Friend Encounters: Coop and Crystal

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends meeting celebrities.

Coop is the lovable mascot of the Schaumburg Boomers. Crystal White is the lovable, yet fierce, wrestler. There can be a debate as to which is the bigger celebrity.

Coop is a prairie chicken. Legend states Coop was born in the shadows of Mt. Rushmore. Coop's ancestors are a variety of birds that used to live on prairies throughout the midwest. Greater Prairie Chickens are known for their dances. Coop took his dancing all over, eventually landing in Schaumburg, because he was attracted to the baseball hats featuring Greater Prairie Chickens. While he is beloved in the Chicago area, I am not sure how far his celebdom reaches.

On the other hand, Chicago-based wrestler Crystal has wrestled all over the country. Unbelievably a in-ring veteran of 20 years (did she start when she was 10?), Crystal has wrestled for too many companies to list and even appeared in non-wrestling roles on WWE television. She currently is mostly wrestling for Ohio Valley Wrestling, owned and run by Al Snow.

Crystal is one of a handful of interviews I flubbed over the years. I interviewed her about 10 years ago while she wrestled for Resistance Pro Wrestling. Unfortunately, the mic failed and you can't hear any of it. Someday, I hope to make good on that interview.

It was a wrestling night at the Schaumburg Boomers game that brought these legends together. Unfortunately, I wasn't there to witness this epic moment, but at least I have this photo.

Check out Crystal on social media and in a ring near you. She also does training. Go to BoomersBaseball.com for more info on Coop and the team. 

Crystal and Coop in Schaumburg, IL-June 2024.

Mascot Week: Coop the Boomer

Last summer, my sister, dad and I took in a Schaumburg Boomers baseball game.  We saw the mascot hanging around right field and Nancy and I decided to try to get a picture with him.

Of course, by the time we maneuvered through the stands and finally made it over there, the mascot was basically right where our seats were.  Back we went.  My dad, of course, was laughing at our antics and futile attempt.

We finally got our picture.  We also discovered that the mascot was "Coop," a prairie chicken.  A little research reveals that Coop was born under the nose of George Washington on Mt. Rushmore.  Coop is a 

descendant of one of the last prairie chicken communities to leave the Schaumburg area.  Coop always dreamed of going to the land of his forefathers (as opposed to forefeathers).

One day, he saw tourists wearing his likeness on their caps and shirts.  He learned that they were fans of the Schaumburg Boomers.  He stowed away in their luggage and eventually found himself in the Chicago suburbs.

The Schaumburg Boomers welcomed him into the organization and he has been entertaining fans ever since (when he isn't evading them and making them chase him around the stadium, but I digress).

Seriously, I didn't make up this stuff.  You can check it out on the Schaumburg Boomers website and check out Coop at a Boomers game.

Nancy Blais, Coop, Frank Wroblewski and me in Schaumburg, IL-August 2013.