Mascot Mania! C.W. Post Senior Brings Crowd to Its Feet at New York Sporting Events

It began when Craig Rappaport of East Rockaway, N.Y. filled in for his brother and fellow C.W. Post student, Glenn, as the mascot at a C.W. Post Pioneers' football game. Since then, the electronic media major has made a career stirring up crowds for the Long Island Ducks, the New York Dragons and the New York Islanders, sometimes losing 10 pounds in the course of a single event.

Rappaport also founded the role of Titus the Titan, the mascot for the New York Titans professional lacrosse team. "I love being able to really get the crowd involved," he said. "None of my characters just walk around. They all have a personality."

Rappaport loves living vicariously through his furry alter-egos. Both Titan and the Dragons' Sparky rang the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange in early 2008.

"It was a purely amazing honor," Rappaport says.

His latest venture, "Corky" is an eight foot tall bottle of champagne who serves as the spokesperson for Long Island Wine Tours. He made his debut at the Javits Center in March 2008 at the New York Travel Show. Rappaport both conceived and designed the bubbly character after taking a wine tour for this birthday. His next goal is to create two assistants for Corky -- bottles of red and white wine.

"I'm having a lot of fun," Rappaport says. "What I do is unique."

Posted: March 18, 2008