Billy the Marlin, Lil Red, Sebastian, Slamson shine at Mascot Games for Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids

By Jim Varsallone

07/31/2014 4:12 AM

07/31/2014 4:02 PM

Albert of the University of Florida posed with members of the Gator Nation and his fan club after the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. Albert competed for the metro PCS Red Team. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

The lovable Billy the Marlin of the Miami Marlins during the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. He was a member of the Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team. In the background are Lil Red of the University of Nebraska, mascot host Stuff the Magic Dragon of the Orlando Magic and Slamson the Lion of the Sacramento Kings. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

Fan favorite Lil Red of the University of Nebraska meets some volunteers after the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. Lil Red was a member of the OUC (The Reliable One) Green Team. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

Alberta of the University of Florida, Ace of the Toronto Blue Jays, Fin the Whale of the Vancouver Canucks, Billy the Marlin of the Miami Marlins and Slamson the Lion of the Sacramento Kings represented the Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team during the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

Charles Cardwell, also known as indie pro wrestler Milo Beasley, and his lovely friend helping with the 21st Mascot Games, benefiting Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids, at the Amway Center in Orlando. They did a good job taking photos and video and running the web site.

University of Miami football mascot Sebastian the Ibis had support from some of his friends outside the Amway Center in Orlando, home of the 21st Mascot Games, benefiting Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

Slamson the Lion of the Sacramento Kings went the extra mile to pose for photos and sign autographs for kids/fans during the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. Slamson was a member of the Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

The Vancouver Canucks’ Fin the Whale, captain of the Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team, has some fun with a volunteer during the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

See. Mascots love to pose for photos. Stormy of the Carolina Hurricanes was awesome before, during and after the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. Stormy competed for the metro PCS Red Team. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

Slamson the Lion of the Sacramento Kings was non-stop during the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. He was a member of the Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

Ace of the Toronto Blue Jays did a good job during the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. He was a member of the Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

Three cheers for Billy the Marlin of the Miami Marlins. Billy competed in the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. He was a member of the Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

Alberta of the University of Florida and Billy the Marlin of the Miami Marlins shake hands with fans during the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. They were teammates on the Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

Billy the Marlin of the Miami Marlins and Alberta of the University of Florida watch the action during the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. They were teammates on the Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

Albert of the University of Florida made a new friend after the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. Albert participated for the metro PCS Red Team. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

Billy the Marlin of the Miami Marlins found a dancing partner during the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. Billy was a member of the Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

Mascots love to pose for photos, and Fin the Whale of the Vancouver Canucks is no exception. Fin captained the Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team during the 21st Mascot Games at the Amway Center in Orlando. The event benefited Central Florida’s New Hope for Kids.

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There’s the Olympics. The World Cup. The Extreme Games, but tell me what’s more fun than a Mascot Games.

New Hope for Kids along with Stuff the Magic Dragon, mascot of the NBA Orlando Magic, hosted the 21st Mascot Games on July 25-26 at the Amway Center in Orlando.

A unique and entertaining concept, mascots from throughout North America participated in the team competition on day one, before 8,500 summer campers.

Stuff captained the winning OUC (The Reliable One) Green Team which also featured fan favorite Lil Red from the University of Nebraska, D. Baxter the Bobcat of the MLB Arizona Diamondbacks, Moondog of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers, and N.J. Devil of the NHL New Jersey Devils.

The Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team with Billy the Marlin of the MLB Miami Marlins, Alberta of the University of Florida, the mischievious Ace of the MLB Toronto Blue Jays, Slamson the Lion of the NBA Sacramento Kings and team captain Fin the Whale of the NHL Vancouver Canucks was runner-up.

The Wawa Yellow Team was third with Sebastian the Ibis from the University of Miami, Knightro from the University of Central Florida, Louie of the NHL St. Louis Blues, Tommy Hawk of the Chicago Blackhawks, Rowdy of the NHL Dallas Cowboys and team captain Raymond of the MLB Tampa Bay Rays.

The metro PCS Red Team placed fourth with Albert from the University of Florida, Captain Fear of the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Harry The Hawk of the NBA Atlanta Hawks, ThunderBug of the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning and team captain Stormy of the NHL Carolina Hurricanes.

The rowdy summer campers were seated in specific sections, cheering for a designated team of mascots. They helped their team not only with loud yells but by also answering questions and guessing songs (played backward) for team points in between events.

Slamson and Stormy were everywhere, doing everything to excite the crowd during the Games. The ever confident Slamson deserves a Mascot Games MVP award for his non-stop antics, fan interaction and athletic prowess.

Chivalry is alive and well in the mascot community. The gentlemanly mascots allowed Alberta to kick the ball toward the goal uncontested. They would not hit her during jousting. They allowed her to go first and helped her, if needed. Lil Red even bowed to her. Carte blanche for Alberta, the lone lady mascot in the Games, gave an advantage to her team (Blue Team).

YouTube video

jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel)

Lil Red a gentleman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbvxSeSxf3M

Where it was a good day for Alberta, her soulmate Albert seen better ones. Sebastian the Ibis of the rival University of Miami caught more balls than Albert in the throw and catch game. UCF’s Knightro eliminated Albert in the joust, and the University of Nebraska’s Lil Red prevented Albert from scoring in the soccer kick game when the ball stuck between Lil Red’s big inflatable legs, even with Lil Red’s back to Albert.

YouTube videos

jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel)

UM Sebastian outdoes UF Albert

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=435l7MZHbAM

UCF Knightro beats UF Albert in jousting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxoV9pn7Y0s

Lil Red somehow stops Albert

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tclgQ6NPXWA

Also of note, Billy the Marlin of the Miami Marlins scored the winner in the soccer kick game, converting on cocky goalkeeper Raymond of the state-rival Tampa Bay Rays. Earlier, Billy scored a winning goal in hockey to end the obstacle course.

YouTube video

jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel)

Billy The Marlin winning kick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYpYpdiaYi4

The agile and inflatable Lil Red brought spectators to their feet when he danced on his large head to lead the Green Team to victory in the dance competition. Special mention of Louie of the St. Louis Blues, who kept the beat when resting.

YouTube videos

jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel)

Lil Red stars in dance contest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SZzmZK39UQ

Louie, Sebastian, Rowdy, Tommy Hawk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLolTfXAAjE

Fin the Whale of the Vancouver Canucks traveled 3,000 miles to participates in the Mascot Games.

Kingston of the Orlando City Soccer Club Lions and Shades of the Orlando Solar Bears hockey team were special guests, and the Wawa mascot also made an appearance. Kingston and Shades joined Jenny Castillo from Rumba FM 103.3 and Magic FM 107.7 and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer as judges for the mascot dance contest.

Before the Games started, Gina Marie Incandela sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.

YouTube video

jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel)

National Anthem Gina Marie Incandela

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gwgc-BEp1m0

The night before, a press conference and party, emceed by the humorous Scotty B, occurred at the new New Hope for Kids facility in Maitland, near Orlando. Scotty B also worked the mic during the Mascot Games. Mainly working the crowd, Jamia Sotto assisted Scotty B, and the public address announcer was Jason Skinner.

Following a dinner for the families, David Joswick, executive director of New Hope for Kids, gave the opening address to jump-start the festivities. After the comedic press conference, mascots signed autographs, posed for photos and provided some mascot zaniness to the delight of the attendees.

On day two of the Games, the Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team was victorious with Billy the Marlin (Miami Marlins), Alberta (University of Florida), Ace (Toronto Blue Jays), Slamson the Lion (Sacramento Kings) and team captain Fin the Whale (Vancouver Canucks).

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YouTube Mascot Games interviews

jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel)

Billy the Marlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Svun1H9mA

UM Sebastian the Ibis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqAR_9OO-gE

UF Albert & Alberta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyLtYZ_NZnw

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xVL8wU3GzA

David Joswick of New Hope for Kids

(Part 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv_ARx8f7yo

(Part 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSHNBeKf10w

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