HABOOB

Adirondack Flames introduce Scorch, firefighter-bullying mascot

Oct 10, 2014, 7:59 PM | Updated: 10:10 pm

Origin stories for sports mascots are easy: they shouldn’t exist.

Fans don’t need an in-depth reason for why a giant dancing chicken represents the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies fans still cheer without a scientific explanation for their green, hairy cheerleader, the Phillie Phanatic.

The Adirondack Flames, a minor league hockey team from Glen Falls, New York, apparently decided their mascot was a little too hard to accept with a backstory.

Enter: Scorch the Flame, Adirondack’s mascot who also moonlights as a bully to firefighters.

Looking like an object to avoid from a boss level in Super Mario Bros., and according to a story from the Glenn-Falls Post Star, Scorch has been causing some serious havoc throughout the city for a while.

He is the lone surviving flame from the fire that destroyed much of Glens Falls in 1864.

Scorch was supposedly a smoldering ember in Bride and Gown, which was originally Calvin Robbin’s blacksmith shop (one of the few buildings in the Glens Falls business district to survive the fire).

Scorch the Flame then overpowered a firefighter, showing his strength.

The reaction to Scorch was understandably negative, with fans unhappy with a mascot that beats up firefighters and helps with fires that decimate a town. The team quickly responded to fans’ complaints:

The Flames issued a statement from team president Brian Petrovek in response to the reaction to the use of a firefighter being overpowered.

In the statement, the Flames apologized for what was well-intentioned but became something else.

“On behalf of our entire organization we want to apologize for our thoughtlessness today. We have obviously turned something good, the launch of a mascot which we will use to entertain and encourage young fans, into something that is in poor taste. That was not our intention and again we apologize.

“We would like to emphasize that we as an organization take seriously the dangers associated with fire, understand its potentially devastating effects and acknowledge that those in our nation who are called upon to face and fight fires on a daily basis are truly heroes.

“We apologize.”

Haboob

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

2 days ago

Chase Field...

Alex Weiner

Chase Field rain? Weather ends Diamondbacks-Guardians game early

Diamondbacks fans did not see a full game Monday, but they got to experience rain in Chase Field, and that's not something many can say. 

3 days ago

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns is all smiles as fans call for Isaiah Thomas #4 to enter the g...

David Veenstra

Suns’ Kevin Durant receives March Madness score updates from fans while playing vs. Spurs

Fans sitting courtside in San Antonio provided Kevin Durant with Texas-Tennessee score updates while he was busy taking on the Spurs.

5 days ago

Kevin Ginkel celebrates...

Haboob Blog

The Gink?! Kevin Ginkel questions Arizona Sports producer Jarrett Carlen’s use of nickname

D-backs P Kevin Ginkel needs to have a talk with Bickley & Marotta producer Jarrett Carlen about how the resident jokester says his nickname.

10 days ago

Roger Clemens...

Jesse Morrison

61-year-old Roger Clemens pitches for Savannah Bananas

Seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens returned to the mound in Houston on Saturday for the Savannah Bananas.

18 days ago

Nick Gordon celebrates a home run against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning at Guaranteed ...

David Veenstra

Miami Marlins’ Nick Gordon says he doesn’t believe the moon is real

Miami Marlins utility man Nick Gordon said he doesn't believe the moon is real during a spring training interview.

20 days ago

Adirondack Flames introduce Scorch, firefighter-bullying mascot