Reaction continues to pour in regarding new Clippers mascot Chuck the Condor, with most of it carrying a negative tone. In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes it has "taken more than three decades, but the Clippers have finally become a serious basketball operation with strong ownership, credible leadership, and real championship aspirations." Plaschke: "Do they really need an ornithological nightmare named Chuck?" Their championship drive has been "interrupted by the addition of a cheesy mascot." The Clippers "don't need a mascot because they already have a mascot." Plaschke: "He starts cheers, he leads dances and, as everyone breathtakingly witnessed Monday, he dunks. His name is Steve Ballmer" (L.A. TIMES, 3/2). ESPN's Jackie MacMullan asked, "Why are the Clippers doing this? They’re a legitimate franchise. They don’t need to do this anymore” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 3/1). In California, Steve Fryer writes, "Nobody is deciding to now go to Clippers games because they have Chuck the Condor. I don’t remember telling mom and dad I didn’t want to go to a Lakers game until they get a mascot" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/2). ESPN's Jemele Hill said she was "not totally sold on” the mascot. Hill: "It’s the state bird, but was a mascot all that really necessary?” However, she noted the mascot was not as bad as the first iteration of the Pelicans' mascot Pierre (“His & Hers,” ESPN2, 3/1). Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw said the condor looked “scary for a lot of kids." Cowlishaw: "I don’t think that’s something you really want to put in their thoughts at night” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 3/1). ESPN's Michelle Beadle said, “That is the worst mascot I have ever seen.” She added, "It’s what nightmares are made of, that face" ("SportsNation," ESPN, 3/1). But ESPN's Jalen Rose said, "Who cares what the mascot looks like? I want to see how he performs and how he entertains. Yes, he looks like he should be on a cereal box, but it should be kid friendly. It is not for adults to like. So for every adult saying they don't like the mascot, the mascot was not for you." ESPN's David Jacoby added, "You know where they got him actually? Toucan Sam and Mickey Mouse had an illicit affair" ("Jalen & Jacoby," ESPN2, 3/2).
