The newly discovered Blue Monster makes his debut at the DBAP with Wool E. Bull. |
Before a crowd of almost 9,000 people at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Saturday night, April 28, 2007, the new member of the Durham Bulls Entertainment team made his professional debut. The Blue Monster, named for both the color of his fur and the place he called home for who knows how long, has joined the Durham Bulls.
“We’re really excited to have him,” Durham Bulls General Manager Mike Birling said, “And to think, if it wasn’t for the construction at the ballpark this off-season, we may never have known he existed!”
The Blue Monster was discovered living behind the old wall in left field, also called the Blue Monster. Head Groundskeeper Scott Strickland first made contact with the creature when he was cleaning out the storage area behind the wall in preparation for the demolition.
“We moved a picnic table out of the way and there he was,” Strickland explained, “I was stunned. I took a sort of half-step towards him and he darted across the field into the night. It was really something.”
The Blue Monster turned up again a few months later hiding in a concessions stand. Centerplate General Manager Jamie Jenkins came upon him, startling the beast.
“He just started throwing cotton candy at me, so I ran,” Jenkins explained, “Luckily when I got outside, there was Wool E. Bull and he was able to go in and communicate with him.”
Wool E. took the Blue Monster under his wing and taught him some new tricks so he could join the Bulls’ entertainment team. Wool E. learned early that he is obsessed with blue cotton candy, but hasn’t figured out why. While the monster is very enthusiastic about his new role, he still has a few things to learn.
“He’s a little clumsy and very raw,” Wool E. Bull assistant Casey Cash explained, “He’s learning how to do some things with the Hot Dog Launcher and he’ll figure out how to toss softee balls into the crowd, but it’s going to take awhile for him to perfect his moves.”
The Bulls have decided to break in the Blue Monster slowly hoping not to overwhelm the young beast. The plan is for him to perform this season on weekend dates, assuming of course that he doesn’t get into the cotton candy.
“We gave him a little too much on his first night and he got a stomach ache,” Cash said, “I guess a little goes a long way.”
The Blue Monster is schedule to make his next appearance at the Durham Bulls Game against the Richmond Braves on Friday, May 11th. For tickets to this or any Bulls home games, click here.
Thanks to DBBC’s Matt DeMargel for this capcom story & photo.
