The Corpus Christi Hooks, a minor league baseball team located in Corpus Christi, Texas, have a lively and entertaining mascot named Turbo. Known for his bright colors and energetic personality, Turbo is a beloved figure among both young and old fans alike. Turbo, whose name is derived from his lightning-fast speed, is a snail with a vibrant green and orange shell. He is often seen wearing a baseball cap and sporting a mischievous grin on his face. One of Turbo's main responsibilities is to entertain the crowd during games. He can be seen dancing, doing cartwheels, and engaging in silly antics that never fail to bring smiles to the faces of fans.
Creator of 1980 Moscow Olympics mascot dies at 84
Viktor Chizhikov, the creator of the brown bear mascot Misha for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics, has died at the age of 84.
A children's book illustrator, Chizhikov is best known for bringing the iconic mascot to life at the Games which began 40 years ago this week.
The decision to choose the bear for the mascot came as it was the national animal of the Soviet Union, with the Games coming at the height of the Cold War.
Misha was chosen through a Soviet television programme called In the Animal Kingdom.
Viewers were asked to choose between a hare, a stoat, a squirrel, an eagle, a badger, a grouse and a cockerel but the bear was the overwhelmingly popular choice.
The design proved so popular that many Russians still fondly remembered him when the 2014 Winter Olympics were held in Sochi.
More than 60 countries did not compete in Moscow after a boycott was successfully started by the United States in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Four years later in retaliation, the Soviet Union and most Eastern-bloc nations boycotted the Los Angeles 1984 Games.
Misha is one of the Games' most iconic mascots ©Getty ImagesAccording to the International Olympic Committee website, a group of artists produced 60 versions of the mascot, but Chizhikov's bear was chosen for the Games.
His death was announced by a children's book publisher on Facebook with a tribute left in his honour.
A statement by AST Deti said: "It's symbolic that the artist has left us as many of us are remembering the 1980 Olympics.
"The image of the Olympic bear once created by Viktor Alexandrovich has touched the hearts of millions."
At the Closing Ceremony for the 1980 Games, a large mosaic of Misha was in the stands showing a tear rolling down its face.
Then, a reproduction of the bear was lifted from what is now the Luzhniki Stadium by colourful balloons.
A Look Back at the Olympic Mascots: 1960s – 1980s
Welcome to part one in our three-part series looking back at the mascots of the Olympic Games! The origins of Olympic mascots are steeped within a rich heritage with the name ‘mascot’ hailing from the South of France and also serving as the name of a popular opera in the nineteenth century, according to the Olympic Museum Head of Programming Anne Chevalley. As it is common to see a mascot in the United States for sports teams and schools, it is only natural to see a mascot — providing good fortune to people from all walks of life — at the Olympic Games. Join us on this throwback as we uncover trivia behind the colorful dachshunds, tigers, bears, snowmen (yes, you read that right!), and many more mascots that have joined us in celebrating the Winter and Summer Olympics throughout the decades!
1960s
Schuss (1968 Winter Olympics, Grenoble)
While Schuss is technically an unofficial mascot, we would be remiss not to include this stylized skier from the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble as a foreshadowing of the unique characters to come in the Games.
1970s
Waldi (1972 Summer Olympics, Munich)
The first official mascot in the 1972 Summer Olympics was Waldi, a dachshund dog. Attendees at the Munich Games Organising Committee Christmas party were given crayons, sheets of paper, and modeling clay to create their own mascot designs. While it is not known how many animals or characters were thought up during that party, the dachshund was the perfect choice as the popular pup is noted for its agility, endurance, and tenacity. Born on December 15, 1969, Waldi had a light blue head and tail with a striped body featuring three of the six Olympic colors. And for those wondering, he also had a real-life counterpart — a dachshund named Cherie von Birkenhof.
Amik (1976 Summer Olympics, Montreal)
Created by Guy St-Arnaud, Yvon Laroche, and Pierre-Yves Pelletier for the 1976 Summer Olympics, Amik means “beaver” in Algonquin. Beavers have a significant role in Canadian culture and are noted for their patience and hard work. Amik wore a red strip with the Montreal Games logo, meant to symbolize the ribbon traditionally used for the winners’ medals.
Schneemann (1976 Winter Olympics, Innsbruck)
Who better to represent the first Winter Games than a snowman? Created by Walter Pötsch, Schneemann (which translates to “snowman” in German) wore a red Tyrolean hat typical of the Innsbruck region. Innsbruck had previously hosted the 1964 Games where there was a significant lack of snow, but Schneemann proved to be more than just a mascot. He was a good luck charm, as plenty of snow fell during the 1976 Winter Olympics.
1980s
Misha (1980 Summer Olympics, Moscow)
Created by popular children’s book illustrator Victor Chizhikov, Misha (full name: Mikhail Potapych Toptygin) was a bear cub that represented the 1980 Summer Olympics. A popular animal in Russia that appears in stories and songs, Misha proudly wore a striped belt around his waist made up of the Olympic rings five colors. The belt buckle itself is composed of the five golden rings.
Roni (1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid)
Inspired by Lake Placid’s then-living mascot — a raccoon named Rocky — Roni was created by Don Moss at Capital Sports for the 1980 Winter Olympics. His name means “raccoon” in Iroquoian and was chosen by Lake Placid school children. More than just honoring his predecessor, raccoons are also natives to the Adirondacks region and Roni himself paid tribute to the sunglasses and hats worn by competing athletes with the black and white mask around his eyes.
Sam (1984 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles)
For the 1984 Summer Olympics Sam, an eagle created by C. Robert Moore at Walt Disney Productions, was the natural mascot choice to symbolize the United States. Filled with optimism for the spirit of the games, Sam was friendly and cheerful, clad in a hat in the design of the American flag.
Vučko (1984 Winter Olympics, Saravejo)
Never mind all the fables you’ve heard about “the big bad wolf” — they are all totally irrelevant when it comes to Vučko. Created by Slovenian painter Jože Trobec for the 1984 Winter Olympics, Vučko was a friendly wolf who symbolized winter and the forests of the Dinaric Alps region, but also courage and strength. Other noteworthy runner-ups alongside Vučko included a snowball, mountain goat, weasel, lamb, and hedgehog.
Hidy and Howdy (1988 Winter Olympics, Calgary)
Historic for being the first mascot couple, Hidy and Howdy were brother and sister polar bears with names representative of Calgary’s hospitality. Created by Shelia Scott at Great Scott Productions, this polar bear pairing symbolized winter and the Arctic regions in the north of the American continent. Hidy and Howdy wore “Western” style cowboy hats and ensembles as they cheered on athletes during the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Hodori (1988 Summer Olympics, Seoul)
Created by Kim Hyun, who also created the emblem for the Asian Games in 1986, Hodori was a tiger cub that paid tribute to the tiger’s frequent appearances in Korean art as well as the animal’s characteristics, which are associated with nobility and bravery. In his name, “Ho” means tiger in Korean and “Dori” is a masculine diminutive. Hodori had a positive spirit and wore the Olympic rings around his neck, along with the sangmo, a traditional Korean hat, upon his head.
Which throwback mascot from the 1960s – 1980s was your favorite? Let us know on twitter at @howveryheather and @advertisingweek!
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- Olympic Mascots
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- Walt Disney Productions
Is Russia’s 2014 Olympic Mascot a Copycat of the 1980 Logo?
This weekend, the four mascots for the 2014 Sochi (Russia) Winter Olympics were revealed. But there seems to be a curious air of familiarity surrounding one of them.
The Russian public voted Saturday night for their three favorite mascots via text and phone after a televised unveiling. The top choices – a cuddly rabbit, a sporty snow leopard, and a pudgy polar bear – were chosen from a pool of nine potential mascots. But perhaps you’ve seen the polar bear before? Is it just fond memories, or is the fan-favorite bear mascot a blatant rip-off of the one used in the 1980 Olympic mascot?
Misha the bear was the mascot for the 1980 Summer Olympics held, of all places, in Moscow. The brown bear wore a belt featuring the Olympic rings logo – and bears quite a resemblance to the recently unveiled 2014 mascot. “This polar bear, everything is taken from mine, the eyes, nose, mouth, smile. I don’t like being robbed,” Misha’s creator Viktor Chizhikov told a Russian radio station.
Perhaps during this contest Russians felt a subconscious affinity for Misha’s twin. But all this copycat commotion leaves us wondering: where’s the line between flattery and forgery?
And it seems no Olympic representation can catch a break this week. London’s 2012 logo is facing heat from Iran’s Olympic delegation, who contends the design resembles the word “Zion,” a biblical term often used as a reference to Jerusalem in Israel. The AP reports Iran is threatening to boycott the games because of the logo disagreement.
But in the Olympic spirit of camaraderie and cooperation, let’s save the sparks for the playing field, okay?
He can be seen dancing, doing cartwheels, and engaging in silly antics that never fail to bring smiles to the faces of fans. Turbo's energetic performances are a highlight of the Hooks' games and help create a fun and lively atmosphere at the ballpark. In addition to his on-field antics, Turbo is also an active member of the community.
He frequently makes appearances at local schools, hospitals, and charitable events, spreading joy and laughter wherever he goes. Overall, Turbo is an integral part of the Corpus Christi Hooks' experience. His enthusiasm and energetic performances bring joy to fans of all ages, making him a beloved mascot not only in the ballpark but also in the community..
Reviews for "Turbo's Training Regimen: Getting in Shape with the Corpus Christi Hooks Mascot"
- John Smith - 2 stars - I really did not enjoy the Corpus Christi Hooks mascot, Turbo. I found him to be obnoxious and overwhelming. His constant energy and loud antics made it difficult for me to focus on the game. Additionally, his presence seemed to overshadow the players and the game itself. I understand that mascots are meant to bring entertainment, but Turbo's antics crossed the line for me. Overall, I was not impressed with the Corpus Christi Hooks mascot and found him to be more of a distraction than anything else.
- Emily Johnson - 1 star - The Corpus Christi Hooks mascot, Turbo, was a complete disappointment. I expected a cute and funny character to entertain the crowd, but instead, I was greeted by an annoying and chaotic mess. Turbo's high-pitched voice was grating on my ears, and his over-the-top acts seemed desperate for attention. It felt like he was trying way too hard to be funny, but he ended up being annoying instead. I couldn't wait for his appearances to be over so I could enjoy the game without the distraction of this irritating mascot.
- Michael Thompson - 2 stars - I found the Corpus Christi Hooks mascot, Turbo, to be too overwhelming for my taste. His constant energy and exaggerated movements were distracting and took away from the game. I couldn't focus on the players, as Turbo seemed to demand all the attention. Additionally, his jokes and antics fell flat for me. I understand that mascots are meant to be entertaining, but Turbo's portrayal just missed the mark. Overall, I was not a fan of Turbo and felt like his presence was more of a hindrance than a source of enjoyment.