Larry Brown Sports

I hate to say I told ya so, but I did.  People were blasting this Bruins fan last week for flipping out on the Tampa Bay Lightning Mascot, Thunderbug, after Thunderbug sprayed him directly in the face with silly string.  After the fan became enraged and tackled the mascot, Lightning security removed him from his seat and had a chat with him.  We’re not sure exactly what was said during the discussion, but we do know the person who plays Thunderbug at the games has since been fired.

According to WTSP in Tampa, a Lightning spokesman said the altercation with a Bruins fan played a role in the decision to let the person go but was not the only factor.  Was he late for work a few times or something?  I can’t imagine the mascot would be looking for a job right now if he had kept that can of silly string by his side.

As Off the Bench pointed out, Lightning fans have started a Facebook page in an attempt t0 save Thunderbug’s job.  Does anyone really care that much? The group was started on Monday and has racked up 253 likes, which is not that impressive considering the creator is trying to rally an entire fan base.  Maybe the page has yet to catch on.  Unfortunately for Lightning fans, this generation does not tolerate bullying and/or people being meanies.

Pacers mascot Boomer took a break from entertaining NBA crowds to put on a show at the New Palestine vs. Triton Central high school basketball game in Indiana Friday night. I have no idea if Boomer was planning to shatter the backboard, but that’s what happened. The good news is at least Boomer didn’t injure himself like the Milwaukee Bucks mascot.

All Boston bias aside, I can see both sides of the argument here. Yes, the fan overreacted. I have no idea what type of smack talk was going on between this Bruins fan and the Lightning’s mascot, Thunderbug, before the exchange. That being said, trash talk is part of the experience of being at a game. Getting silly string sprayed in your face is not.

Can you really throw someone out of the game for this? What do you say to that person? “Hey man, listen — I know you weren’t expecting it and mascots don’t usually spray silly string in fans’ faces, but that’s just the way it goes around here. You were supposed to just sit there and take it and do nothing, but now that you decided to tackle Thunderbug we have to throw you out. Sorry.” When mascots get run over by a player or take a foul ball to the neck, it’s usually undeserving and they don’t see it coming. Thunderbug’s biggest mistake was turning his back after he assaulted the guy.

H/T to Puck Daddy for the video

If you thought Clemson had it rough last night you should see what the Orange Bowl mascot had to go through. While West Virginia was piling up the points on their way to a 70-33 victory over the Tigers, the Orange Bowl mascot was taking a beating. On one particular play, a Mountaineer ran the poor guy over and practically slammed him into the stands. You think it doesn’t hurt just because he’s a big fat orange? Guess again. He ended up puking in the trash can after the collision. I don’t know if he was concussed or what, but it was pretty intense. Check out this brutal video:

And you thought the Auburn Eagle and the Phillie Fanatic got it bad those times? Here’s hoping the Orange has a full and speedy recovery.

Apparently Auburn’s eagle “Spirit” had a few too many pops before the game, because the drunken baldy collided with a luxury box window during his pregame flight. Video:

Perhaps a metaphor for Auburn’s season through two games? They’re not earning style points, but they’re doing just enough to get the job done. Either way, it’s a nice addition to our “fail” category here at LBS.

Thanks to Kegs ‘N Eggs, War Eagle Reader for the videos

Video Credit: YouTube user 187MainStreet

The Phillie Phanatic made a rare appearance at a Lehigh Valley IronPigs minor league game Wednesday night and got popped in the neck by a line drive. Check out the video:

The Phanatic ended up taking a trip to the hospital as we learned from Sportress of Blogitude, and he was released after being treated. USA Today reports that the man who wears the Phanatic costume, Tom Burgoyne, updated his health status on his Facebook profile:

“Hi Everyone – Thanks for all your posts, texts, emails. The Phanatic is fine. He took one off the neck last night it the Iron Pigs game. Since we’re soooo close, I felt his pain and have a nice golf ball-sized knot just above my eye. Bring on the A’s this weekend — the Phanatic will be ready!”

What should we call that, payback for the Phanatic messing with some fans who didn’t appreciate it? A taste of Karma? I bet you never realized how hazardous to one’s health being a mascot can be.

Video via The Fightins, thanks to Where’s Weems

There are a lot of things a mascot can do to be fired.  Punching a student in the face and giving him a bloody nose, starting a fight with a fan, and throwing snowballs at the crowd are just a few things mascots can do to warrant being canned.  Apparently posing in lingerie next to the mascot’s costume head is another offense that warrants dismissal, as we recently learned from the Doncaster Rovers. 

According to The Guardian via Dirty Tackle, Tracy Chandler posed in lingerie next to her Donny Dog mascot costume and the photos were passed along to the public.  Chandler claims the images were intended to be “tongue-in-cheek and not seedy” and that they were used to raise money for the NSPCC — a charity that fights child abuse.  Having been Britain’s only female mascot and voluntarily served Doncaster for four years, Chandler told The Guardian she was “devastated” when she learned of her dismissal and “disgusted” by what had happened.

Considering the Doncaster players posed in a naked calendar to raise money for the same organization last year, Chandler can make a case that she is being treated unfairly.  If you think the Chandler situation is bad, you’ll probably think this one is even worse.. In any event, we have no choice but to raise the following question: Who looks better — the Donny Dog or Chandler?

H/T to The Sun for the picture.