Please explain to me how we eneded up with a groudhog

by gondeee on Nov 18, 2008 8:32 AM EST in Minor League News Comment 15 comments

The new Gwinnett Braves are holding tryouts for their mascot:

The G-Braves will be holding auditions to portray Chopper — a corpulent cartoon groundhog — at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville. No experience necessary, though reserved types who hate to dance might want to look elsewhere.

In case you didn't know, corpulent = "excessively fat" -- a wonderful message to send to the youth about baseball.

But seriously, a groundhog? I didn't know that Gwinnett was known for their groundhog population. Surely there are better mascots in the world. I mean, Diamond Duck was a helluva lot better than "Chopper the groundhog." How lame...

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In all fairness

What else is Gwinnett County actually known for? I-85 congestion, cheap(ish) gas, gigantic malls, and overzealous cops. It’s also “that one bigass county you have to drive through to get to Athens.”

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Nov 18, 2008 9:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gwinnett is Great! Success Lives There!

Please shoot me.

by BullManUGA on Nov 18, 2008 9:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They should change his name to Chipper the Woodchuck. Nobody would know the difference.

by BullManUGA on Nov 18, 2008 9:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm going to get killed for saying this...

…but on the surface of it, and plausibility questions aside as to whether the groundhog accurately represents the area, it’s not a bad choice. With mascots, you want something that is going to appeal to the kids, to entertain them, make sure they have a good time, and beg their parents to come back (and spend more money). Compared to some of the mascots I’ve seen, this one is at least cheery and friendly-looking, and hopefully the actual mascot suit looks similar. Even more important is that they make a good choice as far as who is inside the suit.

I could see them selling a lot of stuffed animals dressed in the G-Braves getup, just as shown above…in fact, maybe I’ll get one for Pujolina when they come out…

by VegasAces on Nov 18, 2008 9:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Valid point

For a moment there, I forgot that this was minor-league ball we’re dealing with, and these are the kinds of things that minor league ball has been doing for years. It would be something to see AAA playoffs, and see the Gwinnett Braves tangle with the Portland Beavers. They could do one those goofy dugout skits, like when the Nationals play the Orioles during interleague and Screech the Bald Eagle wrestles with the Baltimore Oriole.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Nov 18, 2008 9:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

I think the kids will like it, and thats really all that matters. Its not like the Atlanta Braves have a much better one, its just a guy whith a baseball for a head. I miss the politically incorrect indian.

by 10-4 on Nov 18, 2008 10:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Here's what I envisions

Chopper the Indian Lumberjack. Full headdress, Flannel shirt, Brave’s Style Tomahawk, Cartoon Features.

Also bring back Noc-A-Homa.

by someguy917 on Nov 18, 2008 10:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

if the mascot is a groundhog, why not call them the gwinnett groundhogs?

Following the Braves...one long hard drink at a time.

by bigjoe on Nov 18, 2008 10:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

he looks a lot like dugout, the little league mascot. kids seem to like dugout, so maybe they’ll like chopper too.

by brndn on Nov 18, 2008 12:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Come on gondeee, nothing is lamer than the Diamond Duck. Worst mascot ever.
Besides, I loved the use of corpulent.

by cbwilk on Nov 18, 2008 2:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

another thing. why did they name the damn thing after the main club’s star player? thats um, a little awkward. imagine if the reading phillies busted out CHASE THE CHIPMUNK, or if the louisville cardinals came out with uh…winnie the pujols?

Following the Braves...one long hard drink at a time.

by bigjoe on Nov 18, 2008 3:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs