Now they rank in the top 10 teams in the Western Conference. "They thought I was either going to kill myself or. The mascot has proven to be so popular in the city that he even has a day named after him. "file":"https://feeds.podetize.com/ep/E5G7SBm06/media", You need to work hard and challenge yourself. 35.7k Followers, 196 Following, 204 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Utah Jazz Bear (@utahjazzbear) Youre so important to our community, and you always will be. When I put on the suit, a lot of fear went away, said Absey. Theres a big difference. "label":"Apple Podcasts" I appreciate that. I turned all those down and this is where the team supported me. I just hope that when Im done, I can be happy knowing that maybe I did change the lives of some children through the charity work that weve done.. [1] [2] Since Jazz Bear's introduction, he has performed at over 800 Jazz home games. It was in the Winnipeg Jets Arena. A farm boy, Absey picked up that first mascot job at Morehouse State College for $25. I wanted to get off the farm and see what the big city was. "overcast":{ . Utah Jazz mascot Jazz Bear excites the crowd during a break in play between the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings on March 13, 2016 at Sleep Train Arena. On Tuesday morning, he was helping to reward kids for walking and/or biking to school and staying healthy, active and safe in the process. 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. Out of respect for his character, which is separate from any employee ever associated with it, we have never discussed his identity. I took my head off and I looked and I hooked into a cargo strap, which holds about fifteen pounds. My success is watching my children grow up, concluded Absey. How did you come up with that idea? That was all I was told. I remember one time we were over by like $5,600. Thats where it all started as just an idea to raise money to be able to take kids shopping. Welcome to #nbaallstar #utah. His name was Mark and he would teach me after hours and stuff. I would jump on board with them and thats where it all started. A metaphor for life. Game in and game out, year in and year out, unbelievable. POLAR PLUNGE.Watch the latest video from Jazz Bear (@utahjazzbear). All joking aside, though, Bear is in a class all his own. Youve let so many other people in your life. Even among other mascots, Jazz Bear stands out as one of the most charismatic and fans of his can hire the bear for $300 per hour. We honor you. Ben Rohrbach is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Im almost ready to tap out. Tell us about where you grew to love charity and service before yourself. Well cover it. That was amazing. I know what I was doing was on the right path. Thurl was there to sing to her. "link":false, The Jazz did not cite Absey by name, but did confirm his ouster, alerting media that a new mystery person will be inside the Jazz Bear costume when Utah hosts the Golden State Warriors in Fridays home opener. Living here in Utah, it seemed like anytime there was a significant opportunity to touch kids lives or to raise money for a novel charity, the Jazz Bear would show up. 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Karene Reid Shares How His Family Taught Him Love, Sacrifice, Hard Work, Education And Loyalty, Micah Bernard Dives Into His Journey To Playing Football At The University Of Utah And What It Takes To Be Successful, Devaughn Vele Shares What Inspired Him To Serve A Church Mission And Return To Walk-On As An Eventual Football Star At The University Of Utah, Lander Barton Discusses The Transition From High School Athlete To Starting As A True Freshman In College, Braeden Daniels Shares How Hes Grown Both As A Football Player And A Person Since First Stepping Foot On Campus As A Freshman, Cole Bishop Shares Why He Committed To Playing At Utah Before Stepping Foot On Campus, Junior Tafuna Shares How His Polynesian Family Influence Helped Him Become An Award-Winning Defensive Lineman On And Off The Football Field, Solomon Enis Shares How His Father Helped Guide Him To Success By Focusing On His Mindset And Preparation Both On And Off The Field, RJ Hubert Shares How His Competitive Mindset Helps Him Succeed Both On And Off The Field, Dalton Kincaid Dives Into Who He Is Off The Football Field. Join us as we welcome our special guest, Jon Absey, the former Utah Jazz Bear mascot. Jazz Bear is the club's mascot. Subscribe and listen free anywhere you listen to podcasts. I hated it. I could plant seeds, but you can start rattling them off. "Out of respect for his character, which is separate from any employee ever. Showcased by his countless hours of community and public service, and his incredible respect and standing as an important citizen of Utah who has won eight Mascot Leadership Awards. 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. Its all good i needed to move on anyway All the best J.A. "tunein":{ The Jazz Bear has been their mascot since 1994 and Jon Absey has been behind the costume since the beginning. "google":{ He thought he would retire from the Jazz. Jazz Bear has been named Mascot of the Year 5 times, and has won 8 Mascot Leadership Awards. How old were you when you joined the military? It was my wifes 40th birthday party. I'm grateful that the maker of my handmade journals, Utah-based Rustico, became an underwriter. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The man most basketball fans knew as the Jazz Bear for more than two decades is talking about his time in the suit, and why he was fired. 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. Now he has much more time with his wife and three daughters. Were coming off California Avenue and take that left on Redwood. I was in the Army. He was originally designed to be a cartoon character, but the idea was scrapped in favor of a real-life mascot. According to Eric Woodyard of theDeseret News, a source said Absey was relieved of his role after a "rift with the staff. Theres also that lesson that gets learned through doing this for these high school kids. They will watch the old videos of your amazing antics, your bravery, your courageousness, and your borderline brain damage as you climb these 95-foot towers and repel from the ceiling, and hug the lonely fan that needed a little bit of love that day. I just did the stuff that everybody thinks about doing, but cant, he said. I feel blessed that youve let me into your life. Yes. 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. $7.99 He was the best & always willing to drop by with a confetti cannon. But he said he realized everyone could be just one management change from being let go. Do you see like 180 degrees? To qualify, kids downloadedUDOTs Walking School Bus app, then used it to log each completed walk or bike ride to school. The engaging and fun-loving bear is the cousin to the Utah Jazz mascot Jazz Bear and will be introduced to fans during the second timeout of the first quarter at the Lifetime Activities Center-Bruin Arena on the Salt Lake Community College Taylorsville Campus. We do not discuss individual personnel matters.. They were like the grandparents of the cage. Coming from the upper bowl, paint the word picture for everybody. The first time in my life that I ever got a chance to go into the locker room and watch these guys put on their suits, describe to us how you can see through with the head and, in that process, keep your balance and have situation situational awareness, so you dont fall over or how do you climb a ladder? The Bear and drunk quickly began to battle, and the cops even had to break them up . "position":"bottom", We always said, The Jazz Bear is here, and the Jazz Bear would show up, but I wanted everybody to know Jon Absey showed up who happened to be the Jazz Bear. Absey then worked more than 800 home games as the Jazz Bear. Thats the way the sports were back then as well. I had a dancer from the Winnipeg Thunder that was not strapped in or anything was holding onto me, and Im holding onto her. Theyre called the bear crew, and you have to be able to trust them with your life. 201718 Utah Jazz Media Guide. Back when I started and then all the way up through the 90s, we were fortunate enough to have two finals and they were amazing. Dating back to his first year as the Jazz's mascot in 1994, Bear has given 15,000-plus hours of assistance in the community for more than 300 community organizations, raising over $1 million in the process. But he can still do the splits at age 52. Information in the story may be outdated Not just maintain, but to strengthen and continuously keep your flexibility where it needs to be for you to be that Mascot of the Year and at the top of your game. It was a group effort to get the character going. Im not topping that. Until October 2018: "I was told they were going in a different direction. She goes, Jon, can you come in here? I got up and walked over. They thought I was either going to kill myself or kill a fan, he said. We love you. That kid took a knee. Incidentally, he was also fired from his very first job as a mascot for the CBA for all those stunts he tried out. That 12-foot or 14-foot ladder didnt allow enough time for me to understand that I was going to unwind. The exhibition also included Indiana Pacers mascot Boomer, and now-defunct Seattle SuperSonics mascot Squatch. "They thought I was either going to kill myself or kill a fan," he said. I got an offer from all three teams, but I didnt call anybody back because I was too scared. She grabbed another one and she goes to me, Am I done now?. The Jazz suffered their second straight loss to a team near the bottom of the standings thanks to a turnover-prone outing against the Thunder. [1] All the other leagues copied it. Do you remember those old roll-ups sleds? Jan 12, 2012, 10:55 AM EST. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The true gentleman, and kind, caring human being that you are underneath this costume we affectionately call Jazz Bear. I go right to Grant Harrison, who was our vice president then. If I look back over the years of being Bear, Im definitely grateful for having a job like this, as well as blessed that Im able to take a character and give back to the community and the fans who have given so much to us, Absey said in that interview. Jon Absey has played Jazz Bear since the mascots inception in 1994, but he was fired this week and is no longer with the organization, according to Utah media reports, which cited a rift with Jazz staff. When I started, I wanted to find my own path. "label":"RSS" He was originally designed to be a cartoon character, but the idea was scrapped in favor of a real-life mascot. Thats so wrong. Going back to what you were talking about with your mom, I remember back when we would be shopping, and sometimes, wed always go over. All rights reserved. I dont want to get into a rut. I remember that happened with the ladder. Jazz Bear told Fox the Starzz were looking for a mascot. When you do, youll find yourself at the top of your game despite lifes adversaries. He jumped through rings of fire, played fireworks-filled pianos and rode Karl Malones motorcycle onto the arena floor. window.addEventListener('loadFuseboxPlayer', function(e) { We always say, A prophet is not a prophet if a man is not a prophet in his own country, but you are. The Fargo Fever, which was a CBA team back in the day before the D league and stuff, came over and asked if there was anybody there that would want to be a mascot. "spotify":{ Im like, No, I cant do it. There are big heavy funny mascots like the Phillie Phanatic. They thought I was either going to kill myself or kill a fan, he said. Jazz Bear is the mascot for the Utah Jazz, a National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise based in Salt Lake City, Utah. A Utah Icon The Jazz Bear has been something of a cult icon in Utah for decades, leaving many Utah Jazz fans stunned. Inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006, Absey worked more than 800 home games as Jazz Bear, according to Woodyard. When you have an opportunity, never doubt yourself. It wasnt for a number of years later that the boss or Marcy came in and shes like, I found out that Sacred Heart doesnt have a gymnastics team. What I would do is I would go in and I would watch what other coaches were doing. Thank you for that intro. I put it on, I walk like I walk. Absey was in uniform as Jazz Bear for the mascots introduction, rappelling from the rafters on Nov. 1, 1994, in a move now banned by the NBA, according to the Deseret News. Jon Absey, who played Jazz Bear for almost a quarter-century, has reportedly been fired by the Utah Jazz. Wiki User. Let me guess you also think the cop was in on it or he was a fake cop. . After high school, two weeks after I graduated, I went to Minneapolis. "label":"TuneIn" I knew that I needed to give back to show my gratitude. What I realized is because Im doing something in Utah, but if the Gorilla copies that nobodys going to know. That is until the children. Give us an inside glimpse of when you think that shift occurred and where it occurred from, Im so grateful to be a professional athlete. The Suns Gorilla I was like, I got to top this now. The next year I was like, Im going to do a handstand.. He has since become an iconic part of the Utah Jazz fan experience, and is beloved by fans of all ages. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) It took a bear Jazz Bear to catch a bat and leave the high-flying hijinks to the NBA players. Jon Absey has played Jazz Bear since the mascot's inception in 1994, but he wasfired this week and is no longer with the organization, according to Utah media reports, which citeda rift with Jazz staff. I sat there and I was like, It doesnt feel right.. She grabbed me by the ear and held me all the way down to the office. "apple":{ It is a bull that is blue. I remember there was this voice in my head that was screaming, Dont go. I remember the audio kicked in Thunderstruck. Everybody could see that Jazz Bear and not just wonder what this amazing human being must be like, but now you get a chance to see the stud muffin hunk of burning love that was inside that suit. . You wont come back from this 100%. Id be like, Now, its a challenge. Its like when they did my knee, they took my hamstring instead of a cadaver tendon and stuff. 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. There were a number of times that we had gone over. In this Read more, Listen to the podcast here After serving in a church mission,Devaughn Velefelt inspired to return to football. I miss it. Why was the bear from the Utah Jazz fired? I thought, Lets take that idea of an entertainment event and use it to raise money to take kids shopping.. This answer is: Of course its fake. It was hard to get money because I never liked talking to people about who I was. Theyre resting them on the bench now. Do you remember John and Carl or any of those guys? }, The man behind Jazz Bear has been fired after a reported rift with the Utah Jazz. Two fans in attendance for Sunday's Game 4 stepped. By now, most of you should be aware of Utah's incongruent (at least to Utah) mascot, the Jazz Bear, who once antagonized an inebriated Rockets fan enough to get . Its moments like that you realize these high school kids are getting to see what reality is. Listen to the podcast here Regardless of what happens in life, you always bring family lessons with you. To your point, Karl and Kay loved the neighborhood. The Bear has suffered many injuries while performing, including tearing his bicep and rupturing a tendon in his calf." We appreciate the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into being the. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Bleacher Creatures Milwaukee Bucks Bango 10" Mascot Plush Figure - Signed at the best online prices at eBay! "controls":[ How do you navigate yourself through this little teeny window? At the beginning of the season, the Utah Jazz were second to last. Jon Absey, who portrayed the team's Jazz Bear mascot for 24 years. "rss":{ Abseys full conversation with Return to Real host Neil Anderson is available now. I remember Gordon Hayward was there before I left and he said he didnt like the fans that close to the court. Mark Eaton, the name and a man that we all miss. Inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006, Absey. We appreciate the fans. With his 18 years of experience as the Jazz Bear, Jon has entertained millions of fans and brought joy to . With all due respect to any mascot out there, the person inside the suit makes the character come alive and makes the difference. He didnt try to be anyone else or act like someone else in the suit. It was a rock-climbing thing. Sponsored. 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. This is our ranking of the top five NBA mascots. Before, he said, he hid under a mask. I was so thankful that I didnt go. The Bear has suffered many injuries while performing, including tearing his bicep and rupturing a tendon in his calf. Dec 16, 2013, 05:10 PM EST. Upload . As a mascot, youll be doing a lot of stunts so you need a great guardian angel to look over you. Every successful superstar is someone on a team that is behind the scenes that make us look great. Jazz . I started a mascot conference, a few years into when I had started mascotting. Since Jazz Bear's introduction, he has performed at over 800 Jazz home games. Being successful isnt about having a big bank account. I appreciate that. You get to ask the question, who is the real human being behind the mascot costume? The Utah Jazz Bear is not your typical, cuddly charm. "tracks":[ They were patient enough with me to put up with the stupid stuff I would do. Do not attempt. As were zipping in first-time doing a full go, it started to unravel. The message of this show is a simple reminder, we become the average of the five people we associate with the most, which means you need to find a mascot in your life, but more importantly, if you were a mascot, you must be the same offstage as your onstage. I started a mascot conference because, in my head, I was like, Why is everybody so competitive? because nobody would talk or share ideas. You would come whipping down there. Everything you need to know to plan your 2023 Rose Bowl trip in Pasadena, California. Whoever takes over Friday has big paws to fill. "label":"Stitcher" If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Abseys full conversation with Return to Real host Neil Anderson is available now. He said he feared that people only liked him because he was the Jazz Bear, but now he realizes thats not so. The only thing thats changed is getting a salary. Find out where and when to watch the upcoming games and final match for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including where to find live updates. You then have the Phoenix Gorilla and some of the other mascots in the league like Rocky, Crunch, Sacramento, Portland, and Indy, but theyre that mix where youre funny and athletic. 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 ended up out on the third-floor ledge and chilling out because in my head, I was like, Im bored. I was so ADHD. It is not publicly known how much the person who plays Jazz Bear makes. I am a better man, human being, father, and husband who have had a chance to hang out with you. We did it for the draft. During the Utah Jazz's recent match against the Huston Rockets, the Jazz's mascot, which is creatively named the Jazz Bear, shot silly string at fans during the half-time interval. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Get the latest Utah sports news delivered to your inbox. Some guys in the cheaper suits look through the neck. He is a bright, energetic, and lovable character who loves to show off his signature dance moves and have fun with fans. minutes. This goes to show the people what Karl Malone, Mark Eaton, and Mark Atkins, how to look out for others. Absey had suited up as the Jazz Bear in more than 800 home games and won the 2017-18 NBA Mascot of the Year award this summer, his third time winning the award. Will work a combination of: 45 games (includes pre-season), additional playoff games, rehearsals as needed and select outside . NBA Mascot: The Mascot Bowl is family-friendly, and any family can afford it. Over time, the job took a toll. (#utahjazz Bear lives on w/new mystery person in the suit) pic.twitter.com/4jlF6ftx1y. For his part, Absey told multiple local television outlets that he was not fired, but quit. Absey counted up 150 stitches or staples, 10 surgeries, and 27 torn ligaments or muscles over time. Utah Jazz Fall To Oklahoma City Thunder In Turnover-Prone Outing, New Utah Jazz Guard Kris Dunn Is Causing Problems In OKC, Utah Jazz Forward Rudy Gay With Strong Drive Against Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz Center Walker Kessler Starts Hot In Oklahoma City, Antoine Davis Falls Short In Bid To Break Pete Maravichs Scoring Mark, Ryan Smith: I Want Jazz Fans To Watch Games In Any Format, Notable Moments From The Utah Jazz Season So Far, Everything You Need to Know to Watch the 2022 World Cup. I got a chance to interview him and go to Dallas and meet his mother, who was still alive and go to the mausoleum and pay tribute to the great Mickey Mantle. You are always so generous and went out of your way. While Absey won't don the costume, the Jazz confirmed that Jazz Bear will be present when they host the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. I wouldnt be able to call you and say, Dan, how are you doing? You reply back. The university elected to honor the tribe with their nickname for the Utah football team and the rest of their athletics programs. Jazz Bear made his official debut during the 1990-91 NBA season. Utah Jazz '17-18 review: Donovan Mitchell. There was another time when I was zip-lining in and I was coming out of a spotlight stand about 80 feet in the air. Who is this human being who comes up with extraordinary ideas and creative ways to get the audience riled up and entertained, especially when there are timeouts and theres nothing worth watching on the field, which is the case of all the teams who have losing records? Brenda Hoskins is one of Mark Eatons great friends. At your age, youre still so fit and so strong. I got smart when I got to the Jazz as I started putting two sleds together and put a wood board in the middle of them so that it was more solid. That was all I was told," Absey said. Reading or replaying the story in its The only thing I had is I had a nose that dropped my lower peripheral. He has been inducted into the YMCA Hall of Fame, the Utah Summer Games Hall of Fame, and the Mascot Hall of Fame. That somebody is looking out for me. Teaches the inside look of a head of a mascot. I was fortunate that I had a good enough vision that if I could do something out of the suit, I could do it in the suit. Long-time Former Jazz Bear tells all https://t.co/maNuOwLk8Q, Mary Richards (@kslmrichards) January 15, 2020. Required fields are marked *. The Bear first debuted by. That is a testimony to what guys they were. They played for the right reasons. Absey then worked more than 800 home games as the Jazz Bear. A wayward bat flew around the court inside the Vivint Smart Home Arena about an hour before Utah's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, interrupting the pregame shooting routines of the likes of Jazz stars Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio. Jazz Bear is dead, long live Jazz Bear. 3532. This man pulled up in this car. They said, What did he look like? Theyre describing this huge superstar kind, teddy bear. There were crazy moments. Estimated read time: 3-4 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. Thats the players we had back then. He can still do the splits at age 52. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onUtah Jazz and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Despite this, the Utah Jazz opted to bust it out over the weekend, inviting some lucky children down into the spotlight to compete against Jazz Bear, the team's long-running mascot. Not for everybody, but for some. They revealed his real name which is the utmost sign of disrespect in the mascot community or the "mascomm" Reply . I remember them telling me that I wont be able to do the splits on that leg anymore. When asked to lean the cake over to give the crowd a better view, the bear tilted it over a little too much, sending the baked good hurling down several feet to . "imageUrl":"", When you have the Jazz players, the Gail and Larry Miller family, the fan base, the thousands and thousands of ticket holders and season ticket holders who have been entertained and inspired by you, its an honor for me to unveil the mask or the masked singer. 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. What a good way to turn off the lights at night and go to sleep. The Mascot Assistant represents the Utah Jazz and the Utah Jazz Bear brand and must represent oneself in a professional manner as they interact with Jazz fans in the arena and community. Its interesting as Jon retired as our Jazz Bear and a new person took over the costume, you realize that its more than a costume. Free shipping. Describe what happened there. The Jazz Bear unmasked Incidentally, he was also fired from his very first job as a mascot for the CBA for all those stunts he tried out. ", 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. The Jazz Bear unmasked. Spencer Lund January 14, 2014. Before, he says, he hid under a mask. If you ask me, that puts him right up there with the likes of Karl Malone, John Stockton, Donovan Mitchell and Jerry Sloan as one of the most important and influential figures in Jazz history. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Jazz Bear is the mascot for the Utah Jazz, a National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise based in Salt Lake City, Utah.Jazz Bear was introduced to the league on November 4, 1994. I loved it so much. I looked over at Craig Bolerjack and Im like, Im doing it again. I ran back up the slide. I still stay in touch with all these guys and thats what I love is that were a tight brotherhood. Jon Absey wore the Jazz Bear suit well, there were nine of them for almost 25 years. I looked at Greg and I was like, You got a tough kid. Years later, theyre adults and coming to give back because of what it did for them. I was talking to a season ticket holder sitting down the front, and he commented, Theyre raising our ticket prices. His greatest gag, though, was leveling fans who ran onto the court and mercilessly attacking them the way bears are supposed to: He made out with referees and sprayed CO2 on ushers behinds. However, 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. He is the original Jazz Bear. #utah #nballstar. Grant Harrison trusted me so much. In a 2010 interview with the Deseret News, Absey said as a result of his performances he has bone spurs in both ankles, broke his big toe, tore his right calf, blew out his right knee, tore both hamstrings, had hernia and back surgeries, ripped tendons in two fingers, blew out both bursa sacs and required stitches. When Bill stepped away, then I tried to raise the money. Jon Absey The other one was a brown bear because its native to the mountains. God bless their souls, Stephen and Minnie, they were this older couple that would always come down to the cage and bring Luke and me drinks and cookies.