An interviewer with the Pelicans Patter sat down with Scoop & Swoop in an exclusive interview to go behind the scenes at Pelican Park and inside the lives of the most famous pelicans on Earth.
Q: How did you arrive in sunny Pensacola?
Scoop: In 2002, I got word that the Pelicans baseball team was holding tryouts for a mascot. Ever since I was hatched it’s been my dream to be a baseball mascot. In August of 2002, I got my call-up and became the official Pelicans mascot.
Swoop: I was hatched at Pelican Park in July of 2009, so it was as if I was destined to become a mascot. The fans embraced me and gave me my name. My fate was sealed when I attended my first Pelicans game and fell in love at first pitch.
Q: Scoop, did you have plastic surgery or makeover because you look fabulous!?
Scoop: I decided to get a makeover in 2005 to improve my beach bod. I got my beak lifted and feathers ruffled. Now I spend my days working out with the team to maintain my figure and improve my flight aerodynamics.
Q: Swoop, I love your outfit! Who’s your designer?
Swoop: Carole Flemming from California specially designed my outfit for me. She works feathered miracles!
Q: How does it feel to be the most famous feathered celebrities in the area?
Scoop: It’s an honor to be recognized as such an integral part of Pensacola and share the limelight with other famous Pensacola attractions such as the Blue Angels, the whitest beaches, etc.
Swoop: It’s great to call Pensacola home and feel the warmth of Southern hospitality.
Q: What’s your favorite part of the job?
Scoop: Motivating kids to read and participate in my Reading Challenge to earn free tickets to the games.
Swoop: Socializing with all the fans at Pelican Park.
 Q: What’s your favorite thing to do during the games?
Scoop: Getting the crowd going to help cheer on the Pelicans.
Swoop: Showing off my sweet dance moves.
Q: What’s your favorite ballpark cuisine or are you on a fish-only diet?
Scoop: I’m old-school baseball; I always have to have my hot dog and cracker jacks at every game.
Swoop: The fried oreos are delicious!
Q: How are your baseball skills?
Scoop: I like to keep my skills sharp so in case one of the players goes down I can step up to the plate. However, my base running still needs some work.
Swoop: I prefer being a spectator and enjoying a bird’s-eye view of the game.
Q: How come you always get beat by all the kids when you race around the bases?
Scoop: No comment. Next question.
Swoop: I think you may have ruffled Scoops’ feather with that question. Scoops’ athletic skills are built more for the sky and water, but he’s been working out with the team so this might be his year.
Q: What do you do in the off-season?
Scoop: We do a lot of parades and festivals. I’m also very active in encouraging little readers to round the bases for literacy in my Reading Challenge program.
Swoop: We also like to hang out with the locals and join in leisure activities, such as fishing and diving.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in the 2010 season?
Scoop: The sights, sounds, and smells of the ballpark and the great game of baseball: the smell of the grass, crack of the bat, the sound of the ball hitting the glove, the energy of the fans, 7th inning stretches, and seeing a kid light up at his first game.
Swoop: Looking forward to reuniting with my baseball family and another successful year on the field. Hopefully this year we can win the ring!
|
