At least Explorers have the best mascot!!!

[jbirdmontana]

So far this season in Great Falls the most exciting thing that I have witnessed at a game is Rocky the Raccoon. Rocky and his crazy antics are something to be seen indeed. Last week Butte was visiting and their assistant coach has to weigh at least 400 lbs, and at half time Rocky came over to him and poked the guys belly and then backed up and started to do the sumo wrestler stomp and stance. This has to be one of the funniest things that I have ever seen, and not to mention Rocky sinking a reverse half court shot. Rocky needs to be used in promotion material for the Explorers to increase fan interest, he makes the games worth attending. Now if we could just get a hotter dance team...........:

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

So far this season in Great Falls the most exciting thing that I have witnessed at a game is Rocky the Raccoon. Rocky and his crazy antics are something to be seen indeed. Last week Butte was visiting and their assistant coach has to weigh at least 400 lbs, and at half time Rocky came over to him and poked the guys belly and then backed up and started to do the sumo wrestler stomp and stance. This has to be one of the funniest things that I have ever seen, and not to mention Rocky sinking a reverse half court shot. Rocky needs to be used in promotion material for the Explorers to increase fan interest, he makes the games worth attending. Now if we could just get a hotter dance team...........:

Got any photos of Rocky? Not sure why the Explorers have a raccoon for a mascot (although the old Rockford Lightning had a raccoon for a mascot too). Got any photos of the dance team to post? I'd like to determine if they're hot or not for myself. Ahem... 8)

[MinersFan3]

I have not seen your mascot . . . but man, ours is great too . . . I also think he should be promoted more with the team (other than the fact that he's a 7 foot tall, bright yellow canary, see our website www.ekminers.com for more info on that one) At a previous game this season, he has sprayed fans with silly string, tried to jump hot wheel buses with a kid's bicycle, tried to dunk by rollerblading off a 6'' ramp (that is inches, not feet) and administered an eye test to a referree during a timeout after a REALLY REALLY bad call. . . he's great as well . . . just wanted to throw some support out there for our hardworking mascot!!!

[Chuck the Writer]

Got any photos of Rocky? Not sure why the Explorers have a raccoon for a mascot (although the old Rockford Lightning had a raccoon for a mascot too). Got any photos of the dance team to post? I'd like to determine if they're hot or not for myself. Ahem... 8)

Well... seeing as I have to do all of Ken's work for him these days...

Here are the Albany Patroons "Emeralds"

http://www.albanypats.com/emeralds/girls/EM-team.jpg

The Great Falls Explorers "Sapphires"

http://www.greatfallsexplorers.com/images/sapphires/sapphires2.gif

The East Kentucky Miners "Diamond Girls"

http://www.ekminers.com/dance/images/Diamond-Girls-Group-Shot-ho.jpg

[Chuck the Writer]

The Minot Skyrockets "Rockettes"

http://www.minotskyrockets.com/images/rockettes/teamphoto-sectionheader.jpg

The Oklahoma Cavalry dance team

http://www.okcavs.com/images/dance/110707-danceteam-spread.jpg

The Yakama Sun Kings dance team

http://www.sunkings.com/images/sundanceteam.jpg

Pittsburgh, Butte and Atlanta do not have dance team photos on their site.

Rio Grande Valley has individual dance members' pictures; I can only post 3 images per OSC message and I wasn't going to spend all day posting RGV girls' pictures. Next time they should get a team shot like the rest of the dance teams do!

[jbirdmontana]

Damn those Oklahoma girls are hotttttttttt. Those pictures of the Explorers dance team are from last year, and none of those girls are back, and only one was really hot anyway. There are pictures of Rocky at www.greatfallsexplorers.com

[psbf]

my a member of the Xplosion(not hard to figure out by watching the games) that they decided to do away with the dancers this year, unfortunately. Too bad(imo), since the auditions seemed to be going well.

[TheStandard]

I want the Emeralds and the Eastern Kentucky girls in my bed right now :-)

[jbirdmontana]

Come on man, the Oklahoma and Yakama dance teams are the hottest. Lets hear what everone else thinks rate your top 3. Mine is #1 Oklahoma, #2 East Kentucky, #3 is a tie with Yakama and Albany

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

I have not seen your mascot . . . but man, ours is great too . . . I also think he should be promoted more with the team (other than the fact that he's a 7 foot tall, bright yellow canary, see our website www.ekminers.com for more info on that one) At a previous game this season, he has sprayed fans with silly string, tried to jump hot wheel buses with a kid's bicycle, tried to dunk by rollerblading off a 6'' ramp (that is inches, not feet) and administered an eye test to a referree during a timeout after a REALLY REALLY bad call. . . he's great as well . . . just wanted to throw some support out there for our hardworking mascot!!!

A canary makes perfectly good sense for a Miners' mascot because I understand a long time ago they used a caged canary in the mines to make sure the air was good. If the bird croaked, then it was time to get the heck out of there. Excellent choice for a mascot.

Dance teams:
I guess I'm just a spandex fan. They all look good enough to draw fans and keep them coming back. Pittsburgh's dance team is just like their arena though--void of life. 8)

This isn't the IBL or USBL, but this is Gary's dance team in action during a pre-season scrimmage (hence, no one in the stands):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5kqPgIXQLA

Chuck:
Thanks for the pics. Yes, I can be quite lazy at times. 8)

[jbirdmontana]

That ain't no damn canary, that is a giant big bird lol. I like the mascot but the name is kinda lame, but thats alright. Hey to everyone that reads this, please post your top 3 of the hottest dance teams. (Your wife is not gonna find out ha ha)

[MinersFan3]

The mascot was named by a random fan. It was a preseason promotion. The winner of the "name the mascot" contest got an autographed team ball, and a photo with the mascot.