Behind the Scenes: Ozzie of the Kane County Cougars
Mike Forrest of West Chicago has been portraying Ozzie Cougar of the Kane County Cougars in Geneva the past 16 years, and loving every minute of it.
Being the beloved mascot of the minor-league baseball team is a part-time job, but Forrest gives 100 percent every time he puts on the furry suit.
From the moment he dons the giant head, he’s out the door meeting, greeting and having fun with people of all ages. Kids swarm Ozzie, ask for his autograph or simply for a hug. Parents high-five him and shout out “Ozzie!” just like their kids do. “Isn’t Ozzie awesome?”
Forrest says one of his favorite aspects of the job is getting to make so many people happy. He enjoys watching people’s faces light up, just like little children seeing Santa Claus.
Constantly on the go during games, Forrest only takes a couple short breaks between innings to grab a drink of water and change his sweat-soaked T-shirt he wears under the costume. “It’s a lot of fun, (but) it’s work though.”
If you don’t see him on the field, chances are he’s in the stands, walking around the ballpark or meeting people in the upper deck suites.
“It’s an important job/hobby to me,” he says. “I take it seriously. I just love what I do and I’m just lucky and very privileged to do Ozzie the Cougar.”
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