Benny the Bull
Encyclopedia
Benny the Bull, commonly known as Benny, is the mascot
of the Chicago Bulls
, a role he has filled since 1969.
(1969–1994), and then at the United Center
(1994–present). He has become just as popular as some of the franchise's most notable figures, such as players Michael Jordan
, Scottie Pippen
and Dennis Rodman
, and head coach Phil Jackson
. Benny is one of the longest-tenured mascots in the NBA and in all of professional sports.
Benny was named after Ben Bentley, the Bulls first Public Relations Manager and Stadium Announcer.
area on behalf of the team. Benny makes approximately 250 appearances per year. As a member of the Bulls' All-Star Reading Team, he appears at schools to promote literacy
and the importance of a good education. He can also be booked for private events. Benny has also worked as a mascot on individual dates for other professional sports franchises, such as the Billings Outlaws
.
" food festival. Dressed in the Benny the Bull costume, Anderson drove a miniature motorcycle
through the festival, although he did not have a permit to do so. When the officer, who was providing security at the event, identified himself as a policeman and called on Anderson to stop, Anderson fled. The officer pursued on foot, and when he caught up with Anderson, Anderson allegedly attempted to punch him in the face, breaking the officer's watch and knocking off his glasses. Anderson has subsequently claimed that the actions were performed in "character", and that he did not intend to cause injury to the officer. He was arrested and charged with battery and driving within the parkway. After Anderson was arrested and charged, his costume was returned to the United Center
. The charges were later dropped after Anderson agreed to pay the cost to fix the officer's glasses.
Gorilla
, Charlotte Hornets' Hugo
and Minnesota Timberwolves
' Crunch
.
The late punk musician Wesley Willis
did a song about him called "Benny the Bull".
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
of the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, a role he has filled since 1969.
Biography
For more than 40 years, Benny the Bull has been entertaining Chicago Bulls fans, first at Chicago StadiumChicago Stadium
The Chicago Stadium was an indoor sports arena and theater in Chicago. It opened in 1929, and closed in 1994.-History:The Stadium hosted the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL from 1929–1994 and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA from 1967–1994....
(1969–1994), and then at the United Center
United Center
The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...
(1994–present). He has become just as popular as some of the franchise's most notable figures, such as players Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
and Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was nicknamed "Dennis the Menace" and "The...
, and head coach Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson is a retired American professional basketball coach and player. Jackson is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of the National Basketball Association . His reputation was established as head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 through 1998;...
. Benny is one of the longest-tenured mascots in the NBA and in all of professional sports.
Benny was named after Ben Bentley, the Bulls first Public Relations Manager and Stadium Announcer.
Costume
The Benny the Bull suit consists of a whole-body bull costume made of bright red fur with large white eyes, a tan snout, a long red tail and black gloves with red fur on the back. Over the suit, Benny wears an authentic uniform (road red/black and home whites) and team-appointed athletic shoes. His jersey bears the name "Benny" above the number "1" on the back. Benny sports several different costumes based on the theme of the game as well as his overall "mood". Benny the Bull can also do many different kinds of dances.Duties
In addition to performing stunts and entertaining the crowd at Bulls games, Benny also makes public appearances throughout the greater ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area on behalf of the team. Benny makes approximately 250 appearances per year. As a member of the Bulls' All-Star Reading Team, he appears at schools to promote literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
and the importance of a good education. He can also be booked for private events. Benny has also worked as a mascot on individual dates for other professional sports franchises, such as the Billings Outlaws
Billings Outlaws
The Billings Outlaws were a professional league indoor football team. They were a member of the Indoor Football League, of which they are the current champions. They played their home games at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark...
.
Legal problems
On July 2, 2006, Benny's portrayer, Barry Anderson, was arrested by an off-duty police officer while performing at the "Taste of ChicagoTaste of Chicago
The Taste of Chicago is the world's largest food festival, held annually for ten days in Grant Park, in Chicago starting the Friday before the 4th of July and ending the Sunday after . The event is the largest festival in Chicago...
" food festival. Dressed in the Benny the Bull costume, Anderson drove a miniature motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
through the festival, although he did not have a permit to do so. When the officer, who was providing security at the event, identified himself as a policeman and called on Anderson to stop, Anderson fled. The officer pursued on foot, and when he caught up with Anderson, Anderson allegedly attempted to punch him in the face, breaking the officer's watch and knocking off his glasses. Anderson has subsequently claimed that the actions were performed in "character", and that he did not intend to cause injury to the officer. He was arrested and charged with battery and driving within the parkway. After Anderson was arrested and charged, his costume was returned to the United Center
United Center
The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...
. The charges were later dropped after Anderson agreed to pay the cost to fix the officer's glasses.
In other media
Benny is one of the many secret characters featured in the video game NBA Jam Tournament Edition. Along with him, three other NBA mascots appear in the game: the Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
Gorilla
The Suns Gorilla
The Suns Gorilla is the official mascot of the Phoenix Suns basketball team. He is famous for his entertaining antics and dunks which he performs off of a trampoline between the 3rd and 4th quarters. He appeared as a secret character in the video game NBA Jam Tournament Edition...
, Charlotte Hornets' Hugo
Hugo (mascot)
thumb|Rear Adm. Victor G. Guillory and the mascot for the New Orleans HornetsHugo is the name given to the National Basketball Association's New Orleans Hornets mascot, formerly the mascot of the Charlotte Hornets prior to the relocation to New Orleans...
and Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
' Crunch
Crunch the Wolf
Crunch the Wolf is the official mascot of the NBA franchise, the Minnesota Timberwolves.He appears as a hidden player in the 1994 video game NBA Jam Tournament Edition.-External links:*...
.
The late punk musician Wesley Willis
Wesley Willis
Wesley Willis was a musician and artist from Chicago. A diagnosed chronic schizophrenic, he gained an enormous cult following in the 1990s after releasing several hundred songs of simple but unique music, with emphasis on his humorous, bizarre, and frequently obscene lyrics...
did a song about him called "Benny the Bull".