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.
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