One Tough Bug: Hugo Still Buzzing in 17th Season

Hugo the Hornet's "alter ego" is Super Hugo, who wows fans with his high-flying dunks.

February 16, 2007

What’s considered an impressive NBA career? How about 12 or 13 seasons in the league? A championship ring? An All-Star appearance? Being named team captain?

What would you say about a career spanning 17 seasons? Three All-Star games? Being considered a pioneer in the profession? Entertaining basketball fans around the world?

Are we talking about former Hornets center Alonzo Mourning? No! It’s Hugo – the Hornets' famous teal and purple mascot.

We all recognize the giant bug at every home game as the Hornets’ biggest fan. He is known for attempting death-defying slam dunks as Super Hugo, rocking out with quirky dance routines as Air Hugo, hitting unlikely half-court shots (or at least hitting the rim, which is better than most of us can claim) and pumping up the crowd whether the Hornets are in the midst of a fourth quarter rally or can almost surely add a "W" to the column on the left.

Fans have come to count on Hugo to help them help the Hornets. In turn, Hugo understands just how much he counts on the fans.

"When I first started performing at the Hornets’ games, I was really focused on myself and what I was doing," Hugo says. "I learned very quickly how much I need the fans to keep me motivated. It’s not about me out there, it’s about the fans and they are the ones who keep me coming out game after game."

And there have been a LOT of games. Fans have been entertained by the same "man-behind-the-bug" for nearly 17 seasons now – that’s 82 regular season games a year plus 61 playoff games. Over 1,400 games by my count. Chris Paul was a 4-year-old the first time Hugo attempted a front-flip slam dunk.

In those 17 years, Hugo has matured from a gymnast who had never danced, dunked or held many babies to a dunking, shooting, MC Hammer-dancing, baby-holding super-mascot. He is admired as a veteran and an innovator to mascots throughout the NBA and all of sports.

"I was a pure gymnast -- no dancing, no comedy, no babies when I began in the league," the lovable bug relates. "Now, my favorite skits include those that require crowd interaction and that make people laugh. I love gearing up to be Super Hugo, but it’s more rewarding to hear the fans laugh and understand what’s going on when I do a skit or dance routine. And I can’t tell you how many fans have asked me to pose for pictures with their infants."

Aside from making the crowd laugh and cheer along with him, Hugo enjoys being involved in the community. Along with the Hornets’ dance team, the Honeybees, Hugo is out in the community, making appearances and interacting with the fans.

Of his 200-plus annual appearances, Hugo’s favorites include visits with patients at area children’s hospitals.

"It is humbling to visit these children who battle life-threatening diseases and still have amazing spirits," Hugo says. "When I see what these children go through, but still see the smile on their faces, it reminds me that I am lucky to be able to do my job, even when I have a sprained ankle or some other injury."

Oh, and injuries there have been.

Hugo: "I have had multiple ankle sprains, knee surgeries, shoulder surgeries, breaks, aches and pains of every variety."

The most severe injury befell Hugo during the Hornets’ 1995 playoff series against the Chicago Bulls. Someone had the idea to shoot Hugo out of a cannon and toward the backboard. After some practice at around 20 feet out from the rim, Hugo felt comfortable and was ready to make his exit from the cannon during the series’ first game.

Things went off without a hitch. At the next game, the cannon-master decided to launch Hugo from nearly half-court. In a practice launch, things went awry and Hugo was on his way to the hospital with a broken heel and several other major injuries to his right foot soon after.

But it was the playoffs and if the fans were going to be there, then so was he.

"I made it back from the hospital, crutches and all, in time for tipoff," he says. "I was still able to interact with the crowd and lead chants. But you can have the cannon."

Lucky for Hugo (but not so lucky for the rest of the team), the offseason started soon after the injury, because the Hornets lost the series, 3-1, to the Bulls.

In all, Hugo has missed just four games in his 17 seasons. That’s a tough bug.

So, let’s review: Seventeen seasons. 1,421 games. 3,400 appearances. A broken ankle or two. A shoulder surgery or three. 28,626,825 fans entertained.

Those are impressive stats for this NBA veteran. Here’s to you, Hugo!