The San Diego Chicken
From Free net encyclopedia
The San Diego Chicken -- originally known as the KGB Chicken -- an advertising mascot played by Ted Giannoulas, was hatched in 1974 when employees of KGB-FM hired Giannoulas from off-the-street to wear the chicken outfit for a promotion to distribute easter eggs to children at the San Diego Zoo. The chicken, whose antics entertained steadily larger crowds, moved on to features at concerts and sporting events (especially the San Diego Padres - at whose events he appeared in more than 5200 games in a row). Conflict emerged between KGB Radio and Giannoulas, and the latter was fired in 1977. Another unnamed employee was hired to don the chicken outfit at a Padres game. The fans who were aware that Giannoulas was not in the outfit, booed the chicken loudly. After a lawsuit decided in Giannoulas's favor, in June 1979, Giannoulas was allowed to continue to perform in a chicken costume (though not the same as the original costume), and his chicken emerged from his egg at a "Grand Hatching" seen by 47,000 people as the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey played. The chicken was named one of the 100 most powerful people in sports for the 20th century by The Sporting News.
The success of the San Diego Chicken led to fuzzy mascots becoming widespread at Major League Baseball events.
The current official mascot of the San Diego Padres, however, is not the Famous Chicken, but the Swinging Friar.
Early in the first Holiday Bowl, uninformed security guards attempted to eject the chicken from the field. He sat defiantly on the sidelines as the mistake was ironed-out. Meanwhile, as Brigham Young University was working their way through the red zone for a touchdown the crowd was chanting "we want the chicken".
Following an incident during an NBA game in 1991, a Chicago, Illinois jury ordered Giannoulas to pay $300,000 to a Chicago Bulls cheerleader allegedly injured when the Chicken tackled her.
The chicken appeared at WrestleMania XV and WrestleMania 2000, although, the costume was worn by Pete Rose at WM XV.
The chicken (Giannoulas) was once sued by the producers of the show Barney & Friends for beating up a Barney look-alike. The chicken won the case, with the court holding that his performance was satire protected by the First Amendment.
Quotes
"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the chicken." - San Diego Chicken