- Where are you from?
JJ: I’m from the best city in the world, Jamestown, NY. I end up splitting my time between Dunkirk and Warren, PA, with a few trips out to Olean thrown in for good measure. // Jax: The deepest, darkest jungles of Cattaraugus County in western New York.
- How many teams do you represent?
JJ: Nine. It’s a busy schedule, but these players are counting on me, so I make sure to do what I do. // Jax: Three.
- How were you chosen to be school mascot?
JJ: It’s quite a process. First, the students of JCC had to nominate me. This was back in the ‘70s, and I’m glad my mutton chop side burns and penchant for leisure suits didn’t turn them off. Anyway, then I had to answer three riddles, solve the mystery of Deadman’s Creek (It was old man Riley), and win a staring contest with the President of the college. After all that, I was deemed worthy of being the mascot for JCC on the Jamestown Campus. // Jax: It’s an ancestral title, going back decades. My family has a long, proud tradition of representing JCC-Cattaraugus County athletics.
- Do you have any friends that are mascots?
JJ: Let’s call my relationship with Jax what it is: we’re frenemies. I love that Jaguar, but we’re both really competitive, and since our teams goes up against each other every year, it can make for some tense moments. // Jax: What did JJ the Jayhawk say? Did JJ call me a frenemy? Figures. Then no, this jaguar hunts alone.
- What is your favorite campus event?
JJ: The Welcome Back picnic we hold for students every fall! It’s a great time to get out and meet our new students, and for some reason everyone loves getting their picture taken with me. // Jax: Often around finals time we have a spa day, where we organize all sorts of relaxing, soothing activities for the students to help relieve some of the end of semester tension. I love it. Sometimes you just want to be pampered and get a back massage. It gets a bit awkward when I can’t stop purring for the rest of the day, but it’s soooo worth it. But really, anytime we can get a lot of the students together, that’s the best.
- What is your favorite New York State destination?
JJ: Chautauqua Institution. It helps me sharpen my most important tool: my mind. // Jax: Niagara Falls. It’s majestic, awe-inspiring, and incredibly powerful. Coincidentally enough, all words frequently used to describe me.
- What is your favorite Broadway play?
JJ: Gosh, that’s a tough one. It goes without saying that I detest “Cats”, since it glorifies the mortal enemies of all birdkind. Are they planning on making a musical version of “Flappy Bird”? I’d pay to see that. I also love “The Lion King.” Zazu, man, that guy cracks me up. // Jax: Cats. Obvious, right? When I was young, I would go as the Magical Mister Mistoffelees every year for Halloween. I could probably still sing the entire score.
- What do you consider the ideal fan?
JJ: One that’s passionate, loyal, willing to stick with us through thick and thin, and LOUD! // Jax: An ideal fan is one who supports our athletes, simple as that. That’s what it’s all about, right?
- What’s it like to be a mascot?
JJ: Like a cross between being a magician and Michael Jordan, but sweatier. // Jax: Awesome. Next question.
- What do you like to do for fun?
JJ: Flex. // Jax: I’m a huge knitter. I know, a cat playing with yarn, how typical, but I find it very soothing.
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