Booker vs. The Raptor: The Secret Lives Of Mascots
The Lead
Wondery
3.9 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 14 January 2022
⏱️ 26 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
NBA fans were treated to one of stranger and more hilarious moments of the season earlier this week, when Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker took exception to the actions of the opposing team's mascot, The Raptor. What made the situation especially ridiculous was the fact that there were no fans in the arena -- just a lone red dinosaur in a basketball jersey, jumping around and trying to distract Booker while he shot free throws late in the game. In honor of this incredible moment, we're doing a deep dive on mascots today. First, former Phillie Phanatic (and founder of the Mascot Hall Of Fame) Dave Raymond joins us to share his views on the Booker situation. Then, The Athletic's Nick Kosmider and James Edwards III tell the story of the first father-son mascot duo in NBA history, and take us deep inside the secret, joyful, and challenging lives of mascots.
Read Nick and James's original story:
Learn more about Dave Raymond:
https://daveraymondspeaks.com/
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hey, prime members, you can listen to the lead ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the app today. |
| 0:07.0 | Hi there, Wondry listeners. Hannah and Sruti here from TrueCram Podcast Redhanded. |
| 0:11.0 | Your favourite podcast Redhanded. We just wanted to say how excited we are to be included in Amazon Music |
| 0:16.0 | and Wondry's best podcasts of the year as chosen by their listeners, which is you. |
| 0:21.0 | So thank you so much to everyone who listened to us voted for us, all the things you do for us. |
| 0:26.0 | Any of you out there who haven't checked out Redhanded, what are you doing? What are you waiting for? |
| 0:31.0 | It's a weekly show where we deep dive into the most talked about cases like the Delphi murders |
| 0:35.0 | and also those you might never have heard of like the Nathari child sacrifices in Delhi. |
| 0:40.0 | Go listen to Redhanded right now on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. |
| 0:46.0 | So it's late in the fourth quarter of the Suns Raptors game Tuesday night. |
| 0:57.0 | Devon Booker is at the free throw line trying to seal the game for Phoenix. |
| 1:01.0 | There are no fans inside Toronto's Scotia Bank Arena because of COVID. |
| 1:05.0 | But there is one person or one creature behind the basket. |
| 1:10.0 | Toronto's mascot, the Raptor, a red dinosaur in a basketball jersey. And with thousands of seats around him empty, |
| 1:17.0 | he jumps, spreads his arms and legs wide open and tosses his head wildly trying to make Booker miss. |
| 1:23.0 | And that's when things get hilarious. |
| 1:27.0 | By the way, Booker's complaining about the Raptor, the lone fan that's there. |
| 1:32.0 | I mean, one, the Raptor. |
| 1:35.0 | He's been sent away, he's been sent away. There's nobody in the gym. |
| 1:41.0 | The mascot is sent to the corner where he takes a knee looking kind of sad. |
| 1:45.0 | And Booker makes both free throws to ice the game. |
| 1:49.0 | Since then, Devon Booker has rightfully taken some heat over his complaining. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Wondery, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Wondery and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.