Minor League Team Sticking With ‘OzemPig’ Mascot Name Amid Backlash

The Minnesota Twins’ AAA affiliate is standing agency on its determination to call its dwell pig mascot “OzemPig” … this after quite a few followers squealed in opposition.

The St. Paul Saints — identified for his or her tomfoolery on gamedays — historically make use of younger pigs to assist out with delivering recreation balls to umpires … and host an annual contest to provide you with a foolish moniker for every animal (previous winners embrace Ham Solo, Infamous P.I.G., and many others.).

This 12 months’s winner beat out candidates like Porky Blinders and Sloppenheimer … however as soon as the title was introduced, some of us felt it flirted with fat-shaming, contemplating it is a nod to the favored weight reduction drug.

To additional piss off the haters, the crew made a fictional backstory about how the swine was ashamed of its determine and vowed to “show off his abs and defined hocks” all through its time period as ball pig.

Saints VP Sean Aronson addressed the un-porcine-ate reactions this week … claiming he understands what the naysayers (if solely this was a narrative a couple of ball horse) are saying, however “there was no ill-intent, there was no maliciousness, there was never even a discussion in the room when we were going over the name that hey, this may offend some people.”

Regardless of the criticism, Aronson stated OzemPig is right here to remain … because the crew is aware of deep down the true intent behind the title.