Deaf Mascot Makes The Crowds Cheer

How a Deaf high school mascot moves the crowd to his beat.

PORTLAND, Maine -- On the court, the Portland High School Bulldogs are reigning state champions. But, during most games this season, the crowd often finds its inspiration from freshman Kamron King, the team’s Deaf mascot.

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On the court, the Portland High School Bulldogs are reigning Maine state basketball champions. But, during most games this season, the crowd often finds it inspiration from what's happening on the sidelines.

Freshman Kamron King is the team's mascot and "sixth man." Dressed in an over-sized gray Bulldog outfit, King often runs the sidelines getting the crowd into a frenzy. He's also Deaf and can't hear any of it.

"Being a mascot is kind of a very cool job to do for the school and I kinda love it," King told NBC News.

Deaf from birth, the 15-year-old student has mastered sign language and how to lip read and speak. He says he uses his eyes and his energy to get the crowd fired up. To compensate for what he cannot hear, he observes the movements of those in the bleachers, getting a feel for the emotion of the moment. "I try to get the crowd louder [so] that they know I am supporting them," said King.

At home, he's affectionately known as "Kam the Ham." His parents, though, were initially wary of the idea of their hearing impaired son -- who like many deaf children struggled with balance -- taking on the mascot role.

"I thought, good Lord, he's gonna put this thing on and be out in front of a hundred people and trip and fall over," said Michael King, Kamron's father.

Those concerns proved to be misplaced. Kamron has thrived this season and made a little history as well, becoming Portland High School's first ever Deaf mascot.

"He brings up all the spirit," said a team cheerleader. "He makes everyone happy and it just makes the entire experience better."

Kamron's achievements behind the mask have also served as an inspiration to other Deaf young people, says John Jones, director of instruction at the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

"I think he's setting a great example for other students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing who may be reluctant to try new things," Jones told NBC News.

For Kamron, though, his disability is "no big deal." He says he usually is more concerned with staying cool in the furry costume.

SOURCE - NBC Nightly News

Deaf Boy Signs With Dragons Mascot

Baseball club Dayton Dragons mascot signs to 7-year-old Deaf child.

DAYTON, Ohio -- It is a video being shared around the web after young, Deaf boy from Germantown made a connection with the Dayton Dragons mascot, Heater, that no one was expecting.

Hunter may be a bit camera shy, but he is not shy about his favorite team. "I met heater and Gem," signed the seven year old. The Samworths were at the game on Saturday.

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"We were outside getting ready to go in and there was Heater and Gem so Hunter ran up. And so next thing you know, I'm telling Hunter, say. 'It's nice to meet you,'" said Hunter's Mom, Cheri Samworth.

Unexpectedly, a Green Team member escorting Heater, starting signing back to him. So Dad started recording it and that is when the mascot himself joined in. They exchanged names and talked about the big game.

"You can see on the video, his smile is like, he's gets me, he speaks my language, he understands me, Just a completely different experience for Hunter," Cheri said.

"It just froze, everything froze. It was just, the look on his face was just priceless," said Hunter's Dad, Matt Samworth. The Dragons are away so Heater and members of the Green Team have the day off.

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