Sports

A contrite Ragnar wants his Viking mascot gig back

Bob CollinsBob Collins Sep 25, 2015
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Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar drives on the field before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy King)

The Vikings mascot, otherwise known as Joe Juranitch, was shown the door by the football squad after he asked for too much money — about $20,000 a game.

In his first interview — on ESPN 1500 — since revealing his mascot days around here are over, Ragnar — Juranitch — said that figure was only a “starting point” for negotiations.

“I was asked to put a contract together,” Juranitch said. “I’m not a lawyer; I’m not an agent. I’m an entertainer. I had to ask a friend to help me put something together. This is what we put together, and it all blew up. I’m not ready to retire. The Vikings wanted me to retire and have a limited role moving forward. Am I ready to retire? I’m 54 years old. I feel like a 28-year-old. I don’t want to retire.”

Ragnar said he’d go back to the Vikings if they wanted him back.

“I know we can come to an agreement,” he said. “What that agreement looks like, I don’t know. Can we all come together and live happily ever after? I know we can. How can we make that happen? It’s about communication. It’s like a marriage: At some point, if you’re not communicating with your wife, you’re going to have to come together and resolve whatever the problem is.”

How much should Ragnar have been asking for? In baseball, the highest paid mascot — the Phillie Fanatic — makes a reported $600 an hour. He (or maybe she, we don’t really know) can make up to $1,000 on the side with personal appearances.