Thats what made you the Mascot of the Year five times and the mascot forever more. 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. He has since become an iconic part of the Utah Jazz fan experience, and is beloved by fans of all ages. They let me learn all my skills for what I was doing. My vision was my eyes. window.FuseboxPlayerAPIKey = '736|Bt3uGzU4xc0sddXrD2L8BnN1FwLmic13Qk65z0pZRktxo58SWbNAcFgDsC3FYQ3MK0XyoUWYU7WUaQjG'; Hes covered in snow. They were patient enough with me to put up with the stupid stuff I would do. Thurl was there to sing to her. I know what I was doing was on the right path. 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. "url":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1573990224", SALT LAKE CITY (AP) It took a bear Jazz Bear to catch a bat and leave the high-flying hijinks to the NBA players. Frank Zang, the spokesperson for the Utah Jazz, did not tell News4Utah why he was let go and said the man's identity has never been released, out of respect for the character. Were not talking a little six-foot. Being successful isnt about having a big bank account. I love seeing them be humbled by these kids. The Laybournes even roped in a celebrity: Bear, the mascot of the Utah Jazz. Thats basically where I started teaching myself gymnastics. The mascot has proven to be so popular in the city that he even has a day named after him. When I put on the suit, a lot of fear went away, said Absey. Tell us about your philanthropic efforts. He is the original Jazz Bear. The Utah Jazz have an iconic mascot. For his part, Absey told multiple local television outlets that he was not fired, but quit. The Little Giant, anytime I had an idea, they would build me a ladder because theyre the ones who built me the big sled from the upper bowl. I appreciate that. 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. Welcome to #nbaallstar #utah. 5 Rocky the Mountain Lion Denver Nuggets. Dozens of students were later chosen as winners for the Bear walk. I need to know that I can do this on my own, and to tell you the truth I love it more this way because now I get to talk to people and get to know people. 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. I knew we had something in common as soon as we kept talking along. 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. Thats when I realized I got a great guardian angel. Following. Thats so wrong. 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. I remember the principal leaning out the window. Apparently, Houston Rockets fans don't appreciate silly string in their beer. I still stay in touch with all these guys and thats what I love is that were a tight brotherhood. When I left, I had nine guys that worked with me on game night. Estimated read time: 3-4 All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Describe what happened there. Jon Absey, who portrayed the team's Jazz Bear mascot for 24 years. All celebrating kids who couldnt have a Christmas and wouldnt have the means with their parents, you provided that for them. 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. Green and other Brown men had felt a need for a definite symbol for Brown. Game in and game out, year in and year out, unbelievable. 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. He said he never feared anything he could control. The fans and the team were so accepting of the character and I appreciated that. It was a rock-climbing thing. Abseys full conversation with Return to Real host Neil Anderson is available now. Like there are three different types of mascots, there are a whole bunch of different types of vision when it comes to a head. Wiki User. The Utah Jazz began life as the New Orleans Jazz. Why the Phoenix Suns Gorilla arrived in the winter of 1980 isnt nearly as intriguing as what hes done since he arrived. When you have an opportunity, never doubt yourself. 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. It happened Monday as the Jazz claimed their fourth. I knew that I needed to give back to show my gratitude. I was just me. 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. I was talking to him because we may be trying to do some stuff together and then the same with Rocky out in Denver. Until October 2018. I thought, Lets take that idea of an entertainment event and use it to raise money to take kids shopping.. When I started with the Shop With Bear, it used to be Bill Childs. It's the first time he's spoken about his time in the . Why the mascot for the Utah Jazz is a bear.and why is name is simply just "Bear".still baffles me. Jazz Bear (@utahjazzbear) on TikTok | 7.6M Likes. 3414. 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. Were you always an extraordinary natural gymnast? ], Utah Jazz: Did Donovan Mitchell just tease his signature kicks? And then listen to the full conversation in this link! Thats why I started liking college because theyre out there playing for the love of the game. Jazz Bear was introduced to the league on November 4, 1994. 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. A metaphor for life. Mascot Bowl started strictly because I always wanted to do something that was very family-friendly and that any family could afford. Utah Governor Gary Herbert declared October 10, 2013 as "Jazz Bear Day" in recognition of his 20th season as the Utah Jazz' mascot. A one-on-one interview with the Utah Jazz Bear about what it takes to create a successful mascot program. I see them all the time through out a game. Athletes should be approachable. Do not attempt. As a mascot, youll be doing a lot of stunts so you need a great guardian angel to look over you. Full disclosure: I kind of want to drive like an ape now. 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. The person who wears the Jazz Bear suit is not publicly known. You got other guys that look through the mouth like the Denver Broncos. 1 of 5 Perhaps the most glaringly obvious example of a team name being unrepresentative of its current home is the Utah Jazz. Jazz Bear was introduced to the league on November 4, 1994. SportsPulse: Jeff Zillgitt and Trysta Krick put their prediction hats on for some bold takes as the NBA season gets set to begin. I almost missed out on being out here. 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. It was one of those things that Brenda would always be like, Jon, dont. Im like, No. i was today years old when i found out i posted the 2nd most viewed tiktok in the nfl this season A new man will be donning the furry costume and entertaining Jazz fans at Utah's NBA home opener Friday night. It was something fun to do. I was just me. Inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006, Absey. Thats what youve always been able to do. A farm boy, Absey picked up that first mascot job at Morehouse State College for $25. Utah Governor Gary Herbert declared October 10, 2013 as 'Jazz Bear Day' in recognition of his 20th season as the Utah Jazz' mascot . } He was introduced to the league on November 4, 1994. I felt like I needed to give back. "tunein":{ "label":"RSS" 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. "url":"", It was so fun. Bleacher Creatures Utah Jazz Bear 10" Mascot Plush Figure. Jazz Bear is the mascot for the Utah Jazz, a National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise based in Salt Lake City, Utah. : The Utah Jazz mascot, Bear, performs during a time out of their game against the Denver Nuggets during Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs at EnergySolutions Arena on April 30, 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He can still do the splits at age 52. Behind every successful husband is an astonished mother-in-law. } If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. I remember when Greg Ostertag came to the team, his son was running up to me and I didnt see him and I kneed him so hard and he went flying. I always like what the kids say afterward. We went out and lived with his dad for a while. }); Jon Absey, the original Utah Jazz Bear, shares his journey from farm boy to becoming a world-class mascot. On the way, I was talking to Bob Woolf. Id always ride in the bucket and Id freeze. Abseys full conversation with Return to Real host Neil Anderson is available now. Unfortunately for the Jazz Bear, he had to find out the hard way. She grabbed me by the ear and held me all the way down to the office. Over time, the job took a toll. Jazz Bear is the official mascot of the National Basketball Association's Utah Jazz team. The Utah Jazz have fired Jon Absey, who portrayed the team's Jazz Bear mascot for 24 years. I chickened out. 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. In those days, Mickey Mantle won the Triple Crown in 1956 and the Yankees wanted to trade him because he was getting paid too much money. NBA Mascot: As a mascot, the thing that can keep you out of so many injuries is flexibility. He is such a stud in every way. Did you always have a natural sense of balance and body strength or did you develop that? Jon Absey wore the Jazz Bear suit well, there were nine of them for almost 25 years. Im not a fan of a team that I dont know anybody on it. 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. Did you learn that from your parents? When you think about it, these athletes are playing the kids games. God bless you. NBA Mascot: When sports teams started glorifying their players, they put a bigger wedge between the fans and the players. He began as a farm boy in North Dakota, landing his first mascot job for only $25 for Moorhead State College, which eventually led to an audition to be the Utah Jazz Mascot in the early 1990s. Jimbo, by virtue of being recently featured in the Deseret News, is now the world's most famous Utah-based basketball mailbag artist. "url":"https://tunein.com/podcasts/Media--Entertainment-Podcasts/Power-Players-with-Dan-Clark-p1464878/", There are other guys that can look through their eyes, but theyre screened almost like your microphone, just those little holes, and then they have painted in their eyes. "title":"Jon Absey shares his journey to become an NBA mascot as the original Utah Jazz Bear", 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. I moved out there with one of my best friends. Fortunately for us, it was all caught on tape. Her name was Sister Basil, and I love her. On Monday afternoon, Bear was officially recognized (once again) as the best in the business of making hoops fans in-arena experience a great one. 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. "subscribe" With all due respect to any mascot out there, the person inside the suit makes the character come alive and makes the difference. "buttonConfig":{ I started a mascot conference because, in my head, I was like, Why is everybody so competitive? because nobody would talk or share ideas. It was tough. The Suns Gorilla 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. 35.7k Followers, 196 Following, 204 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Utah Jazz Bear (@utahjazzbear) I dont want to get into a rut. I remember that happened with the ladder. 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 was like, Nothing is going to stop me., One time, this big snow storm was happening, Santa Claus, I cant say his name, he always showed up and ride in the bucket with me. NBA Mascot: Getting the Utah Jazz Bear character going is a group effort. From high school, then what happened? The Jazz Bear was the third of three mascots to dunk over future President Trump in the video. 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. My success is watching my children grow up, concluded Absey. Sponsored. You need to work hard and challenge yourself. How old were you when you joined the military? 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 was so thankful that I didnt go. Full disclosure: I kind of want to drive like an ape now. Im all over the place. window.addEventListener('loadFuseboxPlayer', function(e) { Simply put,hes a bear about townin the best possible way. Utah Jazz newcomer guard Kris Dunn continues to make a contribution despite his limited time with the team. During a timeout, there were a few fans on the floor . (Getty Images) 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. I just did the stuff that everybody thinks about doing, but cant, he said. Listen to the podcast here Regardless of what happens in life, you always bring family lessons with you. Now he has much more time with his wife and 3 daughters. Duke Snider, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle all made $150,000 a year, and they were the top-paid players. I feel blessed that youve let me into your life. The Bear and drunk quickly began to battle, and the cops even had to break them up . She held on to me, we zipped in, and we hit the floor. I dont know why, but I was able to do the trick. I wanted to get off the farm and see what the big city was. I miss it. 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 . It was such a different time. As such, we decided to add a little bit more levity to our site via Jimbo's unique outlook on the world of Jazz basketball. "share", It was like, Im going to do a one-armed handstand. The one-armed handstand happened and nobody copied it. Every successful superstar is someone on a team that is behind the scenes that make us look great. Its so cool to be a prophet in your own country. [1][3] In 2006, Jazz Bear was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame. Tom Nissalke was the commissioner up there for the NBL back in the day. It was awesome. He said he feared that people only liked him because he was the Jazz Bear, but now he realizes thats not so. Kay Malone answers the door and my sweet mother says, Hi, Im Ruby Clark. TicketSupply.com is not directly affiliated with any sports event venues, box offices, or any Utah Jazz tickets. I hated it. I put it on, I walk like I walk. Im a fan of a team in that the players appreciate me being there and spending that hard-earned money to come to watch them play. 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. "url":"", He said he feared that people only liked him because he was the Jazz Bear, but now he realizes thats not so. Absey did handstands on a 23-foot tall ladder, rappeled from the ceiling, and slid down the stairs. Im like, No, I cant do it. }); In this Read more, Listen to the podcast here After serving in a church mission,Devaughn Velefelt inspired to return to football. They taught me to be a little tough. All joking aside, though, Bear is in a class all his own. Teaches the inside look of a head of a mascot. Coming from the upper bowl, paint the word picture for everybody. Video produced by Alinco Costumes.For more info abo. Take us back to the day when the buses would show up and the fire department had their lights and sirens go on. { 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. To your point, Karl and Kay loved the neighborhood. We do not discuss individual personnel matters.. I remember he looked at me and hes like, Im not doing this again. We were both freezing, Im uncovered. I thought it would be fun. I couldnt believe they allowed it. 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. You started mascotting in 93, and thats not when you came to the Jazz and was way before when you did everything else? 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. Your email address will not be published. Yes. There will be many more events and years to come if I have anything to do with it. "url":"#" You would come whipping down 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. Why was the bear from the Utah Jazz fired? There are three types of mascots. I remember them telling me that I wont be able to do the splits on that leg anymore. 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. Its like a full circle. They arent above anybody just because they get a bigger paycheck. For everybody out there, take that step and give it a shot. I was in the Army. Mark started doing handstands. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Is Jazz Bear the only Utah Jazz mascot? This is also why the logo features an encircled "U" with . For the record, this mischievous mascot was born quite by accident. Hear it this afternoon on @kslnewsradio. During the Utah's game against Cleveland on Tuesday night, the Jazz mascot (creatively named mascot "Bear") was delivering a birthday cake to a lucky fan. Years later, theyre adults and coming to give back because of what it did for them. I literally got on my toes and I didnt go. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onUtah Jazz and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. 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. He didnt try to be anyone else or act like someone else in the suit. When I started, I wanted to find my own path. Thats where it all started as just an idea to raise money to be able to take kids shopping. I remember hitting the ground, and just running. Were here for you to Its all about me. They built me this enormous ramp from the upper bowl all the way down to the floor. In this YouTube video, the Utah Jazz Bear gets revenge on a Houston Rockets fan who poured beer on the mascot's head during a game. It is not publicly known how much the person who plays Jazz Bear makes. "description": "", And why did they do this recreation, you ask? It was just silly string. Absey is telling all in a new podcast called "Return to Real.". "color":"#E33F3E", 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. } Jon Absey I love you because everything you say and do is you mean and live it. 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. Rules dont change or anything. We lived down the street and I wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood. To your point, Kay Malone invites my mother in, gives her a tour of her brand-new house, and takes her on a tour of the entire room that Karl built with plexiglass cases of every single member of the dream team with autographs, shoes, jersey, shorts, everything. Your email address will not be published. Spencer Lund January 14, 2014. We need to do something for the underserved.. I jumped up on the bars, and then it was that aha! moment. I remember running up the wall another time and putting two big holes in it, but they were patient with me. When she passed away, I cried so hard. Im almost ready to tap out. When I put on the suit, a lot of fear went away, said Absey. "imageUrl":"", The true gentleman, and kind, caring human being that you are underneath this costume we affectionately call Jazz Bear. A tetchy Cleveland Cavaliers fan was left red-faced after being handed a good, old-fashioned ass-whooping by the mascot of rival team Utah Jazz when he suffered a severe sense-of-humour. I want to know that I put a footprint on this planet like you. Will work a combination of: 45 games (includes pre-season), additional playoff games, rehearsals as needed and select outside . Andy was with the big Mark Eaton and it was the same thing going to Walmart and doing the thing. A team up in Winnipeg happened to be down scouting. 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. Whats amazing though, is for a while now, I had kids that weve taken shopping come and volunteer. "link":false, "buttons":[ Yes, as far as the NBAMascots.com can find, Jazz Bear has been the one mascot for the Utah . NBA Mascot: The Mascot Bowl is family-friendly, and any family can afford it. Jan 12, 2012, 10:55 AM EST. "cover":{ Thats where I wanted to be, but then I realized thats a big group. "featured":false He jumped through rings of fire, played fireworks-filled pianos and rode Karl Malones motorcycle onto the arena floor. I grew up with older brothers and sisters and how much they beat me up helped. I remember laying there and I couldnt move because it like took everything out of me to hold that rope. 9 Why was Jon Absey fired from the Utah Jazz? The mascot, named Jazz Bear, showed off his talents on the water, doing some impressive waterskiing and wakeboarding in full costume, all to the bangin' lyrics from good ol' Alan himself. They were approachable. Welcome to the show. Well be forever grateful. They get to get out there and pull it off. How do you navigate yourself through this little teeny window? I put it on, I walk like I walk. "label":"Apple Podcasts" Absey did handstands on a 23-foot tall ladder, rappeled down from the ceiling, and slid down the stairs. Its about knowing that what youre doing is on the right path. 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. Before, I would show up, meet people, and Id go, but I never felt so connected as I do now with people, with children and their parents, because now I get to talk to them and see them. On the heels of being named the NBA's Rookie of the Month for February, Walker Kessler scored the Jazz's first six points Friday night. Give us a chance. I was like, Okay.. This will be generational. "rewind" That was all I was told. About 120. }, "coverDisplay":false, Frank Zang, the spokesperson for the Utah Jazz, did not tell News4Utah why he was let go and said the man's identity has never been released, out of respect for the character. Do you have this fraternity or do you keep in touch with one another as mascots off-season? He thought he would retire from the Jazz. You werent above anybody because you got a bigger paycheck. I miss it. Being a mascot was great. I remember hitting the ground, and just running. "style":"regular", "label":"Stitcher" People like you and Andy Chudd were a huge part of that. We wanted our own identity. But then he got on a bull at the Days of 47 Rodeo. Thankfully, the team let me do that. I dont care about appearances. 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. I'm grateful that the maker of my handmade journals, Utah-based Rustico, became an underwriter. }, That kid took a knee. I sat there and I was like, It doesnt feel right.. Jon Absey, who played Jazz Bear for almost a quarter-century, has reportedly been fired by the Utah Jazz. Out of respect for his character, which is separate from any employee ever associated with it, we have never discussed his identity. We have no respect, no credibility, and please download and share this episode as a simple reminder that Jon Absey is exactly the same in person as he is in that suit.
