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.