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ClutchBear In China

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by pryuen, Dec 13, 2005.

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pryuen Member

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You know what ???? The ClutchBear is currently in China to promote the NBA All Stars Game for Houston City!!!

http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Clutch_China_Blog-160591-822.html

Clutch and Rocketman in China for Junior NBA and WNBA Debut

12/9/05 10:00 p.m. Beijing time
8:00 a.m. Houston time.

Well, we made it. After leaving home 22 hours ago, we are here at our hotel, The Kerry Centre, in Beijing, China. Our adventure thus far has included two movies, a book, some darn fine airplane food (I'm a fat bear. Of course I like airline food. I like all food.), and lots and lots of sleep, of this happening on the plane, of course. Believe it or not, Rocketman learned how to speak the entire Chinese language on the flight over just by trying to order a cup of coffee from the flight attendant. We are excited for our events tomorrow. In case you didn't know, we are here because NBA Asia brought us over to debut and introduce (double describer) Junior NBA and Junior WNBA, a league sponsored tounament between the best Chinese middle school aged basketball teams. Along with Rockets great Robert Reid (yep they brought him, too), we have autograph signings, performances, and general messing around all day tomorrow, Sunday, and Monday before returning to the States, that is if they let us back in. I ended that on in a preposition. That is one of my favorite useless things to point out in my own writing while writing.

As soon as we arrived, we kicked it with Colin Pine, Yao Ming's former interpreter, for a while until he had to run for one of three dates he had this evening. He is quite the celebrity over here. Makes me wish I learned to speak another language and makes Rocketman wish he learned to speak one. By the way, the picture is of Rocketman, Marcus Chu (our buddy and contact with NBA Asia who deserves a huge raise (because he picks up all the checks), and our other friend Sophia (who if her boss has any sense will send her to Houston for the All-Star game in Feburary). I am taking the photo and not asleep already like you were thinking. Oh, well, check in with us Monday to see what else has happened.
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#1 pryuen, Dec 13, 2005

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Clutch Bear and Robert Reid at the press conference for the Junior NBA and WNBA Debut.

The champion team of this nation-wide tournament of middle school teams will be treated a US trip to Houston to watch the 2006 NBA All Stars Game.

#2 pryuen, Dec 13, 2005
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It looks like Clutch Bear had had a great time in China, showing off his somersaults and head stand, and messing up with the young fresh chicks of the cheerleader groups.

#3 pryuen, Dec 13, 2005
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Intersting interview of the Clutch Bear (the 31-year-old Robert Boudwin) in Beijing.

http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2005-12-12/01531930268.shtml

Reporter: Is this your thrid time to Beijing ? How do you feel ?

Clutch: Yup, this is my third trip to Beijing; Year before last at Thanksgiving time, the signing ceremony of Red Bull's co-operation with NBA; The China Open last October, I was also in Shanghai and Beijing. I like it here.

Reporter: Now that you're here in Beijing, so what will happen back in Houston Rockets' home court ?

Clutch: Well, the Rockets is currently away continuously for a 6-game road trip, and for 2 weeks, there won't be any competition at Toyota Centre, and that is why I can come here. We do not need mascots to perform at away games, except maybe like what happened last year in places like Shanghai and Beijing, venues that do not belong to any other NBA teams, i.e. new places for competition.

Reporter: We remembered the season before last, you and Rocketman, stayed up in the balcony of the Toyota Centre, and vowed that if the Rockets could not enter the playoff, you guys would not come down. Had you ever thought what happened if they really could not make it to the playoff ??

Clutch: (Laughing) Yes, we stayed up there 112 hours. At that time, we need to win a few more games to make it to the playoff. So we checked in at 6 o'clock on a Monday morning, and did not come down until 10 o'clock Friday evening when we finally got the admission ticket to the playoff. We certainly did not wish the Rockets could not enter the playoff, or else we would have to stay there for a whole year and that would be a BIG problem. (Laughing)

Reporter: How long have you been as the Rockets' mascot ? What did you do before that ?

Clutch: This is my 11th year. I started to help and create this mascot in 1995, and started my role as the Klutch Bear. Actually I started as a mascot in 1992 at the Univeristy of Delaware. I also was a mascot for 1 year in high school. So you could say I am in this profession ever since 1991.

Reporter: So how many more years you will still be the Rockets' mascot ?

Clutch: Well, maybe for another 15 years, I suppose. I am now 31 years old. I thought I can work as Klutch upto 45 years old. I knew some mascots can work up to 22 years or 25 years. And obviously one has to stop when he is 50 years old, because physically the body (the arms and knees) could not sustain any longer.

Reporter: You had been elected the NBA Mascot of the Year last season. So as far as you're concerned, what should good mascots display and put onto the table?

Clutch: I would just condense and summarize it in 5 letters, and these 5 letters make up a word: S-M-I-L-E.

S, Stands for animal, first the animal that you choose and act must be a likeable character to the audience, and particularly the children.

M, Marketing, you must display the logo of your team on the mascot, and help your team in selling tickets and expanding into new markets.

I, Inspire, is one kind of motivation. A mascot should inspire the home fans to heartily support the team, and create a home court superiority.

L, Laughter, Without a slightest doubt, I must let the audience feel happy.

E, Educate the youth. Through my performance, I would like to let the youths and kids to have some "education", and to lead them to like basketball even more.

Therefore, IMHO, a mascot is more than just putting on mascot masks and some make-up. It serves more purpose.

I think the most important factor for a mascot is to let the audience move, let them stand up and cheer for the team, inspire the audience, and most importantly, interacts with the audience; sometimes, those acts on court were not pre-planned but they were impromptu ones so as to give surprises and fun to the audience.

Reporter: We also remembered you and Yao Ming did the Taijiquan advertisement together. So what do you think of Yao Ming?

Clutch: (smiling) Yes, Yao Ming and I did some commercials and photographs togehter; I also travelled with him to a lot of places for competition, like the NBA All Stars Game in Los Angeles and the China Games last year. We know each other well. He is a great person.

Reporter: The Rockets is currently experiencing some difficulties. Are you optimistic that they can make it to the playoff ?

Clutch: It is true that our team currently struggle (to find their feet), but surely you should not forget, that last season, we had similiar diffiuclties and a bad start to the season. This year, TMAC was injured and was absent in a few games, but he has recovered and returned. Yao Ming is getting better and better. He had become more aggressive, and is physically stronger than last season, and the season before last. We are supposed to have a bright future. I believe there should pose no problems that the Rockets will make it to the playoff this season.

Reporter: Next year, the NBA All Stars will be held in Houston. So will you be preparing some special tricks/performance when it comes ?

Clutch: We are all eagerly anticipating for the 2006 All Stars. As far as Houston is concerned, that will be an extremely festive week with all kinds of performances. Houston will be lit with all stars and celebrities, and I will sure give my best in my performance.
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#4 pryuen, Dec 13, 2005
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Clutch Bear showed up yesterday in Beijing Dongdan Stadium to explain how the Chinese fans could vote for their favorite NBA All Stars from the Internet !!

Looks like he and the fans were all having a great time !!!

#5 pryuen, Dec 13, 2005
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MORE !!!

#6 pryuen, Dec 13, 2005
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#7 pryuen, Dec 13, 2005

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Did you just get internet access?

#8 mleahy999, Dec 13, 2005
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mleahy999 said:

Did you just get internet access?
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Well, I've just figured out how to post photos here on Clutchfan.net without going over the limit !!

If you don't like what I'm doing here reporting on Clutch Bear's activities in China, then just skip my thread and posts.

#9 pryuen, Dec 13, 2005
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Nice update and great pics. Thanks.

#10 MartianMan, Dec 13, 2005
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interestin stuffs.thx

#11 dinsdale, Dec 13, 2005
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good to see our admin hard at work

#12 TMac640, Dec 13, 2005
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damn i hate clutch the bear.

so lucky.

#13 Kam, Dec 13, 2005

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mleahy999 said:

Did you just get internet access?
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relax, it's cool to know what's going on with the rockets from China's side of the world. I think it's cool that our mascot travels the world (without the team) to promote the Rockets.

#14 Bassfly, Dec 13, 2005
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pryuen said:

It looks like Clutch Bear had had a great time in China, showing off his somersaults and head stand, and messing up with the young fresh chicks of the cheerleader groups.
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Those girls don't look legal to me... Clutch better watch his paws.

Of course, two of 'em look like they're getting a bit frisky with their pompoms.

#15 DribbleHooper, Dec 13, 2005
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Looks like it's an 'in' thing to make a V sign with your middle and index fingers when taking pictures in China.

#16 RocketForever, Dec 13, 2005
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RocketForever said:

Looks like it's an 'in' thing to make a V sign with your middle and index fingers when taking pictures in China.
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Good Observation.

#17 YaoTheMan, Dec 13, 2005
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What the heck is this girl wearing on her head?

#18 Hippieloser, Dec 13, 2005

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Hippieloser said:

What the heck is this girl wearing on her head?
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haha!~ its one of those clutch mask thingys everybody has.

#19 BabyClutch, Dec 13, 2005
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The Clutch Bear (Robert Boudwin) is a lucky guy, and has more opportunities than TMAC to see most of China......

So during the off season, under a commercial ednorsement, Clutch Bear and a few Rockets Power Dancers toured 5 major Chinese cities (Shenzhen, Chuanzhou, Nantong, Hefei and Shenyang) from August 20 ~ 31 to promote NBA, Houston Rockets and the essence of healthy life through sports.....

And I managed to get a close-up photo of how Robert Boudwin looks like....

#20 pryuen, Sep 1, 2006

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