12/21/24
January 25, 2012
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
I have no idea what to make of the Jerry Springer clip.
posted by yerfatma at 11:04 AM on January 25, 2012
It was obnoxious, but I'm surprised that was enough to get Thunderbug exterminated. That's apparently the same person who was fired as Tampa Bay Rays mascot Raymond several years ago.
posted by rcade at 11:24 AM on January 25, 2012
The question I have is why any self-respecting hockey team would have a mascot with a cutesy name like Thunderbug? I mean, hockey is a rough and tumble sport, played by rugged, hard-hitting men (well, OK, there are some pretty good women's hockey teams out there, but not so much hitting, and we're talking NHL here). I get the thunder thing associating with Lightning, but wouldn't a mascot named Zeus or Thor or something like that be more appropriate? If a large, fierce-appearing individual with a hammer and some lightning bolts in his hand sprayed silly string on me, I would be far less inclined to argue with him than with some cute little thunderbug.
posted by Howard_T at 01:28 PM on January 25, 2012
The question I have is why any self-respecting hockey team would have a mascot with a cutesy name like Thunderbug?
One word: kids.
You want to appeal to the next generation of fans. Kids are more likely to respond to whimsical mascots than sexy/scary mascots.
As well, you can sell "Thunderbug" plushies.
posted by grum@work at 01:37 PM on January 25, 2012
I wonder how well that works. We've taken my friend's son to the Portland Sea Dogs multiple times and no matter how fired up he is to go see Slugger on the way, once we get there, he runs the other way.
posted by yerfatma at 02:13 PM on January 25, 2012
You want to appeal to the next generation of fans. Kids
Especially in the Sunshine State, because you never know what's going to be a difference maker with kids. When I was a kid in Florida and the first ice rink came to our county, most of the kids there had never seen snow, let alone ice.
There was a decent semi pro team that used to have games at that rink and the kids all wanted to go.
Not to see the hockey, but because it was air conditioned. And by far, the biggest draw was the fact that when the Zamboni was done resurfacing, the driver would head out the chute into the parking lot and dump his load under a shade tree. The kids would race out of the building hard on his heels.
We'd all gather around the pile and some hellacious iceball fights would ensue. It's a wonder that none of us ended up in the hospital.
The parents would wander out idly to watch the fun. None of them had any idea that ice had lethal potential.
They had to eventually extend the intermission times at the games because half the paid crowd was still out on the tarmac when it was time to start the next period.
Historical footnote: this was during the period of time when pro players were starting to wear helmets, so some guys had 'em and some didn't. The Florida crowd gave the guys that had helmets a hard time, which didn't go over well.
A lot of the players were from north of the border and going all the way down to Florida to get called wimps by a bunch of yahoos (Dan Shaughnessy terminology for Floridians) was not their idea of a good time, to put it mildly.
posted by beaverboard at 02:20 PM on January 25, 2012
Nice move Tim Thomas.
You've successfully added yourself to the list of self-serving agenda pushing boneheads alongside the likes of Tom Cruise and Bono.
posted by cixelsyd at 02:57 PM on January 25, 2012
Commercial of Prince Fielder at age 12 striking his dad out.
posted by rcade at 05:14 PM on January 25, 2012
Wanna see Matt Hendricks' ear split in half? Warning: It's pretty gross
posted by tommybiden at 05:26 PM on January 25, 2012
The Player: Why NHL players rejected realignment, and why the backlash was worth it
posted by NoMich at 06:26 PM on January 25, 2012
I have to say Yahoo Sports blows ESPN out of the water when it comes to hockey coverage.
posted by insomnyuk at 07:05 PM on January 25, 2012
That is a great article, NoMich.
posted by bperk at 07:11 PM on January 25, 2012
If you didn't see Dani Alves' goal against Real today -- for instance, if you're Iker Casillas -- then here it is.
posted by etagloh at 12:37 AM on January 26, 2012
ROFL, etagloh, ROFL!
posted by billsaysthis at 12:10 PM on January 26, 2012
"Feet dripping with honey, a gazelle skipping to lay perectly on a scalding altar..."
Pardon me, but who the fuck was that clown? That's the first 10 seconds I've heard of him and he already annoys me more than Tommy Smyth.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:19 PM on January 26, 2012
The question I have is why any self-respecting hockey team would have a mascot with a cutesy name like Thunderbug?
Evidently the recent solar flare has affected the sarcasm detectors here on SpoFi. You guys actually took me seriously???
posted by Howard_T at 10:42 PM on January 26, 2012
Pardon me, but who the fuck was that clown?
That was painful. How can you septics put up with that shit?
posted by owlhouse at 12:24 AM on January 27, 2012
Mr B and owlie, I can appreciate your position. I remember when I first heard Ray Hudson. It takes some adjustment to realize you're listening to genius. Start here before you jump to the advanced courses.
Tomorrow you can bitch to me about that song still being in your head.
Messi!
Messi!
MESSI!
posted by yerfatma at 09:14 AM on January 27, 2012
Start here before you jump to the advanced courses.
Or follow @liverayhudson
posted by goddam at 10:44 AM on January 27, 2012
That was painful. How can you septics put up with that shit?
The ESPN3 stream I watched was Hudson-free, and I thank my ears for that. (The rights to Real-Barca matches in the US are shared by GOL TV and ESPN Deportes, which gives you the option.)
posted by etagloh at 03:16 PM on January 27, 2012
A follow up to this.