Alright, so the other day I was thinking about mascots, you know, those big, fluffy, sometimes weird-looking characters that hype up the crowd at games. And it got me wondering about the Houston Rockets’ mascot. I mean, I’ve seen him around, that big bear, but what’s his story?
So, I started digging around a bit. Turns out, this bear’s name is Clutch. Yeah, Clutch the Bear. Not the most original name, but it kinda fits, right? This guy, Clutch, he wasn’t always around. He first showed up back in 1995. Seems like the Rockets wanted someone, or something, to really get the fans going, and also to represent the team and the city of Houston.
I did some more snooping around and found out that the guy who designed Clutch is named Tom Sapp. He works for a company called Real Characters, Inc., which I guess is in the business of, well, making real characters. Anyway, they brought Clutch to life on March 14, 1995.
Now, here’s something that got me thinking. Clutch isn’t just there to look cute, although he kinda does. I mean, it is a giant bear. He’s actually pretty good at what he does, you know, getting the crowd pumped, doing skits, and all that. And guess what? He gets paid for it! I found out that he makes about 150 bucks an hour. Not bad for a bear, huh?
Here’s another little tidbit I stumbled upon. You know how they sometimes call Houston “Clutch City”? Well, it seems like that nickname has something to do with our furry friend, Clutch. It all kinda ties together.
So here’s my little summary of what I found out about the Houston Rockets mascot:
- His name’s Clutch the Bear.
- He was created in 1995.
- A guy named Tom Sapp designed him.
- He makes about $150 an hour.
- He’s tied to the “Clutch City” nickname for Houston.
In the end
It’s funny how one little thought can lead you down a rabbit hole. Now I know a whole lot more about Clutch the Bear than I ever thought I would. He’s more than just a mascot, he’s like a part of the Rockets’ history and the city’s identity. It was quite interesting to dig these up.
