The closest thing to a professional sports team in Bowling Green is the Bowling Green Hot Rods. This team is the triple A minor league affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and has been in Bowling Green for 10 seasons. Some of the most recognizable faces of this sports franchise are the mascots, Roscoe and Axel. At the Hot Rods inception there was only one mascot, Axel the bear. A few years later, another mascot was introduced: the grease monkey, Roscoe.
Obviously, there is someone underneath the suit, but the average Hot Rods fan would not know who. It’s Hayden Johnson.
An 18 year old freshman at Western Kentucky University, Johnson has been a mascot at the Hot Rods for one season. He enjoys his job and the joy he can bring to the fans.
On his experience taking on a community personality, Johnson said, “It takes a little time trying to figure out the role and character you are trying to be. It’s more about making the character more like you.”
Being a mascot requires more than meets the eye. Just because someone is a mascot does not mean that they were always were comfortable with the suits. During the hotter days of the season, the suit can reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit inside the suits. Breaks are required for safety reasons and proper hydration.
Any job as a mascot inevitably involves children terrified of the life-sized animals/ Dealing with these children can be a touchy subject for the person inside the suit.
When Johnson was asked how he handles kids who don’t like mascots, he said, “I step back and give them their space because I don’t want to make any guest upset.”
Sometimes people who are mascots chose that job because they liked them as a child, but Johnson said, “No, I did not. I was actually pretty scared of them when I was young.” Another reason that Johnson decided to work at the Hot Rods was because his older sister also worked there.
Next time you go to a Hot Rods game, be aware that there is a man under the mask, and it just might be Johnson.
By Ethan Klein
Obviously, there is someone underneath the suit, but the average Hot Rods fan would not know who. It’s Hayden Johnson.
An 18 year old freshman at Western Kentucky University, Johnson has been a mascot at the Hot Rods for one season. He enjoys his job and the joy he can bring to the fans.
On his experience taking on a community personality, Johnson said, “It takes a little time trying to figure out the role and character you are trying to be. It’s more about making the character more like you.”
Being a mascot requires more than meets the eye. Just because someone is a mascot does not mean that they were always were comfortable with the suits. During the hotter days of the season, the suit can reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit inside the suits. Breaks are required for safety reasons and proper hydration.
Any job as a mascot inevitably involves children terrified of the life-sized animals/ Dealing with these children can be a touchy subject for the person inside the suit.
When Johnson was asked how he handles kids who don’t like mascots, he said, “I step back and give them their space because I don’t want to make any guest upset.”
Sometimes people who are mascots chose that job because they liked them as a child, but Johnson said, “No, I did not. I was actually pretty scared of them when I was young.” Another reason that Johnson decided to work at the Hot Rods was because his older sister also worked there.
Next time you go to a Hot Rods game, be aware that there is a man under the mask, and it just might be Johnson.
By Ethan Klein