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The brothers-in-law will be on the field and in the stands energizing the crowd as this year’s team mascots, Louie the Logger and his canine sidekick, Logger Dog.
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Logger Dog and Louie the Lumberjack will both be rookies this year at the lumber yard.
PETER THOMSON photo |
“They are the purveyors of fun at the ballpark,” said Loggers General Manger Chris Goodell.
The mascots will welcome the 2008 season Friday as the Loggers return home to Copeland Park to take on the Madison Mallards for game two after opening their season Thursday in Madison against the Mallards. The two will spend about three hours inside the suits for each of the 34 home games this season.
“It’s one of those things where you watch the mascots and think, ‘I can do that,’” Manson said.
Manson applied to be Louie in March and nominated Kaiser, his oldest sister’s husband, when he learned the team needed a Logger Dog representative.
“If I had to choose somebody to do this with, it’d be him,” Manson said. “He has a good sense of humor.”
“He called, and I said, ‘Absolutely,’” Kaiser said. “I just thought it would be fun. You get to get out every night and have fun and make a fool of yourself and, for once, you have a mask on so people won’t know it’s you.”
Manson, 22, is a native of Rhinelander, Wis., who moved to La Crosse when he was
6 years old. He’s an Aquinas High School alumnus and history major at Viterbo University who enjoys acting. He plans to teach history at the collegiate level someday.
“History is cool because it’s kind of constant,” Manson said. “But then on one hand it’s changing with all the stuff that’s happening now. I think it’s important to know where we came from and where we’re going.”
Kaiser, 31, of La Crosse, a University of Wisconsin-Platteville graduate with a degree in criminal justice, works as a Kwik Trip bakery order puller. It was 12 years ago when he met his future wife, Rachel, and her younger brother, Manson. The Kaisers have three children, Jacob, 6, Josh, 5, and Katie, 4.
Manson and Kaiser are both Loggers and Milwaukee Brewers fans. Manson, a Loggers season ticket holder since the team began, also has loyalty to the Chicago Cubs.
“My parents are from Illinois,” he said.
As Louie and the Logger Dog, Manson and Kaiser are charged with greeting fans in the parking lot, working the crowd during games, leading cheers, posing for pictures and signing autographs, Goodell said. They’ll be on the field during player introductions and participate in base races.
“And they’ll help lead the YMCA and chicken dance,” Goodell said.
The Louie mascot has been with the team since the Loggers were founded in 2003. The Logger Dog was added in 2005 because, “Louie needed his companion with him,” Goodell said.
“He looks like Scooby Doo with the Logger uniform on,” Kaiser said.
Manson and Kaiser sealed their positions after sailing through auditions last week.
“We did some dancing to the music, ran around the bases and got the imaginary crowd riled up,” Manson said.
Both are eager to interact with children and excite fans, though communication will be limited.
“Mascots don’t talk,” Kaiser said.
The brothers-in-law are also looking forward to spending time together at the Lumberyard.
“I don’t think you can beat that — you get to watch all the games and interact with different people,” Kaiser said.
They don’t want to think about what it will be like inside the costumes on steamy July days. Both were covered in sweat after their auditions on a 62 degree day.
“They take some getting used to,” Kaiser said. “You can’t see very well.”
The mascots said their act will be improvisational and adjusted to the flow of the game. Each of their families enjoyed the thought of them as team mascots.
The positions have a high turnover rate, but Manson and Kaiser can see themselves returning as mascots next season. After that, who knows.
“I’m on to bigger and better things from here. Bernie Brewer maybe someday,” Manson said.
Ask a Mascot
LOUIE’S FAVORITES
LOGGER DOG’S FAVORITES
Anne Jungen can be reached at (608) 791-8224 or ajungen@lacrossetribune.com.
