Hockey Rants

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Introdcing: Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle

Stephen Colbert is one of my favourite television personalities, so it was quite amusing to see his campaign to get a mascot named after him work so well.

Introducing: Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle

Story Link:

The Saginaw Spirit have a new fan in their corner who just happens to have a whole nation in his.

Stephen Colbert, host of the hit Comedy Central show The Colbert Report, has been backing the team on air the last several weeks after the team named its new mascot after him in late September.

Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle has been at the heart of the publicity, transforming the Spirit from a local minor league hockey team to a sort of underground pop culture media darling. Colbert pleaded with his viewers (who he calls "nation") in mid-August to bombard the Spirit's Web site with votes that would attach his name to the new six-foot mascot. Since then, the show and the organization have formed an eccentric partnership that has drawn the attention of local media as well as put the Spirit on the proverbial national map.

I know some traditionalists will cry in their panties about this, but what the hell is so traditional about mascots anyway? They are supposed to be fun, and just look at how the Eagle draws chicks?

The Saginaw Spirit have gone 8-1 since the introduction of the mascot, including winning their first seven straight, and it's a great marketing tactic that has drawn lots of attention to this CHL squad.

Colbert's unique partnership with the Spirit and the publicity he has given the team has had an impact in several areas. Officials report an increase in merchandise sales and requests for Spirit jerseys, particularly those with Colbert's name sewn on the back. The national attention was even picked up by Sports Illustrated, as the popular magazine ran a brief article detailing the relationship in its Oct. 16 issue

PS: Ditch the male cheerleader.

# posted by Unknown @ 1:03 pm

Comments:

a shame i voted for the out for the season handzus the mongoose but, sigh.

was not to be i guess..

# posted by

Anonymous : 1:12 pm

He just needs to get a new hairstyle.

There are some amusing clips on his website and YouTube where he does updates on the Spirit's status. They haven't lost since they named Steagle Colbeagle. He also smacktalks some of the other Ontario cities. Except Owen Sound, it's lovely there. The OHL couldn't ask for better promotion.

# posted by