HTDE: Peter Sagal the Sausage

Summary

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Podcast Summary: "HTDE: Peter Sagal the Sausage"

Introduction

In the episode titled "HTDE: Peter Sagal the Sausage," NPR's “Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!” takes an entertaining detour into the whimsical world of mascot races, specifically focusing on the infamous sausage races at Milwaukee Brewers games. Hosted by Peter Sagal, the show features co-hosts Ian Chillag and Mike Danforth engaging with guest Peter Sagal in a lighthearted and humorous exploration of these unique sporting events.

Finnish Youth Deterrence via Classical Music

The episode opens with a fascinating segment about Espoo, Finland, where thousands of young people were congregating on beaches and engaging in serious criminal activities. Inspector Hanu Vanonen introduces an unconventional solution to mitigate this issue:

Inspector Hanu Vanonen [01:17]: “We played classical music at the beach... the youth did come in small groups, but they started to move one by one, one step, two steps, three steps away from the music.”

This tactic effectively changed the beach's atmosphere, making it less appealing to the youth and reducing criminal activities. The host and producers reflect on the quirky yet effective nature of this strategy, highlighting how altering the environment can influence behavior.

Mascot Races and the Sausage Race in Milwaukee

Transitioning from Finland to Milwaukee, the hosts delve into the tradition of mascot races, focusing on the Johnsonville Famous Racing Sausages at Milwaukee Brewers games. Mike Danforth humorously recounts his experience as the Italian sausage, revealing the dedication and physical demands of participating in these races:

Mike Danforth [05:41]: “We try... It is legit. We are out there racing our butts off, and it is... It's exhausting.”

The discussion covers the various types of sausages involved, including hot dogs, bratwursts, Polish sausages, chorizos, and ribs. The banter between Mike and Ian underscores the playful rivalry and camaraderie among the participants, as well as the meticulous effort required to maintain the “mascot code.”

Participation in the Race

In a delightful twist, Peter Sagal joins Ian and Mike in Milwaukee to experience the sausage race firsthand. The trio dons their respective sausage costumes—Peter reluctantly takes on the role of chorizo—and prepares to compete. The hosts express a mix of excitement and anxiety about the impending race:

Ian Chillag [11:24]: “I am extremely excited about this. In fact, I'm so excited about it. It's almost like a weird thing that you invited me to do it...”

As they navigate the crowded stadium and don their costumes, the emphasis is on the immersive and physically challenging nature of the event, highlighting the dedication of those who participate in maintaining the illusion of being actual sausages.

Race Results and Revelations

The race unfolds with the hot dog mascot quickly taking the lead, leaving Ian and Mike struggling to keep up. The competition culminates in the hot dog crossing the finish line far ahead of the other sausages, much to the amusement and disappointment of the participants:

Ian Chillag [15:19]: “Obviously the hot dog, the one of us that was not the one person who was not one of us, jumped out to a huge lead.”

Reflecting on the outcome, the hosts humorously acknowledge their defeat while celebrating the spirit of the race and the fun it brings to the fans.

Listener Correspondence

The episode also features engaging listener interactions. Madeline shares an emotional response to a previous episode involving the movie "The Champ," revealing how personal connections can influence reactions:

Madeline: “I heard Mike start crying, I unexpectedly started crying with full tears... I have young kids, so maybe that's it.”

Additionally, Oliver from Australia provides cultural insight into local terminology, differentiating between "sausage sizzle" and "snag," enriching the conversation with international perspectives.

High School Basketball Game Incident

A standout listener story involves a high school basketball game where the net became entangled, halting the game. Cheerleaders Bella, Haley, and Jutana stepped in to resolve the issue using their cheerleading skills:

Bella [22:19]: “We decided to... show off one of our skills and solve the problem at the same time.”

Their swift and skilled intervention not only saved the game but also highlighted the versatility and teamwork inherent in cheerleading, much to the admiration of both the players and the audience.

Conclusion

"HTDE: Peter Sagal the Sausage" masterfully blends humor, storytelling, and engaging discussions, offering listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the quirky tradition of mascot races. Through relatable anecdotes, memorable quotes, and interactive segments, the podcast delivers an entertaining and insightful experience, celebrating the unique and often overlooked aspects of sports and community events.

Notable Quotes:

• Inspector Hanu Vanonen [01:17]: “We played classical music at the beach... the youth started to move one step, two steps away from the music.”

• Mike Danforth [05:41]: “We try... It is legit. We are out there racing our butts off, and it is... It's exhausting.”

• Ian Chillag [11:24]: “I am extremely excited about this. It's almost like a weird thing that you invited me to do it...”

• Ian Chillag [15:19]: “Obviously the hot dog... jumped out to a huge lead.”

• Madeline: “I heard Mike start crying, I unexpectedly started crying with full tears...”

• Bella [22:19]: “We decided to... show off one of our skills and solve the problem at the same time.”

This episode not only entertains but also sheds light on the creativity and dedication behind community traditions, making it a memorable entry in the “Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!” series.

Transcript

[Peter Sagal]

This message comes from Noom. Using psychology and biology to build personal meal plans to fit your lifestyle, taking into account dietary restrictions, medical issues and other personal needs. Sign up for your trial [e-mail] hey guys, it's Peter.

[Ian Chillag]

This week we are back with another episode of how to Do Everything Made by weight.

[Mike Danforth]

Wait.

[Ian Chillag]

Producers Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag and I have to tell you honestly, this is one of my favorite episodes so far because I'm in it now. Longtime listeners may remember that back in the day Mike and and used to drag me in to eat usually some terrible food. And this is no spoilers food related. And it really was one of the more fun things I've ever been able to do. Once again, listeners remember this show will not be in this feed forever. So be sure to get out of here and go listen to how to Do Everything on Their own feed and enjoy this latest episode of how to Do Everything with Peter Sagal.

About 10 years ago, the town of Espo, Finland had a problem with thousands of young people gathering on the beaches and committing crimes. Some of them very serious crimes.

[Mike Danforth]

Inspector Hanu Vanonen had an idea to stop it. Can you tell us about that?

[Inspector Hanu Vanonen]

Yes. In Finland, in central Finland, they had used classical music in a shopping mall. The youth didn't like the classical music so they evaded it. And then I'm a little odd in this police station. I suggested to our superiors that should we try to play the classical music at the beach? And we played it. Usually they gather there around 6pm or 7pm until the 1am the whole night. And we started the music at 4 or 5pm so there wasn't youth already there. And the youth, they did come in small groups, but they started to move one by one, one step, two step, three steps away from the music. It wasn't loud, they could talk there. But I'm not sure what's the problem with the classical music. But they did move.

[Ian Chillag]

It sounds like you just kind of changed the vibe of the beach to a place they didn't think was cool anymore.

[Inspector Hanu Vanonen]

Yes, something like that.

[Mike Danforth]

Am I right that the vibe there, that the scene at the beach with the classical music would almost make it perfect for a romantic picnic?

[Inspector Hanu Vanonen]

Well, yeah, if you like Bach or Mozart or pan flute music, then it's okay. And the people, some of the older people came and they enjoyed like a pizza and wine or something with the classical music, I guess, I guess that.

[Ian Chillag]

Would be a danger that you would. By playing the classical music, you could be attracting too many old People.

[Inspector Hanu Vanonen]

Well, they warned us about that. My superiors also warned me about that. But that's not the case yet.

[Mike Danforth]

Do you, in your private personal life, do you listen to classical music?

[Inspector Hanu Vanonen]

Not much. Sorry about that.

[Mike Danforth]

So it kind of had the same effect on you, didn't it?

[Inspector Hanu Vanonen]

Well, it might have. It might have.

[Ian Chillag]

This is how to do everything. I'm Ian.

[Mike Danforth]

And I'm Mike. On today's show, how to fix the net at your basketball game.

[Ian Chillag]

But first, we got an email from Brian which he sent from his seat at a minor league baseball game. Said he needed some help.

[Mike Danforth]

Brian, what can we help you with?

[Brian]

Um, yeah, so right when I was watching a mascot race at the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs baseball game here in Allentown, Pennsylvania, they do a mascot race in the middle of one of their innings. I just thoroughly enjoyed it and I was like, how can I do this? And how hard are these costumes to run in?

[Mike Danforth]

What. Who are the. What are the mascots that are racing?

[Brian]

So it's all pork based characters. My favorite is crisp pea bacon Pea period bacon. That's a slice of bacon. Diggity is a hot dog. Tambone is a slice of ham. Ham bone always loses. There's barbecue. That's a pulled pork sandwich. And then they added somebody recently. Ribby. It's a rack of ribs. So they're five.

[Mike Danforth]

Well, that actually raises a question that I have, Brian. So for ham bone, what is the shape of hambone? If ham bone always loses, is that an issue? Because aerodynamically, hambone is more. Has more surface area.

[Brian]

That is. That's a good point. I mean, hambone is kind of what you would think. It's like a hawk of ham. Harder to move in that than say like a vertical hot dog. Although. Yeah, I mean, you could argue that the hot dog could be hard because it could be very top heavy.

[Ian Chillag]

I've always wondered if it's rigged. Like if somebody at the top of the organization says, you know, today it's. It's you. Crispy bacon.

[Mike Danforth]

Really? Like, to what end do you think, though? Is it just like to give crispy bacon his due or her? Do.

[Ian Chillag]

Yeah, you all think that it's a real fair contest?

[Brian]

I think there are occasions when it's fair. But now that you say it, I mean, with the rise in sports gambling, you. You have to wonder if there's like an underbelly here.

[Mike Danforth]

Well, Brian, I think we have somebody who can help us here. The most treasured of all the mascot races is the Johnsonville famous racing sausages race at Milwaukee brewers games online with.

[Ian Chillag]

Us now is their Italian sausage. And we've been told. I'm being completely serious in no uncertain terms. We've been told not to reveal the human identity of this sausage.

[Mike Danforth]

So, Italian sausage, how long have you been doing the sausage race? Ooh.

Uh, I've been doing it for close to 15 years, so I've lost track of how many races I've run. Yeah.

[Ian Chillag]

Wow.

[Mike Danforth]

Yeah, I mean, I'm. I'm typically the Italian. I. I'm partial to the Italian. It's. It's the costume I won my first race in, but we switch it up. Sometimes I'll hop into bratwurst or the hot dog. Um, we also have the polish, the chizo.

[Ian Chillag]

So is it. It's always you, and is it the same three or four other people in the other sausage costumes?

[Mike Danforth]

No. So we actually have anywhere from 30 to 50 people that do it. Yeah. I mean, it would be crazy to. To commit to every. Every home game like that.

[Ian Chillag]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Mike Danforth]

But no. Yeah, we do mix it up. You know, one of the most common questions we get is, well, is it. Is it fixed? Is the race predetermined? And I can tell you that absolutely not. We try. It is. It is legit. It gets competitive. We are out there racing our butts off, and it is. It's exhausting. It's a. I don't know the. How long it is, but it's. You know, we go from the opposing dugout to all the way past the home dugout and the camera, well. Well into the outfield, and it's. Yeah. In the summer months, it get. It is hot, it is sweaty. It is a physically demanding experience.

What. What Italian sausage? Which of the sausages has an advantage?

Generally, we would say the four that are not chorizo, because the chorizo has the sombrero.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh.

[Mike Danforth]

And that adds some extra weight and some aerodynamic implications that. That you have to factor in.

Sure. If you had the power to animate. I'm sorry. If you had the power Italian sausage to animate all five sausages, you were given the gift. Which of the five sausages, real sausages, would win a race?

I would have to say hot dog, because it's the most slender. Not a lot of extra, you know, weight to it.

[Ian Chillag]

Now, our. We, Mike, a second ago, accidentally said your name, which we have bleeped out. And it was very clear as we were setting up this interview that we were only to refer to you as Italian sausage. We are to protect your identity, which we're happy to do. I am curious why, though? Why that's important? Are they afraid that somebody is going to try and influence the sausage race by finding you in your human life or.

[Mike Danforth]

I think it goes back to just sort of mascot code in general. You go to Disney parks, and they're always in character. That's sort of how we look at it.

[Ian Chillag]

Do you have a rival? Either a rival sausage or a rival human inside of the sausage costume, Is there somebody you always want to beat?

[Mike Danforth]

Yeah, there have been some rivalries. I had a run in with. With the chorizo once. So it was the, gosh, 20th anniversary of the sausage race or something. It was. It was. It was a landmark day. It was a big deal. And tried to take an aggressive turn around, around home. And chorizo is. He's kind of in the same line. And we bump, and I fall and still managed to get back on my feet and finish third. But I happened to make it on Sports center's not top 10 for. For this.

How'd that feel?

You know, it felt like something I wanted to share with everyone. Like, it didn't matter. You know, it's like. And I asked people, like, okay, I'm the not top 10. Do I want to be higher or. I was number eight.

Oh, yeah.

If I'm going to be on the not top 10, don't I want to just go all the way for number one? Right. Like, additionally, they had me fill out an injury report because I scraped my knee a little bit, so I had to fill out this injury report for, you know, the club policy.

Yeah.

And there are these. This questionnaire. It's like, you know, was another employee involved in the incident? And I said, yes. Incidental contact with chorizo.

[Ian Chillag]

I mean, I. I have to just. I have to ask, how can Mike and I get in a sausage race? How could. How do we do it? We will be there at the drop of a hat.

[Mike Danforth]

Yeah. You guys just say the word, and we'll. We'll get you booked.

[Ian Chillag]

I gotta be honest. I didn't think that last part was gonna work, but we are going to Milwaukee to be sausages. You'll know we're there when we start speaking in hushed tones. All right. We're at American Family Field, where the Milwaukee brewers play baseball. We're starting out at the tailgate, and I should say we invited Peter Sagal to join us here in Milwaukee. He is, of course, usually our taste tester. I figure climbing into a sausage costume that has been worn by countless hot, sweaty people running as fast as they can, that counts. As a taste test, there will be a flavor within.

[Mike Danforth]

It's definitely a sensory experience. Like, you're gonna sense things and smell things, probably, and maybe even taste things, depending on what you're doing in there.

[Ian Chillag]

I am extremely excited about this. In fact, I'm so excited about it. It's almost like a weird thing that you invited me to do it, because usually my attitude is dread, but I'm very excited.

[Mike Danforth]

You think we're gonna trick you at some point?

[Ian Chillag]

Oh, I. Yes.

[Mike Danforth]

Yeah.

[Ian Chillag]

I mean, it can't be this great. I mean, there has to be a catch.

[Mike Danforth]

Okay.

[Ian Chillag]

We'll find a way to meet your dread, I think. Okay, so we're about to go back there. We've sat through three innings of this game, looking at the field on which we're about to run. What are you all feeling about it?

Growing anxiety.

[Mike Danforth]

You feel nervous?

[Ian Chillag]

Well, yeah. Not just because of the game. There are a lot of people here. And you'll note that during every sort of interstitial moment, everybody's paying a lot of attention. Like, they had that, you know, find the coin or the. Whatever, the ball under the baseball hat animation. Everybody was playing. Everybody was shouting out their answer. They're gonna be watching us.

[Mike Danforth]

Here's the thing. And if you don't. If you didn't know this already, they're not gonna know it's us.

[Ian Chillag]

Oh, I'm well aware of that.

But you still might fall down.

That's exactly it. What if I, as whatever sausage ended up being fall down? People will be telling for years. They'll say, oh, did you see that night the polish fell down? I was there that night. What do you guys think?

[Mike Danforth]

I am not nervous. I have no expectation. I just want to finish. Nina, how are you feeling? Yeah, growing anxiety. I'm just dancing in my chair a little bit more than I used to be. There are a ton of people here. The sausages also are everywhere. What sausage do you want to be? Not chorizo. Anything but chorizo. What do you want to be?

[Ian Chillag]

Anything but chorizo. Which probably means I'm gonna end up being the chorizo.

Peter, would you like to be the chorizo?

I would not like to be the chorizo.

[Mike Danforth]

Well, I'm sorry.

[Ian Chillag]

We can head it out where he said not.

[Mike Danforth]

We have some bad news, Peter.

[Ian Chillag]

Well, I figured. Let me show you a text that I sent to my friends. I was told to avoid the chorizo because you can't see them from under their hat. So I'll probably get the chorizo I.

[Peter Sagal]

Don'T want to be the chorizo.

[Ian Chillag]

Okay, let's get to it. They take hina, Mike, Peter, and me. They take us all down beneath the stadium to get our costumes on, and this guy gives us this big spiel about the rules. A lot of it has to do with the mascot code.

Yeah, apparently. And I hadn't really thought about this. In retrospect, thinking back about my encounters with mascots, it makes a lot of sense. The thing they're most concerned about is breaking the illusion that the. In this case, the sausage is in fact a sausage rather than a person in a sausage suit.

Well, I think we should reveal. So we're about to go out on the field here and actually do this race and see which of us triumphs. It's the four of us and somebody from the Mets who was. He took the role of hot dog.

[Mike Danforth]

I was Italian sausage. Ian, you were bratwurst. I was Polish. And that means there's only one person left to be chorizo.

[Ian Chillag]

Can we let the listeners guess who that was just for a moment? Should we do that?

[Mike Danforth]

All right, fans, time now for the Johnsonville famous racing sausage race. Wearing number one, it's the Johnsonville bratwurst. Number two, we have the Johnsonville polish sausage. Wearing number three, the Johnsonville Italian sausage. Wearing number four, the Johnsonville hot dog, and number five. Five, it's the Jensenville chorizo. All right, sausages, on your mark, get set. Go. They're often racing. The hot dog taking an early lead with the chorizo to the inside in second. It's the Polish in third. The bratwurst moving up now with the Italian trailing the field. They make the turn, and they're heading down the stretch. At least the hot dog is. He's all by himself tonight. It's the hot dog all alone at the wire.

[Ian Chillag]

Obviously the hot dog, the one of us that was not the one person who was not one of us, jumped out to a huge lead. If you're watching it on the jumbotron, after about five seconds, none of us were even visible because he was so far ahead of us.

I was like, is that a false start? Did I miss the start? Because it just seemed so unlikely.

[Mike Danforth]

Yeah, exactly.

[Ian Chillag]

That you saw him too?

[Mike Danforth]

Oh, yeah. I could barely focus on anything. I was running so quickly that I was like, there's just simply no way that they actually said go. You know why? I don't think I saw anybody because I was in last place. I just saw you guys. All I saw was hina and I just knew that I had to beat. I couldn't be last.

[Ian Chillag]

Ultimately that's where the drama for the crowd was. Who was going to be last between Mike and Heen because it was neck and neck for the bottom.

[Mike Danforth]

And I think I've seen video and I do think we tied. The hot dog guy smoked us completely.

[Ian Chillag]

We were smoked sausages.

[Mike Danforth]

Hey, if you have any questions you want us to answer, you can send them to us at how to that's our email address and we promise we look at every email we receive.

[Ian Chillag]

If your question is that you are currently stuck inside of a bratwurst costume, I'll just tell you right now. Just bend both of your elbows the other way, unlock your hips and rotate your head 360 degrees.

[Peter Sagal]

This message comes from Schwab At Schwab how you invest is your choice, not theirs. That's why when it comes to managing your wealth, Schwab gives you more choices. You can invest and trade on your own plus get advice and more comprehensive wealth solutions to help meet your unique needs. With award winning service, low costs and transparent advice, you can manage your wealth your way at Schwab. Visit schwab.com to learn more.

[Ian Chillag]

Support for this podcast and the following message come from Autograph Collection hotels offering over 300 independent hotels around the world, each exactly like nothing else. Hand selected for their inherent craft, each hotel tells its own unique story through distinctive design and immersive experiences. From medieval falconry to volcanic wine tasting, Autograph Collection is part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of over 30 hotel brands around the world. Find the unforgettable and autographcollection.com this message.

[Peter Sagal]

Comes from NPR sponsor AARP. Where do you see your career in 12 years? What are you doing now to help you get there? The sooner you start enhancing your skills, the sooner you'll be ready. That's why AARP has management, finance and small business reskilling courses, all to help your income live as long as you do. Because the steps you choose to take today will help you love what you do in the future. Learn [e-mail] skills this message comes from NOOM Using psychology and biology to build personal meal plans to fit your lifestyle, taking into account dietary restrictions, medical issues and other personal needs with daily lessons that are personalized to you and your goals. Noom's flexible program focuses on progress instead of perfection to help you build new habits for a healthier lifestyle. Sign up for your trial [e-mail] this message comes from Progressive what if Comparing car insurance rates was as easy as putting on your favorite podcast with Progressive. It is. Just visit their website to get a quote with all the coverages you want. You'll see Progressive's direct rate and their tool will provide options from other companies so you can compare. Then just choose the rate and coverage you like. Quote [e-mail] progressive casualty insurance company and affiliates. Comparison rates not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy.

[Ian Chillag]

This is Ira Glass of this American Life. Each week on our show, we choose a theme, tell different stories on that theme. All right, I'm just going to stop right there. You're listening to an NPR podcast. Chances are you know our show. So instead I'm going to tell you we've just been on a run of really good shows lately. Some big, epic, emotional stories and some weird, funny stuff, too. Download us this American Life. Hey, we got some listener mail, some correspondence from you all that we would like to acknowledge. First up, we got something from Madeline or Madeline. Just wanted to report back that I have never seen the movie the Champ. And when I heard the short snippet from the movie you played in the Archive episode, I didn't cry. But when I heard Mike start crying, I unexpectedly started crying with full tears. I also have young kids, so maybe that's it.

[Mike Danforth]

Madeline, I feel your pain. I inspired your pain.

[Ian Chillag]

You caused caused pain.

[Mike Danforth]

I caused your pain. I caused your pain with my pain. I have not watched the Champ in the years since we recorded that episode. Have you, Ian?

[Ian Chillag]

Well, no, I haven't. But I'll say, listening back to our podcast episode in which I did not cry, in which I was completely stone hearted, I cried when I heard you cry.

[Mike Danforth]

Did you?

[Ian Chillag]

I did. I've had. I have kids. I didn't have them when we recorded that episode. Yeah, but you also caused my pain.

[Mike Danforth]

Oh, well, you're welcome.

[Ian Chillag]

Here's another one. This is from Oliver. He's responding to our recent episode about things that are world famous. He's writing from Australia. He says, I will preface that I'm from the east coast of Australia, but here we call the event of a hot dog sale a sausage sizzle.

[Mike Danforth]

Okay.

[Ian Chillag]

And we call a hot dog itself a snag.

[Mike Danforth]

Okay. I don't think I would ever do that. I don't think I'd be comfortable ordering a Chicago style snag.

[Ian Chillag]

I will say I can say that I was just moments ago completely humiliated by a very fast snag.

[Mike Danforth]

Yeah, see, when you said that, I wasn't sure if we needed to mark this episode, explicit or not.

[Ian Chillag]

Oh, we also want to point out one of our reviews on Apple podcasts.

[Mike Danforth]

This is from Hydro Flask water Bottle. Who asks, do you guys actually read these? I think the answer is obviously yes.

[Ian Chillag]

We are currently doing so.

[Mike Danforth]

Yep.

[Ian Chillag]

Hydro Glass water Bottle.

[Mike Danforth]

The Cocoa Beach High School basketball team was playing a game, and the net went up through the hoop and got stuck. The players kept jumping up to try and knock it down, but nothing was working.

[Ian Chillag]

The game was stopped. The game could not go on. So, Bella, Haley, Jutana from the Cocoa Beach High School cheerleading squad, can you tell us what you did?

[Bella]

Well, we were just sort of cheering like we would normally do, and then the game just sort of stops. It's like we were just watching them struggle for, like, a fat minute until we sort of realized, like, wait, when we do pep rallies and stuff, my head goes past the rim. So we decided to, you know, show off one of our skills and solve the problem at the same time. You know, it was easy peasy.

[Ian Chillag]

Okay, for Mike and I, who don't know a lot about cheering, can you describe what you did?

[Bella]

So there was three of us. We had a back spot and two side bases.

[Mike Danforth]

Okay, those are fresh. That's fresh vocabulary for us here. Backspot, side bases. So the girl.

[Bella]

That is the back spot, she is behind holding.

[Ian Chillag]

Okay, so basically what they're describing here, none of the boys on the basketball team could fix the net. So the cheerleaders did. You know, we've all seen it. Kind of a basic cheerleading pyramid with one of them way up in the air, and she untangled the net.

[Mike Danforth]

Yeah, it looks awesome.

[Bella]

It was, like, actually tangled up in there, but they got me high enough so I was able to clearly be able to untangle it.

[Ian Chillag]

How did the crowd react? Cause it, you know, it looks like you're just kind of doing your thing.

[Bella]

I think for a second, they didn't. Like, some of them didn't really realize what was, like, going on. And then, like, you heard one kid from the other, like, side go, like, oh. And like, then people started, like, clapping and stuff. So we were like, oh, wow, this is fun.

[Ian Chillag]

Did the. Did the boys on the team. Did you sense that you had bruised any egos when they were unable to help and you were.

[Bella]

I mean, they just sort of went back into their game and sort of just let it go.

[Ian Chillag]

Yeah.

[Bella]

Sweeping under the rug like it never happened.

[Mike Danforth]

Yeah, there you go.

[Bella]

A funny piece of information is Bella's brother is actually on the basketball team, so his sister had to come out for the rescue.

[Mike Danforth]

Pretty eyes.

[Bella]

Yeah. Oh, he was just standing there helplessly.

[Mike Danforth]

Bella, does your brother feel bad that you can probably dunk better than he can?

[Bella]

I don't think so. He's actually. He's pretty close to dunking right now, so I think he's fine with it.

[Mike Danforth]

How many side bases does it take for him to dunk?

[Bella]

Maybe one or two.

[Peter Sagal]

There you go.

[Mike Danforth]

There you go.

[Ian Chillag]

Have you all any other time in your. In your life when you're not at a game cheerleading, have you used your cheerleading skills to help out in other ways?

[Bella]

I actually use it sometimes at work. Instead of there being, like, you know, three bases, it's just me and the person that needs to, you know, grab something from the top shelf. I just kind of make the same hand motion and just, like, lift them.

[Mike Danforth]

Up a little bit.

[Ian Chillag]

Wow.

[Bella]

It still works, like, to help them up.

[Mike Danforth]

Awesome. Well, this has been so much fun. Thank you, guys.

[Bella]

Thank you guys for having us. Thank you.

[Mike Danforth]

Well, that does it for this week's show. What'd you learn, Ian?

[Ian Chillag]

I learned that the mascot code is very real and people take it very seriously.

[Mike Danforth]

Did you. Let me just ask you. Was there ever a point when we were on the field, we're giving high fives or we're doing our best to give high fives, because the fact is, because we have no peripheral vision and because I didn't feel comfortable turning, I couldn't actually turn to look at the people. I was giving high fives in the stand. So there were a lot of. It was like there were a lot of phantom high fives I there.

[Ian Chillag]

You know, all the fans are leaning through the netting that is up to catch foul balls. I was giving every high five I could. I got very nervous that my costumes was going to become entangled in the netting. I saw it all happening, that then it would tear the costume from my body as my human self fell to the ground. Children everywhere. The mascot code would be broken. Children would see that there was a man within. There would just be tears.

[Mike Danforth]

That's not a real bratwurst. That's what people. You think that's what people would say?

[Ian Chillag]

He's not the bratwurst we thought he was. How to do Everything is produced by Polish sausage Hina Shrivastova. Technical direction from Lorna White.

[Mike Danforth]

Our intern this week is the hot dog that beat us in the sausage race. Congratulations, hot dog.

[Ian Chillag]

Get us your questions at how [e-mail] I'm Ian.

[Mike Danforth]

And I'm Mike. Thanks.

[Ian Chillag]

Thank. So did you watch the sausage race?

[Mike Danforth]

Yes.

[Ian Chillag]

What'd you think?

[Mike Danforth]

It's pretty funny. Yeah. Who was your favorite sausage?

[Inspector Hanu Vanonen]

That chorizo has always been my favorite.

[Mike Danforth]

Yeah.

[Ian Chillag]

So this guy right here was the chorizo.

[Mike Danforth]

Oh, really?

[Ian Chillag]

Yeah. What happened? You asked me what happened. I came in third. Look, I won my age group.

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