PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Phillie Phanatic has a boozy little secret for surviving the dog days of summer .
Vodka and water. Neat. Hold the lemon.
Not for hydration. “He’s a milk guy,” jokes Tom Burgoyne, who brings the Phanatic to life.
Burgoyne, officially known as the mascot's best friend, works up a mighty sweat dancing on dugouts during Philadelphia's steamy summer nights. Lysol or Febreze used to be the go-tos for keeping the stench under control.
Most mascots these days order off the happy hour menu when they really want to feel fresh and clean on the inside.
“Now a big thing in the mascot world is vodka and water,” Burgoyne said. “You put it in half-and-half, maybe a third vodka, the rest water, you put it in a squeegee bottle and you can spray your head that way and sometimes