On the same day he was honored, a video of Bear encouraging motorists not to drive like an ape debuted on YouTube. When theyre involved, they get to see all the planning and stuff come together. The Bear and drunk quickly began to battle, and the cops even had to break them up . You would come whipping down there. It was a rock-climbing thing. Utah Jazz mascot Jazz Bear excites the crowd during a break in play between the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings on March 13, 2016 at Sleep Train Arena. In the hundreds of games since, he has only increased the intensity of his stuntswhether he's flying down the concourse steps on a plastic sled or doing a handstand on top of a 20-foot ladder at. Frank Zang, the spokesperson for the Utah Jazz, did not tell News4Utah why he was let go and said the man's identity has never been released, out of respect for the character. Find the best Plush for your project. } Who could replace him as Utah GOP state party chair, In dry West, farmers balk at idling land to save water, 27% of Utah students are chronically absent. We do not discuss individual personnel matters.. You need to work hard and challenge yourself. We did it for the draft. I appreciate that. Over the years, the Jazz Bear has been known for his dangerous stunts, including his iconic sled down the top of the lower bowl of the arena down to the court. I started getting those calls and I never thought people would want me to come out so much because I made such a mess all the time when Id show up. You must be the same person in your house as you are outside of your house, the same person on the field or on the court as you are off the court and vice versa. Mark would always hang out and Brenda would walk over and say, This is the situation, and Mark would pull out a credit card and hed cover the $2,000 that we were short. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah The man most basketball fans knew as the Jazz Bear for more than two decades is talking about his time in the suit, and why he was fired. Follow the action on NBA scores, schedules, stats, news, Team and Player news. . "spotify":{ and last updated 6:32 PM, Dec 05, 2013. I remember Stephen and Minnie going out one night and they had asked Greg Foster if hed wanted to come over for dinner. i was today years old when i found out i posted the 2nd most viewed tiktok in the nfl this season Before, he says, he hid under a mask. Information in the story may be outdated Theyre playing a game that we played when we were six. Jazz Bear will continue to be one of the most iconic mascots in the NBA, a Jazz spokesperson said in a statement. The Utah Jazz have fired Jon Absey, who portrayed the team's Jazz Bear mascot for 24 years. Last question, Jon. Ive been to a number of games where the stars arent playing. NBA Mascot: When kids are involved in charities, they see how everything comes together. Jazz Bear is the mascot for the Utah Jazz, a National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise based in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was like, Im going to do a one-armed handstand. The one-armed handstand happened and nobody copied it. When Bill stepped away, then I tried to raise the money. They taught me to be a little tough. God bless you. With his 18 years of experience as the Jazz Bear, Jon has entertained millions of fans and brought joy to . Give me more money? As I teach in my world of culture creation and leadership and sales, if you come from money, you will leave for money. Were not talking a little six-foot. }, People think they have to give someone a bonus to increase performance and yet your experiences know when you have service before yourself, you elevate everyone around you. Video produced by Alinco Costumes.For more info abo. The person who wears the Jazz Bear suit is not publicly known. I ended up out on the third-floor ledge and chilling out because in my head, I was like, Im bored. I was so ADHD. He didnt try to be anyone else or act like someone else in the suit. Jazz Bear was introduced to the league on November 4, 1994. They allowed you to come close to them. They were approachable. Give us the inside scoop of the Mascot Bowl. Jazz Bear was introduced to the league on November 4, 1994. Jan 12, 2012, 10:55 AM EST. Thats where it all started as just an idea to raise money to be able to take kids shopping. However, on October 19, 2018 it was reported that Jon Absey, who had performed as the Jazz Bear for twenty-four years, had been fired for unknown reasons. One thing led to another, and he was asked to try out to be the Jazz mascot in the early 1990s. We need to do something for the underserved.. The Phillie Phanatic is one and its not a cheap suit, but thats technically where it goes because it limits your ability a lot. Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 26, 2019 Fans then cheered wildly as the proud mascot strolled off the court with the big catch. I remember one time we were over by like $5,600. Coming from a farm, I dont know if its those types of values, but if you can, you help others out. Until October 2018. Bold predictions for the 2018-19 NBA season. I almost missed out on being out here. I'm grateful that the maker of my handmade journals, Utah-based Rustico, became an underwriter. I love her. I felt like I needed to give back. Back then, when I first started going, it was only twelve feet and then guys started going out and they were on the ladder. Dick Butkus, the guys that are from Meyer that I grew up idolizing, played for the love of the game and had a second career or another job in the off-season so they could pay their bills. ] Absey then worked more than 800 home games as the Jazz Bear. Let me guess you also think the cop was in on it or he was a fake cop. He said he never feared anything he could control. For You. I knew we had something in common as soon as we kept talking along. Thats basically where I started teaching myself gymnastics. We wanted our own identity. Incidentally, he was also fired from his very first job as a mascot for the CBA for all those stunts he tried out. . A wayward bat flew around the court inside the Vivint Smart Home Arena about an hour before Utah's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, interrupting the pregame shooting routines of the likes of Jazz stars Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio. The mascot, named Jazz Bear, showed off his talents on the water, doing some impressive waterskiing and wakeboarding in full costume, all to the bangin' lyrics from good ol' Alan himself. No, but when we have arguments with our spouses or significant others, we call it the rebound rate. The 50-year-old Absey won the 2017-18 Mascot of the Year award as Jazz Bear, marking the fifth time he garnered the honor in his career. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. A couple of months later, theyre the ones who get to take these kids Christmas shopping. Its not the same Jazz Bear. In Utah, the Bountiful High Braves, a fictitious Native mascot, changed in April 2021 to the Redhawks after advocating efforts from Native American activists, including James Singer, a Salt Lake . But thats the scaredest Ive ever been, he laughed. On October 19, 2018, it was reported that Jon Absey, who had performed as the Jazz Bear for twenty-four years, had been fired for unknown reasons. I remember hitting the ground, and just running. Dating back to his first year as the Jazz's mascot in 1994, Bear has given 15,000-plus hours of assistance in the community for more than 300 community organizations, raising over $1 million in the process. I took my head off and I looked and I hooked into a cargo strap, which holds about fifteen pounds. At the beginning of the season, the Utah Jazz were second to last. The Jazz suffered their second straight loss to a team near the bottom of the standings thanks to a turnover-prone outing against the Thunder. But he can still do the splits at age 52. Mark Atkins is the same thing, showing up at the event and wanting to help any way they can. "overcast":{ Estimated read time: 3-4 It was like a playland. Jon shares his inspiring story of taking advantage of opportunities and the challenges of balancing family and work and living a purpose-driven life. They get to get out there and pull it off. Theres a difference between a costume and someone whos inside the costume that uses that vehicle or character to express who he is. SportsPulse: Jeff Zillgitt and Trysta Krick put their prediction hats on for some bold takes as the NBA season gets set to begin. I . . They played for the right reasons. It was so fun. The Utah Jazz have fired Jon Absey, who portrayed the team's Jazz Bear mascot for 24 years. Jazz Bear will continue to be one of the most iconic mascots in the NBA, said Jazz spokesman Frank Zang. Why the mascot for the Utah Jazz is a bear.and why is name is simply just "Bear".still baffles me. Yes, as far as the NBAMascots.com can find, Jazz Bear has been the one mascot for the Utah . They have prided themselves in the unique and bombastic mascot. 15-year-old boy dies after being found in crashed car with gunshot wounds, Do not 'push a slower friend down' if you encounter a bear, National Park Service warns, Police say man killed by Farmington officers had gun; victim's mom filed suit over other traffic stop, Suspect in Dylan Rounds disappearance charged with murder, Police investigating serious crash on I-215 offramp, Man struck, killed by FrontRunner in Clearfield, Trapped fox 'severely' injures dog in Draper, prompts warning from city, 14-year-old uses social media to track down man accused of robbing him, Northern Utah man faces 30 felonies in child pornography case. But then he got on a bull at the Days of 47 Rodeo. Im a fan of a team in that the players appreciate me being there and spending that hard-earned money to come to watch them play. Two, once somebody does it, I want to be able to do something else. The Bear has suffered many injuries while performing, including tearing his bicep and rupturing a tendon in his calf. Im not a fan of a team that I dont know anybody on it. That's because the Utah Jazz fired Absey this week due to reasons that include ongoing disputes with management, according to multiple sources. "The Jazz Bear will continue to be one of the most iconic mascots in . Years later, theyre adults and coming to give back because of what it did for them. He is the original Jazz Bear. The man behind Jazz Bear, the reigning Mascot of the Year, has been fired after almost a quarter-century with the team due to "a rift" with the organization, according to multiple reports out of Utah. Sure, the Utah Jazz Bear mascot may have gone a little too far, spraying silly string on a couple of Rockets fans and getting some sting in their beers, but he was spraying everyone. This year, the Utes will face Penn State. 3414. He jumped through rings of fire, played fireworks-filled pianos and rode Karl Malones motorcycle onto the arena floor. Here, we will focus on the top 10 most popular sports mascots. Its an opportunity to entertain people without spending as much as it was back then to go to a game. When I would get surgery because I hurt myself, theyd always say like, Its going to be hard to come back. I went, I get it! How tall was the ladder? Honestly, the biggest part that kept me out of so many injuries was my flexibility, which I did almost every day. Spencer Lund January 14, 2014. His name is Jim Johnston. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. I would love to see it go back to where a fan could get an autograph or talk to a player. Its so fun because we used high schools and we like to have kids get involved. That 12-foot or 14-foot ladder didnt allow enough time for me to understand that I was going to unwind. Although hes now a three-time NBA MOTY and was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame back in 2006, those numbers tell the tale of what Jazz Bear is all about just as much as all the 20-foot ladders hes climbed or trampoline dunks hes thrown down. Hopefully, when I pass, I have a full church and then I know that I was successful. [5], On October 19, 2018, it was reported that Jon Absey, who had performed as the Jazz Bear for twenty-four years, had been fired for unknown reasons. $7.99 When you have an opportunity, never doubt yourself. Hes like, Did you take a job with the other teams? I was like, No. He goes, What are you going to do? I said, I dont know. He goes, Why dont you come out here? He talked to me like I was then. I did stunts and I was one of the first mascots to start doing stunts. All joking aside, though, Bear is in a class all his own. Theyre resting them on the bench now. Do you remember John and Carl or any of those guys? When we came out that night, we did it. The exhibition also included Indiana Pacers mascot Boomer, and now-defunct Seattle SuperSonics mascot Squatch. Did you always have a natural sense of balance and body strength or did you develop that? I thought it would be fun. I had a dancer from the Winnipeg Thunder that was not strapped in or anything was holding onto me, and Im holding onto her. I loved it so much. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's, Reports: Jazz fire Bear performer after 24 seasons, Carson Jorgensen not running for reelection. On this night, for some reason, I didnt get up there in time and I did it blindly. Jazz Bear made his official debut during the 1990-91 NBA season. I got smart when I got to the Jazz as I started putting two sleds together and put a wood board in the middle of them so that it was more solid. Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith said his goal for the team's next broadcast deal is to create the easiest viewing experience for fans. archived form does not constitute a republication of the story. You then have the Phoenix Gorilla and some of the other mascots in the league like Rocky, Crunch, Sacramento, Portland, and Indy, but theyre that mix where youre funny and athletic. About 120. ], The Little Giant, anytime I had an idea, they would build me a ladder because theyre the ones who built me the big sled from the upper bowl. He didnt try to be anyone else or act like someone else in the suit. Take us from the beginning. Bear joined a group of students fromEagle Valley Elementary School in Eagle Mountain, UT less than 24 hours after being announced as the NBAs Mascot of the Year for the 2017-18 season for breakfast, after which he walked the kids to school. He said he feared that people only liked him because he was the Jazz Bear, but now he realizes thats not so. Thankfully, I got out here because if you go back before that, when I did tryouts out here, they had a three-team tryout with Sacramento, Seattle, and Utah. Youre so important to our community, and you always will be. "url":"https://feeds.podetize.com/rss/QVnbs-974Q", He has been inducted into the YMCA Hall of Fame, the Utah Summer Games Hall of Fame, and the Mascot Hall of Fame. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Dec 16, 2013, 05:10 PM EST. I was fortunate to have something that we called the bear crew. Is Jazz Bear the only Utah Jazz mascot? Do you see like 180 degrees? How to Market Your Business with Webinars? I was getting it through Karl Malone, John Stockton, all those guys would write me checks and they would cover it. Showcased by his countless hours of community and public service, and his incredible respect and standing as an important citizen of Utah who has won eight Mascot Leadership Awards. Id always ride in the bucket and Id freeze. I got an offer from all three teams, but I didnt call anybody back because I was too scared. I always like what the kids say afterward. I was in the Army. Fortunately for us, it was all caught on tape. "color":"#E33F3E", Jazz Bear is the official mascot of the National Basketball Association's Utah Jazz team. We went out and lived with his dad for a while. Who is the individual when you go to a sporting event and you see this mascot perform, engage the audience, and cheer on that home crowd to give us the home field or home court advantage? They were like, Jon, we appreciate everything you did, but youre going to kill yourself or a fan in there. I was like, That was fun. It wasnt life-changing for me. Its all good i needed to move on anyway All the best J.A. You are always so generous and went out of your way. You said something very intriguing about the difference between professional athletes nowadays and the days of old. Everyone wish @utahjazzbear a very happy birthday pic.twitter.com/GptYRTuIlW. He was famous in our neighborhood because little kids would come home, have a lemonade stand, and Karl would pull up and pay a hundred dollars for a couple of glasses of lemonade and bring them home. He also does a lot of charity work. I put it on, I walk like I walk. Most significantly, Jon proves why being a mascot has nothing to do with the suit. All the other leagues copied it. How did you come up with that idea? If you ask me, that puts him right up there with the likes of Karl Malone, John Stockton, Donovan Mitchell and Jerry Sloan as one of the most important and influential figures in Jazz history. He began as a farm boy in North Dakota, landing his first mascot job for only $25 for Moorhead State College, which eventually led to an audition to be the Utah Jazz Mascot in the early 1990s. But one inebriated Rockets fan took the feud to the next level by dumping his beer on the Utah Bear. The three years you were a junior in high school, you almost killed the whole faculty? His name was Mark and he would teach me after hours and stuff. Long-time Former Jazz Bear tells all https://t.co/maNuOwLk8Q, Mary Richards (@kslmrichards) January 15, 2020. 201718 Utah Jazz Media Guide. Were coming off California Avenue and take that left on Redwood. }, Jazz . Why the Phoenix Suns Gorilla arrived in the winter of 1980 isnt nearly as intriguing as what hes done since he arrived. I do talk about this to some people. The true gentleman, and kind, caring human being that you are underneath this costume we affectionately call Jazz Bear. What do you think about that shift from Service before yourself. The Bear, as the mascot of Brown University, had its beginning when Theodore Francis Green 1887, a member of the building committee for Rockefeller Hall, placed the head of a real Brown bear above the arch that was the central feature of the trophy room in time for the opening of the new student union in January 1904. There are three types of mascots. He created the idea, costume, and antics that allowed him to be named and honored as the MBA Mascot of the Year five times and the number one voted Most Popular, Most Amazing, Most Significant Mascot across all professional sports and cold sports nationwide two different times. Put yourself out there and take your shot. Out of respect for his character, which is separate from any employee ever associated with it, we have never discussed his identity. It was fun to do an interview with the original Utah Jazz Bear, Jon Absey. Im all over the place. Jazz Bear will continue to be one of the most iconic mascots in the NBA, said Jazz spokesman Frank Zang. When I got out here, the Black Panther was one of them, the Jazzmanian Devil like the Tasmanian devil, something like that, and then this one character, which was funny, they called it a blob, and it was this big blob character. I started in 93. How do you navigate yourself through this little teeny window? Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "episodeNo": 0, "Out of respect for his character, which is separate from any employee ever. I miss it. Ive dreamt my whole life to do this, to entitlement. The other one was a brown bear because its native to the mountains. "style":"regular", I remember running up the wall another time and putting two big holes in it, but they were patient with me. Sad to hear the man inside the Bear suit is moving on. Like there are three different types of mascots, there are a whole bunch of different types of vision when it comes to a head. While Absey won't don the costume, the Jazz confirmed that Jazz Bear will be present when they host the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. Game in and game out, year in and year out, unbelievable. Im almost ready to tap out. While the Jazz declined to comment on Absey specifically, they confirmed in a statement that Jazz Bear will continue to be the team's mascot: Mascot of the Year award as Jazz Bear, marking, While Absey won't don the costume, the Jazz confirmed that Jazz Bear will be present when they host the. As were zipping in first-time doing a full go, it started to unravel. Its interesting as Jon retired as our Jazz Bear and a new person took over the costume, you realize that its more than a costume. Iron Maiden returns to Utah in 2022 with The Legacy of the Beast tour. When I started with the Shop With Bear, it used to be Bill Childs. When you think about it, these athletes are playing the kids games. POLAR PLUNGE.Watch the latest video from Jazz Bear (@utahjazzbear). Two fans in attendance for Sunday's Game 4 stepped. Absey is telling all in a new podcast called Return to Real. Its the first time hes spoken about his time in the costume since his firing. "label":"Google Podcast" Im not topping that. He needs all the help he can get, but Jon doesnt need any help. Duke Snider, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle all made $150,000 a year, and they were the top-paid players. Let it never be said that the Utah Jazzs mascot, Jazz Bear, rests on his furry laurels. If there was ever a conflict between a charity or a sponsor who needed me or something like that, Id always default to the charity. Karene Reid Shares How His Family Taught Him Love, Sacrifice, Hard Work, Education And Loyalty, Micah Bernard Dives Into His Journey To Playing Football At The University Of Utah And What It Takes To Be Successful, Devaughn Vele Shares What Inspired Him To Serve A Church Mission And Return To Walk-On As An Eventual Football Star At The University Of Utah, Lander Barton Discusses The Transition From High School Athlete To Starting As A True Freshman In College, Braeden Daniels Shares How Hes Grown Both As A Football Player And A Person Since First Stepping Foot On Campus As A Freshman, Cole Bishop Shares Why He Committed To Playing At Utah Before Stepping Foot On Campus, Junior Tafuna Shares How His Polynesian Family Influence Helped Him Become An Award-Winning Defensive Lineman On And Off The Football Field, Solomon Enis Shares How His Father Helped Guide Him To Success By Focusing On His Mindset And Preparation Both On And Off The Field, RJ Hubert Shares How His Competitive Mindset Helps Him Succeed Both On And Off The Field, Dalton Kincaid Dives Into Who He Is Off The Football Field. Jazz Bear is the mascot for the Utah Jazz, a National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise based in Salt Lake City, Utah. I thought, Lets take that idea of an entertainment event and use it to raise money to take kids shopping.. Yes. Utah Jazz Fall To Oklahoma City Thunder In Turnover-Prone Outing, New Utah Jazz Guard Kris Dunn Is Causing Problems In OKC, Utah Jazz Forward Rudy Gay With Strong Drive Against Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz Center Walker Kessler Starts Hot In Oklahoma City, Antoine Davis Falls Short In Bid To Break Pete Maravichs Scoring Mark, Ryan Smith: I Want Jazz Fans To Watch Games In Any Format, Notable Moments From The Utah Jazz Season So Far, Everything You Need to Know to Watch the 2022 World Cup. I knew that I needed to give back to show my gratitude. When I left, I had nine guys that worked with me on game night. I was always so excited. I read a lot of speeches for celebrities and I got a call from Danny Mantle, one of the four sons of the famous Mickey Mantle. By now, most of you should be aware of Utah's incongruent (at least to Utah) mascot, the Jazz Bear, who once antagonized an inebriated Rockets fan enough to get . She bakes a cake and goes to knock on the door. "url":"", There were crazy moments. Or, perhaps it was because he heard how great the winters in Phoenix are. Mark started doing handstands. With all due respect to any mascot out there, the person inside the suit makes the character come alive and makes the difference. Absey did handstands on a 23-foot tall ladder, rappeled from the ceiling, and slid down the stairs. Youre in the Mascot Bowl, Mascot Hall of Fame, and YMCA Hall of Fame. }, Wiki User. Antoine Davis finished four points shy of surpassing Pete Maravich as the NCAA career scoring leader, scoring 22 vs. Youngstown State. In those days, Mickey Mantle won the Triple Crown in 1956 and the Yankees wanted to trade him because he was getting paid too much money. I appreciate that. I looked at Greg and I was like, You got a tough kid. Teach us about that concept and maybe pay tribute to the great Mark Eaton, who participated with you in a little bit of a way. They are those guys that are strictly athletic and work for the crowd a little bit. Thankfully, the team let me do that. (#utahjazz Bear lives on w/new mystery person in the suit) pic.twitter.com/4jlF6ftx1y. It was something fun to do. All celebrating kids who couldnt have a Christmas and wouldnt have the means with their parents, you provided that for them. NBA Mascot: When sports teams started glorifying their players, they put a bigger wedge between the fans and the players. Full disclosure: I kind of want to drive like an ape now. Coming from the upper bowl, paint the word picture for everybody. She got on the phone and came over and it was Kay Malone on the phone. Every successful superstar is someone on a team that is behind the scenes that make us look great. or superseded by additional information. Did you conceive the idea of a bear or how did that idea come to fruition? "title":"Power Players with Dan Clark", She ran over to join the group to dance and I collapsed on the floor. Why was the bear from the Utah Jazz fired? When asked to lean the cake over to give the crowd a better view, the bear tilted it over a little too much, sending the baked good hurling down several feet to . I jumped up on the bars, and then it was that aha! moment. Will Utah remove income tax restrictions, cut sales tax on food? When I would submit my stuff, Luke would always say, Why do you keep showing them the stuff youre doing? I know this pushed me and Im glad I did it because it worked. Your email address will not be published. He also does a lot of charity work and he can interact with the kids as himself now. There could be ten new Jazz Bears in that same suit, and there will never be another Jon Absey, so thank you. I left my head on and it felt funny. Mascot Team 2005 Clutch: Houston Rockets: 2006 Jazz Bear: Utah Jazz: 2007 Hugo the Hornet: New Orleans Hornets: 2008 Jazz Bear (2) Utah Jazz 2009 Rumble the Bison: Oklahoma City Thunder: 2010 Bango: Milwaukee Bucks: 2011 Grizz: Memphis Grizzlies: 2012 Crunch the Wolf: Minnesota Timberwolves: 2013 Clutch (2) Houston Rockets 2014 The Coyote They arent above anybody just because they get a bigger paycheck. On Monday afternoon, Bear was officially recognized (once again) as the best in the business of making hoops fans in-arena experience a great one. It was a group effort to get the character going. (Getty Images) The man behind Jazz Bear, the reigning Mascot of the Year, has been fired after almost a quarter-century with the team due to a rift with the organization, according to multiple reports out of Utah. "label":"Spotify" A judge Monday ordered that the name of the Utah Jazz mascot be revealed to the plaintiff and attorneys in a lawsuit but said they must keep the identity of The Bear confidential. He is such a stud in every way. You have your athletic mascots like Thunder from Golden State back when he was dunking and stuff and Lucky from Boston. It was called American Gold Gymnastics. They built me this enormous ramp from the upper bowl all the way down to the floor. Sponsored. Listen to the podcast here Regardless of what happens in life, you always bring family lessons with you. Honestly, how do I want to be remembered? The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. 9 Why was Jon Absey fired from the Utah Jazz? Youre so well-respected, but how can you take it to the next level and how can we support you? Mark Eaton, the name and a man that we all miss. Incidentally, he was also fired from his very first job as a mascot for the CBA for all those stunts he tried out. I used one of those when I started in Fargo. Absey is telling all in a new podcast called "Return to Real.". Jon Absey has played Jazz Bear since the mascot's inception in 1994, but he wasfired this week and is no longer with the organization, according to Utah media reports, which citeda rift with Jazz staff. I want to know that I put a footprint on this planet like you. I wrapped my hand in, we do the practice, but I did it off a ladder that was probably fourteen feet. I turned all those down and this is where the team supported me. I jumped up on the bars, and then it was that aha! moment. There are so many little caveats. Her name was Sister Basil, and I love her. I need to know that I can do this on my own, and to tell you the truth I love it more this way because now I get to talk to people and get to know people. Tell us about your philanthropic efforts. I still stay in touch with all these guys and thats what I love is that were a tight brotherhood. The Bear first debuted by. Knowing that I had my trust in them and I trusted them to save my life and always tell me, That might not work. God bless. Bears impact cannot be overstated. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Tell us about where you grew to love charity and service before yourself. This answer is: I was going through school and I was coaching over at a gym. Everybody could see that Jazz Bear and not just wonder what this amazing human being must be like, but now you get a chance to see the stud muffin hunk of burning love that was inside that suit.