The Phoenix Suns Mascot

Sports mascots occupy an unusual position in society, straddling the divide between sports and pop culture while having little to do with either. A mascot is essentially a cheerleader, there to entertain fans and possibly pump up a crowd. They were silly costumes that had nothing to do with the team they represented, such as the Phillie Phanatic. Another one that makes you scratch your head? Gorilla of the Phoenix Suns. He happened by chance. Because neither the phoenix nor the sun has much to do with gorillas, their mascot is understandably perplexing. Henry Rojas had no intention of becoming their mascot, either. He just showed up at a game dressed as a gorilla.

Rojas worked for a singing telegram company and also worked at the Suns' coliseum. He was attempting to mind his own business, do his job, and then leave. However, when he stood up to leave during a break in play, music began to play over the speakers. People assumed something was going on when they saw a gorilla on the court. He danced because someone encouraged him to. A ref even threw a ball to him, and he sank a shot. People went insane over it. The team management actually hated it at first, but they couldn’t stop him from performing on time.

Rojas got a kick out of the fan reaction, so he kept coming back dressed in costume and dancing or goofing around. The crowd loved it and eventually, the team made him official.

Year: 1980

Events: the story of how a singing telegram became one of the sport's most iconic mascots.