Stuff the Magic Dragon is the official mascot of the NBA franchise, the Orlando Magic. His name is a play on the song, "Puff the Magic Dragon"; and "stuff" a slang term for rejecting or "stuffing" a slam dunk or shot.
Biography
Stuff the Magic Dragon, the tallest dragon in Orlando's history, has been an integral part of the Magic organization ever since the franchise debuted in the 1989-90 NBA season. He was introduced in a giant egg on Church Street in 1989, where Dave Raymond, the original Philly Phanatic, portrayed him for his "birth". Many think that Stuff is a copy of the Philly Phanatic, but the two mascots were made by the same company, Acme Mascots, which made many popular mascots including the retired Yankees mascot "Dandy", the Hornets mascot Hugo, and Montreal's Youppi!. He was originally "the Magic's #1 pick in the supplemental dragon back draft, directly out of clown college." Stuff lives in the Dragon's Lair at Orlando's Amway Center and has his own play area, "Stuff's Magic Castle" on the promenade level. He has been entertaining thousands of Magic fans for the past 30 seasons. According to original Magic general manager Pat Williams, various other mascot ideas were thrown before the dragon, including a rabbit, a wizard and a magic bean.
Appearance
He is big and green with a large nose. He also has 2 long yellow blowers that go on and out his nose.
Antics
Stuff always comes out on court pre-game to do a skit and toss out T-shirts with him on it. During the game, he often ventures around in the stand and does a few more skits during breaks and between quarters. Most skits can be from a trampoline dunk show, a pump-up session with giant signs, break-dancing in the middle of the court or dancing to a song compilation, and more. A special song made for the mascot plays during his entrances, and is only able to be heard at the Magic games. He also makes grand entrances during special events like the playoffs or opening night where he comes down from the rafters on a zip line or bungee. He also has two air-mascot counterparts, Air Stuff and Air Stuff Jr., and has a miniature mascot of him named Mini-Stuff. He gained nationwide popularity when he was featured on "The Tonight Show", hosted by Jimmy Fallon, during a dance off with their mascot, Hashtag the panda, during a week-long special in Orlando. He also made headlines when he proposed to Kate Upton. Stuff is also the host of the annual "Celebrity Mascot Games" that takes place each year at the Amway Center. Each year, many mascots from North America come to Orlando and compete in Olympic-style games while being in different colored teams. The Mascot Games were made for the non-profit organization, "New Hope For Kids", to raise money and attention for them. The games started in 1992 at the old Amway Arena and have continued annually ever since. . Besides putting on crowd-pleasing performances for Orlando fans, Stuff also throws parties and attend gatherings involving other mascots. During his career, he has been seen with many other sports mascots at numerous mascot-oriented events. Each year, about 4-5 mascots come to Orlando and do opportunities for pictures and meet and greets pre-game and during the game. Stuff and his mascot guests also do special skits, which normally include a mascot dunk show, a halftime skit, and a short number from the mascots' air counterparts.. Stuff's love of entertaining and being around others has made him popular among Magic fans and mascots alike. Stuff has recently received even more popularity after the NBA All Star Game's Verizon Slam Dunk Contest, after assisting Magic player Aaron Gordon during the event, and after he won the NBA Mascot Conference's Mascot of the Year award in 2016.
Blue-fur playoff tradition
During the first round of the Orlando Magic playoffs against the Charlotte Bobcats in 2010, Stuff jumped down from a bungee during the starting lineup with a surprise. His green fur changed to a light shade of blue. Many opinions ranged from liking to disliking the new color of Stuff at the time, but it was official that he would only turn blue during the playoffs.
