SALT LAKE CITY, Utah The man most basketball fans knew as the Jazz Bear for more than two decades is talking about his time in the suit, and why he was fired. But he said he realized everyone could be just one management change from being let go. It was three years as a sophomore and two years as a genius. The Jazz Bear has been their mascot since 1994 and Jon Absey has been behind the costume since the beginning. Do you remember those old roll-ups sleds? Take us from the beginning. My success is watching my children grow up, concluded Absey. The extent of that rift is unclear, according to the Deseret News Eric Woodyard, but Jon Absey served as the man inside one of the NBAs most iconic mascots since Jazz Bears debut 24 years ago. The mascot, named Jazz Bear, showed off his talents on the water, doing some impressive waterskiing and wakeboarding in full costume, all to the bangin' lyrics from good ol' Alan himself. Absey is telling all in a new podcast called "Return to Real.". }, I started getting those calls and I never thought people would want me to come out so much because I made such a mess all the time when Id show up. You are always so generous and went out of your way. Jazz Bear will continue to be one of the most iconic mascots in the NBA, said Jazz spokesman Frank Zang. I appreciate that. Mark Eaton, the name and a man that we all miss. The only thing I had is I had a nose that dropped my lower peripheral. When I started with the Shop With Bear, it used to be Bill Childs. Incidentally, he was also fired from his very first job as a mascot for the CBA for all those stunts he tried out. You always had time for everybody. Like there are three different types of mascots, there are a whole bunch of different types of vision when it comes to a head. I wanted to be able to entertain people without having to spend as much as it was back then to go to a game, and also now. There are three types of mascots. The biggest reason this is staged is because it was on the internet and they used the stadiums cameras to record? Until October 2018. If I look back over the years of being Bear, Im definitely grateful for having a job like this, as well as blessed that Im able to take a character and give back to the community and the fans who have given so much to us, Absey said in that interview. They called me and fired me because they thought I was going to kill somebody. Jazz Bear. I wanted to get off the farm and see what the big city was. Information in the story may be outdated "label":"RSS" I was talking to a season ticket holder sitting down the front, and he commented, Theyre raising our ticket prices. Usually, when Id get up there, I had time to take my head off, look and hook myself, and check my equipment. I remember hitting the ground, and just running. They moved everybody three rows back. I remember going up and looking down and I looked over at Luke and said, Luke, this might be a really bad idea, and he was like, Im glad youre doing it. We jumped on and it was such a fast, fun ride, though. Phoenix Suns/Mascots I got a chance to interview him and go to Dallas and meet his mother, who was still alive and go to the mausoleum and pay tribute to the great Mickey Mantle. I loved always pushing myself because I felt as if the day that I stopped pushing myself and I was not excited to try and do something new was the day that I got to hang it up. Hes in the Mascot Hall of Fame, but more importantly, hes a husband, a father, and a philanthropist. The Jazz Bear unmasked Incidentally, he was also fired from his very first job as a mascot for the CBA for all those stunts he tried out. Of course its fake. The Utah Jazz have an iconic mascot. "subscribe" A judge Monday ordered that the name of the Utah Jazz mascot be revealed to the plaintiff and attorneys in a lawsuit but said they must keep the identity of The Bear confidential. On the way, I was talking to Bob Woolf. Honestly, I was never a gymnast. What do you think about that shift from Service before yourself. The 50-year-old Absey won the 2017-18 Mascot of the Year award as Jazz Bear, marking the fifth time he garnered the honor in his career. Absey did handstands on a 23-foot tall ladder, rappeled from the ceiling, and slid down the stairs. For You. Jon Absey has been named Mascot of the Year in the NBA five times and Best Mascot out of all sports nationwide twice and, just recently was given an award for the best video by a mascot out of all sports nationwide. When you take a rope and put both ends on the cable, youd put your hand in it and twist it. He also does a lot of charity work. I see them all the time through out a game. But he said he realized everyone could be just one management change from being let go. SALT LAKE CITY The man most basketball fans knew as the Jazz Bear for more than two decades is talking about his time in the suit, and why he was fired. I was always so excited. You need to train and focus on your flexibility every day. TikTok. I appreciate that. "tracks":[ He is known for his fearless and unapologetic approach to entertaining the crowd, often pushing the boundaries of what is expected from a game's charm. Thurl was there to sing to her. They were like, Jon, we appreciate everything you did, but youre going to kill yourself or a fan in there. I was like, That was fun. It wasnt life-changing for me. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Utah Jazz: Did Donovan Mitchell just tease his signature kicks? Why the mascot for the Utah Jazz is a bear.and why is name is simply just "Bear".still baffles me. I said, If I dont share it and nobodys trying to copy it, one, I dont know if its good enough to that Im doing this. 201718 Utah Jazz Media Guide. or superseded by additional information. They let me learn all my skills for what I was doing. Behind every successful husband is an astonished mother-in-law. AboutPressCopyrightContact. They built me this enormous ramp from the upper bowl all the way down to the floor. : The Utah Jazz mascot, Bear, performs during a time out of their game against the Denver Nuggets during Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs at EnergySolutions Arena on April 30, 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah. I ended up out on the third-floor ledge and chilling out because in my head, I was like, Im bored. I was so ADHD. Yes. But he can still do the splits at age 52. Here's a sneak peek. Over time, the job took a toll. Jon Absey wore the Jazz Bear suit well, there were nine of them for almost 25 years. Young basketball fans getting the opportunity to play musical chairs on TV with their favorite NBA mascot from the Utah Jazz sounds like a lovely promotional event. Duke Snider, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle all made $150,000 a year, and they were the top-paid players. The person who wears the Jazz Bear suit is not publicly known. How to Market Your Business with Webinars? "position":"bottom", I miss it. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Dick Butkus, the guys that are from Meyer that I grew up idolizing, played for the love of the game and had a second career or another job in the off-season so they could pay their bills. Let me guess you also think the cop was in on it or he was a fake cop. Im like, No, I cant do it. How old were you when you joined the military? I started a mascot conference because, in my head, I was like, Why is everybody so competitive? because nobody would talk or share ideas. In this Read more. Full disclosure: I kind of want to drive like an ape now. Theres something as well to this more than taking kids Christmas shopping. Your email address will not be published. When we came out that night, we did it. His greatest gag, though, was leveling fans who ran onto the court and mercilessly attacking them the way bears are supposed to: He made out with referees and sprayed CO2 on ushers behinds. We had a mat there and I crashed into the mat because thats how fast you were going. [1][3] In 2006, Jazz Bear was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame. He is the original Jazz Bear. What happened is sports teams started glorifying these guys so much and paying them such big amounts of money, and then what they did was they put a bigger wedge between the fans and the players. Join us as we welcome our special guest, Jon Absey, the former Utah Jazz Bear mascot. We love you. The thing that I was fortunate about is my eyes and I got it from the Phoenix Gorilla. The Bear has suffered many injuries while performing, including tearing his bicep and rupturing a tendon in his calf. Ben Rohrbach is a writer for Yahoo Sports. We admire you. According to Eric Woodyard of the Deseret News, a source said Absey was relieved of his role after a rift with the staff.. [6][7], "The Bear facts: The Utah Jazz 16-year mascot, Bear, balances life of court jester, charity king", "Utah Governor Declares October 10 as the Utah Jazz Bear 20th Anniversary Day", "Reports: Jazz fire Bear performer after 24 seasons", "Utah Jazz fire longtime employee who played team's Jazz Bear mascot", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jazz_Bear&oldid=1100250002, This page was last edited on 24 July 2022, at 23:38. Thats what made you the Mascot of the Year five times and the mascot forever more. It was so cool. They arent above anybody just because they get a bigger paycheck. When you think about it, these athletes are playing the kids games. Mascot Bowl started strictly because I always wanted to do something that was very family-friendly and that any family could afford. It was like, Im going to do a one-armed handstand. The one-armed handstand happened and nobody copied it. For everybody out there, take that step and give it a shot. Despite this, the Utah Jazz opted to bust it out over the weekend, inviting some lucky children down into the spotlight to compete against Jazz Bear, the team's long-running mascot. Not just maintain, but to strengthen and continuously keep your flexibility where it needs to be for you to be that Mascot of the Year and at the top of your game. I was just me. History of Jazz Bear. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images). When I got out here, the Black Panther was one of them, the Jazzmanian Devil like the Tasmanian devil, something like that, and then this one character, which was funny, they called it a blob, and it was this big blob character. The Utah Jazz have an iconic mascot. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. I was told they were going in a different direction. I remember he looked at me and hes like, Im not doing this again. We were both freezing, Im uncovered. Is it more of a professional association? }); Jon Absey, the original Utah Jazz Bear, shares his journey from farm boy to becoming a world-class mascot. Its interesting as Jon retired as our Jazz Bear and a new person took over the costume, you realize that its more than a costume. "sticky":false, The Suns Gorilla I remember there was this voice in my head that was screaming, Dont go. I remember the audio kicked in Thunderstruck. Hes covered in snow. And as the Utah Jazz mascot, Jazz Bear, showed Sunday night during Game 4, it doesn't stop just because the players aren't out there. After spraying two Rockets fans with silly string in between quarters of a game last week, one of the fans reacted by dumping . Now, its such a different culture. We appreciate the fans. He told me via text i quit monday. That is until the children. I was a Forward Observer and I volunteered. "subscribe":{ But thats the scaredest Ive ever been, he laughed. "title":"Power Players with Dan Clark", When I got out here and started doing the job, I felt more blessed that I had a job and a vehicle that could do so much. I remember Gordon Hayward was there before I left and he said he didnt like the fans that close to the court. When you have the Jazz players, the Gail and Larry Miller family, the fan base, the thousands and thousands of ticket holders and season ticket holders who have been entertained and inspired by you, its an honor for me to unveil the mask or the masked singer. I put it on, I walk like I walk. I started a mascot conference, a few years into when I had started mascotting. This goes to show the people what Karl Malone, Mark Eaton, and Mark Atkins, how to look out for others. He didnt try to be anyone else or act like someone else in the suit. I was a farm boy in a little town up in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Part time, paid position. I just did the stuff that everybody thinks about doing, but cant, he said. Following. Rules dont change or anything. It was my wifes 40th birthday party. Absey worked as the mascot for 24 years, but with the beginning of the 2018-2019 season he has been let go. When you have an opportunity, never doubt yourself. I was so thankful that I didnt go. Until October 2018. Theyre playing a game that we played when we were six. "url":"#" He said he feared that people only liked him because he was the Jazz Bear, but now he realizes thats not so. According to the Provo Daily Herald, there are currently more than 350 active walking groups using theWalking School Bus app across the state. . Who is this human being who comes up with extraordinary ideas and creative ways to get the audience riled up and entertained, especially when there are timeouts and theres nothing worth watching on the field, which is the case of all the teams who have losing records? They will watch the old videos of your amazing antics, your bravery, your courageousness, and your borderline brain damage as you climb these 95-foot towers and repel from the ceiling, and hug the lonely fan that needed a little bit of love that day. Buster, the team's first-ever mascot, will wear uniform #1. Whoever takes over Friday has big paws to fill. Required fields are marked *. It is a bull that is blue. My success is watching my children grow up, concluded Absey. As we wind down, give us an inside glimpse of what happens when you raise the money at the Mascot Bowl and what happens when we team up with the fire department. SportsPulse: Jeff Zillgitt and Trysta Krick put their prediction hats on for some bold takes as the NBA season gets set to begin. I grew up in avenues in Salt Lake City, Utah, Karl Malone built his house up there and its in my mothers neighborhood, down the street on the same street as my mom. They get to get out there and pull it off. It was in the Winnipeg Jets Arena. There will be many more events and years to come if I have anything to do with it. The Information Display and Entertainment Associated also honored the Jazz and Bear for the best in-arena mascot video in professional sports, where he engaged in a car derby with the Phoenix Suns Gorilla. Mark would always hang out and Brenda would walk over and say, This is the situation, and Mark would pull out a credit card and hed cover the $2,000 that we were short. He was then offered to come to the University of Utah as a walk-on. His name was Mark and he would teach me after hours and stuff. I still stay in touch with all these guys and thats what I love is that were a tight brotherhood. "label":"Overcast" I was fortunate that I had a good enough vision that if I could do something out of the suit, I could do it in the suit. However, on October 19, 2018 it was reported that Jon Absey, who had performed as the Jazz Bear for twenty-four years, had been fired for unknown reasons. But then he got on a bull at the Days of 47 Rodeo. I just did the stuff that everybody thinks about doing, but cant, he said. Simply put,hes a bear about townin the best possible way. minutes. Youve inspired me since I met you at Asian Star out of costume for the first time. "Pomp and circumstance were plentiful at Game 5, beginning with . This is our ranking of the top five NBA mascots. Utah Jazz; 2022-23 Utah Jazz season: Conference: Western: Division: Northwest: Founded: 1974: History: New Orleans Jazz 1974-1979 Utah Jazz 1979-present: Arena: Vivint Arena: Location: . But then he got on a bull at the Days of 47 Rodeo. "spotify":{ It was fun to do an interview with the original Utah Jazz Bear, Jon Absey. Were coming off California Avenue and take that left on Redwood. This year, the Utes will face Penn State. She goes, Jon, can you come in here? I got up and walked over. Thats why I started liking college because theyre out there playing for the love of the game. "We wont disclose his identity" says the boss of Jon Asbey, the identity of the Utah Jazz Bear . Thats the players we had back then. There are other guys that can look through their eyes, but theyre screened almost like your microphone, just those little holes, and then they have painted in their eyes. There were a number of times that we had gone over. I miss the fans, but honestly, theres a part of me that enjoys being home on the weekends, he said. With his 18 years of experience as the Jazz Bear, Jon has entertained millions of fans and brought joy to . I was going through school and I was coaching over at a gym. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah The Utah Jazz Bear got revenge on a Houston Rockets fan who poured beer on the mascot's head during a game. Take us back to the day when the buses would show up and the fire department had their lights and sirens go on. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onUtah Jazz and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. The actions in this video are performed by professionals or supervised by professionals. Out of respect for his character, which is separate from any employee ever associated with it, we have never discussed his identity. He thought he would retire from the Jazz. It was a little bit harder, but I could figure it out. You werent above anybody because you got a bigger paycheck. I used one of those when I started in Fargo. Find the best Plush for your project. You have no credibility. Jazz Bear told Fox the Starzz were looking for a mascot. Dan, I cant thank you enough for having me on. Thats so wrong. About 120. It was something fun to do. I couldnt believe they allowed it. When I would get surgery because I hurt myself, theyd always say like, Its going to be hard to come back. Im always tearing pages out of my book when I watch you because I love how you have allowed me to be part of your life and everybody else to be part of your life and how you give back to the communities, so thank you. In the hundreds of games since, he has only increased the intensity of his stuntswhether he's flying down the concourse steps on a plastic sled or doing a handstand on top of a 20-foot ladder at. Some guys in the cheaper suits look through the neck. Jimbo, by virtue of being recently featured in the Deseret News, is now the world's most famous Utah-based basketball mailbag artist. You started mascotting in 93, and thats not when you came to the Jazz and was way before when you did everything else? Those were two real bad moments. [1] God bless you. ", While the Jazz declined to comment on Absey specifically, they confirmed in a statement that Jazz Bear will continue to be the team's mascot: "The Jazz Bear will continue to be one of the most iconic mascots in the NBA. NBA Mascot: When sports teams started glorifying their players, they put a bigger wedge between the fans and the players. 2023 Bonneville International. The Mascot Assistant represents the Utah Jazz and the Utah Jazz Bear brand and must represent oneself in a professional manner as they interact with Jazz fans in the arena and community. The only thing thats changed is getting a salary. I went, I get it! In this episode, Jon Absey, the original NBA basketball Utah Jazz Bear, an extraordinary philanthropist, shares his life and fascinating journey in becoming a sports team mascot. Dating back to his first year as the Jazzs mascot in 1994, Bear has given 15,000-plus hours of assistance in the community for more than 300 community organizations, raising over $1 million in the process. Thats where we went. But there will be a new face inside the bear as the team hosts the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors. It twists down on your wrist. Bear joined a group of students fromEagle Valley Elementary School in Eagle Mountain, UT less than 24 hours after being announced as the NBAs Mascot of the Year for the 2017-18 season for breakfast, after which he walked the kids to school. Its funny because when you talk about people with your stature and what youve done, you dont always hear it. Its not the same Jazz Bear. Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. This archived news story is available Im a fan of a team in that the players appreciate me being there and spending that hard-earned money to come to watch them play. When theyre involved, they get to see all the planning and stuff come together. Jazz Bear was introduced to the league on November 4, 1994. When they moved in, my sweet mother, visualize her, the youngest of nine children raised by a single mom on a farm in Southern Idaho. It was a rock-climbing thing. You come to the Jazz in 93. When I started, I wanted to find my own path. Its so cool to be a prophet in your own country. Your email address will not be published. Absey is telling all in a new podcast called Return to Real. Its the first time hes spoken about his time in the costume since his firing. "stitcher":{ } The extent of that rift is unclear, according to the Deseret News' Eric Woodyard, but Jon . I was fortunate to go to Sacred Heart High School in East Grand Forks. There were a number of times where I went a little outside the box and he went to battle, and he knew that, in order for the character to keep creating and growing, it needed to push those bounds. I love when you see these high school kids with these younger kids that dont have the iPhones and all this other stuff, that humanity comes out of them. "url":"https://feeds.podetize.com/rss/QVnbs-974Q", We have no respect, no credibility, and please download and share this episode as a simple reminder that Jon Absey is exactly the same in person as he is in that suit. You then have the Phoenix Gorilla and some of the other mascots in the league like Rocky, Crunch, Sacramento, Portland, and Indy, but theyre that mix where youre funny and athletic. During the Utah Jazz's recent match against the Huston Rockets, the Jazz's mascot, which is creatively named the Jazz Bear, shot silly string at fans during the half-time interval. He said, Yes, and he showed up. That kid took a knee. Listen to the podcast here Regardless of what happens in life, you always bring family lessons with you. fuseboxPlayer(e.detail).setConfig({ Fuckin' hilarious. I miss the fans, but honestly, theres a part of me that enjoys being home on the weekends, he said. Were here for you to Its all about me. He was originally designed to be a cartoon character, but the idea was scrapped in favor of a real-life mascot. I left my head on and it felt funny. I grew up with older brothers and sisters and how much they beat me up helped. Sad to hear the man inside the Bear suit is moving on. I would jump on board with them and thats where it all started. Absey worked as the mascot for 24 years, but with the beginning of the 2018-2019 season he has been let go. (Getty Images) The man behind Jazz Bear, the reigning Mascot of the Year, has been fired after almost a quarter-century with the team due to a rift with the organization, according to multiple reports out of Utah. Absey is telling all in a new podcast called "Return to Real.". By now, most of you should be aware of Utah's incongruent (at least to Utah) mascot, the Jazz Bear, who once antagonized an inebriated Rockets fan enough to get . It was a group effort to get the character going. Im like, Why didnt you call me? Why couldnt I be your bodyguard? I do want to clarify one thing. No, that wouldve been fun to radar that. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images). In 96, I started the conference. Did someone teach you so you could be a teacher or did you just show up and figure it out? Every successful superstar is someone on a team that is behind the scenes that make us look great. Im going to do it. To me, its a tradition and Im a big tradition guy. This is funny because I lied on the application and said I was a gymnast at Sacred Heart, but I never was. Jon shares his inspiring story of taking advantage of opportunities and the challenges of balancing family and work and living a purpose-driven life. "url":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1573990224", Before I go out, I was working on doing a flag where you would hold yourself out sideways on a bar and I was going to do it up top and then my guys below would spin it so that I would spin around the top of the ladder, but thankfully I never had to do it. Did you conceive the idea of a bear or how did that idea come to fruition? Video produced by Alinco Costumes.For more info abo. Jazz . SALT LAKE CITY (News4Utah)- The man that has worn the Utah Jazz mascot since 1994 has been fired. NBA Mascot: Getting the Utah Jazz Bear character going is a group effort. NBA Mascot: When kids are involved in charities, they see how everything comes together. Jazz Bear made his official debut during the 1990-91 NBA season. The engaging and fun-loving bear is the cousin to the Utah Jazz mascot Jazz Bear and will be introduced to fans during the second timeout of the first quarter at the Lifetime Activities Center-Bruin Arena on the Salt Lake Community College Taylorsville Campus. With all due respect to any mascot out there, the person inside the suit makes the character come alive and makes the difference. Jon Absey has played Jazz Bear since the mascot's inception in 1994, but he wasfired this week and is no longer with the organization, according to Utah media reports, which citeda rift with Jazz staff. That was one of the moments where I was like, Im going to show him. I would grab people and haul him out on the court because it was like, This is what makes fans, fans, being able to interact and come on the court. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. "url":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Media--Entertainment-Podcasts/Power-Players-with-Dan-Clark-p1464878/", Just dont hang yourself. He was the guy that went to battle for me. As I said, I loved being able to play and have fun and push the envelope, but the charity side of things is what motivated me and what started making the job worthwhile. He thought he would retire from the Jazz. At Salt City Hoops, we know that covering a team without any humor can be dreary. I remember the principal leaning out the window. The man behind Jazz Bear, the reigning Mascot of the Year, has been fired after almost a quarter-century with the team due to "a rift" with the organization, according to multiple reports out of Utah. (#utahjazz Bear lives on w/new mystery person in the suit) pic.twitter.com/4jlF6ftx1y. Hes like, Come out here. Most significantly, Jon proves why being a mascot has nothing to do with the suit. Grand Harrison called me a couple of weeks after. . That was my first experience before I came with you. Lets go back to sledding the stairs. He literally when I got there, he said listen, you're the mascot. Youre probably going to die if you do that. I trusted those guys. I remember one time in Spanish class, the teacher didnt show up on time. As were coming in, I remember everything in me to hold us and we hit the floor. Jazz Bear is the club's mascot. I remember running up the wall another time and putting two big holes in it, but they were patient with me.
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