I ended up out on the third-floor ledge and chilling out because in my head, I was like, Im bored. I was so ADHD. When I would submit my stuff, Luke would always say, Why do you keep showing them the stuff youre doing? I know this pushed me and Im glad I did it because it worked. He didnt try to be anyone else or act like someone else in the suit. The three years you were a junior in high school, you almost killed the whole faculty? It was fun to do an interview with the original Utah Jazz Bear, Jon Absey. ", While the Jazz declined to comment on Absey specifically, they confirmed in a statement that Jazz Bear will continue to be the team's mascot: "The Jazz Bear will continue to be one of the most iconic mascots in the NBA. Im not topping that. We admire you. } Teaches the inside look of a head of a mascot. How did you come up with that idea? Jon Absey wore the Jazz Bear suit well, there were nine of them for almost 25 years. That was my push. This is back when you could stand on the side of the court and the players would talk to you, I remember one time seeing Adam Keefe up in the stands talking to people. Hopefully, when I pass, I have a full church and then I know that I was successful. In this episode, Jon Absey, the original NBA basketball Utah Jazz Bear, an extraordinary philanthropist, shares his life and fascinating journey in becoming a sports team mascot. He also does a lot of charity work and he can interact with the kids as himself now. WATCH: Mascot gets even with fan who poured beer on him - WTVR One thing led to another, and he was asked to try out to be the Jazz mascot in the early 1990s. They were like the grandparents of the cage. I dont know why, but I was able to do the trick. Absey then worked more than 800 home games as the Jazz Bear. I remember this little girl was over by the candy bar section and she grabbed a candy bar and she looked up at the two kids that were with her and shes like, Am I done? Im like, No, you got way more money to spend, because we always try and give the kids each $100. Put yourself out there and take your shot. But then he got on a bull at the Days of 47 Rodeo. Last question, Jon. Wed be in the front and Id look from the fire truck all the way down Redwood and we were like 30th south and you could see the last vehicle turn in the corner because we had nine buses, like eight fire trucks, all these cop cars, a whole bunch of vehicles in tow. Young basketball fans getting the opportunity to play musical chairs on TV with their favorite NBA mascot from the Utah Jazz sounds like a lovely promotional event. I went out and I was one of the first guys to bring a ladder on the court and get up on top of signs, and then guys started doing that. I was like, I got to get a bigger ladder. Thats when we pulled out the 25-footer. I do talk about this to some people. I was not a mean kid. "url":"", On October 19, 2018, it was reported that Jon Absey, who had performed as the Jazz Bear for twenty-four years, had been fired for unknown reasons. "url":"#" "sticky":false, 3532. Man behind Utah Jazz mascot fired - ABC4 Utah }, We had a star-studded dinner there at our favorite restaurant here in Utah, and you so graciously paused for a moment, and then I got to ask Thurl who you were. I wanted to be able to entertain people without having to spend as much as it was back then to go to a game, and also now. Dozens of students were later chosen as winners for the Bear walk. That was one of the moments where I was like, Im going to show him. I would grab people and haul him out on the court because it was like, This is what makes fans, fans, being able to interact and come on the court. People think they have to give someone a bonus to increase performance and yet your experiences know when you have service before yourself, you elevate everyone around you. "description": "", NBA Mascot: As a mascot, the thing that can keep you out of so many injuries is flexibility. I loved always pushing myself because I felt as if the day that I stopped pushing myself and I was not excited to try and do something new was the day that I got to hang it up. I still stay in touch with all these guys and thats what I love is that were a tight brotherhood. Reading or replaying the story in its }, NBA Mascot: The Mascot Bowl is family-friendly, and any family can afford it. Mark would always hang out and Brenda would walk over and say, This is the situation, and Mark would pull out a credit card and hed cover the $2,000 that we were short. MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 12: Jazz Bear, mascot for the Utah Jazz rubs a fans head during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks on January 12, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Information Display and Entertainment Associated also honored the Jazz and Bear for the best in-arena mascot video in professional sports, where he engaged in a car derby with the Phoenix Suns Gorilla. It was climbing trees and the warehouse, getting on top of the barn, jumping on a tractor, and tearing off in the field. She goes, Jon, can you come in here? I got up and walked over. If it wasnt for his trust in letting me be the bear, as he said, Listen, Im going to give you enough rope to hang yourself. "url":"https://feeds.podetize.com/rss/QVnbs-974Q", Im all over the place. I thought it would be fun. When Bill stepped away, then I tried to raise the money. He has been inducted into the YMCA Hall of Fame, the Utah Summer Games Hall of Fame, and the Mascot Hall of Fame. Until October 2018. He didnt try to be anyone else or act like someone else in the suit. Theres a big difference. 3414. Well cover it. That was amazing. Although hes now a three-time NBA MOTY and was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame back in 2006, those numbers tell the tale of what Jazz Bear is all about just as much as all the 20-foot ladders hes climbed or trampoline dunks hes thrown down. . Green and other Brown men had felt a need for a definite symbol for Brown. Who is the Jazz Bear? Utah Jazz Mascot NBAMascots.com Buster, the team's first-ever mascot, will wear uniform #1. I got a big ladder and Rocky got a big ladder. Jimbo's Mailbag - The End of the Jazz Bear? | Salt City Hoops I felt like I needed to give back. I was a farm boy in a little town up in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. The Bear, as the mascot of Brown University, had its beginning when Theodore Francis Green 1887, a member of the building committee for Rockefeller Hall, placed the head of a real Brown bear above the arch that was the central feature of the trophy room in time for the opening of the new student union in January 1904. The man behind Jazz Bear, the reigning Mascot of the Year, has been fired after almost a quarter-century with the team due to "a rift" with the organization, according to multiple reports out of Utah. This archived news story is available A farm boy, Absey picked up that first mascot job at Morehouse State College for $25. It was Childs Christmas if you remember. I started a mascot conference, a few years into when I had started mascotting. The man behind Jazz Bear has been fired after a reported rift with the Utah Jazz. Thank you very much for that. There was a Winnipeg Thunder and those guys had brought me up to Winnipeg to mascot for the summer, but unlike Fargo, they had no rules. Will work a combination of: 45 games (includes pre-season), additional playoff games, rehearsals as needed and select outside . Donald Trump Dunked Over By Jazz Bear At Michael Jordan Flu Game Im like, Why didnt you call me? Why couldnt I be your bodyguard? We need to do something for the underserved.. Its moments like that you realize these high school kids are getting to see what reality is. My only thought was, Im not letting her die. I dont care what happens to me because of the stupid decision that we decided because were doing Phantom of the Opera. 15-year-old boy dies after being found in crashed car with gunshot wounds, Do not 'push a slower friend down' if you encounter a bear, National Park Service warns, Police say man killed by Farmington officers had gun; victim's mom filed suit over other traffic stop, Suspect in Dylan Rounds disappearance charged with murder, Police investigating serious crash on I-215 offramp, Man struck, killed by FrontRunner in Clearfield, Trapped fox 'severely' injures dog in Draper, prompts warning from city, 14-year-old uses social media to track down man accused of robbing him, Northern Utah man faces 30 felonies in child pornography case. I was like, Thatd be great, because I was a poor college kid making $25 a game. Here's what lawmakers have directed schools to do. Utah Governor Gary Herbert declared October 10, 2013 as 'Jazz Bear Day' in recognition of his 20th season as the Utah Jazz' mascot . Utah Jazz Mascot Absolutely Bodies Small Children During Game of As a mascot, youll be doing a lot of stunts so you need a great guardian angel to look over you. Did someone teach you so you could be a teacher or did you just show up and figure it out? . But he said he realized everyone could be just one management change from being let go. Sponsored. I was getting it through Karl Malone, John Stockton, all those guys would write me checks and they would cover it. He was then offered to come to the University of Utah as a walk-on. Who could replace him as Utah GOP state party chair, In dry West, farmers balk at idling land to save water, 27% of Utah students are chronically absent. Jon Absey, who played Jazz Bear for almost a quarter-century, has reportedly been fired by the Utah Jazz. "subscribe":{ Does anyone know why the Jazz Bear was fired? : r/SaltLakeCity "url":"", Whats amazing though, is for a while now, I had kids that weve taken shopping come and volunteer. Did you learn that from your siblings beating the crap out of you going, Someday, Im going to never do this?. In this episode, Karene Reid shares how his family taught him love, sacrifice, hard work, Read more, Listen to the podcast here When nobody believes in you, you have to believe in yourself. The Suns Gorilla Out of respect for his character, which is separate from any employee ever associated with it, we have never discussed his identity. Out of respect for his character, which is separate from any employee ever associated with it, we have never discussed his identity. List of National Basketball Association mascots - Wikipedia You got other guys that look through the mouth like the Denver Broncos. The extent of that rift is unclear, according to the Deseret News Eric Woodyard, but Jon Absey served as the man inside one of the NBAs most iconic mascots since Jazz Bears debut 24 years ago. Introducing Buster The Bear! - Salt Lake City Stars I was a Forward Observer and I volunteered. I remember going up and looking down and I looked over at Luke and said, Luke, this might be a really bad idea, and he was like, Im glad youre doing it. We jumped on and it was such a fast, fun ride, though. Now he has much more time with his wife and three daughters. Jazz - The official site of the NBA for the latest NBA Scores, Stats I have three guys that started when I started and they all quit when I left. A judge Monday ordered that the name of the Utah Jazz mascot be revealed to the plaintiff and attorneys in a lawsuit but said they must keep the identity of The Bear confidential. Its about knowing that what youre doing is on the right path. Sign up today for the KSL Sports newsletter. He thought he would retire from the Jazz. Every successful superstar is someone on a team that is behind the scenes that make us look great. Here's a sneak peek. Take us from the beginning. When I would get surgery because I hurt myself, theyd always say like, Its going to be hard to come back. I started a mascot conference because, in my head, I was like, Why is everybody so competitive? because nobody would talk or share ideas. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+.