ENTERTAINMENT

Judging Delaware's mascots, from stalks to stoners

Ryan Cormier
The News Journal
University of Delaware mascot YoUDee (left) and Wilmington Blue Rocks mascot Mr. Celery (right) pose for a portrait at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington on Tuesday afternoon.

Chicken and vegetables go well together on a plate, but do they get along?

When two of Delaware's best-known mascots -- University of Delaware's YoUDee and Wilmington Blue Rocks' Mr. Celery -- got together at Wilmington's Frawley Stadium for a photo shoot this week, they undoubtedly sized each other up.

But feathers weren't ruffled and no stalks were snapped. Actually, by the end the afternoon, the fightin' blue hen and perpetually-surprised celery stick were skipping hand-in-hand across the field.

With Netflix preparing the release of the bawdy new Christopher Guest ("Best in Show," "Waiting for Guffman") mockumentary "Mascots" Oct. 13, we here at The News Journal thought it was a good time to examine the state's most beloved and interesting mascots.

We turned to one of the biggest mascot maniacs in the country -- Newark native David Raymond, the original Phillie Phanatic (1978-1994) and founder of the national, online-only Mascot Hall of Fame. (As head of West Grove, Pennsylvania-based Raymond Entertainment, a mascot and branding company he's had for more than 30 years, he is involved in building a brick-and-mortar home for the Mascot Hall of Fame in Indiana, due to open next year.)

The News Journal ran six Delaware-based mascots by Raymond, the 60-year-old son of legendary UD football coach Tubby Raymond. The mascots ranged from the state's best known bird, YoUDee, to Hempy Leaf, the over-sized pot leaf that represents Delaware NORML, the state's chapter of the pro-legalization group.

After surviving 16 years in an iconic green suit, Raymond dishes about Delaware's furry small wonders.

The University of Delaware mascot, YoUDee.

UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE'S YOUDEE

As one of only seven college mascots in your Mascot Hall of Fame alongside big leaguers like the Phillie Phanatic and Mr. Met, is YoUDee is the gold standard of mascots in Delaware?

From a business perspective, I think it's one of the best college mascots in the country, let alone here in the state of Delaware. YoUDee is really a branding program. They use it just not for live appearances, but YoUDee is used as a communication vehicle on and off campus. He looks the part. He looks professional. And they have a nice group of enthused, passionate students who are great performers.

What else do you like about YoUDee, who has been strutting on campus since 1993? 

It's unique. It's a chicken and they've made it such a great representation of the school. That's one of the reasons why I love it. On the surface it's funny and silly, but for the bigger picture, it really works.

Some people make fun of the concept of the Fightin' Blue Hen. I would guess creating that mascot would be challenging? A lot of things could go wrong.

Yup. That's exactly right. It's like [former Philadelphia Phillies co-owner] Bill Giles developing a green Muppet for the same people who boo Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. It doesn't sound good on paper, but if you embrace it and have fun with it, it works.

STORY: City out, private business in at Theatre N

The Wilmington Blue Rocks' Mr. Celery runs onto the field at Frawley Stadium.

WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS' MR. CELERY

Another unique mascot is Mr. Celery, which the team began using around 1999 after finding the costume in storage from a previous event promoting healthy eating. When you first saw him, what did you make of it?

I laughed and thought it was funny. And because it's so silly and so stupid and so funny, it really caught on. People began bringing celery to the games, he was immortalized in a T-shirt giveaway and he's lived on ever since.

Does the ridiculousness of him make Mr. Celery even more endearing?

Yeah -- that's an important part of coming up with a mascot that will be unique and memorable. How silly can we make it? Is it counter-intuitive? I mean, who could possibly imagine that you have a celery as a back-up mascot [to Rocky Bluewinkle]? It makes no sense at all and that's why it's great.

Are there many other mascots out there with no real connection to their team, town or state?

The biggest one with the most success in terms of that description is the Phoenix Suns' Gorilla. There's no connection. And the backstory is that a guy showed up in a gorilla costume one night and it had such a positive effect that the team began to support the concept and it grew into their mascot.

Hempy Leaf, the mascot of Delaware NORML,  marches during the Hummers Parade in Middletown last year.

DELAWARE NORML'S HEMPY LEAF

Since this isn't in the sports world, have you ever seen Hempy before?

No. [Laughs.] Only when I'm high.

What's your take on Hempy?

I'm supportive. It reminds me of -- and believe it or not -- there is a venereal disease mascot that is actually a penis and testicles. It's taking it to the extreme when I say, "You need to be unique, identifiable and memorable." Well, a marijuana leaf that's focused on legalizing pot is a pretty good call. I think that will work. He looks a little creepy. My first thought was a guy or gal who is severely stoned turning down a dark alley and seeing that coming at them. I don't think they would ever smoke pot again.

We're showing you the original version of the homemade Hempy, complete with bloodshot eyes. Once the character caught on and became the group's official mascot, they cleared up his optical ailment. I assume it's never good for a mascot to look tired? Is that a basic mascot rule?

[Laughs.] I don't know. Although, look at what he's representing. He should actually have a bowl of chips and Fritos with him everywhere he goes. He needs props that work with the theme.

Buzz (right), the former Delaware State Hornet mascot,  teaches his replacement, Too-Fly, dance moves at Delaware State University in 2012.

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY'S TOO-FLY

Too-Fly took over for Buzz the Hornet in 2012. Good move?

In terms of the business of mascots, they did some really good things. They listened to their students, who didn't like Buzz. So they decided they want to get rid of Buzz and since he's their mascot, they can't just kill him. You can't come in with a giant fly swatter or spray him with a big Raid can and say, "Whoops. We need a new mascot."

What did they do?

They came up with a good story that Buzz graduated and was hired by a well-known, unnamed entertainment company. He's moving on. So they used him to help find the new mascot, Too-Fly, who is more lovable and huggable from a child's perspective. I love what they did with Too-Fly.

The Dewey Devil flies above the water at northbeach in Dewey Beach.

NORTHBEACH'S DEWEY DEVIL

In 2014, Dewey Beach waterfront bar northbeach debuted the Dewey Devil, named after their trademark frozen drink. Have you seen him before?

Yes, I had. I actually know the performer. He worked for us before. They ought to have the Dewey Devil and Hempy do appearances together. You're talking about an alcoholic beverage and marijuana. They could be a very powerful duo.

What do you think of his look? 

I think he looks really creepy. But I guess he's a devil, so we'll make allowances. You're being true to your brand.

And flying around Rehoboth Bay thanks to a water jet pack is a nice touch?

Yeah, it's like the Wicked Witch of the West, but it's a water propulsion system instead of a broom.

The bull from The Starboard's annual Running of the Bull on Dewey Beach earlier this year.

RUNNING OF THE BULL'S THE BULL

And, finally, we come to the star of this summer's 20th annual Running of the Bull event at The Starboard in Dewey Beach. After going through smaller costumes over the years, The Bull got a major makeover a few years back with a bigger costume. And it's old school -- there are two people in the bull costume like a black-and-white comedy. What's your take?

From a costume standpoint, it looks really awesome. It's one of the better costumes in terms of being fun and realistic with two people inside it. I'd love to see him live. In the photo you can see people on the beach trying to taking selfies with it, so they've done a good job of building the character. I love the concept and the new design is so much better. It's more of a cartoon effort.

Have you ever mascoted on a beach before?

I have and it's one of the worst places to be a mascot. It's like working on AstroTurf in the middle of the summer, only the sand stays in your shoes forever. It really is nasty. The job of a mascot performer is difficult in that everywhere you go, people are most likely celebrating. You're being brought in to enhance a celebration. So you're at all these great places and you can't have fun because you're working and on top of that, the work really is incredibly difficult. This case is the epitome of the struggle that a mascot performer has: it's hot, sweaty and sandy. Plus you're around oily and greasy people who are all probably drinking and have liquid courage. It's a nightmare. The last thing I want to be are those performers.

Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).

IF YOU WATCH

What: "Mascots"

When: Oct. 13

Where: Netflix

Information: netflix.com