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Boudreaux D. Nutria

Edgy DC Jan 18 2007 05:56 AM

New Orleans Zephyrs Mascot: His Missus' is named Clotile. His cherie. What is a nutria? Ask this highly biased fellow. Not during lunch, though.

metirish Jan 18 2007 07:33 AM

Ugly loking thing he is,I wonder if they play the Zephyer song from the Chili Peppers for him.

Johnny Dickshot Jan 18 2007 07:33 AM

wtf?

Edgy DC Jan 18 2007 07:48 AM

We're through the looking glass here, people.

soupcan Jan 18 2007 07:56 AM

Road trip for Nutria Anus Balm give-away Day!

Edgy DC Jan 18 2007 10:57 AM

Riptide, mascot of outgoing AAA affiliate Norfolk Tides: Ballwinkle and Buddy Bee, co-mascots for the AA Binghamton Mets: Slider, mascot for the A-level St. Lucie Mets: Gnate, mascot for the low-A-level Savannah Sandnats: Gnic, Gnate's sexier older brother and predecessor in the job. Woolie, mascot for the Hagerstown Suns, the Mets outgoing South Atlantic League Affiliate: Sandy the Seagull, mascot for the short-season-A-ball Brooklyn Cyclones: Sandy with a shorter-feathered look making time on the Cyclone dime: Foul Ball Freddie, mascot for the low-short-season-A-ball Kingsport Mets: Mascot Stalker. I've got nothing for the Gulf Coast Mets.

Farmer Ted Jan 18 2007 12:03 PM

Our AAA mascot has two objects of phallic nature coming out of its mouth. Thank goodness this is only a two-year deal.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 18 2007 12:12 PM

Keep in mind that if Mr. Met pulls a hamstring or something, that giant rodent will be prancing around on the dugouts at Shea.

Edgy DC Jan 18 2007 12:14 PM

Notice how Riptide is taking advantage of his exposure to shill for a heroin dealer.

sharpie Jan 18 2007 12:15 PM

I like Boudreaux much better than Riptide.

DocTee Jan 18 2007 01:03 PM

Foul Ball Freddie is pretty ghetto. His uniform is reminiscent of Mr. Met is his "saucy teen years"

metsmarathon Jan 18 2007 01:10 PM

heh. boudreaux's birth canal is a mystery.

metsguyinmichigan Jan 18 2007 06:42 PM

Oh. My. God. Slider is by far the least nasty, and I assumed named after Tom Seaver's famous late dog.

cooby Jan 18 2007 07:01 PM

Those truly are horrible. I can see why the Tides left Tidewater, if that was what they had to have for a mascot. Since that Zephers thing was from 1998, I'm assuming that Zephers thing is long gone. Right? Right? Edgy, please say yes?

Farmer Ted Jan 18 2007 07:19 PM

1-800-GOT-JUNK?

dinosaur jesus Jan 18 2007 08:26 PM

The lovable, fuzzy Nutrias are still on the Zephyrs website. Reportedly they've been breeding like, well, nutrias. Boudreaux D. Nutria and his wife Clotile are not only the New Orleans Zephyrs official mascots, but they have become King and Queen of Zephyr Field and the ambassadors of baseball for the entire south Louisiana area. This lovable, fuzzy husband-and-wife tandem has become the most popular nutria in Jefferson Parish, an area that has often greeted nutria with open fire instead of open arms. Boudreaux has made Zephyr Field his home since 1997 when he was found lost in the swamp exhibit at the Audubon Zoo. The Zephyrs adopted Boo and put him to work as the official mascot. He has charmed and entertained hundreds of thousands of fans throughout the region and was the New Orleans’ most celebrated bachelor…until 1998. That’s when he met the former Clotile Picou when she answered a Gambit Weekly personal ad the Zephyrs placed for Boudreaux. It was love at first bite, as Clotile accepted Boudreaux’s marriage proposal in front of a sold-out crowd on April 11 1998. They were married at Zephyr Field on August 16, 1998 in front of a then-record crowd of 11,012. They have expanded their family to include Beauregard, Cherie, Claudette, Jean-Pierre, Noelle and Thibodaux. It’s a six-pack that can’t be beat and the Zephyrs most enduring gift to the children of New Orleans.

seawolf17 Jan 18 2007 08:28 PM

And oh, you don't want to see their... um... "Pam and Tommy" video on YouTube.

Edgy DC Jan 18 2007 09:04 PM

Willets Point Jan 18 2007 09:43 PM

Mr. Met: "Hey bitch, show us your tits!"

metirish Jan 18 2007 09:56 PM

Mr.Met gets all the action...

Edgy DC Jan 18 2007 10:03 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 19 2007 05:48 AM

MetLife: i got stitches on my face and bitches at my place, ya feel me?

seawolf17 Jan 19 2007 05:27 AM

Edgy DC wrote: That looks like the worst-attended pep rally in history.

Willets Point Jan 19 2007 09:04 AM

I'm wondering if that's the real French Quarter or the inside of a theme mall. Something about the street doesn't look like real pavement to me.

Edgy DC Jan 19 2007 09:23 AM

Mascots in the News.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 19 2007 09:39 AM

Willets Point wrote: I'm wondering if that's the real French Quarter or the inside of a theme mall. Something about the street doesn't look like real pavement to me. Maybe that's a RiverWalk, a big shopping mall just outside of the French Quarter. That photo doesn't look quite like I remember River Walk, but you're right, it doesn't look quite like the French Quarter either.

Edgy DC Jan 19 2007 09:41 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 19 2007 10:04 PM

That rail on the balcony isn't the kind of historically preserved decorative ironwork I associate with the French quarter.

Edgy DC Jan 19 2007 09:43 AM

The reception was at Pat O'Brien's on St. Peter's Street, and I presume that was the site of the beading.

seawolf17 Jan 19 2007 09:44 AM

They may have redone some of the streets in the Quarter since Katrina. I remember them being cobblestone, but I could be wrong.

metirish Jan 19 2007 11:41 AM

Willets Point wrote: I'm wondering if that's the real French Quarter or the inside of a theme mall. Something about the street doesn't look like real pavement to me. It's New Orleans.....this article from the New York Times has that picture. ] By LEE JENKINS Published: January 19, 2007 NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 18 — A woman wearing a pink cowboy hat covered in rhinestones walked down Bourbon Street on Wednesday night and spotted a character with equally outrageous headgear. Mets “Hey there,” the woman shouted. “Who are you?” Mr. Met froze on a balcony above the street. Usually, he does not leave New York and therefore does not require an introduction. But in New Orleans, a city known for its costume parties, he just looked like some guy who decided to dress up as a baseball. Eager to make the woman’s acquaintance, Mr. Met tossed her a string of beads from the balcony, keeping with local tradition. So began the improbable relationship between New Orleans and the Mets. One year ago, professional sports franchises in this city were threatening to move out in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This season, the Mets are moving in. For at least the next two years, their Class AAA affiliate will be the New Orleans Zephyrs. The Mets did not initially want to be here. For 38 years, their Class AAA affiliate was in Norfolk, Va. They helped Norfolk build a stadium. They cultivated Norfolk as a fan base. Their star third baseman, David Wright, grew up going to games in Norfolk. But after last season, Norfolk dumped the Mets for the Baltimore Orioles. With 10 major-league teams switching Class AAA affiliates, the Mets at least hoped to remain in the International League. They looked at Columbus, Ohio, and Scranton, Pa, but those vacancies were filled. New Orleans plays in the Pacific Coast League, famous for its far-flung cities and brutal road trips. Many big-league teams considering New Orleans for minor-league operations were concerned about the travel, the temptations on Bourbon Street and the post-Katrina logistics. “I’m not going to tell you it was our first choice,” said Jeff Wilpon, the Mets’ senior executive vice president. “But in the end, I think we’ll look back and see that it was the best choice.” The Zephyrs have been in the New Orleans area for 14 years, playing their home games in the suburb of Metairie. Zephyr Field needed a $2 million renovation after the hurricane, but the team still managed to play a full schedule last season. “It’s not that much different here than anywhere else,” said Mike Schline, the club’s general manager. Zephyr Field sits across the street from the headquarters of the New Orleans Saints, where running back Reggie Bush hones his spin moves. The proximity of the Zephyrs and the Saints is somewhat significant, considering that the Mets are handling their entry into New Orleans the same way Bush did. It is hard to remember now, with the Saints playing in the National Football Conference championship game Sunday, but Bush wanted no part of New Orleans at this time last year. He hoped to be drafted first over all, by the Houston Texans. Bush was disappointed when the Saints selected him, but he did not mope. He realized that he had to embrace his role for a greater good. Bush immediately started donating money. He scheduled community events. He saved a school. Before the season began, he was nicknamed Saint Reginald. “It’s been so special,” Bush said Wednesday. “I really couldn’t ask for a better situation than the one I got in New Orleans.” The Mets seem to be copying Bush’s playbook. They have donated $650,000 to causes in New Orleans since the hurricane. They wrote a check last week for $20,000 to the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation for Little League fields. They are planning for Zephyrs players to work regularly with Habitat for Humanity. This is not altogether unique. The Mets donate to every community where they have an affiliate and they strongly encourage players to get involved with charities. But in New Orleans, the expectations for philanthropy are much higher. “They are doing everything right so far,” said Tony Ruda, 57, a Mets fan from New Orleans. “Giving all that money before you step on the field goes a long way here.” Ruda and his son Vincent were among a crowd of 200 at a “Meet the Mets” cocktail party Wednesday night in the courtyard of Pat O’Brien’s Bar. The master of ceremonies of the event was Ron Swoboda — known in New York for his diving, game-saving catch with the Mets in the 1969 World Series, and known in New Orleans as a Zephyrs broadcaster. Swoboda, who has lived here for the past 25 years, may be the only recognizable link between the Mets and New Orleans. When the Mets signed a two-year player-development agreement with the Zephyrs in September, Swoboda was flown to New York as an ambassador. “Can you spell window dressing,” Swoboda said. Ken Oberkfell, the Zephyrs’ manager, goes back even further in New Orleans than Swoboda. He was a member of the 1977 New Orleans Pelicans, a minor-league team that played its home games in the Superdome, filling about 5 percent of the stadium. Louisiana is a football state, but it knows a little hardball. Louisiana State, Tulane, the University of New Orleans and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette have all taken turns as college baseball powers. Although the Mets stock many of their top prospects at Class AA Binghamton, outfielder Lastings Milledge could start this season in New Orleans, and they could send the injured pitcher Pedro Martínez here for a rehabilitation start as he prepares to return to the majors. Putting Martínez on Bourbon Street is a recipe for excitement. For other prospects, it will be an interesting proving ground. “If a young player can’t handle New Orleans, maybe he’s not ready to handle New York,” said Adam Wogan, director of minor league operations. Mr. Met needed only one night of minor-league seasoning. The Zephyrs have their own mascot, a semiaquatic rodent with orange teeth named Boudreaux. This breed of rodent, a nutria, is rarely found in the United States outside Louisiana. “They’re actually edible,” Swoboda said. “People down here like to chop them up and put them in their gumbo. “Welcome to New Orleans.”

seawolf17 Jan 19 2007 11:55 AM

CPF road trip!

metirish Jan 19 2007 12:03 PM

seawolf17 wrote: CPF road trip! Hell Yeah..I'm up for that...

Rockin' Doc Jan 19 2007 05:49 PM

My wife and I loved New Orleans when we spent a week there in 2002. I look forward to going back again some day.

ScarletKnight41 Jan 19 2007 05:55 PM

D-Dad and I were there for a long weekend in 1993. It's a great town.

Frayed Knot Jan 19 2007 08:58 PM

When Kramer used his always-unseen connection (Bob Sacamenno) to replace Elaine's sable fur hat that George lost, the cut-rate hat he found was made of nutria fur.

Rockin' Doc Jan 19 2007 09:24 PM

There is actually a nutria hunting season in North Carolina. Of course, since I had actually had no idea what a nutria actually was, they were quite safe from me.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 20 2007 06:29 AM

If, as the article says, they're rarely found outside of Louisiana, nutria hunting season in North Carolina probably isn't too popular.

Rockin' Doc Jan 20 2007 06:41 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 20 2007 06:47 AM

I've never heard of anyone even mentioning a nutria. The state Wildlife Commision must consider them to be pest though as they have an open year round season. Still I don't know why anyone would want to hunt them unless they were causing damge to their land and property. Just for kicks, I looked up the hunting season for nutria in New York. There is no specified hunting season for nutria, but the trapping season is from November 15 - February 20 in New York. They may not be quite as rare outside of Louisiana as they claim.

cooby Jan 20 2007 06:43 AM

On the other hand, they are so UNcute that I can't imagine too many little girls begging daddy not to shoot them

Rockin' Doc Jan 20 2007 07:00 AM

Apparently, the Louisiana Wildlife Federation considers the nutria a danger to the state marshes and wetlands. The nutria eat the aquatic vegetation which can lead to erosion of the wetlands fertile soil. As a result, the state of Louisiana has instituted hunting and trapping program in hopes of diminishing the nutria population within the state. So, the New Orleans Zephyrs, mascot is essentially a destructive rodent pest rather than a beloved local oddity. I can't belive I am quickly becoming the CPF's resident expert in nutria. I really must find a life.

martin Jan 20 2007 05:27 PM

i used to see an occasional nutria in a stream in my backyard in baton rouge where i grew up. i thought it looked like a rat beaver. sheriff harry lee of jefferson parish organizes a nutria patrol and has cops take em out with sniper rifles. http://216.35.221.77/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6569903