Hideous Pelicans mascot suffers ‘injury’, will get facial reconstruction

It’s not every day you read a press release dealing with an injury to an NBA mascot.

But that’s exactly what came across The Haboob’s desk Monday afternoon: Mascot Pierre the Pelican injured in pickup game with fellow NBA mascots.

Pierre, the first-year mascot of the New Orleans Pelicans, suffered a broken beak while in a heated pickup contest featuring fellow NBA mascots Grizz (Memphis), Rocky (Denver), Slamson (Sacramento) and NFL mascot Gumbo (New Orleans Saints).

From the release:

Later today, Pierre will have surgery at Ochsner Medical Center to reconstruct the broken beak. Pelicans Team Physician Dr. Mathew McQueen will perform the surgery.

Actually, the mascot was so harshly received upon his debut last October, that the injury and corresponding facial surgery is a way for the organization to redesign the mascot before NBA All-Star Weekend in the Crescent City.

Here were some of the headlines around the internet when the world got a first look at Pierre:

Pierre the New Orleans Pelican is the scariest thing ever (SB Nation)

The New Orleans Pelicans’ mascot is here to terrify your children (Deadspin)

Pelicans mascot is scary (Fox Sports)

Scariest Halloween costume: New Orleans Pelicans reveal mascot (Los Angeles Times)

It’s kind of sad that so much emphasis is put on a mascot’s appearance. For all we know, Pierre is a beautiful pelican on the inside. Such is contemporary American society.

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