Wheedle - Seattle Mascot

Seattle Mascot

From 1978 through 1985 the Wheedle was the official mascot of the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics, and was part of the organization when they won their only NBA Championship to date (in 1979). It would not be until 1993 that the Sonics would debut a new mascot, Squatch, who was the team's mascot until 2008. While representing the Sonics, the character wore a jersey bearing number 0. Robert Crosby performed the Wheedle as Seattle hosted the NCAA's Final Four for the first time. Toying with Brent Musberger on the sidelines, as well as in celebration with Georgetown's Patrick Ewing, it was a memorable highlight in the Wheedle's career. That same year Seattle acknowledged the Wheedle as an icon, honoring Wheedle as the Torchlight Parade's Grand Marshall. During the early years of the Wheedles Sonics tenure, Laurel Brown a member of the Sonics staff was the Wheedle as the first female mascot of an NBA team. Her dance moves distinguished her from other mascots of that time.

The Wheedle was also the official mascot of the Space Needle from the late 1970s until 1984. In May 1982, the Space Needle opened a new addition at its 100-foot (30 m) level amidst controversy about altering the then 20-year old structure, a mixed-use restaurant and banquet facility called "The Wheedle in the Needle". The facility existed as restaurant for only about a year, before it was converted to a full-time banquet facility (now referred to as the "Skyline Level"). The Space Needle adopted a new mascot, "Sneedle," in 1997; however it appears that the character is no longer in use.

In 1993, the Wheedle became the mascot for KOMO-TV (Seattle's ABC affiliate), and appeared at many events wearing a KOMO hat and t-shirt. The character represented KOMO for several years before being unofficially retired in the late 1990s.

For several years, the Wheedle could be seen encased in a block of plastic "ice," in a small SuperSonics museum, near the Sonics & Storm Team Shop at Seattle's KeyArena. Following the relocation of the team to Oklahoma City, its whereabouts are unknown.