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Diamondbacks Mascot Fired for DUI

Jan 21, 2009 – 10:58 AM
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Matt Snyder

Matt Snyder %BloggerTitle%

Here's a tip for the mascots of the world. If you want to keep your job, then don't smoke pot, drink until your BAC is 0.155, and then drive your vehicle 95 miles per hour on a highway. If you should choose to do those things -- which, again, are definitely really stupid -- then you probably shouldn't leave your mascot costume in the back seat. Not that the team wouldn't find out anyway, but there's really no reason to leave a please fire me sign in plain sight.



Yet, that's exactly what David Hamilton did last Sept. 10 in the Phoenix area.

Hamilton, 35, was the Diamondbacks' mascot, D. Baxter the Bobcat. The following day was a day off for the Diamondbacks before what was sure to be a grueling seven-game home-stand for Mr. Baxter. He was obviously just trying to enjoy his last day of freedom for the week, so he was packing it all in. I mean, he had the next day to sleep it off. A great plan, sure, but now he's out of a likely lucrative gig.
"After concluding our own investigation and gathering the facts involved, we felt it was necessary to take corrective action," Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall said. "We will pursue a replacement for the mascot that is such a large part of our fan experience immediately."
They didn't name any requirements, but any applicants should probably steer clear of the pot-and-alcohol-all-day-binge before driving at excessive speeds with the costume in the back seat. After all, that's only common sense to avoid the mistakes of those who came before you, no?

As for Hamilton, I'm pretty sure he won't be getting in the Suns' Gorilla costume anytime soon.
Filed under: Sports

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