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He started out in 1946 as a gleeful little demon, an impish caricature designed by Disney illustrators for Arizona State fans who wanted their opponents to feel the heat. But there's nothing cute about Sparky at Sun Devil games today -- in fact, you'll be lucky if you don't see the other end of his pitchfork. "I'm a tough mascot," he told Playboy.com. "Some of the other mascots are goofy and funny, but I'm the most athletic." At ASU games Sparky rallies fans by flexing his muscles and doing pushups when the Sun Devils score. "I wish I could crowd surf, but our fans just get too drunk." Recently Sparky warmed the bench with Playboy.com to talk topless bars, mascot rivalries and the kind of coeds that make him horny.
Playboy.com: Have you ever been to Disneyland?
Sparky: I tried to go once. During the 1996-97 season ASU went to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. I went to Disneyland and they wouldn't let me in. I thought it was sort of weird, considering Disney came up with the character.
PB: Since you can't go to amusement parks, how do you amuse yourself?
S: I'd like to go to a nudie bar but ASU would kill me. I know I'd get all the girls, though.
PB: Do ASU ladies love Sparky?
S: I treat 'em well. If I like a girl I'll buy roses and go deliver them to her at work or class. I'll actually go into Safeway as Sparky and buy the roses. Then I go back to school and totally disrupt class.
PB: What do the guys at Safeway think of you?
S: They just look at me like I'm completely odd.
PB: How are you different from, say, the Prince of Darkness?
S: That's a good question. Sparky does look like a real devil. I've got a pitchfork and horns on my head. But what makes me different is that I'm really outgoing. I do gymnastics, so I'm always doing flips. I don't think the Devil does back flips.
PB: Do you ever use your pitchfork to impale other mascots?
S: I have poked other mascots in the butt with it.
PB: Like whom?
S: Like the Cal Bear [UC Berkeley's mascot]. One time he walked up to me, pointed down at my crotch and held up his pinky. One of our cheerleaders threw me my pitchfork and I just jabbed him right in the butt. He got in my face -- security had to break us up.
PB: Has your pitchfork ever been stolen?
S: The Oregon State Beaver took my pitchfork once. The Washington State Cougar did, too. I had to chase him down and tackle him to get it back. I'm friendly with every mascot I meet, but sometimes they just want to pick a fight. I don't understand it.
PB: What's your pre-game routine?
S: I usually listen to crazy music on my way to the game. I like Van Halen's "Running With the Devil."
PB: Do people ever grab you by the horns?
S: No. But girls have grabbed my butt plenty of times. One girl asked if I wanted to take a shower with her! I declined.
PB: Does Sparky read Playboy?
S: I like those Girls of the Pac 10 issues. ASU's girls rate 10 times better than the University of Arizona's girls, I can tell you that!
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