The Washington Bullets were a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. They played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1961 until 1997. Throughout their tenure, the Bullets had a distinctive mascot named "Hoops" who entertained fans and energized the crowd during games. The mascot, dressed in the team's colors of red, white, and blue, was a beloved symbol of the team and brought a sense of fun and excitement to the arena. Hoops would perform acrobatic tricks, interact with fans, and even participate in halftime shows.
A look back at the Bullets’ live dog mascots Alex, Tiny B-B and Tiny Too
As Dan Steinberg discovered while flipping through an old Washington Bullets media guide on Monday, Washington’s NBA franchise used to have a live dog mascot. Mascots, to be exact.
While some longtime Bullets/Wizards fans remember the days of Alex the Bullet, Tiny B-B and Tiny Too, here’s a brief history of the dachshunds for the fans who grew up with the far less interesting and far more terrifying Hoops and G-Wiz.
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It all started in 1963, when Navy veteran John Edwin “Chief” Gentry got a call from the general manager of Baltimore’s new NBA franchise, which had just moved from Chicago and renamed itself the Bullets.
“‘I understand you’ve got a dog that looks like a bullet,’ the man [probably Paul Hoffman] said to me,” Gentry told The Post’s Bob Levey in 1979. “He had seen me with my dog at football games in Annapolis. I’ve been at it with the Bullets ever since.”
AdvertisementGentry’s dachshund, Alex, teamed with another dog named Buckshot as the Bullets’ live mascots for their first five years in Baltimore.
When Abe Pollin broke ground for the Capital Centre, one of the first full-time employees he hired was Gentry. With Gentry taking on added responsibilities as the arena’s operations manager, The Post’s George Solomon lamented what he figured was the end of Alex and Tiny-B-B’s careers in a 1973 column.
Once and for all, Abe Pollin proved his intent to make everything connected with his Capital Centre first class by announcing the purchase of a $1,125,000 scoreboard-entertainment center for the new arena in Largo.
But lost amid the bright lights and speeches at Thursday’s press conference was the revelation that the coming of the four Super Scoreboards will end the distinguished careers of Alex the Bullet and Tiny B-B.
For those who have not kept up with the former Baltimore Bullets (now the Capital Bullets) these past 10 NBA seasons, it should be noted that Alex the Bullet and Tiny B-B are dachshunds that performed cute tricks during time-outs at Bullet home games.
Alex, whose real last name is Von Brauhof and not The Bullet, is owned and trained by John E. (Chief) Gentry. During his first five years in Baltimore, Alex teamed with a dog named Buckshot. When Buckshot died from eating too many acorns, Tiny B-B joined Alex’s act.
For years, the dogs sloughed off taunts from nasty kids and the degradation of sharing the time-out/halftime spotlight with a human exhibitionist named Dancing Harry. Two years ago, Baltimore fans were spared Dancing Harry’s endless and shameless attempts at hexing opponents when he followed Earl Monroe to New York.
Alex the Bullet and Tiny B-B, although regaining their full status upon Dancing Harry’s defection, now appear doomed because of Pollin’s new Conrac giant, with its four Swiss-made Eidophor projectors flashing full-color replays on four large screens.
“It’s quite said, but it looks like Alex the Bullet and Tiny B-B are through,” said Gentry, who has assumed the role of operations manager of the Capital Centre. Gentry says he no longer has the time to handle any canine capers.
Although Gentry and other Bullet officials agree the dogs were fine in their day, it’s apparent the Capital Centre has passed them by.
But Gentry apparently found the time to juggle both jobs, and the show went on. The Post reported that Alex the Bullet died in 1974 at age 19 and was buried in a cinder block crypt behind the Gentry home in Odenton, Md. Pollin paid for the plot and the burial.
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Hoops would perform acrobatic tricks, interact with fans, and even participate in halftime shows. He was a fan favorite and his presence added to the overall atmosphere of the games. Although the team changed its name to the Washington Wizards in 1997, the legacy of the Bullets mascot lives on in the memories of fans.
The Redskins and other teams bashed for their nicknames.
Hoops will always be remembered as an integral part of the Washington Bullets franchise and as a symbol of the team's spirit and enthusiasm..
Reviews for "Does the Washington Bullets Mascot Help or Hurt the Team's Brand Image?"
1. Sophie - 2 out of 5 stars - As a long-time fan of the Washington Bullets, I was deeply disappointed when they introduced their new mascot. The character is poorly designed and lacks any creativity or relevance to the team's name or history. It feels like a cheap attempt to appeal to children and sell merchandise. I miss the old days when the team had a strong and respected identity, and this mascot just cheapens it.
2. Jake - 1 out of 5 stars - The Washington Bullets mascot is a complete disaster. It's hard to believe that any thought or effort went into its creation. The design is generic and forgettable, with no connection to the team or its history. It feels like a desperate attempt to attract younger fans, but it's only serving to alienate the loyal fan base. The organization should consider going back to the drawing board and creating a mascot that better represents the spirit of the team.
3. Lisa - 2 out of 5 stars - I was excited when I heard that the Washington Bullets would have a new mascot, but my excitement quickly turned into disappointment. The mascot lacks any personality or charm, and its design is uninspired. It feels like a missed opportunity to create something that could have brought the team and the fans even closer. I hope the organization reconsiders their decision and creates a mascot that truly reflects the team's history and values.
4. Mike - 1 out of 5 stars - The Washington Bullets mascot is a joke. It's clear that no real thought or creativity was put into its design. The character looks like a generic superhero wannabe with no connection to the team's name or legacy. It's disappointing to see a once respected and storied franchise stoop to such a low level in an attempt to appeal to a younger audience. The mascot is just another example of how the team has lost its way in recent years.