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In a new feature exclusive to Sportsrant.com, here is the second interview with an NFL mastcot, Chicago Bears Mascot - Staley Da Beer. And you all think this is an easy job, think again!!
What mascots did you like as a kid?
I never paid attention to mascots as a kid. However I watched The Three Stooges on a regular basis and as far as I’m concerned they’re the greatest entertainment act of all time!
Who was your mascot inspiration?
I started mascoting in college and didn’t really know what I was doing. I kind of did my own thing for a number of years. After I learned one could make a career out of wearing a piece of carpet I started to check out some pro mascots. One of my all time favorites is the Phoenix Suns Gorilla.
What was appealing for you to get in a hot suit to entertain people at a sporting event?
Back in college I got paid $800 do goof off at football and basketball games. That’s all I needed to perform. Show me the money!
How did you get started as a mascot?
My freshman year of college, my roommates dared me to tryout. I took a year off after that until one of my professors told me God gave me a gift to make people laugh and I was required to use my gifts. That was over 10 years ago. It was the best advice I ever followed.
What advice would you have for young people who see their future in the mascot professional ranks?
Set a goal. Do whatever it takes to achieve that goal. After you fail (because you will) try it again. Keep failing until you succeed. The only difference between success and failure is people who succeed fail more than those who fail and quit.
How much of the game can you actually follow while in the costume?
I know if we have won or lost a game. Nine times out of ten, I don’t know the exact score. It’s hard to pay attention to the score when your focus is on each play. In the second half my main focus is our defense. I try to get the crowd involved as much as possible when Urlacher and company are smashing heads.
How important is on the field action for getting people fired up?
The crowd can have a direct effect on the game. When Bear fans get fired up, it’s hard to hear the snap count. I remember one series where the opposing team was in the Red Zone. We were so loud they committed 3 false starts and missed the field goal. Sure our players did a great job, but you can’t side step 60,000 screaming fans!
How do you deal with a crowd that just lacks energy?
Our fans aren’t stupid. They know when they need to get fired up. However sometimes it takes a free t-shirt or a nice WWF wrestling match with a fake mascot of the opposing team to bring out the crowd’s excitement. Which of course, I’m more than happy to do
How do you deal with the times that YOU lack energy?
I scream at myself in costume. I’m sure the photographers on the sidelines get a kick out it. Can you imagine sitting on the sidelines hearing an overstuffed bear screaming, “Come on baby, you can do it.” Many times I scream positive phrases so my mind won’t think in negative terms. It’s an old sports psychology trick athletes use all the time. Once you say it enough times, you begin to believe it. Phrases like “I’m a machine” “Superman ain’t got nothing on me”. Sometimes a good “Aaaahhhh” keeps the juices flowing. When all that doesn’t work you take a break and drink some water.
What has been your least favorite experience as a mascot?
I was physically assaulted in college a couple of times. The first time resulted in breaking my right hand. The second time I was thrown down a flight of stairs, twice by the same guy. The second throw I landed on my head and jacked up my neck and back pretty good. I could have been paralyzed. It was pretty scary.
What has been your favorite? Making people smile!
Obviously making people smile is a big ego booster. I performed in the Minor Leagues about 7 year ago and last year I went back there to perform. One of the older season ticket holders from back then showed me a picture I had taken with his son back in 1999. It was his son’s favorite picture. His son died a year after the picture was taken from complications of brain cancer. We’re at the ball park, I’m in costume and this grown man brought this picture to the game and was getting emotional because all he wanted to say was, “Thank you for making my son happy during the most painful time of his life. This picture has helped me through the tough times.” What can be more rewarding than that?
Worst part?
The worst part of my job? The humidity! Sure the heat can get unbearable, but it’s the humidity that will suck the life out from you. Imagine exercising during Training Camp in 90 degree heat with a costume that can get up to 60 degrees hotter than the air temperature. Now throw in 80% humidity and it’s like your breathing through a garbage bag in a sauna. Then add in little Tommy and Suzy trying to kick you in the &$#@. It’s a lot of fun!
Most embarrassing moment as a mascot?
My second game with the Bears I lost my head. Literally! I was demonstrating a punt return catch for a half-time promotion and the football hit my mascot nose, snapped my chinstrap and my mascot head shot off my human head. I pulled my football jersey over my head and starting flopping around on the ground like a fish out of water. All the while I’m screaming “Get my head, get my head.” The contestants were staring at me like a deer in the head lights. Now it’s funny, but when it happened I was so embarrassed. When mascot screws up at work, 60,000 people know it.
Which other mascot in the league are you fairly certain you could beat up if it came to blows?
If they had one, I know for certain I could whip the Green Bay Packers mascot. However, I’m close friends with the other guys in the league. I see them more often than I see my parents.
Which mascot do you find the most intimidating?
I’m scared to death of the Atlanta Falcons mascot. Rumor has it he once dressed up like a hot dog and chased a banana mascot around his stadium. That’ll intimidate anyone.
Tell me something about being a mascot that you've never told anyone outside of those that work closely with you?
Most people think I’m black when I’m in costume. Ever since I was in college people would say things to me assuming I was black. We (the NFL mascots) performed at Snoop Dog’s Snooper Bowl in Jacksonville a couple of Super Bowls ago. Before the game I was messing around with Snoop Dog’s body guards. One of them made a comment that basically said he knew I was black. I showed him my pale white skin and he fell the ground laughing. He kept saying over and over, “Oh man, you got me. You got me good. No way man.” One time at halftime, my second year with the Bears I had my head off taking a break as the players were going to the locker room. One of guys looked at me and said, “He’s white. Holy crap the mascot’s white!”
What's the most trouble you've gotten in as a mascot?
I was tossed out of a game in the minors for covering up first base in a mountain full of sand. The ump made a horrible call and everyone in the stadium knew it. I also mooned him. Not my actual butt, my mascot butt. He tossed me outta the game. It was on the front page of the sports section the next day. Every time that ump came to our stadium the fans would give it to him all game long. It got so bad after a few weeks, he came up to me, when I was out of costume, and apologized for everything. He then asked me to get the fans off of his back
What's been the highlight of your career as a mascot?
I used to mascot for the Harlem Globetrotters and was able to travel to 15 different countries and experience many different cultures that I would have never been able to do if it wasn’t for mascoting.
Can someone make a career out of being a mascot?
Yes. It’s neither easy nor glamorous, but it can be done.
What are your specific career goals in terms of being a mascot?
There are certain financial goals I want to achieve. In the 13 season’s I’ve been mascoting I accomplished almost all of my goals I had set in college. There a few more I would like to achieve. A Super Bowl ring, but I don’t have control over that. I want my private mascot business to flourish and I want to retire when I want to, not when I’m forced too.
What types of appearances do you take part in and how often?
Staley Da Bear makes appearances in almost every type of public function you can imagine. Hospitals, schools, parades, birthday parties and grand openings are just a few ideas of what we can do.
Sportsrant would personally like the thank Staley Da Bear for conducting this interview and the Chicago Bears organization for allowing this interview to take place
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