NFL's Tale of Two Cities: Mascot's $10/Hour vs. Toddlers' Luxury Fleet

Max Sterling, 2/3/2025From sweaty mascots earning pocket change to toddlers cruising in mini luxury cars, this week's entertainment roundup serves up a deliciously absurd slice of American culture. It's a world where mascots can't see straight for $10 an hour while NFL offspring drive vehicles worth more than most people's savings accounts.

Former Dallas Cowboys mascot Eric Aaberg pulled back the curtain on the physically demanding — and surprisingly low-paying — world of professional sports mascotting. For a mere $10 an hour (plus a $200 game-day bonus), Aaberg donned the oversized cowboy costume of "Rowdy," transforming into a larger-than-life character that had to maintain perpetual enthusiasm while essentially working blind.

"You can't see anything in the suit because literally your vision is, I want to say, 20 percent of what you normally can see," Aaberg revealed, painting a picture of mascot life that's less Disney magic and more Olympic endurance test. The costume — weighing up to 20 pounds and adding a sweltering 30 degrees to ambient temperature — turned every performance into a feat of athletic prowess.

Meanwhile, in a different corner of the NFL universe, Brittany Mahomes — wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes — offered a glimpse into the privileged world of professional athletes' children. Their tots, Sterling and Bronze, were captured cruising in miniature luxury vehicles that would make most adult car enthusiasts envious — a pink Range Rover and a matte black Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, respectively.

"I want to ride with you," Bronze was heard saying to his sister in an endearing moment that somehow managed to be both heartwarming and a stark reminder of the wealth gap in professional sports — where mascots earn minimum wage while players' children tool around in baby luxury vehicles.

The week's entertainment news rounded out with Jennifer Garner celebrating culinary icon Ina Garten's 77th birthday by sharing a throwback photo from their 2018 In-N-Out burger adventure. The unlikely friendship — which began at Garner's refreshingly down-to-earth 40th birthday party — offers a palate-cleansing glimpse of celebrity authenticity.

"They were instructed not to have their hair done or anything, hair in a ponytail, sweat clothes and sneakers," Garten previously revealed about the party that kicked off their friendship — a gathering that sounds remarkably more relatable than the Mahomes children's Christmas morning unveiling of miniature luxury cars.

These intersecting stories present a fascinating snapshot of American entertainment culture — where mascots perform physical feats for minimal compensation, toddlers drive cars worth more than many Americans' annual salary, and occasionally, celebrities grab burgers together like regular folks. It's a world of stark contrasts, where the magical and the mundane often occupy the same space, separated only by a foam costume head or a VIP parking spot.

In a week where celebrity culture served up its usual mix of the charming and the conspicuous, three distinct stories emerged that paint a fascinating portrait of American entertainment — from the sweaty confines of an NFL mascot suit to the miniature luxury cars of football royalty's offspring.Former Dallas Cowboys mascot Eric Aaberg pulled back the curtain on the physically demanding — and surprisingly low-paying — world of professional sports mascotting. For a mere $10 an hour (plus a $200 game-day bonus), Aaberg donned the oversized cowboy costume of "Rowdy," transforming into a larger-than-life character that had to maintain perpetual enthusiasm while essentially working blind."You can't see anything in the suit because literally your vision is, I want to say, 20 percent of what you normally can see," Aaberg revealed, painting a picture of mascot life that's less Disney magic and more Olympic endurance test. The costume — weighing up to 20 pounds and adding a sweltering 30 degrees to ambient temperature — turned every performance into a feat of athletic prowess.Meanwhile, in a different corner of the NFL universe, Brittany Mahomes — wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes — offered a glimpse into the privileged world of professional athletes' children. Their tots, Sterling and Bronze, were captured cruising in miniature luxury vehicles that would make most adult car enthusiasts envious — a pink Range Rover and a matte black Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, respectively."I want to ride with you," Bronze was heard saying to his sister in an endearing moment that somehow managed to be both heartwarming and a stark reminder of the wealth gap in professional sports — where mascots earn minimum wage while players' children tool around in baby luxury vehicles.The week's entertainment news rounded out with Jennifer Garner celebrating culinary icon Ina Garten's 77th birthday by sharing a throwback photo from their 2018 In-N-Out burger adventure. The unlikely friendship — which began at Garner's refreshingly down-to-earth 40th birthday party — offers a palate-cleansing glimpse of celebrity authenticity."They were instructed not to have their hair done or anything, hair in a ponytail, sweat clothes and sneakers," Garten previously revealed about the party that kicked off their friendship — a gathering that sounds remarkably more relatable than the Mahomes children's Christmas morning unveiling of miniature luxury cars.These intersecting stories present a fascinating snapshot of American entertainment culture — where mascots perform physical feats for minimal compensation, toddlers drive cars worth more than many Americans' annual salary, and occasionally, celebrities grab burgers together like regular folks. It's a world of stark contrasts, where the magical and the mundane often occupy the same space, separated only by a foam costume head or a VIP parking spot.