Red pandas are seriously cute animals, but there’s more to these fluffy friends than their adorable looks. Like many of the world’s animal species, the red panda gets more fascinating the deeper you look into their lives and behavior. Today, let’s dive into the world of red pandas and see what we can discover!
First things first, how are red pandas related to the black and white pandas we know and love? And are these cute critters raccoons or bears? Well, as the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute explains, “Despite sharing a common name, giant pandas and red pandas are not closely related.” The red panda also isn’t a bear or a raccoon. In fact, they’re “most closely related to skunks, raccoons and weasels.”
Learn even more about these unique creatures in the list of red panda facts below! Plus, read about a 2013 red panda zoo escape here.
Between 1996 and 2013, Notre Dame and Georgetown played each other at least once ever year as Big East rivals.
Between 1996 and 2013, Notre Dame and Georgetown played each other at least once ever year as Big East rivals. When the programs, who will play a home-and-home series the next two seasons, met Jan. 21, 2013 at Purcell Pavilion, the conference series was tied at 11. With the Irish about to move to the ACC, the game decided who had perpetual conference bragging rights. That turned out to be the Hoyas, who upset the No. 24 Irish, 63-47, en route to winning a share of the Big East title.
Future NBA journeyman Otto Porter Jr. led all scorers with 19 points and came within a rebound of a double-double. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera scored 14 off the bench for the Hoyas. Moses Abraham, another Hoyas reserved, had 10 boards.
[autotag]Jerian Grant[/autotag] led the Irish with 13 points and had a game-high three steals. [autotag]Pat Connaughton[/autotag] scored 12, and [autotag]Jack Cooley[/autotag] achieved a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. However, the team shooting an overall 34.7% from the field proved too much to overcome. Not even Red Panda’s halftime performance could inspire the Irish enough.
As we prepare for the upcoming home-and-home, here are the images of this game Irish fans probably would rather forget:
The acrobat will be performing at the PMAC during the Missouri game on Wednesday night.
LSU fans are likely eager to put the 2022-23 basketball season behind them, but this year’s squad has one more appearance at the PMAC before the SEC Tournament begins next week.
LSU hosts Missouri in its final home game on Wednesday night before traveling to Gainesville to close out the regular season against Florida on Saturday. Wednesday’s duel between Tigers teams will be senior night for players [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Parker Edwards[/autotag], and there is going to be a special guest in appearance.
The famous acrobat Red Panda, who is known for balancing ceramic bowls on her feet and head while riding a 7-foot unicycle at college and NBA arenas and also appeared on America’s Got Talent, will be performing during the game.
LSU’s final home game of the season tips off at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday night.
Prepare to be blown away if you haven’t seen this act.
Since I was covering both games at Purcell Pavilion this past weekend, my wife and I spent two nights just off the Notre Dame campus. In between a pair of Irish losses, we made the most of our time. We attended Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and we caught the national tour production of “Fiddler on the Roof”, which happened to be in South Bend for the weekend. But I also found entertainment in a way I didn’t expect, specifically the halftime entertainment for the two basketball games.
For some time now, I have seen basketball reporters on Twitter make a fuss whenever Red Panda has been the halftime entertainment at games. If she had performed at any games I had attended in the past, I have no idea because I typically get up and go to the bathroom during halftime. But during a first-half timeout during Saturday’s men’s game, a graphic on the video board said Red Panda would be performing during halftime. No longer wanting to be among the uninitiated, I chose to stay at my spot on press row.
As our wonderful editor Nick Shepkowski told me later, you never forget your first time with Red Panda. I was blown away by the things the acrobat could do. Doing only one of riding a tall unicycle or balancing and then flipping bowls perfectly onto the top of your head would be difficult for most people. But she’s been doing this for a long time now, and fans stay in their seats just to watch her.
When I returned to Purcell Pavilion for the women’s game the next day, it occurred to me that Red Panda might appear again. Sure enough, she was announced as the halftime entertainment. This time, I figured I should record the performance for my wife as well as you lovely readers. And so, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Red Panda:
One interesting fact about this past weekend is that she needed three attempts to nail the final flip during her first performance. She didn’t need any redos for her second show, so I’m glad I captured this particular one. Even a professional juggler will drop things once in a while, so I guess she’s entitled to a few imperfections of her own.
Hopefully, you’re lucky enough to be at a basketball game with Red Panda at some point in the future. Resist the urge to hit the restroom or the concession stand if you know she’s going to perform. Believe me when I say that sticking around for her is totally worth it. Here’s to her continuing to thrill basketball crowds for many years to come.
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
If you’ve attended many basketball games, college or pro the last decade, there is a good chance you saw Mr. Maas’s memorable halftime show.
If you’re a college sports fan, specifically basketball, the name David Maas probably doesn’t ring a bell.
He didn’t lead a team to any Final Fours as a player or a coach and he wasn’t some inspirational walk-on that got to play a couple of seconds on Senior Day.
No, he wasn’t any of those things, but to anyone who has attended many college basketball games over the last decade-plus, there’s a good chance you saw Maas perform.
He wasn’t dribbling or dunking a basketball, but instead performaing as one-half of the “Quick Change” act that has entertained the masses at basketball games both professional and collegiately for years.
Maas, who made up one-half of the “Quick Change” act died on Sunday from COVID, according to the agency that represented him.
It’s with a very heavy heart that we announce the passing of our friend David Maas. Many of you may know him as part of the quick change duo, David and Dania. He was taken by COVID-19 yesterday.
Maas and his wife Dania performed their “magical transformation” all over the world including London, Monte Carlo, and Japan just to name a few and the couple also helped teach Katy Perry their magic as she used it while performing the hit “Hot N Cold” years back.
Sports fans may not remember his name but they’ll certainly remember the performances Maas put on for them at countless games over the years.
One of the professional caps I’ve worn included covering the Chicago Bulls for roughly two years. It was a thrill when you heard that “Quick Change” was going to be the halftime entertainment because those nights you knew there’d be as much discussion in the media workroom asking, “how’d they do that?” as there would be a conversation of the actual game.
Having covered both the NBA and college basketball during my career I can say firsthand Red Panda’s act is something to behold and was often times more entertaining than some of the NBA contests I covered.
Do you ever remember getting excited to see one of your favorite athletes in person but that athlete having an incredibly forgetable performance?
What happened last night at Purcell Pavilion wasn’t far off for a legendary act that has run halftime shows across the NBA and college basketball for years.
If you’re not already familiar with “Red Panda” then take a couple of minutes and enjoy the act.
Who possibly wouldn’t enjoy an act that features a young lady on a unicycle kicking bowls on top of her head?
Magic.
Having covered both the NBA and college basketball during my career I can say firsthand Red Panda’s act is something to behold and was often times more entertaining than some of the NBA contests I covered.
It wasn’t the first time it’s happened to her but Wednesday night our hero (Red Panda) didn’t have the best go at halftime of Notre Dame vs. Syracuse at Purcell Pavilion.
BREAKING: Red Panda just dropped multiple bowls at #NotreDame vs. Syracuse.
And not long after this tweet, video of the incredibly rare footage emerged – the good news is that Red Panda was able to gather herself after the rough start and finish strong.
