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announced the first phase of rebranding last fall — which included unveiling a new logo and a “swamp camo” jersey — the team promised to later unveil a new mascot that team officials described as “a legendary creature, an omen known to bringing good luck.” The big reveal came last week. Shelly, the goofy, bucktoothed horse that served as the team’s mascot since 1996 was “upgraded” to Ace, a menacing, 7-foot horse. But Ace didn’t fill the “legendary” good luck charm role. That’s left to a second new mascot, Otey the swamp possum. Has there ever been a more misguided mascot selection? Custom Characters of Glendale, Calif., who has created characters for the likes of Disney and DreamWorks, definitely didn’t take a cue from Pogo. This swamp possum is all sharp claws and rat face. True to form, his backstory includes growing up “watching Travs games ... from underneath the stands” at Ray Winder Field. He’s named “in honor” of former Travs infielder and groundskeeper R.C. Otey, who passed away several years ago. We’re sure his family is touched. The selection drew immediate jeers throughout social media and the web. National sites Deadspin and SBNation lampooned it. Look for Otey to join the Geoduck of Evergreen State (a green, phallicshaped mollusk) and the Banana Slug of the University of CaliforniaSanta Cruz on worst mascot lists on the web. Here’s a sampling of a few of the mostly critical comments from the Times Facebook page:
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was charged with vandalizing the sign, which was taken down, restored, and put back up. Meanwhile, someone leaked Watkins’ name to the KKK before the charge was made public by the
CAREY VOSS How can there be so many problems with one tiny swamp possum? 1. perputuates hillbilly/ignorant redneck stereotype 2. creepy Clockwork Orange bowler hat (ready for some ultra-violence?) 3. the giant red bat suggests that we should all go out and club a bunch of possums after the game 4. WTF is up with the giant teeth and weird nose? DANIEL GREEN Once, someone’s grandpa brought in a possum he caught to a “science class” at my elementary school. Thing proceeded to hiss, shit everywhere and play dead. Yes. Let’s compare a competitive professional sports team with that. BEAU GOLDEN The marketers in California just have a great feel for what would appeal to people in Arkansas. What do we think of, when we think of Arkansas? Hillbilly Opossums. ROBBIE GILL Run it over and leave it for the vultures. SHARPE DUNAWAY I may be in the minority here but renaming the team to the Arkansas Swamp Possums would be pretty cool! Also an awesome band name. ED CALDWELL Just say no, or consider Gary the Rabid Raccoon. JOHN PETTIE How about the goddamn Arkansas Traveler as a mascot? Would that be so terrible? A man on a horse. There you go. That’s the mascot. Not a stupid Bullwinkle horse with a Shell logo on its back or a disease infested, club-wielding marsupial.
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WILL CHURCHILL Otey looks like a great mascot for a sweeping compound or a line of floor buffers. ISRAEL ROGERS What, was rabid nutria already taken?
police. Now a new sign has gone in below the billboard that reads “Beautiful Town, Beautiful People, No Wrong Exits, No Bad Neighborhoods” and has a picture of a smiling white family. The billboard says it’s sponsored by the Harrison Area Business Owners and has a link to the website HarrisonArkansas.Info. The site eliminates any doubt that the new billboard’s racial coding, if less blatant than the other sign, is ugly business. On its home page, the site has a long description of Harrison, beginning with run-of-the-mill town boosterism, but then quickly displaying a coziness with white supremacy and fascism familiar to anyone who has waded through the muck of racist propaganda. As for the KKK leader Robb? He’s not racist, he’s just “prowhite only.” “Some in the city resent the attention he brings while most are either ambivalent or quiet supporters,” the site says. The strange “No Wrong Exits” bit on the sign is particularly creepy in Harrison, given the horrific history of the violent, forced expulsion of blacks out of the town a century ago.
Still searching for All-Star alumni
A reminder: The 20th class of the Arkansas Times Academic All-Star Team will be named in April. Starting in 1995, teams of judges with years of experience working in education have whittled down hundreds of nominations we’ve been sent from school districts and high schools throughout the state to create each year’s team of 20 of the top students in the state. Now that a good number of past All-Stars are well into their professional careers, and since we’re at a milestone year, we’re hoping to track down as many alumni as possible. If you know a former All-Star, please help put us in touch. Send an email with the subject “ALL-STAR” to lindseymillar@arktimes.com with any information that you have. See a searchable database of all the past winners at arktimes.com/allstaralumni. www.arktimes.com
APRIL 3, 2014
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