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You’ll Want to See What Happens When a Real Condor Escapes During the National Anthem of a Hockey Game

Feb. 10, 2013 7:12pm Erica Ritz

Authorities Fall Trying to Catch Condor on the Ice at Minor League Hockey Game

(Photo: Screen Shot/YouTube)

Certain mascots are probably best left at the zoo, particularly if the sporting event you’re planning on bringing it to takes place on ice.

But you’ll be happy the Bakersfield Condors decided to throw caution to the wind, because the incident made for hilarious television.

USA Today summarizes:

The ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors decided to bring out a REAL CONDOR for the National Anthem because sure what could possibly happen?

Everything. Everything could possibly happen.

A quick rundown of Things the Real Condor Did at a Minor League Hockey Game.

* Escape, not once, but twice (!) from its handler
* Try, with varying degrees of success and hilarity, to walk on the ice
* Join its fellow Condors on the team’s bench
* Delight and terrify these same hockey players
* Show itself out, through the tunnel to the locker room.

(Photo: Screen Shot/YouTube)

The condor, which is apparently a type of vulture, escaped in the middle of the national anthem. One man tried to surreptitiously recover it without being a distraction, but failed miserably. He slipped, fell, and set the bird free once more.

It was a hilarious scene from that point forward, the bird walking around the ice as the players tried to warm up, then frightening those on the bench when it spread it wings and flew up to join them.

“This is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen,” one announcer said, completely unable to contain his laughter.

Watch the entire video via Deadspin, below:

(H/T: Deadspin)

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Comments (41)

White Devil
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 3:57pm
Condor Badge… Recieved!

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Bonnieblue2A
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:03pm
The Condor thought he heard the word carion as the game was about to start. He didn’t realize they meant carry on with the game.

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Zipit
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:53am
Brought my Condor to a hockey game, and a fight broke out!

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123456beatriz
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:14am
Pretty animal!

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Nahash
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:29am
Oh my gosh, this is so amazing!!!

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grimjack3791
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:57am
Who remembers Comdorman?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condorman

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PAUL GULLO
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 6:15am
Run condor ruuuuuuuuuuun.

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rickroland
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 11:44pm
Fly, be free!

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bitterestclingerofthemall
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 11:40pm
Poor condor, must have thought that screeching on the PA System was its mate calling.

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- busterpuddles
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 6:49pm
  It did sound like some kind of wild animal, didn’t it?
  
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AZgirl9000
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 11:36pm
I know Condors are an endangered species but poachers say they taste like like Bald Eagle.

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- texashuntre
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:30am
  They say you taste like chicken too.
  
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Cascadia
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 11:27pm
Is that not an Andean Condor? Native to South America? Head & wings bear white feathers.
Just sayin’ . . .

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- Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 3:12am
  You are correct. The upper surface of the California Condor’s wings are solid black.
  
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- 700P
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:01am
  Only in California. When I saw the headline I knew it would be there.
  
  I believe California Condors ARE almost extinct because they taste like chicken but I’m surprised they didn’t get a Hollywood makeup artist to dye the wings.
  
  Report this comment
- Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 3:48pm
  700P
  The condor is basically just a big vulture. The turkey vulture and the black vulture are both still quite plentiful. If you really think they taste like chicken, I suggest you go eat one.
  
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Tigress1
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 10:03pm
The Condor heard the words “home of the freeeeeee” so he decided that was his clue. He should be free too! Smart bird.

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- Tigress1
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 10:07pm
  Ooops! “Land of the freeeee” (not “home”)
  
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LeadNotFollow
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:52pm
What a beautiful magnificent bird.

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LeadNotFollow
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:50pm
Would have been funny, if the bird handler had not fallen down.
He took a hard fall. Hope he’s okay.

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Satellite309
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:43pm
*******CALL TO ACTION !!!!! *******
The time to take action has finally arrived!!!!!! My contact in DC has told me that Sen. Lindsey Graham is going to aggressively go after Obama because of Benghazi….

Please feel free to copy and send the following message to Sen. Lindsey Graham (or, write your own…link below):

DEAR SEN. GRAHAM,
THANK YOU for continuing to press President Obama for answers regarding Benghazi. We, the people, are with you, we are standing beside you, and we are ready to engage in MASSIVE PROTESTS/DEMONSTRATIONS in Washington DC to support you and to demand that the President RESIGN if your investigation uncovers that a cover-up by this administration has been commited in regards to Benghazi. Thank you, sir!

LINK:
http://lgraham.senate.gov/public/

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- MisterSarcastic
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:45am
  This is all for show on Graham’s part. His ass is on the line here in SC and he knows it. He’s up next cycle and he’s most likely going down in a primary challenge.
  
  Report this comment
Colklink1957
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:33pm
Had to chuckle at that, ok, question I have, what zoo in their right mind would let someone do that with an Andean Condor? That is the largest flying bird in the western hemisphere, and I think they are endangered. I may be wrong about the endangered part. But that was definatly an Andean Condor, not the CA variety.

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- bonesiii
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 11:21am
  That’s what I was wondering. You’re parading an endangered animal around on ice, with ice skate blades around, etc. Doesn’t seem too smart even just as an idea. And it’s lucky that guy didn’t land on it when he fell. Looks like he went down hard.
  
  But I guess they hoped it would be cool. Might have if the guy wouldn’t have tried to walk around like that.
  
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Chuck Stein
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:31pm
“This is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen,” one announcer said, completely unable to contain his laughter.
________________________
Somebody needs to get out more (and, no, I’m not talking about any giant buzzard).

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- theotherberean
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:38pm
  Hey Chucky Chucky Chucky, I left you a present over in the “Mormon President from Mali” thread. You called me a liar and I exposed your ignorance. Why don’t you pop in over there and comment?
  
  Report this comment
- Chuck Stein
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 9:19pm
  @ THE OTHERSIDEOFREALITY
  I already responded. I really don’t know if you are a liar or merely deluded. Apologies if you are simply deluded.
  
  Report this comment
- theotherberean
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 10:18pm
  Well, we’ve seen that I’m not a liar; your own Mormon literature is your own worst enema, er, I mean enemy, and you won’t admit that you were wrong when you clearly are, so what does that make you besides intellectually dishonest?
  
  Report this comment
- Jarhead 88
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 11:14pm
  Theotheridiot, I highly doubt you talk about Harry Reid and him being a Mormon, that’s why I’d knock the liberal out of you if I ever got the chance. Pansy.
  
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Al J Zira
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:06pm
Good thing this wasn’t a Florida Panther’s game!

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mastice
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:04pm
Funny video… but the main question should be: why were they bringing the bird out in the middle of the national anthem? It’s a disgrace that so many will not honor the flag by removing their hats or placing their hand over their heart.

That’s what I noticed in the video more than the bird.

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ICSPADES
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 7:37pm
And we can’t even have a Possum drop at New Years anymore. PETA where are you now?

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qpwillie
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 7:24pm
I don’t know anything about hockey but why would they name their team after a vulture?????

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- ashestoashes
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 7:56pm
  Must have had it’s wings clipped..beautiful bird..the only vultures I have seen have had red heads..and are rather ackward looking..they look more like turkeys..the Condor looks more like royalty..A friend of mine hates vultures because they are always scavenging on dead animals..I tell them..they eat animal flesh just as you do..they just aren’t equipped to cook their food.. I don’t get into the predatory animals..so cannot fault this bird..designed to clean the earth..I heard that our founders originally wanted the turkey instead of the eagle for our national bird.lol
  
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- right-wing-waco
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:03pm
  I agree, why name a hockey team after a vulture. Now a branch of our government like maybe…….. the IRS. Then you have something.
  
  All jokes aside this is a really beautiful bird as is the Eagle. Funny video.
  
  Report this comment
- qpwillie
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:07pm
  @ashestoashes
  Yeah, it’s just that I was raised out in the country and a “buzzard” was considered just about as filthy as a creature could be.
  
  I know they are very valuable in keeping carrion in check but some things just kinda stick in your mind.
  
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- right-wing-waco
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:09pm
  ashestoashes,
  I have heard that about the turkey also. At least one discussion pointed to the use of the Coo Coo bird… just in case we eventually elected a complete moron. And you did not think the founders could see the future…..
  
  Report this comment
- ashestoashes
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 8:26pm
  @QP I was raised in the country also …and the only bad memories I have of vultures were of movies I saw.. but I don’t want to give the muslims any more ideas..
  
  @WACO..good one..lol
  
  Report this comment
- rickroland
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 11:48pm
  Well, this is Bakersfield. Long time home of Buck Owens, home for a while for Merle Haggard. Additionally, Bakersfield is the county seat of Kern County which, for years, banned Steinbeck book “The Grapes of Wrath” because it was considered demeaning to the people that moved from the Dust Bowl area to — you guessed it — Kern County.
  
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denkat56
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 7:23pm
Fly away , go full fill your destiny. And remember to avoid the dark side.

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CanteenBoy
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 7:22pm
Where are the PETA folks? Apparently it’s peck and choose your causes. Yes, peck.

The California Condor was endangered even before the deathly windmills started decimating what’s left.

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