Mark Eaton, the name and a man that we all miss. I was fortunate to have something that we called the bear crew. Yes, as far as the NBAMascots.com can find, Jazz Bear has been the one mascot for the Utah . But then he got on a bull at the Days of 47 Rodeo. How to Market Your Business with Webinars? Youre going to agree with me on this, but to me, being successful isnt about having a big bank account. 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. I went, I get it! That 12-foot or 14-foot ladder didnt allow enough time for me to understand that I was going to unwind. 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. 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. What a good way to turn off the lights at night and go to sleep. I was like, If we can make this industry stronger and better, itll help all of us. Five guys showed up the first year, and then as time passed, it turned into the conference you had to attend. That kid took a knee. How long does it take us to respond once we go into the gym and push ourselves, tear down our muscles, and work on our cardio? Stick through the whole video (You can give up 4. The mascot has proven to be so popular in the city that he even has a day named after him. I remember hitting the ground, and just running. I wouldnt be able to call you and say, Dan, how are you doing? You reply back. Bold predictions for the 2018-19 NBA season. You must be the same person in your house as you are outside of your house, the same person on the field or on the court as you are off the court and vice versa. I was not a mean kid. 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 would watch him do his backflips and Id say, Do it again, and if I could see it and visualize it, I could do it. I said, If theres a conflict between a charity event, sponsor event, or paid event, I want to do the charity event. I was doing about 325 appearances a year, and they were 99% charity. I started getting those calls and I never thought people would want me to come out so much because I made such a mess all the time when Id show up. Reading or replaying the story in its Not for everybody, but for some. "label":"Overcast" Until October 2018. "rss":{ Jon Absey wore the Jazz Bear suit well, there were nine of them for almost 25 years. Teaches the inside look of a head of a mascot. You have that same reputation. He thought he would retire from the Jazz. 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 remember running up the wall another time and putting two big holes in it, but they were patient with me. Absey is telling all in a new podcast called "Return to Real.". Absey counted up 150 stitches or staples, 10 surgeries, and 27 torn ligaments or muscles over time. On the same day he was honored, a video of Bear encouraging motorists not to drive like an ape debuted on YouTube. I remember Gordon Hayward was there before I left and he said he didnt like the fans that close to the court. Jon Absey wore the Jazz Bear suit well, there were nine of them for almost 25 years. They formed the mask to fit my face so that it fits perfectly right around my eyes. The Utah Jazz have an iconic mascot. Jazz Bear was introduced to the league on November 4, 1994. She bakes a cake and goes to knock on the door. Grant Harrison trusted me so much. Andy was with the big Mark Eaton and it was the same thing going to Walmart and doing the thing. Find the best Plush for your project. ], She grabbed another one and she goes to me, Am I done now?. Thats the players we had back then. The true gentleman, and kind, caring human being that you are underneath this costume we affectionately call Jazz Bear. Players didnt write me those checks like it was. Why was the bear from the Utah Jazz fired? Welcome to the show. I feel blessed that youve let me into your life. ], It was awesome. It was something fun to do. His name was Mark and he would teach me after hours and stuff. I still stay in touch with all these guys and thats what I love is that were a tight brotherhood. Since Jazz Bear's introduction, he has performed at over 800 Jazz home games. Absey then worked more than 800 home games as the Jazz Bear. I was like, Game on. I worked so hard and I literally got my splits back and I still think I did it better than before. Your email address will not be published. Ive dreamt my whole life to do this, to entitlement. Enough said. 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. The Bear's identity is safe at least for now. Well cover it. That was amazing. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Everything you need to know to plan your 2023 Rose Bowl trip in Pasadena, California. Mascot Team 2005 Clutch: Houston Rockets: 2006 Jazz Bear: Utah Jazz: 2007 Hugo the Hornet: New Orleans Hornets: 2008 Jazz Bear (2) Utah Jazz 2009 Rumble the Bison: Oklahoma City Thunder: 2010 Bango: Milwaukee Bucks: 2011 Grizz: Memphis Grizzlies: 2012 Crunch the Wolf: Minnesota Timberwolves: 2013 Clutch (2) Houston Rockets 2014 The Coyote Im not topping that. Usually, when Id get up there, I had time to take my head off, look and hook myself, and check my equipment. I appreciate that. He is the original Jazz Bear. It was like a playland. Were coming off California Avenue and take that left on Redwood. He is known for his fearless and unapologetic approach to entertaining the crowd, often pushing the boundaries of what is expected from a game's charm. SALT LAKE CITY 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. There were a number of times where I went a little outside the box and he went to battle, and he knew that, in order for the character to keep creating and growing, it needed to push those bounds. Bears impact cannot be overstated. I was 22. Dan, I cant thank you enough for having me on. 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. Theyre called the bear crew, and you have to be able to trust them with your life. They built me this enormous ramp from the upper bowl all the way down to the floor. 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. 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. Jazz Bear of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during media day at vivint.SmartHome Arena on September 26, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Whats amazing though, is for a while now, I had kids that weve taken shopping come and volunteer. Brenda Hoskins is one of Mark Eatons great friends. How old were you when you joined the military? Why the mascot for the Utah Jazz is a bear.and why is name is simply just "Bear".still baffles me. Hes like, Did you take a job with the other teams? I was like, No. He goes, What are you going to do? I said, I dont know. He goes, Why dont you come out here? He talked to me like I was then. He was probably best known for sledding down the stairs of Vivint Smart Home Arenas aisles and emptying a seemingly endless supply of Silly String onto opposing fans. 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! "duration":0, and last updated 6:32 PM, Dec 05, 2013. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The only thing thats changed is getting a salary. I'm grateful that the maker of my handmade journals, Utah-based Rustico, became an underwriter. Talk to us about your exercise program. Abseys full conversation with Return to Real host Neil Anderson is available now. I put it on, I walk like I walk. The man behind Jazz Bear has been fired after a reported rift with the Utah Jazz. After spraying two Rockets fans with silly string in between quarters of a game last week, one of the fans reacted by dumping . It was great to have that vehicle, being the bear. I love you because everything you say and do is you mean and live it. Long-time Former Jazz Bear tells all https://t.co/maNuOwLk8Q, Mary Richards (@kslmrichards) January 15, 2020. Jazz Bear made his official debut during the 1990-91 NBA season. When they moved in, my sweet mother, visualize her, the youngest of nine children raised by a single mom on a farm in Southern Idaho. We do not discuss individual personnel matters.. "label":"Google Podcast" "url":"", You need to work hard and challenge yourself. There will be many more events and years to come if I have anything to do with it. "label":"Stitcher" [1] Or, perhaps it was because he heard how great the winters in Phoenix are. She was one of my dearest friends. You get to ask the question, who is the real human being behind the mascot costume? And why did they do this recreation, you ask? Thankfully, I got out here because if you go back before that, when I did tryouts out here, they had a three-team tryout with Sacramento, Seattle, and Utah. 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. When you take a rope and put both ends on the cable, youd put your hand in it and twist it. Estimated read time: 3-4 How did you come up with that idea? "url":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1573990224", I took my head off and I looked and I hooked into a cargo strap, which holds about fifteen pounds. And as the Utah Jazz mascot, Jazz Bear, showed Sunday night during Game 4, it doesn't stop just because the players aren't out there. But he can still do the splits at age 52. Out of respect for his character, which is separate from any employee ever associated with it, we have never discussed his identity. They were like, Jon, we appreciate everything you did, but youre going to kill yourself or a fan in there. I was like, That was fun. It wasnt life-changing for me. He said he feared that people only liked him because he was the Jazz Bear, but now he realizes thats not so. I moved out there with one of my best friends. Now they rank in the top 10 teams in the Western Conference. Unfortunately for the Jazz Bear, he had to find out the hard way. 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. I appreciate that. I love her. 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. Coming from the upper bowl, paint the word picture for everybody. This archived news story is available 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. 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. "url":"https://overcast.fm/itunes1573990224/power-players-with-dan-clark", At Salt City Hoops, we know that covering a team without any humor can be dreary. It was such a different time. 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. 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. Jon Absey has been named Mascot of the Year in the NBA five times and Best Mascot out of all sports nationwide twice and, just recently was given an award for the best video by a mascot out of all sports nationwide. I grew up with older brothers and sisters and how much they beat me up helped. A one-on-one interview with the Utah Jazz Bear about what it takes to create a successful mascot program. I dont want to get into a rut. I remember that happened with the ladder. But he said he realized everyone could be just one management change from being let go. Im going to do it. To me, its a tradition and Im a big tradition guy. Jon Absey, who played Jazz Bear for almost a quarter-century, has reportedly been fired by the Utah Jazz. Living here in Utah, I am so proud to have on my show a gentleman by the name of Jon Absey. "buttonConfig":{ [5], 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. 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. It was different. Utah Jazz newcomer guard Kris Dunn continues to make a contribution despite his limited time with the team. 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. }, Thats where I wanted to be, but then I realized thats a big group. or superseded by additional information. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Put yourself out there and take your shot. Over the years, the Jazz Bear has been known for his dangerous stunts, including his iconic sled down the top of the lower bowl of the arena down to the court. Incidentally, he was also fired from his very first job as a mascot for the CBA for all those stunts he tried out. In this Read more, Listen to the podcast here After serving in a church mission,Devaughn Velefelt inspired to return to football. The Jazz Bear was the third of three mascots to dunk over future President Trump in the video. People like you and Andy Chudd were a huge part of that. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) It took a bear Jazz Bear to catch a bat and leave the high-flying hijinks to the NBA players. The fans and the team were so accepting of the character and I appreciated that. It was nice that mascots around the country would support me. "link":false, The Jazz Bear has been their mascot since 1994 and Jon Absey has been behind the costume since the beginning. Its about knowing that what youre doing is on the right path. . Hes in the Mascot Hall of Fame, but more importantly, hes a husband, a father, and a philanthropist. I didnt have to see through a screen. "apple":{ History of Jazz Bear. Thats the way the sports were back then as well. It was called American Gold Gymnastics. We always say, A prophet is not a prophet if a man is not a prophet in his own country, but you are. Dating back to his first year as the Jazzs 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. That was all I was told. I miss it. How long does it take you to come back and start talking instead of holding a grudge? Bleacher Creatures Milwaukee Bucks Bango Mascot 8" Kuricha Sitting Plush. 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. NBA Mascot: When sports teams started glorifying their players, they put a bigger wedge between the fans and the players. Bear joined a group of students fromEagle Valley Elementary School in Eagle Mountain, UT less than 24 hours after being announced as the NBAs Mascot of the Year for the 2017-18 season for breakfast, after which he walked the kids to school. You werent above anybody because you got a bigger paycheck. "label":"RSS" Following. God bless you. The Suns Gorilla There were crazy moments. At the beginning of the season, the Utah Jazz were second to last. You have no credibility. "google":{ 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. The exhibition also included Indiana Pacers mascot Boomer, and now-defunct Seattle SuperSonics mascot Squatch. Why was Jon Absey fired from the Utah Jazz? A new man will be donning the furry costume and entertaining Jazz fans at Utah's NBA home opener Friday night. He said, Yes, and he showed up. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Out of respect for his character, which is separate from any employee ever associated with it, we have never discussed his identity. Over time, the job took a toll. He was 1 of the 3 highest-paid professional baseball players in the entire league. His community initiative, Bear Hugs for Kids, is at the forefront of efforts to improve life for a myriad of people throughout the intermountain region. "file":"https://feeds.podetize.com/ep/E5G7SBm06/media", For his part, Absey told multiple local television outlets that he was not fired, but quit. "color":"#E33F3E", I appreciate that. Its all good i needed to move on anyway All the best J.A. Buster, the team's first-ever mascot, will wear uniform #1. Here's a sneak peek. If there was ever a conflict between a charity or a sponsor who needed me or something like that, Id always default to the charity. Incidentally, he was also fired from his very first job as a mascot for the CBA for all those stunts he tried out. That was all I was told," Absey said. Its funny because when you talk about people with your stature and what youve done, you dont always hear it. She grabbed me by the ear and held me all the way down to the office. I was told they were going in a different direction. He has since become an iconic part of the Utah Jazz fan experience, and is beloved by fans of all ages. How do you navigate yourself through this little teeny window? I was talking to him because we may be trying to do some stuff together and then the same with Rocky out in Denver. He didnt try to be anyone else or act like someone else in the suit. There are so many little caveats. Join us as we welcome our special guest, Jon Absey, the former Utah Jazz Bear mascot. For everybody out there, something that you did, Dan, is you have the people like the old players and how everybody was so nice. 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. How tall was the ladder? When I started, I wanted to find my own path. ] We got to go.. Wiki User. "That was scary," Mitchell said after Utah's 106-102 victory . 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. "description": "", Now, its such a different culture. After high school, two weeks after I graduated, I went to Minneapolis. All joking aside, though, Bear is in a class all his own. I was like, Im safe here. Honestly, I thought somebody was going to. I felt like I needed to give back. 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. 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. We appreciate the fans. Did you learn that from your siblings beating the crap out of you going, Someday, Im going to never do this?. Back then, when I first started going, it was only twelve feet and then guys started going out and they were on the ladder. Spencer Lund January 14, 2014. Years later, theyre adults and coming to give back because of what it did for them. He created the idea, costume, and antics that allowed him to be named and honored as the MBA Mascot of the Year five times and the number one voted Most Popular, Most Amazing, Most Significant Mascot across all professional sports and cold sports nationwide two different times. 2023 Bonneville International. "subscribe":{ A farm boy, Absey picked up that first mascot job at Morehouse State College for $25. The Utah Jazz Bear is not your typical, cuddly charm. Absey is telling all in a new podcast called "Return to Real.". "They thought I was either going to kill myself or. And he can interact with the kids as himself now. He was then offered to come to the University of Utah as a walk-on. 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: Mascot of the Year award as Jazz Bear, marking, While Absey won't don the costume, the Jazz confirmed that Jazz Bear will be present when they host the. It was fun to do an interview with the original Utah Jazz Bear, Jon Absey. Ive been to a number of games where the stars arent playing. She held on to me, we zipped in, and we hit the floor. Full disclosure: I kind of want to drive like an ape now. 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? Hes covered in snow. His name is Jim Johnston. The Bear has suffered many injuries while performing, including tearing his bicep and rupturing a tendon in his calf. When they get married and have children, theyll pass it on to say, We need to get involved in a charity. We honor you. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. window.addEventListener('loadFuseboxPlayer', function(e) { I love them for that and they still come to this day. Its so fun because we used high schools and we like to have kids get involved. It was a little bit harder, but I could figure it out. 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 was going through school and I was coaching over at a gym. Dick Butkus, the guys that are from Meyer that I grew up idolizing, played for the love of the game and had a second career or another job in the off-season so they could pay their bills. That is a testimony to what guys they were. 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. When we came out that night, we did it. Now he has much more time with his wife and three daughters. The 50-year-old Absey won the 2017-18 Mascot of the Year award as Jazz Bear, marking the fifth time he garnered the honor in his career. 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. window.FuseboxPlayerAPIKey = '736|Bt3uGzU4xc0sddXrD2L8BnN1FwLmic13Qk65z0pZRktxo58SWbNAcFgDsC3FYQ3MK0XyoUWYU7WUaQjG'; No, that wouldve been fun to radar that. Teach us about that concept and maybe pay tribute to the great Mark Eaton, who participated with you in a little bit of a way. According to Eric Woodyard of the Deseret News, a source said Absey was relieved of his role after a rift with the staff.. Absey did handstands on a 23-foot tall ladder, rappeled from the ceiling, and slid down the stairs. I almost died four times. He is such a stud in every way. Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 26, 2019 Fans then cheered wildly as the proud mascot strolled off the court with the big catch. Thats when I realized I got a great guardian angel. Our dear friend, Thurl Bailey, introduced us, and you were going in for your first of 462 and a half surgeries, if you remember that. }, Antoine Davis finished four points shy of surpassing Pete Maravich as the NCAA career scoring leader, scoring 22 vs. Youngstown State. "imageUrl":"", It was one of those things that Brenda would always be like, Jon, dont. Im like, No. I said, If I dont share it and nobodys trying to copy it, one, I dont know if its good enough to that Im doing this. Is it more of a professional association? That somebody is looking out for me. 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. We had a mat there and I crashed into the mat because thats how fast you were going. Give us the inside scoop of the Mascot Bowl. "featured":false I was like, I got to top this now. The next year I was like, Im going to do a handstand.. Yes. 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 . I remember hitting the ground, and just running. He created the idea, costume, and antics that allowed him to be named and honored as the MBA Mascot of the Year five times and the number one voted Most Popular, Most Amazing, Most Significant Mascot across all professional sports and cold sports nationwide two different times. "tunein":{ Its amazing when you put a number of people or that many people together what you can accomplish. Check out this Cleveland Cavaliers fan mixing it up with the mascot of the Utah Jazz. I looked and I saw this kid sliding across the floor and I was like, Hes going to start crying, but he got up, came running back over. He was famous in our neighborhood because little kids would come home, have a lemonade stand, and Karl would pull up and pay a hundred dollars for a couple of glasses of lemonade and bring them home.

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