Benny the Bull, commonly known as Benny, is the mascot of the Chicago Bulls, a role he has filled since 1969.

For more than 40 years, Benny the Bull has been entertaining Chicago Bulls fans, first at Chicago Stadium (1969–1994), and then at the United Center (1994–present). He has become just as popular as some of the franchise's most notable figures, such as players Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, and head coach Phil Jackson. Benny is one of the longest-tenured mascots in the NBA and in all of professional sports. Benny was named after Ben Bentley, the Bulls first Public Relations Manager and Stadium Announcer.

The Benny the Bull suit consists of a whole-body bull costume made of bright red fur with large white eyes, a tan snout, a long red tail and black gloves with red fur on the back. Over the suit, Benny wears an authentic uniform (road red/black and home whites) and team-appointed athletic shoes. His jersey bears the name "Benny" above the number "1" on the back. Benny sports several different costumes based on the theme of the game as well as his overall "mood". Benny the Bull can also do many different kinds of dances.

Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer (born February 13, 1944) is an American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991. He is a former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio,news anchor, and musician.

Springer was born in Highgate tube station in London, England, while the station was in use as a shelter from German bombing during World War II and grew up on Chandos Road, East Finchley. His parents, Margot (née Kallmann; a bank clerk) and Richard Springer (owner of a shoe shop), were Jewish refugees who escaped from Landsberg an der Warthe, Germany (now Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland). His maternal grandmother Marie Kallmann, who was left behind, died in the gas trucks of Chelmno extermination camp. His paternal grandmother, Selma Springer, died at the Theresienstadt concentration camp. In January 1949, Springer immigrated with his parents to the United States, settling in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York and attended Forest Hills High School. He and his sister Evelyn were raised in a small four-room apartment. One of his earliest memories about current events was when he was 12 and watching the 1956 Democratic convention on television where he saw and was impressed by John F. Kennedy. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University in 1965, majoring in political science. He earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Northwestern University in 1968.

Jeremy Evans (born October 24, 1987) is an American professional basketball player, nicknamed the Human Pogo-Stick, who plays for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted by the Jazz as the 55th overall pick at the 2010 NBA Draft. A small forward, Evans played in college for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. As a senior at Western Kentucky Evans averaged 10.0 ppg with a field goal percentage of .639. He is the Hilltoppers all-time leader in blocks with 224. Jeremy Evans was raised in Crossett, Arkansas, where he played basketball for the Crossett Eagles. He graduated from Crossett High School in 2006.

On February 22, 2012, Evans was announced as a competitor in the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest, replacing the injured Iman Shumpert of the New York Knicks. He dunked two basketballs in one dunk over teammate Gordon Hayward. Evans won with 29% of the votes.