In 2007, a massive wildfire known as the Witch Fire broke out in Southern California. The fire started on October 21, 2007, near Santa Ysabel in San Diego County. It quickly grew in size and intensity, becoming one of the largest and most destructive wildfires in California's history. The Witch Fire was ignited by powerlines that were downed during strong Santa Ana winds. These dry and gusty winds, coupled with dry vegetation and low humidity, created ideal conditions for the fire to spread rapidly. Within hours, the fire had burned thousands of acres and forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes.

Memphis basketball mascot

Now in his 19th season, Grizz, the mascot of the Memphis Grizzlies, has remained a furry fan favorite among members of Grizz Nation, so much so that he was named 2011 NBA Mascot of the Year as voted by his peers. Born in Vancouver, Canada in 1995 Grizz can always be relied upon to electrify audiences with dramatic duncks and signature shenanigans.

In celebration of the Grizzlies' historic 10th Season in Memphis, Grizz re-introduced his equally popular alter-ego, Super Grizz, as a nod to the organizations first seasons in the Bluff City. Donning a mask and cape, Super Grizz encouraged fans to Believe as the team earned it's first postseason berth since 2006 and advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals in thrilling fashion.

Memphis has proven to be the perfect natural habitat for Grizz, who often stars in schools throughout the Mid-South as part of a variety of community initiatives. When not rallying fans at FedExForum or making appearances around town, Grizz is often found at St. Jude encouraging children in their battle against cancer, an issue near and dear to Grizz's heart after his own defeat of the disease in 2008. To show support for Grizz and other patients in the fight against cancer, you too can be a 'Friends of Grizz and St. Jude by donating to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Let Grizz entertain at your party

Book Grizz for your birthday party or other special event.

Become a 'Friend of Grizz'

Got a question, comment, or great idea for a stunt?

E-mail the big guy (but not during feeding time, please).

Like the Grizzlies on Facebook. Kids, be sure to ask your parents first.

Thousands Urge University of Memphis to Stop Using Live Tiger Mascot to Support School's Teams

For more than 40 years, the University of Memphis has brought out tigers named TOM ("Tigers of Memphis") to support the school's sports teams.

Nearly 10,000 people have sent emails to the University of Memphis, urging the Tennessee school to stop using a live tiger as their mascot.

For more than 40 years, the University of Memphis has brought out tigers named TOM (“Tigers of Memphis”) to support the school’s sports teams. The current tiger, named TOM III, is the third to be used as a mascot.

Animal rights organization In Defense of Animals (IDA) started the movement to end the practice, noting that "big cats don't belong at loud, crowded football games with 60,000 jeering fans." So far, 9,701 people have supported the movement and sent emails to the school.

"Forcing wild animals who are very sensitive to their surroundings into crowds of screaming people is stressful and cruel," Lisa Levinson, Wild Animals Campaigner for IDA said in a release. "Taking pictures with TOM III also sends a harmful message and teaches fans that wild animals belong in cages, rather than in their native habitats, and that they exist for our entertainment,"

"It’s time to leave TOM III at home, instead of carting him around to attend games," she added.

RELATED VIDEO: Reporter Interviews College Mascot Dogs Via Video Chat

In addition to TOM III, the University of Memphis has a human mascot named Pouncer, "who can easily interact with its audience while sparing TOM III from enduring the undue stress of attending every game," IDA notes on their website.

"Why cause undue stress and suffering to TOM III when The University of Memphis has a perfectly capable human mascot Pouncer?" IDA President Marilyn Kroplick M.D. said in the release.

Kroplick also directly addressed the University of Memphis' president, M. David Rudd: "President Rudd, this is your golden opportunity to launch an educational and ecologically sound campaign to keep wild animals in the wild. Please announce your decision to end the use of live animal mascots, and bring Pouncer to future games while leaving TOM III at home."

University of Memphis - Pouncer The Tiger

For 30+ years, the University of Memphis's trusty mascot has been TOM the Bengal Tiger [& co.]. First appearing in '72, TOM I was followed by TOM II and TOM III - the latter of whom sadly passed in 2020. But, despite TOM III's absence, the school still proudly boasts Pouncer the costumed Tiger mascot. To honor their centennial, U of M's Alumni Association even placed 50 tiger statues on campus & in the greater Memphis area!

Every crowd will applaud for Gamezies! Designed thoughtfully and with safety top of mind, our plush mascots are CPSIA safety standard tested, BPA free and the easy to attach pacifiers are made with medical-grade, latex-free silicone. They are also ASTM tested to ensure durability and strength.

The plush mascots are the perfect size for your little ones to hold. We’ve all been there when a pacifier has been dropped, misplaced or just lost for good. The attached plush toy is easy to spot and is the perfect replica of your favorite college mascot. Created specifically in each mascot’s likeness, the lightweight design and soft fabric makes it the perfect cuddle toy for your baby.

Each mascot is removable with a clip on, clip off feature, enabling you to change out the pacifier, mascot or even the function of the product. Once you’ve retired your baby from a pacifier, you can clip the Gamezies mascot onto a keychain or backpack or just use it as a forever toy or even a Christmas ornament.

We know you’re busy so we’ve made our products easy to clean. For best results, follow the below instructions.

Plush toy: wash plush product in cold water on the gentle cycle in a linen bag. Use low tumble or air dry for the best results.

Pacifier is recommended for newborns and/or babies without teeth and is not recommended for teething. The plush product is great for all ages! Measures 6.5" L x 4" W. Imported.

We are passionate about our customers, families and teams. Safety is incredibly important to us as we created Gamezies for our own little ones, friends and family.

Each Gamezies product is created in accordance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and is pull tested. By using the highest level of materials, we ensure our products meet our own safety levels and all applicable standards. All products are thoroughly safety tested and are free of chemicals such as BPA, lead and Phthalates. The easy to attach pacifiers are made with medical-grade, latex-free silicone.

For more information on general safety, review the below resources:

Pacifier safety – American Academy of Pediatrics

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Within hours, the fire had burned thousands of acres and forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. Over the course of several days, the Witch Fire burned an estimated 197,990 acres of land. The fire destroyed numerous structures, including homes, businesses, and other buildings.

It also claimed the lives of two people and injured many others, including firefighters. Firefighting efforts were challenging due to the fire's rapid spread and difficult terrain. Firefighters from various agencies, including the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) and local fire departments, worked tirelessly to contain and extinguish the flames. They utilized strategies such as backfires, helitankers, and bulldozers to create fire breaks and slow down the fire's progress. The Witch Fire eventually merged with other fires burning in the region, including the Harris Fire and the Rice Canyon Fire. These combined fires became known as the "October 2007 California wildfires" and collectively burned over half a million acres of land. The impact of the Witch Fire was significant and long-lasting. Thousands of people were displaced from their homes and many communities were left devastated. The fire also caused substantial economic losses and environmental damage, including the destruction of wildlife habitat and the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In the aftermath of the fire, communities came together to support one another and rebuild. The response included efforts from government agencies, nonprofits, and local residents to assist those affected by the fire and restore the affected areas. The Witch Fire serves as a reminder of the destructive power of wildfires and the importance of preparedness, prevention, and effective firefighting strategies. It also highlights the resilience and strength of communities in the face of adversity..

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