The Chicago Cubs mascot is an important symbol of the team and its fan culture. The mascot, named Clark, was introduced in 2014 and quickly became a beloved figure among Cubs fans. Clark is a young bear who wears a Cubs jersey and cap. He is often seen interacting with fans at Wrigley Field during games, posing for photos, and participating in various promotional events. Clark's cheerful and friendly demeanor has made him a favorite among children and adults alike. The arrival of Clark as the Cubs' official mascot marked a significant shift for the team, as they had previously been one of the few Major League Baseball teams without a mascot.
New Cubs Mascot Gets The Cold Shoulder From Some Fans
Who could hate a mascot? Well, apparently some Chicago Cubs fans hate their new one. Clark the Cub was introduced this week, and social media roiled in anger — but why? Melissa talks to Chicago-based sportswriter Wayne Drehs for some answers.
New Cubs Mascot Gets The Cold Shoulder From Some Fans
Clark, the Chicago Cubs' first mascot, hugs children during his debut at Advocate Illinois Masonic's Pediatric Developmental Center. Steve Green/AP/Courtesy of the Chicago Cubs hide caption
toggle caption Steve Green/AP/Courtesy of the Chicago CubsClark, the Chicago Cubs' first mascot, hugs children during his debut at Advocate Illinois Masonic's Pediatric Developmental Center.
Steve Green/AP/Courtesy of the Chicago Cubs
MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:
Finally this hour, baseball is a game for kids both young and old, so you'd think when a baseball team introduces a cuddly, new mascot, what could go wrong? Well, this week the Chicago Cubs introduced Clark, an appropriately adorable cartoon bear that looks like it came straight out of a Disney movie. But it was not a hit with Neil Steinberg, a columnist with the Chicago Sun-Times - and that's putting it mildly.
NEIL STEINBERG: Had they had a severed calf's head on a stick, dripping gore and buzzing with flies, and said here's our mascot - Holly the heifer head, I could not have been more revolted.
BLOCK: Ouch. And Steinberg is not alone. Social media is shaking with outrage over Clark the Cub. So why? Well, for thoughts on that, we turn to sports writer Wayne Drehs, a native Chicagoan who writes for ESPN and is a self-described Cubs geek. Wayne, thanks for weighing in on this.
WAYNE DREHS: Hey, thanks for having me.
BLOCK: And why do you think Clark the Cub is drawing such outrage among fans? Why is the mascot such a big deal?
DREHS: Well, you have to understand the backdrop right now in Cubs nation, if you will; and that is the fact that the Cubs fan has finally stood up after 106 years, and said he's had enough of losing and he's tired of it.
BLOCK: (Laughter) Oh, is this the first time? I see.
DREHS: Yeah, right? And I mean, they are very grouchy and angry; and on social media and on Cubs blogs, these people look for anything and everything to complain about. And the Cubs introduce a cuddly mascot - ooh, that's just ripe material for these folks.
BLOCK: Yeah. Well, one stream of thought that I've seen in comments online - and they get far worse than this - but some people are saying, like, look at this cub. His eyes are sad. He'll fit in perfectly with the rest of Cubs fans.
DREHS: Yeah, I just don't know how you can analyze the eyes of a cartoon character as like, sad and droopy. And I'm questioning - you know, Mr. Steinberg - listened to what he had to say. I'm just wondering what kind of presents he buys for his children, if he has any, if that's the kind of mascot he'd like. I'm very confused.
BLOCK: All right. Well, Neil Steinberg talked to us a bit about the whole notion of appealing to children with this mascot for the Cubs. Let's take a listen to more of what he said.
STEINBERG: It's an insult. It's a backhand to the idea of children, to say that we have to come up with something corny and stupid and clip-arty and generic, in order for kids to embrace it. That's ridiculous.
BLOCK: Wayne, what do you think? I mean, was this the best the Cubs could do, if they wanted to appeal to kids? - which is what they said is the whole idea here.
DREHS: Yeah, I widely disagree. I mean, as someone who's taken his, you know, then 5- and then 6-year-old daughter to a Cubs game, and had her try to sit through an entire nine innings at Wrigley Field, you know, the Cubs may have had the sort of least family friendly environment of any sports team in Chicago. My daughter used to ask me: How come the Bulls have Benny the Bull, and the Hawks have Tommy Hawk - and there's just nothing for the Cubs, right? And so to me, when they announced it on Monday, I thought: This is a great idea.
BLOCK: Do you think the Cubs fans took pride in the fact that they were one of the very few teams that didn't have a mascot?
DREHS: Absolutely. There's no question. I mean, this is where we go to watch baseball. You bring your team. You watch the game. You look at the ivy. You have a cold Budweiser. It's a beautiful day. The Cubs lose and then you go home frustrated, and complain about it. That's the way it's worked for so long, right?
BLOCK: (Laughter) Isn't America great? Yeah.
DREHS: Exactly. And the Cubs have said, look, we're not going to have Clark jumping up and down in the dugout and - I think he's going to greet some fans when they come in, and help the kids smile. I don't really see what's wrong with that.
BLOCK: Well, there is this, too - I mean, and you do see this a lot in comments online - you know, OK, great. Get a mascot. But what do the Cubs really need? Well, maybe we need an ace pitcher. Maybe we need a great free agent.
DREHS: Yeah. Again - and this is the Cubs fan complaining that they're not winning. And they don't seem to realize that the organization has completely rebuilt itself. They have one of the top five minor league systems in all of baseball. Maybe Clark can, you know, help people settle down for a couple years until those baby Cubs are ready.
BLOCK: Wayne Drehs, it's good to talk to you. Thank you so much.
DREHS: Thank you.
BLOCK: Wayne Drehs is a sportswriter with ESPN, and a self-described Cubs geek. We were talking about the new mascot, Clark the Cub.
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Cubs' New Mascot Clark 'Strangles' WBBM-TV Reporter Mike Puccinelli
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Sometimes people forget that cute, furry mascots are real animals, and one must remember to never EVER poke a bear.
CBS 2 reporter Mike Puccinelli learned this lesson the hard way, but thankfully he lived to tell about it.
It turns out, the Cubs' new mascot "Clark" is very protective of his owner, Tom Ricketts.
While it couldn't be confirmed, it appears Clark may have gotten upset with one of Puccinelli's hard-hitting question to Ricketts during a live interview on the CBS 2 morning newscast.
Mascots don't talk, so we will never know.
When Puccinelli asked Ricketts if he was "excited about the season," Clark went berserk.
Clark first used his oversized noggin to head-butt Puccinelli, temporarily stunning the veteran reporter, who is often confused for Clark Kent.
Then Clark literally went for the jugular, grabbing Puccinelli by the throat.
Fortunately, Ricketts once traveled with a circus during a summer break in college, and he was able to use his bear safety training to calm Clark.
When Clark was introduced as the official mascot in January, the furry little fella was described as a "young, friendly Cub" who wears a baseball cap backward and will greet fans as they enter Wrigley Field.
He also is apparently Ricketts' muscle man.
After the incident, Puccinelli agreed to stick to easier questions.
Chicago detectives are investigating, but charges are unlikely.
Cubs introduce new mascot
The Chicago Cubs listened to their fans and delivered something the franchise has lacked for most of its 138-year history. No, not a World Series championship, their previous being in 1908.
On Monday, the Cubs announced the first official mascot in their modern history -- Clark, a "young, friendly Cub" who wears a baseball cap backward and will greet fans as they enter Wrigley Field.
"The Cubs are thrilled to welcome Clark as the team's official mascot," Cubs senior director of marketing Alison Miller said in a statement. "Clark is a young, friendly Cub who can't wait to interact with our other young Cubs fans. He'll be a welcoming presence for families at Wrigley Field and an excellent ambassador for the team in the community."
As they prepared for a $300 million renovation of Wrigley Field, the Cubs partnered with Northwestern University to conduct a survey and found that there was a desire for the 100-year-old park to be more "family-friendly."
Clark, named after the Clark and Addison intersection where Wrigley is located, will be introduced during a charity appearance Monday night.
The Cubs say Clark's great-grandfather Joa was the franchise's original live Bears mascot in 1916.
The Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are now the only teams in Major League Baseball without official mascots.
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The arrival of Clark as the Cubs' official mascot marked a significant shift for the team, as they had previously been one of the few Major League Baseball teams without a mascot. The decision to introduce a mascot was met with mixed reactions from fans, with some embracing the idea and others expressing concerns about the tradition and history of the team. Despite the initial controversy, Clark has gradually won over many fans with his playful antics and positive presence.
He has become an integral part of the Cubs game experience, adding an element of fun and excitement to each home game. In addition to his role at Wrigley Field, Clark also represents the team in the community. He often makes appearances at schools, hospitals, and other events, spreading Cubs spirit and bringing joy to fans throughout the city. Overall, the Chicago Cubs mascot Clark has become a beloved symbol of the team and its fan culture. He embodies the spirit and joy of being a Cubs fan and has become a cherished figure among fans of all ages..
Reviews for "Clark the Cub: The Mascot Making a Difference in the Community"
1. Emily - 1/5: I was really disappointed with the Chicago Cubs mascot. It just didn't live up to my expectations. The costume looked outdated and was not very well made. The mascot itself didn't seem very energetic or engaging either. Overall, it was a lackluster experience and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
2. Tom - 2/5: I was not impressed with the Chicago Cubs mascot. While I understand that mascots are meant to be fun and entertaining, I found this one to be quite annoying. The constant dancing and exaggerated gestures felt forced and unnatural. I would have preferred a more subtle and genuine approach. Additionally, the costume design was not very appealing, and it seemed to lack creativity. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied with the mascot performance.
3. Jessica - 2/5: The Chicago Cubs mascot did not leave a positive impression on me. I found the whole act to be quite repetitive and predictable. The mascot seemed to rely too heavily on a few basic dance moves and interactions, without adding any new elements to keep the audience engaged. The costume design was also underwhelming, lacking the attention to detail and creativity that I would expect from a professional sports mascot. Overall, I think there is room for improvement in making the Chicago Cubs mascot more entertaining and unique.
4. Alex - 3/5: The Chicago Cubs mascot was just average in my opinion. While it was not particularly outstanding, it wasn't terrible either. The mascot had its moments of interaction with the crowd, but it didn't leave a lasting impression. The costume design was decent, but it lacked the vibrant colors and visual appeal that could have made it more memorable. Overall, I think the Chicago Cubs mascot needs to step up its game to truly impress fans and leave a lasting impression.
5. Sarah - 2/5: The Chicago Cubs mascot was quite forgettable. It did not have a memorable personality or any unique characteristics that made it stand out from other mascots. The performance felt uninspired and lackluster. Additionally, the costume design was average at best, lacking the attention to detail and creativity that could have made it more visually appealing. Overall, I was disappointed with the Chicago Cubs mascot and expected more from a professional sports team.