Inside the 25-pound face of Giants mascot Lou Seal CATCHING UP WITH Lou Seal

Joel Zimei also known as Lou Seal prepares for a game in his dressing room, thursday August 4, 2011, at AT&T PArk in San Francisco, Calif. Joel Zimei also known as Lou Seal prepares for a game in his dressing room, thursday August 4, 2011, at AT&T PArk in San Francisco, Calif. Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Inside the 25-pound face of Giants mascot Lou Seal 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

An hour before the firs t pitch, Joel Zimei is in his dressing room at AT&T Park putting on his game face. The face weighs 25 pounds, and this is the 1,026th consecutive home game that Zimei, who is 38 years old, 5 feet 9 and 170 pounds, has worn it as Lou Seal, the mascot for the San Francisco Giants.

Q:What are your rules of engagement?

A: I like to give all the guys a hard time. With women of all ages, I'm flirty and I dote over them. All kids I approach like you're approaching a dog for the first time. Put your hand out and let them sniff and go from there.

Q:Did you get a World Series ring?

A: Yes, I did. I'm wearing it right now, underneath the costume. Lou Seal also has a ring of his own that I wear. It's a lot bigger.

Q:Did you go to the White House?

A: No, I did not. I was busy working here at the closing ceremony for Pacifica Little League. They had booked it months in advance, so you go with the local kids.

Q:Is this a full-time job?

A: Yes. Besides the 80-something home games and whatever postseason games, I do 250 outside appearances throughout the year. Some weeks I work seven days.

Q:How did you find it?

A: I auditioned for it in February of 1999. I was one of 100. We had 15 minutes on the dugout at Candlestick.

Q:Were you ever a school mascot?

A: No. I played high school sports, but I always watched the mascot and thought, "That looks like something I wouldn't mind trying."

Q:Does Lou Seal talk to the fans?

A: No. I whisper to the players from time to time.

Q: Describe your speaking voice as Joel?

A: Like my father's and my brother's, very nasally.

Q: How grueling is each game?

A: I run through two costumes a night. I sweat a lot. I probably lose anywhere between 7 and 8 pounds of water weight.

Q: Ever trip on the stadium steps in those big feet?

A: The question is "How many times have I tripped on the steps?" Millions. I pop right back up.

Q:Who taught you how to do the hip-hop dance for that video with Brian Wilson?

A: That was me freestyling. None of that was choreographed. We did it in one take, and 2.2 million YouTube hits later, everyone seems to love it.

Q:Do you have an understudy?

A: Yes, I do. Anthony Pava. He's my "sealcurity."

Q:Does he fill in when you are sick or too hung over?

A: Never happens.

Q:Has the uniform evolved?

A: After the 2002 World Series, I felt that we needed something fresh, so I canned that costume altogether. Lou Seal's jersey is the prototype for the Orange Friday jersey. Lou Seal was the first to wear one. I'm a trendsetter.

Q:How long does it take to unwind after a game?

A: When we win, a couple of hours, because I'm so excited I walk around the neighborhood and talk to my friends. After a loss, I just go home and sit there for a couple of hours.

Q:If you weren't doing this, what would you do?

A: I have no idea. People I've known my whole life say, "You couldn't have done any other job."

Q:What would surprise people to know about you?

A: That I'm an expecting father.

Q: How did you meet your wife?

A:At the ballpark. Sierra Lesjack was a bartender on the club level. During the courtship process, I would always come by in costume and tease her. That's how I got her to warm up.

Q: How did you propose?

A:At the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh, I had a 16-foot banner made that said, "Will You Marry Me, Sierra?" I dropped down to one knee in the aisle.

Q: Were you in your Lou Seal uniform?

A: No. I was just Joel.