It's Game Over for the Mascot Hall, and THIS Decision All But Confirms It

 It's over.

I never thought I would ever think that the Mascot Hall of Fame, as a building, would ever disappear. It just seemed like the kind of thing that could last forever.

But today's announcement that the 2024 Induction Class would be celebrated not with one Induction Ceremony - but 4 INDIVIDUAL ones in their hometowns - all but waves the checkered flag on the building in Whiting, Indiana - a few hours from my home.

It's over.

No Induction Ceremony on August 10. No more Induction Ceremonies ever, at least not in a physical building where mascot fans can gather together and celebrate the newest members of the Hall.

No more opportunities to meet and greet mascots you've never met before.

No more Fur Tie Fundraisers.

No more Mascot Conferences.

It's got to be over.

There's no reason for the Hall to make this decision if it didn't know that the building would soon be closing.

BP has won. The City of Whiting has won. The fun-killers have won.

They're gonna get their office space, and a cherished place to celebrate the unsung heroes of sport will forever be gone - again, not in terms of there being a Hall period, but no more physical building to have those memories and opportunities.

That building, the people that made that building, and the mascots themselves have all become like a 2nd family to me. Any time I made that drive to Whiting, once I made that turn onto Front Street and saw Reggy's face on the side of the building, I would always say, "Hello again, second family. It's good to see you again."

I just never thought I would have to say goodbye to it, on a permanent level.

I understand the reasons why it's leaving. The goal was for the museum to be self-sustaining, and have it be a part of one giant sports complex. Those plans never materialized, so the museum had to fend for itself. It just couldn't. It was losing more money for the city than it was making.

Yes, the museum has been great for tourism. Yes, it has its passionate following. Yes, it's won numerous awards and appeared on plenty of shows.

But tourism and attention alone wasn't enough to keep it afloat.

It's kind of a hopeless feeling for me that I couldn't do more. I was a member for many years, but I could only afford to do the $35 yearly membership - the lowest level possible. I won a few items at the silent auctions during the fundraiser, the most notable and cherished being a game-worn jersey of SJ Sharkie from the San Jose Sharks. I've bought many items from the gift shop over the years.

And yet, even after all that, it's still going to be disappearing as a physical building.

The Mascot Hall hasn't officially said that it's closing for good. I have reached out to the staff to ask if today's decision is a sign that the hammer is being dropped.

But I think I know the answer I'm going to get.

I have to make one final trip to Whiting before it's gone. I'm going to take a ton of pictures, because I want to remember what made the facility so amazing to enjoy. I want to truly cherish the final time I'm going to be there.

I will not soon forget the many highlights I had there.

My first Induction Weekend/Meet-and-Greet in 2019, when I was wearing my Royals uniform as Sluggerrr was part of the Induction class. Who should be the first mascot I meet when I go upstairs on the 3rd floor Furitorium for the breakfast? Sluggerrr, right there at the door. Yes, fate can be a cruel mistress, but when it's on your side, it can be a sweet moment. Sluggerrr was also my 50th mascot met, so it was extra special. I met so many other mascots that day, including legends like Aubie, Nittany Lion, Phillie Phanatic, Gorilla, Coyote, and Benny the Bull. But also some of my favorites and good friends like YouDee and Southpaw.

How about August 2019, when the NHL Mascot Conference made its first appearance at the Hall? Hosted by Tommy Hawk, it was great to catch up with several mascot friends I had met in Nashville in 2016, such as my good friends ThunderBug, Gnash, Slapshot and Bailey. But finally getting to meet Sparky the Dragon from the Islanders was the big highlight, along with Gritty from the Flyers.

I finally got to meet the Oriole Bird from the Baltimore Orioles in December 2019. I always appreciated him because he wears actual stirrups, and he's one of two in MLB that do, along with my favorite, Sluggerrr.

Then I didn't get to meet a mascot for 625 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic [and I even survived it myself in January 2021]. But on September 11, 2021, the streak ended thanks to Homer the Dragon's appearance at the Hall. And he was an absolute treat and blast with us mascot fans. I even got 'chomped' by this lovable mascot from the Charlotte Knights, the White Sox' affiliate.

Another highlight was on November 5, 2021 at the fundraiser. The Cleveland Guardians' mascot Slider and the Hot Dogs played some tunes with their band before the inductees were announced. Not only did I get to sing WITH the band, but I EVEN GOT TO PLAY MUSTARD'S GUITAR. Right then and there, Mustard became my favorite of the group. Unfortunately, the Dogs turned their backs on him and demoted him down to the minor leagues. I'm still upset with the team over that decision, but I love Mustard forever for his kindness in that moment.

Getting to meet Globie from the Harlem Globetrotters in 2022 was an absolute treat, and then I met my 75th mascot overall on January 21, 2023 when DIBS from DePaul made an appearance at the Hall. DIBS could not have been more nice and outstanding, and I showed how much I appreciated his love and support. I became a DePaul fan right then and there, and now support the basketball program hardcore. DIBS was also a finalist for the 2024 class, and we had several conversations on Instagram and Twitter about trying to get him inducted. I know he won't stop trying, even if there won't be a physical building anymore. Love you always, DIBS.

Finally, 2023 was also a huge year in that I finally got to meet one of my favorite minor league mascots in Shelldon from the Daytona Tortugas. I also got to meet the 2023 inductees, Slugger the Sea Dog and Otto the Orange. The year ended when I got to meet several MLB mascots I hadn't met before at their Mascot Madness event. Wally, Fredbird, Bernie Brewer, and Lou Seal were a joy to meet. But the major highlight was meeting three of my other favorites of teams that I support: Mr. and Mrs. Met from the New York Mets, and Dinger from the Colorado Rockies. I kept my tears of joy in that day, but I was definitely emotional on the inside as I met these three amazing mascots.

The last four mascots I will ever end up meeting at the Hall would be Sparky from the Chicago Fire, Skates from the Chicago Wolves, Gus T. Bull from the Windy City Bulls, and Bearcat from the Cincinnati Bearcats.

I've met 92 mascots in person over 14 years. 35 of those mascots, I've met at the Mascot Hall.

Not having that building and opportunity to meet more is going to be a major blow to me. If I'm going to meet any of those mascots on my bucket list, they will either have to come to Indiana, or I'd have to go to their neck of the woods.

But even as I prepare to say farewell, I want to say THANK YOU to all those who made that building special. Thank you to all those who made that building unique. Thank you to all those who made every single event worth attending.

Just......THANK YOU. I can't say it enough. I can't express it enough.

I will be FOREVER GRATEFUL to every single moment I had in that building. Every smile, every laugh, every cry, every dance, every meeting, every hug, every handshake, every fist-bump...everything.

Thank you all for everything you did for mascot fans and the city of Whiting over your time here. And even though you won't be in my backyard anymore, it won't stop me from loving the furternity.

NOTHING can ever do that - because that's what the fun-killers would want.

Thank you for everything you did FOR ME. If I made you smile as much as the mascots made me smile, then I accomplished my goal.

I love you, Mascot Hall of Fame.

Forever.

The Mascot Hall of Fame MIGHT Be On The Move. Just Keep Punching Me In The Damn Heart

 You know, it was hard enough when I didn't get a chance to meet the Mad Ant before he was officially retired, and then paraded around at only select events like the temporary puppet that he was.

That was a punch to the gut, and the heart, in and of itself.

The closest I ever actually got to the Mad Ant was getting a picture with the original costume at Georgetown Entertainment in Fort Wayne [which, by the way, is an amazing facility - it's not their fault the team left Fort Wayne or eventually died in Indy.]

But the news that I saw today, on a Facebook post from a friend of mine who actually works at the Mascot Hall of Fame...

...It feels like I've been punched 99 more times in the heart.

Now, I will preface this by saying this: THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL. I want to make that crystal clear before I go any further.

But the fact that this is even under consideration royally makes me angry, frustrated, and upset.

Okay. Here's essentially the skinny.

The City of Whiting has presented a proposal to developers to turn the entire Stadium District into - wait for it - an office complex.

Yep, they literally want to pave paradise and put in....well, yes, a parking lot, but also OFFICE SPACE.

So, let me get this straight, City of Whiting.

You want to remove something from your city that brings joy and happiness to so many children and adults?

You want to remove something from your city that has made you a top tourist destination in the Chicagoland area and beyond?

You want to remove something from your city that just won a USA Today award for Best Pop Culture Museum of the Year?

You want to remove something from your city that provides so much entertainment and love to your community and beyond?

And you want to replace it......WITH OFFICE SPACE?

I have no words for how absolutely stupid and delirious that is.

Granted, the current mayor and management of the city have no ties to the Mascot Hall - they may not see it as "theirs". That's because the previous mayor, Joe Stahura, made the phone call to Dave Raymond to bring the physical building to the city.

But once he was forced out of office due to a scandal, new leadership took over - and clearly, this potential move shows that they couldn't give one damn about the Mascot Hall.

Now again, I reiterate: this is just a PROPOSAL. It may not happen at all.

But it could.

And I seriously have to now consider the possibility of losing a facility that has become a 2nd home to me....a staff that has become a 2nd family......and all the missed opportunities I would have of meeting more mascots.

Y'all have to understand.

Of the 92 mascots I have met in person, 37 happened at the Mascot Hall of Fame. That's ALMOST half, if you do the math.

Nearly every single mascot I've met since 2019 has been at the Hall: 37 of the last 43 I've met.

If that were to leave the state of Indiana and go hours away from me...I don't know if I could be able to ever go back.

Would it even be WORTH it to remain a member at that point?

I don't know. I don't even want to THINK about making that decision. But again, the possibility now exists that I may have to.

And the timing of this couldn't be worse, as we are RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of The VOTE for the 2024 Induction Class.

What do you want to bet the City of Whiting timed that on purpose just to take a giant dump on mascot fans everywhere?

It wouldn't surprise me at this point.

But again...this is all speculation at this present time. It's only a proposal. No ink has been signed on the dotted line yet. No official decision has been made. No plans to move have been presented.

I need to focus on the here and now, and continue my voting for my #DriveForFive in 2024: DIBS, NJ Devil, Mrs. Met, Jaxson, and Sebastian the Ibis.

But now, every time I go to the Mascot Hall from here on out, one lingering thought will be floating in the back of my mind:

"Cherish every moment, every minute, every SECOND that you are in that building. Because, just maybe, it could be the last time you ever do."

I hope and pray that day never comes. But if by some chance it does, I'll be prepared. I'll have a good long cry. I'll pick myself up, dust myself off, and keep going.

But it will leave, without a doubt, a giant mascot-sized hole in my heart.

After being punched 99 times.

 

The Mad Ant Is SLOWLY Being Phased Out, and It's Frustrating

 I have lost all trust and respect for the Indiana G-League franchise.

Sorry, I'm not calling them by their one-year, placeholder name, the Mad Ants.

Because the franchise clearly has zero respect for that nickname, or the Mad Ant mascot, anymore.

The Mad Ant mascot is now nothing more than an independent part-timer, owned by Pacers Sports and Entertainment, forced to do their bidding until the end of the G-League season.

After that, the franchise will cast him off, along with the nickname, into the dump bin forever.

They'll move to Noblesville, get their fancy new arena, and start over with a nickname and mascot I guarantee won't be as good or creative.

And I won't support it.

They lost me after one game back in December.

I thought for sure that since they were keeping the team name for one more season, all the entertainment would stay for G-League games.

NOPE!

No sign of cheerleaders, drumline, Mad Ant...nothing.

Lame.

So I assumed the Mad Ant had already been retired, the costume scrapped, forever forgotten.

I dedicated my 2024 calendar to him and lamented over the loss of such a unique mascot.

Today, that heartbreak came rushing back.

Because this is the start of NBA Allstar week in Indianapolis, and local mascots got together at the Indy Airport to kick off the celebration.

Oh hey, there's Boomer, Freddy Fever, Nitro, Rowdie, Blue, Hink...

...who is that on the floor to the right of Boomer -

NO.

NO WAY.

Yep.

It's Mad Ant.

How?! Bucking how?

I guess PSE told him to appear. They own him now, they control his schedule.

He can't be at the games, but he can show up randomly without any advance notification.

Got it.

He's slowly being phased out, and it's sad to see.

He can't even wear his own shoes anymore - he has to wear the same model Boomer does.

He can't wear a jersey with the name of the team and number on it - he has to wear one that just says "The Mad Ant".

The franchise has made it clear that they no longer give a damn about the name, the mascot, or the fans.

They will slowly phase him out and then try to market their shiny new toy.

Well, I hate to break it to you, Indiana G-League team.

But you've lost me.

I'm going to root for G League teams that don't treat mascots like garbage and don't give a giant middle finger to the fans.

Good luck with your new toy, but it will NEVER be as good or unique as what the Mad Ant was.

I truly feel sorry for the Mad Ant. I really do.

And when a franchise is making me feel sorry for the mascot they're getting rid of, that shows that they are a team that can't be trusted.

Mad Ant, I'm sorry for how they are treating you. I can only hope that our paths can cross before you disappear forever. Because trust me, if they do, I will shed tears - but they will be tears of joy, not pain.