Meet CLUTCH!
Since bursting onto the scene in 1995, Clutch the Bear has become one of sport’s most celebrated mascots. With his imaginative skits and mischievous antics, Clutch personifies NBA entertainment at its best.
Named the 5th most recognizable mascot is sports by USA Today in February 2005, Clutch is the
Houston Rockets’ number one fan, and can be seen cheering on his team at all Rockets home games. Whether he is creating impromptu comedy, cheerleading, signing autographs, dancing with the
Power Dancers (to the beat of his own drum), doling out hugs, or performing on-court skits, Clutch is always a fan favorite. Though a celebrity in his own right, he has also worked with many Hollywood celebrities, sports stars and politicians, including
Jack Nicholson,
Kevin Costner,
George Bush Sr.,
Tiger Woods,
Adam Sandler,
Bill Murray,
Nelly,
Chris Tucker,
Andy Roddick,
Roger Clemens, and
Nolan Ryan, to name a few.
While Clutch loves entertaining fans at the
Toyota Center, he also makes 250-300 Houston area appearances each year, along with 20-25 out of town and international appearances. He has entertained fans all over the continental United States and Alaska, as well as in Russia, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, and China. He is the only bear to start a snowball fight on the Great Wall of China!
Clutch’s favorite pastimes are making people laugh, inspiring the Rockets and Rockets fans to victory, helping children make intelligent and future oriented decisions, and or course being lovable and huggable with kids both big and small. He is the official “spokesbear” for the new Rockets Kids Club, which allows kids to become fans and learn more about basketball, while giving them the inside scoop on upcoming Rockets events. Because Clutch is passionate about helping youth, approximately 100 of his Houston area appearances are for elementary schools, where he performs interactive shows for the students. The four main shows and messages he delivers are: “Slam Dunk TAKS” (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills), “Just Say No” for Red Ribbon Week and year round anti-drug rallies, “Smoking Stinks” to discourage tobacco use and inform children of its harmful effects, and “Reading Rocks” to promote reading for both fun and education.
Always up for a good time, Clutch has been known to perform his hilarious hijinks everywhere, from his favorite balcony at the Toyota Center, to his yearly birthday party, to the annual NBA All Star Game. He loves meeting people and never misses an opportunity to entertain. In addition to performing live, Clutch also enjoys writing his regular column, Clutch Speaks, which is entering its fourth year as a staple on rockets.com. As of May 2005 Clutch’s site boasts upwards of 22,000 visitors per month.
In December of 2003, Clutch was recognized for his creativity, hard work, and dedication by being named best mascot in all of sports by gameops.com, a leading sports entertainment and game operations web site. Clutch believes he won the award thanks to the support of his loyal fans (not because he voted for himself day and night for a year). This ostentatious Houston icon also brought home a first place title in the 2005 NBA “Crazy For The Finals Competition” when he road the Downtown Aquarium’s Diving Bell Ferris Wheel for 24 consecutive hours. A proud innovator, Clutch introduced “AIR” or inflatable mascots to professional sports in 1997 with “AIR” Clutch. He enjoys training new mascots at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels at both the summer camps he directs and private coaching sessions around the year. As a founding executive board member of the newly formed mascot hall of fame, which can be visited at mascothalloffame.com, Clutch is excited to be an integral part of an institution that will recognize and celebrate excellence in the mascot profession.
Does a bear answer questions in the woods?
Most bears don't talk. This is just a fact of life. Clutch however is not like most bears and in fact usually you can't get him to shut up when you want to. It's ok though. It's not his fault. He's just got a lot to say. We here at Rockets.com figured that it might be a good idea to let him answer some of your questions. So go ahead, ask him a question and then check back here often to see what he has to say. Go ahead and post!