Taking the cover off Boomer’s identity

John Bassetti \ Thunder Insider

Anonymity is for amateurs.

If the Mahoning Valley Thunder is 100 percent pro, the true identity of its mascot must be revealed.

It’s a freedom of information thing.

By the power invested in me, I hereby spoil it for all children, 5-and-under.

Boomer is Ryan Cmil of Boardman.

Adults, too, might be in tears now that I’ve spilled the beans, but this isn’t Santa Claus.

Cmil, alias Boomer, is the guy wearing the suit of the lovable sabre cat character during af2 games at the Covelli Centre.

He’s done it since the team’s inception, except for last Saturday’s game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

That was the first time in 22 home games that Cmil missed because he was out of town.

But who would know?

“I hope people could tell a little difference,” Cmil said. “It was a girl.”

Although Cmil isn’t a bubbly personality naturally, he is affable and entertaining incognito.

“I consider myself very creative, but reserved, so when I’m the mascot, I could be outgoing because no one knows who I am. Once you get in that costume you could do whatever you want [within good taste] and no one would know that. A lot of my friends and family find it hard to believe that’s actually me.”

Cmil uses hand movements, head nodding and several other motions to show reaction or to express emotion.

Now 30, Cmil got the gig through Thunder GM Adam Tokash.

“I went to school with Adam,” Cmil said of their Boardman High days.

He greatly enjoys interacting with kids.

“The kids are awesome,” said Cmil, who, although not married, has nieces and nephews he relates to well.

“They don’t call me Uncle Ryan anymore, they call me Uncle Boomer,” Cmil said of the 6-year-old twins — a boy and girl.

“They tell their friends they know who Boomer is and then enjoy keeping it a secret.”

Cmil, a 1997 Boardman graduate who also graduated from YSU in 2004, was doing drywall work, but got laid off. Now, he’s going back to school at Kent State-East Liverpool to obtain a 2-year associate’s degree as physical therapy assistant.

To an extent, being Boomer is utilizing the advertising emphasis of Cmil’s degree from YSU’s business school.

“I don’t do it for the money. I do it because it’s fun to go there and everyone at the Thunder organization is awesome.”

During pre-game introductions, Cmil is the first person to emerge from the huge inflated helmet on Cortland Banks Field.

“It’s a rush to come out and get the crowd going.”

To elicit a louder reaction, Boomer could use more people in the seats. But he’s still upbeat despite the team’s 1-12 record.

“The core fans we have support the team no matter what. They’re there to have fun and I think the Thunder puts on a good product. Even though we’re not winning, it’s still an exciting and fun atmosphere.”

Cmil played wide receiver at Boardman under Dan Pallante, but a setback his senior season relegated him to second string.

“I had mono the whole first half of my senior year, so I didn’t get to play at all. I was starting in scrimmages during summer sessions, but, when I came back, I wasn’t the same. I was out of shape.”

At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Cmil is a perfect fit in Boomer’s suit, although parts are adjustable.

He said there’s even a vest with cooling packs.

“It would be horrible without that because I did it one or two times without ice packs and it was very tough. It’s like wearing a full snowsuit. But it’s worth it because I enjoy the kids.”

Aside from following a script his first few appearances, Boomer has license to develop his own personality.

“I think they’re happy with what I do. They pretty much let me go free and do what I want to do. I haven’t let them down yet.”

At times, Cmil has to improvise, much like he did after halftime of the last Manchester game.

“There was kind of a lull, so I just got a couple kids out of the crowd and got on the field and had a dance contest.”

One of the biggest public events necessitating Boomer’s presence is the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boardman — Boomer’s backyard. This season’s parade included all the players, who walked down Market St. on the sun-splashed Sunday afternoon.

A cardinal rule in the mascot industry is silence: Boomer is forbidden to speak.

“The first couple times was very hard,” said Cmil, “but I’m used to it now. You kind of use hand gestures and stuff and figure out how to communicate. The little kids are the best part of the job.”

Has Cmil dealt with head-yanking?

“No, but the little ones love to grab my tail.”

When Cmil isn’t available, Thunder office interns don the costume for promotional purposes, such as season-ticket drives or appearances at schools.

“I try to do as much as I can,” Cmil said of the year-round obligations.

Boomer’s third birthday bash was held during halftime of the May 30 game. Because Boomer has no definite birth date, the mascot is at the whim of the promotions department.

Helping celebrate his big day this season were: YSU’s Pete and Penny Penguin, Scrappy of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Chick-Fil-A cow and the Thiel College Tomcat.

“They just sang happy birthday and gave me a big hat. I kind of ran around, waved my hands and took a bow.”

Even at 6-2, Cmil’s head is a foot below the top of Boomer’s.

“I see out of my mouth. I don’t even see out of my eyes. I know that you have to be close to six feet because, any shorter and the suit would just sag on you. We’ve had shorter people and they couldn’t do it. It doesn’t look right.”

XJohn Bassetti covers the Mahoning Valley Thunder for The Vindicator. E-mail him at bassetti@vindy.com.