Editing Phoenix Suns (section)

==Mascot==

===The Suns Gorilla===
Barring a brief, early attempt involving a [[sunflower]] costume,<ref name="The Gorilla">{{cite web|title=The Gorilla|url=http://www.nba.com/suns/history/history_gorilla_80.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Suns.com|access-date=October 2, 2018|archive-date=October 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003062131/https://www.nba.com/suns/history/history_gorilla_80.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the Suns had no official mascot for the first 11 seasons of their existence. This changed when a messenger for Eastern Onion, a [[singing telegram]] service, delivered a telegram at [[Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum|Veterans Memorial Coliseum]] dressed as a [[gorilla]].<ref name="BIOGRPAHY:About GO!">{{cite web|title=Biography:About Go!|url=http://www.nba.com/suns/go-bio|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Suns.com|access-date=October 2, 2018|archive-date=February 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220103926/http://www.nba.com/suns/go-bio|url-status=live}}</ref> As he began to leave, Coliseum security suggested he do a few dances underneath the basket during a timeout. The fans loved it, as did the messenger, Henry Rojas, who kept coming to games until he was officially invited to be part of the team. Nicknamed "Go", the Gorilla has a fictional background story consisting of coming from the Banana Republic and earning an education at Furman University.<ref name="BIOGRPAHY:About GO!"/>

As Rojas's announced retirement from the role following the 1987-88 NBA season, the Suns held open auditions and try-outs to find a new Gorilla.<ref name="Gorilla-SportsCenter">"{{cite AV media | people=Labay, Robert & Fish, Jon | date=March 23, 2014 | title=Origin of Species: The Gorilla | type=TV Feature | publisher=ESPN SportsCenter}}</ref> Former [[Arizona State University]] national champion<ref name="Gorilla-SportsCenter"/> [[gymnast]] Bob Woolf<ref name="Gorilla-SIProfile">{{cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Rick |title=Monkeying Around |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2005/04/25/monkeying-around |website=Sports Illustrated Vault |publisher=Sports Illustrated |access-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103150820/https://vault.si.com/vault/2005/04/25/monkeying-around |url-status=live }}</ref> immediately stood out with his more acrobatic, [[Acrobatics#Aerial|aerial]] take on the character, particularly impressing evaluators when he jumped off a [[trampoline]] onto a basketball hoop, pulled himself atop the raised fixture, and danced high above the rim.<ref name="Gorilla-SportsCenter"/> Woolf took over the role, introducing the Gorilla's signature [[slam dunk]] routines, [[backflips]], and [[slapstick]] during games, such as running the stadium stairs to the [[Rocky]] theme. He became the first NBA mascot to incorporate [[Evel Knievel]]-inspired [[stuntman|daredevil]] [[stunts]] like jumping through a ring of fire or being propelled to the hoop via [[catapult]] or grapple wire.<ref name="Gorilla-SIProfile" /> He was also the first NBA mascot to ride a [[Harley-Davidson]] to courtside and integrate elaborate [[sketch comedy|comedy sketches]] with costumes and props in his routine.<ref name="Gorilla-SIProfile" /> The Gorilla soon became one of the most famous mascots in the NBA,<ref>{{cite web |title=Ranking the NBA's Mascots |url=https://www.si.com/nba/2016/10/21/ranking-nbas-mascots#gid=ci02554fe7a0032580&pid=4-go-the-gorilla--phoenix-suns |website=si.com | date=October 21, 2016 |publisher=Sports Illustrated |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211231922/https://www.si.com/nba/2016/10/21/ranking-nbas-mascots#gid=ci02554fe7a0032580&pid=4-go-the-gorilla--phoenix-suns |url-status=live }}</ref> his popularity in the '90s resulting in his inclusion as a [[Player character#hidden character|hidden character]] in [[NBA Jam]].

The Suns Gorilla appeared on [[WWE Raw]] on March 17, 1998, where he was on the receiving end of a chokeslam and tombstone piledriver by [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stroud |first=Brandon |date=2018-08-27 |title=The Best And Worst Of WWF Raw Is War 3/17/98: Pro Wrestling Gorilla |url=https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/wwe-raw-best-and-worst-march-17-1998-phoenix-suns-gorilla/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=UPROXX |language=en-US}}</ref>

Woolf performed as the Gorilla until the 2005–06 season,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Woolf – The Phoenix Suns Gorilla, Opens Flip Dunk Sports |publisher=Flip Dunk Sports |url=http://www.flipdunksports.com/company.html |access-date=September 10, 2012 |archive-date=September 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910010554/http://www.flipdunksports.com/company.html |url-status=live }} Bob Woolf – The Phoenix Suns Gorilla, Opens Flip Dunk Sports</ref> with Devin Nelson briefly taking over until end of the 2011–12 season, as Woolf then resumed the role to the present date. Rojas, the original telegram Gorilla, has since been involved in numerous charity projects.<ref name="The Gorilla" /> Woolf prefers to keep his relative anonymity, saying [[offscreen|off-camera]] in a 2014 feature for [[SportsCenter]], "I don't want to be seen. I don't want to be known. I want the character to take center stage."<ref name="Gorilla-SportsCenter" />

"Go" was inducted into the [[Mascot Hall of Fame]] in 2005 and still makes appearances with charities, schools, hospitals and local businesses.<ref name="BIOGRPAHY:About GO!"/>