- Clutch (mascot)
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"Clutch" on Halloween 2005
Clutch the Rockets Bear is the popular mascot for the NBA's Houston Rockets.
The informal nickname "Clutch City" was given to Houston, Texas, the year the Rockets won the NBA championship after an unspectacular regular season in 1993-94. The moniker was adopted in response to a front-page headline in the Houston Chronicle declaring Houston to be "Choke City" after blowing a 20-point lead earlier in that postseason.[1] The Rockets' bear, appropriately named "Clutch," was introduced on March 14, 1995.[2]
Clutch was named the 5th-most recognizable mascot in sports by USA Today in February 2005, and was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006.[3] He also became the 2005 NBA Mascot of the Year.[4]
He received even more attention in an Internet meme that involved a man being shot down during a halftime marriage proposal at a Rockets game in 2008. After the woman said "no" and stormed off the court, Clutch consoled him and walked him off, grabbing somebody's beer on the way out and giving it to the man. Some have questioned whether or not the incident was actually staged.[2]
References
- ^ Dave Winder. "1994: From Choke City to Clutch City - Looking back". Rockets.com (2007 NBA Media Ventures, LLC), www.nba.com. http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/lookingback_94finals.html. Retrieved 2007-05-12.
- ^ a b ROCKETS: Clutch Speaks Home
- ^ "2006 Inductees". The Official Mascot Hall of Fame, www.mascothalloffame.com. http://www.mascothalloffame.com/virtual/hall/index.html?staff_id=10. Retrieved 2007-05-12.
- ^ "2005 NBA Mascot of the Year". 2005 NBA Mascot of the Year. http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Clutch_Mascot_of_the_Year_Fea-152939-822.html. Retrieved 2005-09-01.
Houston Rockets Formerly the San Diego Rockets • Founded in 1967 • Based in Houston, Texas The Franchise Franchise • Team History • Expansion Draft • All-Time roster • Seasons • Records • Draft history • Head coaches • Current seasonArenas San Diego Sports Arena • Hofheinz Pavilion • HemisFair Arena • The Summit/Compaq Center • Toyota CenterCulture and Lore Red Rowdies • Clutch City • Clutch The Rockets Bear • The Clock Incident • 13 points in 35 seconds • The Kiss of Death • The Dream Shake • The Glide • 22 in a rowHead Coaches NBA Championships (2) Western Conference
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