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
More YouTube videos of Mascot Games
jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNWq5ocyGgY
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzaYFENS3RI
Kids having fun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyp2LRzTUxM
metro PCS Red Team
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37K6Y5TIlFM
Florida Hospital for Children Blue Team, Wawa Yellow Team
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aUxeubemWM
OUC (The Reliable One) Green Team
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqSEzz3WqVY
Host Stuff the Magic Dragon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So8S6-F7Pj8
Billy the Marlin, Alberta, Ace, Fin, Slamson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhb753GrvkE
Slamson the Lion fun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW-11CXuXho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2Pnh5QuE2Y
Alberta, Billy the Marlin, Sebastian the Ibis, Stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymYDjL2F-pU
Fin the Whale, Blue Team
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcnRAZpPGks
Ace, Stuff, Fin, Baxter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdBPrx5Plbc
Albert, Captain Fear, Harry The Hawk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Z1hjFfv5I
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Kingston, Shades
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHwu8HNdVS4
Raymond Knightro, Sebastian, Louie, Rowdy, Tommy Hawk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVLz9aQO2EA
Billy the Marlin, Ace, Alberta, Fin, Slamson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C9alMtT3Z8
Albert, Harry The Hawk, Stormy, Captain Fear, ThunderBug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6-9bP7-iL0
Billy the Marlin, Ace, Fin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQte4gkJ3uw
Billy the Marlin, Alberta, Ace, Scotty B
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E9dsPnAbjY
Stormy, Captain Fear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2cAhDegi1Q
Outdoor Activities
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sEbOEwic40
Knightro, Moondog, Lil Red, Sebastian, Wawa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNtAfsECUB0
Sebastian the Ibis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87K0SgnEJz4
Raymond, Tommy Hawk, Louie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyxv27AlW7k
Knightro, Sebastian, Louie, Rowdy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FBayJmHRuM
Stormy, N.J. Devil, Wawa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4wb24Z7MbY
Slamson the Lion jousting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2S_ssui7xU
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Visit the Mascot Games website at www.mascotgames.org.
All proceeds from the Mascot Games benefited New Hope for Kids.
Since 1996, New Hope for Kids has been helping Central Florida children in need. It brings hope, healing and happiness to children and families suffering from grief, loss or life-threatening illnesses.
Find out about New Hope for Kids by visiting www.newhopeforkids.org.
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