Somehow we missed this. We’ve stayed on top of the all-critical search by the Gwinnett Braves to create and name a new mascot in advance of the 2009 season just so we can poke fun at it along the way.
Earlier this month, the team — with fans voting — named its whistlepig Chopper. With the look of large-headed furry thing, our pick was more along the lines of Goober. But we weren’t asked.
Chopper won out over Shadow and Pop-Up in a name the mascot contest for its portly, cartoonish groundhog. Chopper, submitted by Jim Bennett of Lilburn, was the fan favorite during online voting. The three final names were selected from the 4,396 entries.
Chopper is inspired by General Beauregard Lee, Ph.D., the groundhog star of the Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn and “Georgia’s Official Weather Prognosticator” fortelling the coming of spring.
