WHEN POLITICAL CORRECTNESS GOES TOO FAR
REGINA – Gainer the Gopher is in hot water once again.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders mascot came under fire Saturday night for his actions during the club’s 38-25 home win over the B.C. Lions.
After the game, the Lions tweeted a video of Gainer walking on to the field pulling a stuffed lion by the tail. The mascot threw then kicked the lion before spreading its legs and grabbing it in an inappropriate spot before punting it.
Gainer then grabbed the lion by the tail and flung it over his shoulder as he walked off the field. That prompted some people to voice their displeasure on social media regarding the mascot’s actions.
“We agree that Gainer took it too far during Saturday’s game against B.C. Lions,” the Riders said in a statement. “We’ve talked to Gainer about it and taken away his stuffed lion.”
It’s been a rough start to the season for Gainer the Gopher. The Riders’ mascot since 1977 drew much criticism for his new look at the club’s home-opening 32-7 win over the Toronto Argonauts on July 1.
Many Saskatchewan fans were unhappy with the changes to the gopher’s appearance, notably his slimmer body and green eyes, The hashtags BringBackGainer and NotMyGainer trended on Twitter and an online petition asking him to be changed following the Toronto win generated more than 4,375 signatures.
Prior to the Riders’ 37-10 home loss to Calgary on July 6, the team unveiled a second makeover for the mascot. Before the opening kickoff, the CFL club posted a video on social media showing Gainer removing his short-lived green contact lenses and throwing them into the garbage before heading to the field with black eyes similar to his original look.
And Saskatchewan fans seemed to agree with the move as the mascot’s pre-game introduction drew a loud ovation from the Mosaic Stadium faithful.
(Canadian Press)
THE CROTCH GRAB SEEMED A LIL WEIRD… DOESNT HE USUALLY FIELD GOAL KICK IT IN THE JUNK, RATHER THAN MOLESTING IT?
STILL… HE HAS BEEN BEATING UP THE LION TO THE GLEE OF THE CROWD FOR MANY YEARS… GET OVER IT.
I thought the original intent with Gainer was to rally the fans with things like the signs de. fence etc. I have not been to a game in the new stadium but from what I read in comments it seems like hat is not happening . Also administration needs to remember there are children present and they are the next generation of fans. So what exactly is Gainer’s job description these days???
Total BS. This is what happens when people are so bored with their own lives they feel entitled to be outraged over things that they perceive to be inappropriate. Gainer did not take it too far. If he wants to violently RIP the head off the stuffed lion and pull out the stuffing I will support him 100%. If he commits an act of violence against a real animal or person ONLY THEN he will have taken it too far.
I thought Gainer crossed a line this weekend. Mascots are for children and the way he behaved was disgraceful. There’s no place for that at a public event. It’s one thing to have a little fun with the other team, but when you start grabbing inaprpropriat parts and disrespecting the opposition its gone too far.
Man oh man, I can’t even count how many times I witnessed my favourite proper looking old Gainer do almost the exact same thing to the Hamilton Tiger Cat, a Red stuffed Horse and yes a BC Lion. As well as others. The difference is simple. Old Gainer was well liked. This new Mascot doesn’t look anything like a gopher. I know because I see Gophers everyday in the green space behind my home. The older Gophers are shaped with a bigger trunk. All I have heard positive about this new look Gopher is that the changes to his eyes… Read more »
When Gainer goes around the stadium doing humiliating things to the lion – swinging it around by the tail, giving it “noogies,” condescendingly patting it on the head, stuffing it down his pants (okay I made that one up, Gainer has no pants), whatever – I think it’s cute and all in good fun and great for getting fans riled up. When Gainer starts strangling the lion, or wringing its neck, or beating it in a way that plays like a scene from Sons of Anarchy… sorry for the unpopular opinion, Rider Nation, but that stuff creeps me right out.… Read more »
Dude I watched Bugs Bunny with all kinds of strangulation and smashes over the head. I saw Coyote try and kill Road Runner a 1000 times. All of my friends watched the same stuff. Not once did any of us think maybe we should light a rocket and fire it up the ass of another person. As humans we realize the difference between fantasy and reality. Those humans that don’t. Well they have a much bigger problem and no Gopher beating up a stuffed lion teddy bear is going to make any difference. The article above yours nailed it when… Read more »