Larry Brown Sports

The Italian sausage costume used for the sausage race during Milwaukee Brewers home games is missing, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Though this seems like a story straight from “The Onion,” it’s actually true.

According to the Journal Sentinel, someone stole the Klement’s Racing Italian Sausage costume from the city’s Winter Festival and wore it out to go barhopping in Cedarburg, Wis. The costume was just lying in back room unused and a witness reportedly saw someone walk out while wearing it on Feb. 16.

Whoever stole the costume reportedly hit up two different Cedarburg bars with it on that night.

Mustard Girl All American Mustards has offered a year’s supply of mustard to whomever returns the costume.

The Italian Sausage, Bratwurst, Polish Sausage, and Chorizo all compete in the “Sausage Race” during Brewers home games. The costumes, which cost $3,000, are also available for rent.

So you’re telling me someone got to take that awesome costume barhopping and will get a year’s supply of mustard for returning it? Sign me up.

UPDATE: Two people dropped the costume off at the Cedarburg bar in a covert operation.

Forearm bash to Hardball Talk
Photo via Klements.com

The Oklahoma City Thunder were locked into an incredibly close game with the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night, but that didn’t stop Russell Westbrook from taking some time during the fourth quarter to harass the Nuggets mascot.

The mascot, who is known as Rocky, was attempting a couple of backwards over-the-head shots from half court when Westbrook decided that the shots were not going to fall on his watch. According to Eye on Basketball, one of Rocky’s attempts would have even won the crowd a free snack if he hit it. Westbrook jumped up and goaltended it anyway.

Apparently Westbrook just felt that he could do whatever he wanted and no one could stop him. That seemed to be true throughout his 36-point night in which he hit a clutch three-pointer to help send the game to overtime, so why not carry it into commercial breaks as well? Denver won the game in overtime, but thanks to Westbrook their fans missed out on the potential of free queso.

Maybe Rocky should just stick to Tebowing. No one can stop him from doing that.

The Oregon Duck mascot lost its head during a skydiving stunt on Friday.

ESPN’s “GameDay” show is in Oregon this weekend for the Stanford-Oregon game, and they decided to arrange a skydiving stunt. According to KVAL, GameDay had Eugene Skydivers perform an exhibition skydive that included the Oregon Duck mascot — Puddles.

The person in the Ducks mascot costume lost the head and feet during the jump. ESPN GameDay host Chris Fowler tweeted about the incident, saying that the mascot head had been lost. Luckily it turned up less than a half-hour later.

Now all we have to worry about is weather the Duck and Stanford Tree will fight each other like they talked about two years ago. Based on this video, my money would be on the Duck.

Image via KVAL
H/T Lost Lettermen

In Kentucky, mascots are more than just people dressed in animal suits that entertain an audience. They’re heros. When Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School opened its football season earlier this year, junior Trent Bauer served as the teams Bulldog mascot. He began wearing the costume last winter during basketball season, and his duties carried over into the fall. Last Thursday, Bauer led the Bulldogs to a 21-19 comeback victory as the team’s quarterback.

Wearing jersey No. 12, Bauer threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to lead Dunbar to an upset win over Henry Clay — a team that had beaten Dunbar 11 straight times.

“It’s amazing,” Bauer told The Lexington Herald-Leader. “I didn’t think this would ever happen in my lifetime.”

Bauer connected with receiver Emory Thompson for a game-winning 50-yard touchdown with only eight seconds remaining. Thompson had previously been the team’s quarterback out of necessity, but his natural position is wide receiver.

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The Potomac Nationals (Washington’s single-A affiliate) had a fire at their home stadium last week, and they’ve placed their mascot on the disabled list as a result. The team sent out this hilarious press release on Friday afternoon to announce the news about mascot “Uncle Slam”:

The Potomac Nationals have announced the following roster move:

Mascot Uncle Slam placed on 60-Day DL (retroactive to 7/4)

That currently puts the P-Nats at zero mascots which is under the Carolina League minimum of one mascot. Uncle Slam will miss the remainder of the season due to the fire at the Pfitz and is recovering but will be fully healthy for the 2013 season. Expect Uncle Slam in 2013 to be new and improved at the Pfitz with a brand new attitude!

With Potomac under the Carolina League minimum of one mascot, the P-Nats are looking for help from any team or organization that is willing to let Potomac adopt their mascot. Any mascot willing to sign on for a two-month contract with the Potomac Nationals will be handsomely rewarded with baseball bucks, Chilli’s Lemonade, Chick-Fil-A sandwiches and the chance to watch fireworks every Saturday night.

The press release goes on to provide contact information for the team in case anyone is willing to lend them a mascot. We wish them well in their search. And why is it that the Potomac Nats seem to have so many problems with their field?

H/T Deadspin

The Phoenix Suns Gorilla ended up with a bloody nose after taking a punch to the face because of some playful antics gone wrong.

The Gorilla was at a Dave & Buster’s in Tempe, Arizona on Tuesday night for an event and tried high-fiving a fan. The fan didn’t participate because he’s a Heat fan, and the mascot responded with a playful kick. The Heat fan had a completely normal reaction: He punched the mascot in the face.

The Gorilla, played by someone different from the game-day mascot, ended up with a bloody nose. A police report was filed, though both parties agreed not to press charges.

Between the Suns Gorilla and the Cavaliers’ Moondog, we’re seeing way too many mascots on the DL these days. That’s why the mascots usually plan out their skits to ensure they’re dealing with someone who won’t deck them.

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Pacers forward David West accidentally put Cleveland Cavaliers mascot “Moondog” in the hospital with a playful pregame punch Wednesday night.

“He jumped at me, and I thought we were playing around. Next thing I know he went down,” West said after the game. “It was definitely an accident.”

“I felt terrible about that. I really do,” West said. “We were just having fun before the game, just messing around. I really hope he’s OK. Make sure he knows I’m sorry.”

The mascot suffered an eye injury but was later released from the hospital. As the Cavaliers said, there’s no word on Moondog’s status for Sunday’s home game against the Magic.

Chest bump to The Basketball Jones for the video