On a tight budget? I found a clip on YouTube explaining how you can build your own t-shirt launcher. Actually its a fun science class like do-it-yourself weekend warrior version of a gun, but the principles are all the same.

Or you can go with the book by these guys which also explains how to build your own cannon next weekend in your garage.

If you aren’t feeling crafty or would just rather have a polished and professional version of an air cannon The Store on Gameops.com has a growing selection of launchers, cannons and slingshots that is hard to top. (Click for The Store).  The new store has some cool features like color selection and videos of the cannons as well.

–Cudo

Here is a great idea from Tampa Bay.

When Tampa mascot Raymond made the trip to the Mascot Hall of Fame, it left a void for a game day. The Rays decided to “call up” one of their minor league affiliate mascots which was probably both interesting for their fans as well as a thrill for the performer. It was an easy way to make things interesting during a long 81 game season.

On August 15, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will make mascot history with the first ever call up of a squirrel. Chatter, mascot for the Rays single-A affiliate Visalia Oaks, will take over the role as mascot for one night. Raymond, the Rays official mascot, will be out of town attending the Mascot Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in Philadelphia. (Rays PR)

I will go one further and suggest this is something teams should do yearly just to capture the following benefits.

• Groom new talent for your mascot program
• A yearly trip to your game might be added incentive to attract better candidates to your minor league teams
• Let your mascot help the mascots in your affiliates
• Give your mascot the chance to only to mentor, but to learn from other mascots
• Create interest and hype for the mascots in your affiliate cities
• Keep things fresh with your games by giving your fans something different.  (and if you are not confident in the job they might do, you can invite them to join your mascot for a night rather than replace them for a night)

–Cudo

The May update is live and we still have more coming this month.

For starters we look back at last summer when we reviewed a CFL game in Calgary.  Their dance team (the Outriders) provided an interesting point of focus for game operations.  They perform all game long, but never lose sight of what’s important….the game.  Take a look at how they do that and how that can improve your dance team, scoreboard or mascot performance.

We also partnered with the Fort Wayne Komets on a new twist on the FanRavel…the Design Your Own FanRavel.  For a recent playoff game, Komet fans were given a FanRavel (Rollabanna) with one side primarily blank (the backside featured sponsor logos and white space).  Fans then could add their own message at design stations on the concourse.  We have some photos from their promotion as well as tools to help you create a similar promotion (including FanRavel quotes and FanRavel Boards).

The Store also has a couple new products (the aforementioned FanRavel Boards and blank banner material) and discounts for May.

Coming later this month Pat Walker returns with his popular column (we will feature that link in the blog and on the home page when he returns).

Don’t miss the blog the rest of the month.  I have been busy trying to go from our twice a week postings to three times a week…just to keep you busy.

Thanks for your support.

–Cudo

The recent flap in Pittsburgh surrounds a bobblehead of Pirate Pitcher Tom Gorzelanny. In the pose, Gorzelanny appears to be giving you the finger through his glove hand. It’s getting attention nationally in print and TV, including Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

This is where I think the team did themselves a real disservice, in a comment on the flap here is what Pirate spokesperson had to say:

Pirates spokesman Jim Trdinich said the likeness was not meant to be in poor taste and that the company that makes the dolls work from a photo giving to them. While I am not sure, my guess is that these dolls came from China and you get what you pay for.

The Pirates have not been in contention for over a decade and are still giving their fans the finger. (Clevelandleader.com)

You get what you pay for? Really? The fans didn’t have the comparison shopping opportunity on this bobblehead, so it’s bizarre to blame the fans for ending up with a “sub-par” bobblehead that’s giving you the finger.

And to suggest that this bobblehead “came from China” smacks of xenophobia, hints at potential dangers of lead poisoning risk, and shows this spokesperson to be a little naive regarding where practically all bobbleheads originate.

I am not sure which I think is worse, the gift of a bobblehead that seems to be giving me the finger, or the Pirate spokesperson blaming the fans for getting what they paid for and blaming everyone else for the gaffe.

In the mean time, I have checked the Pirates Promotion calendar and don’t see a foam finger giveaway night planned….so that’s good news.

–Cudo

The Tampa Bay Rays updated their look this year and speculation was open on how that might effect their mascot (Raymond).

The Rays’ took this an an opportunity for their mascot to roll out a fresh look and play into the speculation.  In the end the changes on the character were minimal (from my first glance it’s a new jersey).

The team produced a 3 minute video used in-game to set-up the change and introduce the new look Raymond to the fans.

I think they did a nice job playing into the news about the new look, created a fun video and connected it to a live element.  This is a good example making news with your mascot and making the “happenings” of your team effect it’s number one fan (it’s mascot).

–Cudo

Just caught up on some YouTube clips from around sports, including this clip from the Carolina Hurricanes.

I love the widespread use of the ice as a screen for images in hockey, whether its using Gobo Lights or video….but this huge scale use in Carolina is just fantastic.

As noted, we have added “Best Introductions” to the 2008 Best of Gameops.com Awards, so please send us video or your or your favorite intros. (this video is actually a couple years old, so it’s not eligible).

–Cudo