It was something fun to do. "They thought I was either going to kill myself or. I was like, Im safe here. Honestly, I thought somebody was going to. Lets go back to sledding the stairs. It was fun to do an interview with the original Utah Jazz Bear, Jon Absey. 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. 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. Over time, the job took a toll. Thats the way the sports were back then as well. 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. This is also why the logo features an encircled "U" with . 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 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. }, The official site of the National Basketball Association. Reading or replaying the story in its 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. [1][2] Since Jazz Bear's introduction, he has performed at over 800 Jazz home games. Did you always have a natural sense of balance and body strength or did you develop that? Grant Harrison trusted me so much. I named off a bunch and I wanted to make sure that I was doing my own path to success here and hopefully make it successful. 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. You need to train and focus on your flexibility every day. He jumped through rings of fire, played fireworks-filled pianos and rode Karl Malones motorcycle onto the arena floor. You would come whipping down there. Jazz Bear has been named Mascot of the Year 5 times, and has won 8 Mascot Leadership Awards. Jazz Bear is the mascot for the Utah Jazz, a National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise based in Salt Lake City, Utah. He literally when I got there, he said listen, you're the mascot. She grabbed me by the ear and held me all the way down to the office. Hes like, Come out here. He was originally designed to be a cartoon character, but the idea was scrapped in favor of a real-life mascot. He was 1 of the 3 highest-paid professional baseball players in the entire league. One thing led to another, and he was asked to try out to be the Jazz mascot in the early 1990s. I was fortunate to go to Sacred Heart High School in East Grand Forks. Subscribe and listen free anywhere you listen to podcasts. 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 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. That is a testimony to what guys they were. On the way, I was talking to Bob Woolf. Sign up today for the KSL Sports newsletter. Larry H. Miller Charities (PDF). We had a mat there and I crashed into the mat because thats how fast you were going. About 120. That was all I was told," Absey said. He is such a stud in every way. "They thought I was either going to kill myself or kill a fan," he said. You need to work hard and challenge yourself. Jazz Bear made his official debut during the 1990-91 NBA season. Because his whole career was spent working nights and weekends, and sacrificing his family and his body. Jon Absey has played Jazz Bear since the mascot's inception in 1994, but he was fired this week and is no longer with the organization, according to Utah media reports, which cited a rift. Over time, the job took a toll. The Jazz Bear has been their mascot since 1994 and Jon Absey has been behind the costume since the beginning. The Utah Jazz have an iconic mascot. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. They let me learn all my skills for what I was doing. 3532. Those were two real bad moments. 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. Because Alan's actually playing a show at the Jazz's arena, Vivint Arena. He said, Yes, and he showed up. Why the mascot for the Utah Jazz is a bear.and why is name is simply just "Bear".still baffles me. I got a chance to interview him and go to Dallas and meet his mother, who was still alive and go to the mausoleum and pay tribute to the great Mickey Mantle. A one-on-one interview with the Utah Jazz Bear about what it takes to create a successful mascot program. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Tell us about your philanthropic efforts. Following. Then a couple of months later, theyre the ones who get to take the other kids Christmas shopping. fuseboxPlayer(e.detail).setConfig({ You've never seeing NBA mascots on TV before or the jumbo tron? Its moments like that you realize these high school kids are getting to see what reality is. It was one of those things that Brenda would always be like, Jon, dont. Im like, No. 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 miss it. "rewind" 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. Living here in Utah, I am so proud to have on my show a gentleman by the name of Jon Absey. It was a rock-climbing thing. Out of respect for his character, which is separate from any employee ever associated with it, we have never discussed his identity. We did it for the draft. That's because the Utah Jazz fired Absey this week due to reasons that include ongoing disputes with management, according to multiple sources. At your age, youre still so fit and so strong. Do you have this fraternity or do you keep in touch with one another as mascots off-season? Hes in the Mascot Hall of Fame, but more importantly, hes a husband, a father, and a philanthropist. Im zipping in with one hand wrapped in what was called the lanyard that would slide on the cable. I was told they were going in a different direction. The mascot has proven to be so popular in the city that he even has a day named after him. Do you remember Roxanne? A metaphor for life. SportsPulse: Jeff Zillgitt and Trysta Krick put their prediction hats on for some bold takes as the NBA season gets set to begin. Yes. The biggest reason this is staged is because it was on the internet and they used the stadiums cameras to record? This man pulled up in this car. They said, What did he look like? Theyre describing this huge superstar kind, teddy bear. archived form does not constitute a republication of the story. 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. Mark started doing handstands. 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. Absey is telling all in a new podcast called "Return to Real.". He thought he would retire from the Jazz. That kid took a knee. Ive dreamt my whole life to do this, to entitlement. I thought it would be fun. It was like a playland. Thank you very much for that. We need to do something for the underserved.. My mom calls me when she gets home. All rights reserved. Here, we will focus on the top 10 most popular sports mascots. We do not discuss individual personnel matters.". Thank you. The only thing I had is I had a nose that dropped my lower peripheral. "title":"Jon Absey shares his journey to become an NBA mascot as the original Utah Jazz Bear", Full disclosure: I kind of want to drive like an ape now. Put yourself out there and take your shot. Estimated read time: 3-4 Honestly, I was never a gymnast. The Bear's identity is safe at least for now. TikTok. In this Read more. Despite this, the Utah Jazz opted to bust it out over the weekend, inviting some lucky children down into the spotlight to compete against Jazz Bear, the team's long-running mascot. Jazz Bear first appeared in 1989 as part of a marketing campaign for the team. There were a number of times when he would show me how to throw a full-off on a tramp. "title":"Power Players with Dan Clark", I grew up in avenues in Salt Lake City, Utah, Karl Malone built his house up there and its in my mothers neighborhood, down the street on the same street as my mom. Give us a chance. I was like, Okay.. "tunein":{ Find the best Plush for your project. 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. I went, I get it! $7.99 ], Now, its such a different culture. Theres a difference between a costume and someone whos inside the costume that uses that vehicle or character to express who he is. God bless you. What a good way to turn off the lights at night and go to sleep. I appreciate that. 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. Theres a big difference. How big is the window? When you think about it, these athletes are playing the kids games. I almost died four times. 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. One thing led to another, and he was asked to try out to be the Jazz mascot in the early 1990s. Youre so important to our community, and you always will be. You started mascotting in 93, and thats not when you came to the Jazz and was way before when you did everything else? Jazz Bear will continue to be one of the most iconic mascots in the NBA, a Jazz spokesperson said in a statement. Youre going to agree with me on this, but to me, being successful isnt about having a big bank account. Well be forever grateful. This is funny because I lied on the application and said I was a gymnast at Sacred Heart, but I never was. The exhibition also included Indiana Pacers mascot Boomer, and now-defunct Seattle SuperSonics mascot Squatch. And then listen to the full conversation in this link! Give me more money? As I teach in my world of culture creation and leadership and sales, if you come from money, you will leave for money. 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 Jazz Bear has been their mascot since 1994 and Jon Absey has been behind the costume since the beginning. That was my first experience before I came with you. We appreciate the fans. 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. 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 was tough. I went out and I was one of the first guys to bring a ladder on the court and get up on top of signs, and then guys started doing that. [6][7], "The Bear facts: The Utah Jazz 16-year mascot, Bear, balances life of court jester, charity king", "Utah Governor Declares October 10 as the Utah Jazz Bear 20th Anniversary Day", "Reports: Jazz fire Bear performer after 24 seasons", "Utah Jazz fire longtime employee who played team's Jazz Bear mascot", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jazz_Bear&oldid=1100250002, This page was last edited on 24 July 2022, at 23:38. When she passed away, I cried so hard. Sponsored. He said he feared that people only liked him because he was the Jazz Bear, but now he realizes thats not so. Take us from the beginning. Weve had Andy Chudd describe what the money is used for the other part of the Job Absey charitable conglomerate, but talk to us about the origins of the Mascot Bowl. Absey was in uniform as Jazz Bear for the mascots introduction, rappelling from the rafters on Nov. 1, 1994, in a move now banned by the NBA, according to the Deseret News. When they get done and the stuff that you can hear them talking about, its nice to know that hopefully, they learned something from this. They are those guys that are strictly athletic and work for the crowd a little bit. After high school, two weeks after I graduated, I went to Minneapolis. History of Jazz Bear. Log in. Were here for you to Its all about me. 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. According to Eric Woodyard of the Deseret News, a source said Absey was relieved of his role after a rift with the staff.. You always had time for everybody. 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. ] Jazz Bear will continue to be one of the most iconic mascots in the NBA, said Jazz spokesman Frank Zang. "label":"Spotify" SALT LAKE CITY, Utah 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. However, 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. I was a Forward Observer and I volunteered. We slid all the way across the cement. He was then offered to come to the University of Utah as a walk-on. 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 . According to Eric Woodyard of the Deseret News, a source said Absey was relieved of his role after a "rift with the staff." What is the jazz bears name? }, Thats why I started liking college because theyre out there playing for the love of the game. If it wasnt for his trust in letting me be the bear, as he said, Listen, Im going to give you enough rope to hang yourself. Youre probably going to die if you do that. I trusted those guys. Free shipping. 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. No. I was like, I got to top this now. The next year I was like, Im going to do a handstand.. 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. 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. Since Jazz Bear's introduction, he has performed at over 800 Jazz home games. . 1 of 5 Perhaps the most glaringly obvious example of a team name being unrepresentative of its current home is the Utah Jazz. It was my wifes 40th birthday party. Theyre there every game and they put a lot of effort and energy into making the bear what it was. "episodeNo": 0, I dont care about appearances. Jon shares his inspiring story of taking advantage of opportunities and the challenges of balancing family and work and living a purpose-driven life. Thank you, everybody. I remember laying there and I couldnt move because it like took everything out of me to hold that rope. When they get married and have children, theyll pass it on to say, We need to get involved in a charity. 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. Youve let so many other people in your life. Dozens of students were later chosen as winners for the Bear walk. Did you learn that from your siblings beating the crap out of you going, Someday, Im going to never do this?. I was in the Army. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah 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. When I put on the suit, a lot of fear went away, said Absey. "tracks":[ Until October 2018. Not for everybody, but for some. They taught me to be a little tough. Everything you need to know to plan your 2023 Rose Bowl trip in Pasadena, California. "rss":{ Its so cool to be a prophet in your own country. Why was the bear from the Utah Jazz fired? Antoine Davis finished four points shy of surpassing Pete Maravich as the NCAA career scoring leader, scoring 22 vs. Youngstown State. 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. Now he has much more time with his wife and three daughters. Incidentally, he was also fired from his very first job as a mascot for the CBA for all those stunts he tried out. I was getting it through Karl Malone, John Stockton, all those guys would write me checks and they would cover it. I thought, Lets take that idea of an entertainment event and use it to raise money to take kids shopping.. The only thing thats changed is getting a salary. Is Jazz Bear the only Utah Jazz mascot? [1] Utah Governor Gary Herbert declared October 10, 2013 as "Jazz Bear Day" in recognition of his 20th season as the Utah Jazz' mascot, and also his countless hours of community and public service and his standing as an important citizen of Utah. Talk to us about your exercise program. I ended up out on the third-floor ledge and chilling out because in my head, I was like, Im bored. I was so ADHD. 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. Its all good i needed to move on anyway All the best J.A. Years later, theyre adults and coming to give back because of what it did for them. Until October 2018. Buster, the team's first-ever mascot, will wear uniform #1. Thats where I wanted to be, but then I realized thats a big group. 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. The Utah Jazz have fired Jon Absey, who portrayed the teams Jazz Bear mascot for 24 years. Absey was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006. Out of respect for its character, which is separate from any employee ever associated with it, we have never discussed its identity.