to team and fans.
We are now accepting nominations for the 2009 Best Mascot. You can submit your nomination in the comment box below or by using a form on our Contact Us page.
–Cudo
Jon Cudo is the Founder and Editor of Gameops.com and a 21-year veteran in game presentation and the most tenured mascot in team sports. His blog covers everything from game night promotions, site news, mascotting, book reviews and more. It's not "must read"....but it's close.
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Tags: best mascot, coyote, parker, raptor, timber jim
Stanley C. Panther of the Florida Panthers! Love his videos on your site!
As an organization, how do replace an icon like Timber Jim, who won Best Mascot in 2008? Well, if you’re the Portland Timbers the answer is Timber Joey! Anybody who has ever replaced an employee who was well liked and a leader in their field can identify with this. There is a fine line between continuing the traditions/programs your predecessor established and trying to be that person. Now take into account that person has held this role since 1978 and has a legion of die-hard soccer fans behind him.
That is exactly where Timber Joey found himself last April after the retirement of Timber Jim. Since that time Joey has eased right into his mascot responsibilities such as sawing log slices for every goal the Timbers score, revving his chainsaw to get the crowd excited, leading chants with the Timbers Army, and filling the shoes of a Portland living legend. A testament to the phenomenal job he has done is that the fans have completely embraced him.
Parker of the Fresno Grizzlies is the best ever mascot-funny,silly,goofy,caring and he makes all of the games SO special. Parker, we love you !!!!!! Oh, and we love his words of wisdom,”Dont pet the sweaty things and dont sweat the petty things!!!!!”
Parker of the Fresno Grizzlies deserves to be a two-time winner of Best Mascot. I will submit the following arguments why and then leave it in the hands of the all-powerful judges.
Parker’s Groundbreaking “I Hate The OffSeason” was the first of it’s kind in baseball, a weekly online internet series starring a mascot that significantly increased website traffic, character recognition and branding efforts all while serving as a great sales tool to keep the Grizzlies in peoples thoughts all year round. 2008 was the first year for this and already in 2009, a slew of copycats have popped up around MiLB. When teams are copying you, that is the biggest compliment ever.
Leading the league in Sponsorship. Parker has continued to be a very profitable character for the Grizzlies and 2008 was no different. It was the first year that Parker had a presenting sponsor, First 5 of Fresno County. Already in 2009, two more sponsors have jumped on the Parker bandwagon. PGE & The National Parks Conservation Association have become the sponsors of Parker’s “Wild About Reading” Program which reaches 100+ schools and approximately 60,000 students throughout the Central Valley of California. Parker also drives around town in his very own Tundra, courtesy of Bingham Toyota.
I’ll post some videos that hopefully will help propel Parker to the top once again!!
Parker’s 2009 Highlight Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61dQIiydo14
I Hate The OffSeason: Mutton Bustin’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh9YhuIe2Rw
Parker also became the first mascot to ever “Swede” a movie “The SwedeLot”: http://fresno.grizzlies.milb.com/multimedia/page.jsp?ymd=20090312&content_id=523308&vkey=multimedia_t259&fext=.jsp&sid=t259
I rest my case.