- Benny the Bull
Benny the Bull, commonly known as Benny, is the
mascot of theChicago Bulls , a role he has filled since 1969." [http://www.nba.com/bulls/mascot/benny_bio.html Benny the Bull Bio] ", NBA.com, accessedJuly 5 ,2006 .]Costume
The Benny the Bull suit consists of a whole-body bull costume made of bright red fur with large white eyes, a tan snout, a long red tail and black gloves with red fur on the back. Over the suit, Benny wears an authentic uniform (road red/black and home whites) and team-appointed athletic shoes. His jersey bears the name "Benny" above the number "1" on the back. Benny sports several different costumes based on the theme of the game as well as his overall "mood."
Duties
In addition to performing stunts and entertaining the crowd at Bulls games, Benny also makes public appearances throughout the greater
Chicago area on behalf of the team. He appears at schools to promoteliteracy , and can also be booked for private events. Benny has also worked as a mascot on individual dates for other professional sports franchises, such as theBillings Outlaws . [" [http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/06/24/sports/local/20-outlaws.txt Outlaws' O-line sackless on season] ", Mike Zimmer, theBillings Gazette , publishedJune 24 ,2006 , accessedJuly 5 ,2006 .]Legal problems
On
July 2 ,2006 , Benny's portrayer Barry Anderson was arrested by an off-duty police officer while performing at the "Taste of Chicago " food festival. Dressed in the Benny the Bull costume, Anderson drove a miniaturemotorcycle through the festival, although he did not have a permit to do so. When the officer, who was providing security at the event, identified himself as a policeman and called on Anderson to stop, Anderson fled. The officer pursued on foot, and when he caught up with Anderson, Anderson allegedly attempted to punch him in the face, breaking the officer's watch and knocking off his glasses. Anderson has subsequently claimed that the actions were performed in "character", and that he did not intend to cause injury to the officer. He was arrested and charged with battery and driving within the parkway. After Anderson was arrested and charged, his costume was returned to theUnited Center . [" [http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/benny03.html Benny the Bull arrested at Taste of Chicago] ", Annie Sweeney, theChicago Sun-Times , publishedJuly 3 ,2006 , accessedJuly 5 ,2006 .] The charges were later dropped after Anderson agreed to pay the cost to fix the officer's glasses. [" [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060901benny-the-bull,1,3182795.story?coll=chi-news-hed Charges dropped against Bulls mascot] ", AP, theChicago Tribune , publishedSeptember 1 ,2006 , accessedSeptember 1 ,2006 .]Barry Anderson is currently involved in another lawsuit. Dr. Don Kalant, a Chicago-area dentist claims that one of Benny the Bull's high-fives hyperextended his arm during a February 12th home game. The injury prevented Kalant from performing dental work for four months and he is seeking unspecified damages for medical bills, physical pain, and lost earnings. [ [http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/910107,CST-NWS-benny23.article Dentist sues mascot Benny for being bully] . Jennifer Golz, the
Naperville Sun , published April 23, 2008, accessedApril 23 ,2008 .]References
External links
[http://www.nba.com/bulls/mascot/benny_the_bull.html Benny the Bull on NBA.com]
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