Name: Paul Pierson Age: 28
Title: Chicago Bears mascot “Staley”
Background: After a friend dared him to audition, Pierson became the Liberty University (Lynchburg, Va.) Eagle mascot. He graduated to the Lynchburg Hillcats, where he portrayed a pirate before moving to Atlanta as the Brave’s baseball head. After a stint as Globey with the Harlem Globetrotters, Pierson joined the Bears in August 2003, marking over a decade of experience as a mascot.
Inside the suit: “It’s about 50 degrees hotter than the temperature. Some weeks I’m in that suit seven days a week. I pray for winter, when it’s 20 degrees outside it’s a nice 70 inside that suit.”
Shtick: Most of Staley’s moves are spontaneous, but Pierson is sure to include a few pratfalls, a little hand-walking and his trademark butt bounces where he scoots across the turf on his tail.
Best aspect: “I go to festivals and parades where I get paid to goof off,” he says. “My job is to be a clown.” He has been propositioned by female fans eager to tame the bear. No joke. “Women are attracted to the mysterious aspect of the costume,” he said. “They want to find out who’s inside.”
Worst aspect: “Fans throw beers, that’s just part of the job,” he said. The 5-foot-2, 150-pound Pierson has been beaten up, knocked unconscious and suffered broken hands, pulled hamstrings and bruised ribs.
Who is the wimpiest Chicagoland mascot? “I can’t say that. We see each other at appearances, and we’re all friends.”
Memorable moments with players: Pierson enjoys the excitement of the pre-game tunnel, where he can feel the energy and see the intensity in players’ eyes, but it isn’t always a good thing. During the 2003 season, after R.W. McQuarters scored an 80-yard touchdown, one pumped-up Bear gave Staley a playful body blow. “I thought my chest had collapsed,” he said.
Quirk: “Staley” was originally the team’s name. The Decatur Staleys (named after first owner A.E. Staley), moved to Chicago in 1921. The following season the team was sold to George Halas, who renamed it the Chicago Bears.
Advice for future mascots: “It’s very difficult to become a pro mascot,” he said. “Start early, in the minor leagues and college, and work your way up. You have to be able to take a few licks across the chin.”
