Gameops.com: How'd you get started as a mascot?
Michael Zerrillo: I was the roommate with the Phoenix Suns Gorilla,after he got the job as the Gorilla in 1988. I helped him out and saw what the was doing as a performer and I started looking for opportunities. I saw an opening in Charlotte in 1990 and I auditioned that summer.
There were 60 people who submitted resumes and videos and the team auditioned 15 people in Charlotte.
Gameops.com: How did they run that audition?
The final audition was made up of the top 10. It was a live audition in costume. If you were a dunker they had you perform out of costume as well. This was held at the 1990 draft party.
The team told the fans they were seeing an audition for the mascot, so they were very open about it. They played it up that they were holding a big search.
With the change they were also making some changes to the costume, so they created a story that Hugo was bug-napped and super heroes were searching for him. They explained that a doctor had helped to change his appearance slightly and this story also helped create the backstory for Super Hugo (the dunking character).
Gameops.com: Do you have any advice to younger mascots who are looking to audition with professional teams?
Zerrillo: Don't do it. (laughs)
Contact teams, get a resume and video. Like any job it's a numbers game, there are a lot of performers and only a few jobs. Connect with someone in the organization and let them know you are interested. Ask the to hold on to your info and to connect with you if the position opens up in the future. (for more tips for younger mascots see our Mascot Tips from NBA performers.)
Gameops.com: In that first year you created a new style of the dual mascot with two persona's. One, the larger traditional costume (Hugo), and the other a "super hero" alter ego (Super Hugo). Talk about how that came about.
Zerrillo: Super Hugo came about because I was a gymnast and I could dunk pretty well. The bigger costume inhibited what I could do.
The major focus was always on Hugo, but could we created the secondary character for dunks. We built a phone booth and Hugo would run in and change live into Super Hugo. We later filmed that transition so didn't have to spend all the time and effort in the change and could go right to the action. I also had the ability to change in a large parachute bag.
We felt it was important that people knew it was the same character, not two different characters or performers. Despite our efforts some people think its two people after all these years.
Dunked every other game, depending on the schedule. Big nights, tried to make it more special. Creating that character made the overall character more unique and it was a way to make the dunking more special.
It caused some problems of having to change, since we had to block out chunks of game schedule to make the costume change and change back afterwards.
Gameops.com: Super Hugo became the NBA Mascot 3-time dunk champion [1991 (Charlotte), 1992 (Orlando) 1993 (Utah)], how did you use that to build your character?
Zerrillo: Those wins helped automatically since it got so much attention. Not everyone was dunking, so it was on ESPN and national tv more often back then The NBA also used me internationally and with their more high profile events, which not only helped the character but helped our team as well since we are an expansion team.
After that 3rd win I negotiated in my contract that if I won again I would get a bonus ($5000). I didn't get invited back for 5 more years because the league was trying to help build more characters as they entered the league. When I finally went back it wasn't really a competition anymore.
Gameops.com: So you never got paid that $5k bonus.
Zerrillo: Nope, never saw that.
Gameops.com: Let's talk about moving Charlotte to New Orleans then to Oklahoma City, and back to New Orleans.
Zerrillo: The Hornets moved me and the entire franchise after 14 years in Charlotte. initially the city had really embraced the team, but after several years things like the arena got messy and the team decided to make a move. The organization then had to make decision on who to bring, and I was one of the staff who was asked to move to New Orleans.
Getting to New Orleans was a nice fresh start, but there were a lot logistics that had to be addressed. But that's never and easy time to move a whole franchise.
New Orleans provided a great reception, after 20 years from the New Orleans Jazz the fans had not really seen anything like the current day NBA entertainment experience. There were some early challenges, since its really a football town but after 2 seasons people really thought of the Hornets as their team. That became more apparent after the shift to OKC, the people in NOLA were saying "that's our team".
As far as performances it was a little different. The town is more open to festive parties, which was fun. Lots of festivals like Mardi Gras, the music was different. Second Line dancing (umbrella and hanky dances to brass band music). Something that really wouldn't be seen anywhere else.
Gameops.com: Tell us about the time post-Katrina in New Orleans.
Zerrillo: The storm hit in late August, so in the October preseason we had one month to find a place to play. The arena floor wasn't flooded, but the locker rooms were covered in mold and were basically ruined. Much of that area had standing water. So we quickly had to find a place to play. Personally I was pretty spared, since I was commuting at the time. My family and I were living in North Carolina, so I wasn't in Louisiana for the storm.
So we moved to Oklahoma for training camp and worked a deal to work there inside a month. Oklahoma City was very receptive. The community really helped out the employees, both on and off the court. Everyone was in flux for at least a year. No one really knew what was going to happen.
The people of Oklahoma City really stepped up in a lot of ways. Ford Arena was a great place to play. Atmosphere was like Charlotte in 1990's. College atmosphere, with NBA entertainment.
For that year I lived in Norman near U of Oklahoma along with many of the front staff.
As far as the game entertainment, everything felt new and fresh. it was a whole new crowd (again) so I could use a lot of my old standards.
Gameops.com: Last season you went between Oklahoma City and New Orleans, which must have been a challenge as well.
Zerrillo: For the last couple years the team owner let me perform primarily at games only so I could be with my family in Charlotte. The challenge was the travel between those cities (New Orleans and Oklahoma City) and juggling scheduling trips between all 3 cities. It was great for me since I had a chance to see fans in both cities as I retired.
Gameops.com: What is the biggest change from 1990 up to the point you retired last spring?
Zerrillo: For mascots I think there are more limitations imposed by teams and the leagues. As more performers were added think there you had more performers take chances and push the limits, forcing the teams and leagues to have some firmer limits. In 1990 you could stand on the basket, not you can't.....that type of thing.
However entertaining is entertaining. Funny then is funny now. The challenge is creating new and different things. Most of the best stuff is from current events, so while that's the same the current events are always changing.
Inflatable characters (see video at right) have added a new dimension as well.
Sheer number of performers is also very different. This also helps develop
more ideas at the NBA conference (where most NBA mascots gather yearly to share ideas.)
As far as in-game entertainment things seem about the same. For our team Hugo has always been a large part of the show, so that has remained the same.
Also the addition of On-Court MC's: now most teams have a voice on the floor, which can be very advantageous with the right person.
Gameops.com: Talk about the process of finding a replacement performer for Hugo.
Zerrillo: I was trying to retire for while, but the owner asked me to stay and extended it a couple years. The owner wanted some continuity with all the other issues. When we moved to a new city, he wanted to keep things the same when possible, so that kept me around longer.
Last year when it was time to hang it up. We looked for new talent during the year. We wanted them in during a season to shadow and see how we do things. In the end we got a late start on it.
We had two rounds of tryouts. Some performers referred or had sent information to the team. That group was reviewed by ownership who took an active role. We had a collective discussion and decided who was right for the role. I was asked to help mentor the new performer for 6 months and to advise where asked. I help however I can.
I also helped with the move back from Oklahoma to New Orleans.
Last night was the first performance I evaluated during a pre-season game.
Gameops.com: What was that like to see someone else in the suit after 17 years?
Zerrillo: It was different. I wasn't sad, since I was really ready to be done. I had never really seen it from this angle, so it was interesting.
I realized you can see a whole lot better without that costume on. If I wasn't ready for the chance I would have been more regretful, but I was ready.
As I reviewed the performance I really looked at things not like "is that what I would do, but is that working."
Gameops.com: As far as the direction of the character, what is the direction the Hornets are looking at for Hugo.
Zerrillo: I think what we really want is "Here is what Hugo has been, but take it your own way." The new performer needs to put his own stamp on it, but each mascot character has its own feel ....which shouldn't change entirely Hugo is kid-friendly.
The new performer adds more dancing skills, but the character itself would be the same.
Gameops.com: Talk about your role now in transition
Zerrillo: I will be at the second preseason game also in the same capacity. After game #2 we will evaluate from there how much more I can contribute and how.
Gameops.com: What's next for you out of spandex and bug wings?
Zerrillo: I am working in real estate in Charlotte at this point, which I did in Phoenix before my mascot career.
Gameops.com: Hornets owner George Shinn did something very special for you on the way out, can tell us about that?
Zerrillo: In both cites he presented me with a retirement moment. We did a live time out tribute out of costume. He brought my family to both cities for it. On court he played a highlight video and spoke to the fans about what I had accomplished and thanked me for my work for the Hornets. In New Orleans he presented me a rocking chair to watch my kids grow up and a custom leather chair was presented in Oklahoma City. I also was given a mini basket for my kids that the whole team had signed.
I am very greatful to him and the entire organization for the love and support they have give to me and the mascot position for the last 17 years.
Gameops.com: What is your lasting memory, the one moment you will never forget.
Zerrillo: I think it was in Charlotte when we first made the playoffs. I was just getting a handle on what it was to be an NBA mascot. The excitment level and sense of importance on each game in the playoffs increases dramatically in the playoffs for the NBA.
Gameops.com: Who is your favorite mascot to watch?
Zerrillo: I don't know. You don't get a chance to watch a lot. Probably the Gorilla.
Gameops.com: How many times do you think you trotted out that Madonna MC Hammer Skit? [editors note: Mike has a skit that starts with MC Hammer and spins into a Madonna spoof. I have ribbed him for years for how often he trots this "classic" out.]
Zerrillo: 17 years. 1once a 1, every away game ....probably 75. And it killed every time!
Gameops.com: Mascots: on the way up, on the way down….or staying about the same in terms of their value to teams?
Zerrillo: Staying about the same. Very valuable. Teams are adding a lot of other entertainment, but its hard for them to be as much the focal point as a mascot...but still game ops, community, sponsor, they are just so valuable to the team.
Gameops.com: I would be remiss not to ask you about Injuries…just to give our readers a sense of what you put yourself through to be a mascot for all those years.
Zerrillo: I have had multiple sprains, minor wear and tear and a lot of tendonitis.
- 1995 torn Achilles
- 1996 - neck fused
- 1998 - disc partially removed, hernia surgery
- Both knees have been scoped
- Appendix removed (day of game) dunked through flaming hoop 6 days later
- Shoulder surgery
- Ankle surgery
- Broken ankle
Gameops.com: Final thoughts?
Zerrillo: I would do it all over again. It was a very fun and unique experience that has help make me who I am today. Thanks to everyone who has been ther for me and good luck to all my costume brothers. Bee Cool!
Thanks to Michael Zerrillo for his time on this interview and more importantly for his friendship over the years. I had the good fortune to meet Michael in 1989 before he had even landed the Hugo position. I had numerous opportunities to work with Michael over the years and they were always filled with great memories and a lot of laughs.
