Tambo answers Boltman

Boltman:

I think that you made several good points in your rebuttal to my Time Out about the peeves that I have about mascots.

Your response was extremely well-written. You must have had some good English teachers at Ramona High School or you got some handy tips from one of my best English students, Will Jauregui.

In actuality we really don’t disagree on much. You admitted that there are “goofy mascots roaming around out there not having a clue on how to entertain people.” Actually they probably do entertain some people or they wouldn’t be out there. My point is that I don’t like them. However, somebody must like them or they would cease to exist.

I apologize if I offended Boltman’s head and any other head of any other mascot that is fiberglass and not rubber. Are the muscles fiberglass, too,or are they real? I never used the word cheap, but it could have been inferred. I know that mascot costumes are expensive.

I did watch the Predator vs. Boltman video. If people want to watch it on YouTube, that is their prerogative. This is America. I do not believe that it has any place on the sidelines of a football game, but that is only my opinion. My 6- and 9-year-old grandsons enjoyed it.

I feel that I must say that I don’t agree with all of the attention that the Raider fans who wear costumes to the games get. They only do so to get recognition, so they are successful because they get on TV every game.

Your point about sideline entertainment is well taken. The Charger Girls are not for everybody, but I will take them over an expensive, fiberglass with real sunglasses mascot for my entertainment. But that is just me. To each, his own.

I guess the people who pay out big bucks for tickets to a Chargers game deserve sideline entertainment.

I recently attended a Notre Dame game and changed my mind about the Leprechaun. He actually does generate spirit and does it with class. But he is not a real leprechaun. He doesn’t have a pot of gold.

As for a wager, I am a Raiders fan but I am also a Chargers fan. I attended the first Chargers game in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. But I will accept your wager. If the Chargers win I will have my picture taken with a Charger jersey on and smile. If the Raiders win, you have to wear a Raider jersey in your next public performance at the beginning of the performance or you can make another video and lose to the Predator or pose for a glamour shot as you suggested.

I had a standing bet with my late friend Irish Mike Callahan and we had some great times watching each other wearing Charger or Raider clothing from head to toe for an entire work day. I miss those bets and I miss Irish Mike.

I still don’t like some mascots. If they are fiberglass I guess they can’t be labeled as phony. Give me the LSU Tiger, the Colorado Buffalo, the Air Force Falcon, the Navy Goat, the Auburn Eagle, the Georgia or Ramona Bulldog every time.

– Bill Tamburrino