Wally Let Go!
B D D E X C L U S I V E:
Economic Downturn and Slow Ticket Sales Force Sox to Lay Off Longtime Mascot 'Wally the Green Monster'
Wally's Got to Get on Monster.com This Morning As The Red Sox Have
Shocked the Nation and Relieved No. 97 of His Duties at Fenway
This Is a Travesty of a Mockery of a Sham. Sincerely, Former Celtics Mascot Lucky
Boston Dirt Dogs has learned today that longtime Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster was relieved of his duties this morning. In a statement released to BDD, Sox owner John Henry said he was saddened by the decision but given today's economic climate and record low ticket sales, the hard choice of cutting Wally's salary had to be made. GM Theo Epstein reportedly fought to keep Wally on the roster but was overruled by team president Larry Lucchino, who sources say accused Wally of leaking team secrets to the press over the last 11 years. Lucchino plans to fill in for Wally, greeting fans at the gate and dancing on the dugout in the seventh inning, on an interim basis.
The fate of Lefty and Righty, the alternate mascots introduced by Dr. Charles Steinberg in 2003, was unknown at the time of this report. Wally is expected to address the media in a press conference later today.
* - Oh, and while you are digesting this story, don't forget to check the calendar. And look back at Sox news on this date in 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004...
