So, I got thinking about NBA mascots the other day. You know, those big, fuzzy characters jumping around, doing crazy dunks off trampolines. Always loved the energy they bring. Benny the Bull, Rocky the Mountain Lion… those guys are legends in their own right.
Anyway, I had this idea. Maybe I could try designing one? Just for kicks, you know. My team, they have a mascot, but I thought, what if they had something different? Something… I dunno, more.
Getting Started
So, I actually started doing it. Pulled out an old sketchbook. First thing, I just watched hours of game highlights, but only focusing on the mascots.
- How they moved.
- How the crowd reacted.
- What kind of stunts they pulled.
- How the costume looked up close, far away, and on TV.
Realized pretty quick it’s not just about looking cool. That suit has gotta be functional. You gotta run, jump, probably survive getting tackled by kids or enthusiastic fans.
I started sketching. Tried a few animals, some weird concepts. Wanted something tough but also funny. Spent a few evenings just doodling, erasing, starting over. Got kinda obsessed for a week or two. Even started messing around with some free drawing software on my computer, trying to get the colors right. It wasn’t professional stuff, just playing around.
Reality Check
Then I showed some rough drawings to my cousin. He knows a guy who used to work in sports promotion, like way back. Not NBA level, but still. My cousin looks at my stuff, nods, and then kinda bursts my bubble.
He was like, “Man, this is cool, but you know there’s like, a whole team of people for this, right? Marketing folks, costume engineers, lawyers for the branding…” He wasn’t mean about it, just realistic. Suddenly my little passion project felt kinda silly, way outta my league.
And honestly, right around that time, other stuff was happening. Had some issues flare up with my car, stupid expensive repairs needed. Then my landlord decided to sell the place I was renting. Just felt like everything was piling up. The mascot drawings? They suddenly seemed like the least important thing in the world.
So, I packed the sketchbook away. Had to focus on sorting out the real-world headaches. Finding a new place, figuring out the car situation, that took all my energy. Didn’t have time to dream about fuzzy court jesters.
It’s funny how things go. You start down one road, thinking about something fun like NBA mascots, and life just throws you a detour. I never did finish those designs. Never sent them anywhere, obviously. They’re probably still in a box somewhere in my closet.
Sometimes I see a game, see the mascot doing something wild, and I remember spending those nights sketching. It wasn’t a total waste, I guess. Made me realize how much goes into things you don’t normally think about. And maybe it was just a distraction I needed before tackling the real stuff. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll dig ’em out again, just for a laugh.
