Youppi! to Habs

At least one beloved icon on Montréal baseball history isn't going to
Washington ... and wouldn't it be ironic if one of the few mascots in
baseball's Hall of Fame now toiled for a hockey team?

From the Montréal Gazette of 30 March, 2005:
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Expos castoff Youppi! finds home with Habs

STEPHANIE MYLES
The Gazette

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

At some point during his 25 years on Earth, you hope Youppi! learned to
stickhandle. He will need to. Two sources confirmed to The Gazette that
the beloved orange mascot has been traded from the former Expos to the
Canadiens - perhaps the first crosstown trade in Montreal sports history.

The negotiations have been a closely held secret between the two clubs,
even after a blurb on ESPN's Web site mentioned it about six weeks ago,
while complicated legal issues relating to the trademarks are ironed out.

"I can confirm that the Canadiens organization has shown some serious
interest in adopting Youppi!," Canadiens vice-president (communications
and community relations) Donald Beauchamp said yesterday, although he
did not confirm the deal was done.

Claude Delorme, a consultant on the Florida Marlins' proposed new
stadium project as he ties up loose ends concerning the relocation of
the Expos to Washington, D.C., would not confirm the identity of the
friendly furball's new team. But he said the transaction had everything
to do with securing Youppi!'s future with an established, well-regarded
entity and little to do with the dollars and cents, which will probably
be in the six-figure range.

"A lot of individuals were interested in securing the rights, and
commercializing and exploiting it," Delorme said.

Among the rumoured corporate suitors were the Jean Coutu pharmacy chain
and Ste. Justine's Hospital. Delorme said neither has been in the mix.

The shaggy one himself, per his usual policy, had no comment.

"We're getting there," Delorme said. "We're still waiting for Major
League Baseball's legal department to release some documents. We can't
sell the (trade)mark; it's an asset to the sale of the club."

The Canadiens signing of the hulking free agent excited their star
goaltender, Jose Theodore, who will return to Montreal today after
playing in the Swedish Elite League during the NHL lockout.

"I'm not a big baseball fan, but for sure, Youppi! is a big figure in
Montreal," Theodore said from Stockholm.
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2005