The Clippers during halftime of last night's game unveiled Chuck the Condor, the team's "long-rumored mascot," according to Dan Woike of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Chuck, a bird wearing a helmet and knee and elbow pads, was "lowered from the Staples Center rafters" as part of a ceremony that included Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer jumping "off a trampoline" and dunking (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/1). The AP's Beth Harris noted the mascot is "gray with a pink head, a large blue nose, wears a Clippers cape and has a red-and-white helmet that he removes." The crowd was "underwhelmed in its response until Ballmer announced that fans would receive a free pair of red Converse sneakers if the owner could successfully dunk." The Clippers had been "one of four NBA teams without a mascot" (AP, 3/1). YAHOO SPORTS' Eric Freeman notes Chuck is "based on the California condor, a critically endangered species with great meaning to the history of the state and various Native-American groups within it." However, the public "did not bestow the gift of popularity upon Chuck and the Clippers," as early takes "have been pretty vicious" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/1).
FOR THE BIRDS: The REGISTER's Woike notes Chuck’s unveiling was "met with a mixture of cheers, boos and a whole lot of confusion, as people struggled to wrap their heads around a human-sized condor in a helmet and elbow and knee pads" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/1). ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth said of the mascot, “Because when you think of the Clippers, you think of a condor. What is that thing? Why does it have a pink face?” ESPN’s Tim Legler: “Is it that hard to come up with like a really, really cool intimidating mascot? What is that? It's a combination of about eight different things” ("NBA Tonight," ESPN2, 3/1). ESPN Radio’s Mike Golic said, “There had to be like actual meetings about that -- first to come up with the condor, and then to come up with the outfit, which by initial review of people was a little bit underwhelming. Like, what is this?” Golic added, “Here’s an issue I have with the mascot. If you never said, ‘Here comes Chuck the California Condor,’ if they just lowered that thing from the rafters like they did, would you have any idea what bird that’s representing?” ESPN’s Jay Williams: “I would have thought it was a demon or something.” Golic: “You would have no idea what that thing is. Kids would be running for the exits" (Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 3/1).
AIR BALLMER: While Chuck's debut may not have gone over well, Ballmer's dunk drew wide adulation. CBS’ Charlie Rose said, “Steve Ballmer got game!” CBS’ Norah O’Donnell noted Ballmer “has been here before at the table, and there is nobody who is more enthusiastic” (“CBS This Morning,” 3/1). Legler said, “He almost missed the trampoline! Thank goodness that turned out okay. I’ll give a guy credit -- it’s cool to see your owner out there doing that” (“NBA Tonight,” ESPN2, 3/1). CNBC’s David Faber: “I give him credit. That could have gone very badly.” Faber said Ballmer is "doing what I think he should be doing” as the team's owner. Faber: "He could put on the mascot suit and be great at that too” (“Squawk Box,” CNBC, 3/1). NBA TV’s Dennis Scott: “Look at the focus. Air Ballmer in the building.” NBA TV's Matt Winer: “Pretty good, and yet Shaq refused to give him a 10” ("NBA Gametime," NBA TV, 3/1).
