August 1st through August 20th we are celebrating 20 years of Colorado Rapids soccer, with 20 memories and 20 prizes!

For 20 consecutive days, we will look back at the most memorable, exciting and dramatic moments from the past 20 years. Be sure to visit ColoradoRapids.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Instagram. Don’t miss the chance to re-live 20 years of highlights from your favorite soccer club.

Before hipsters were hip, there was RapidMan

Back in the day before cool was cool and an attitude of true hipness had not creeped into the personalities of American sports mascots, there was RapidMan. He was dashing. He was cool. He wore shades.

Slightly edgy, truly affable and wearing an ever-present Crest-white smile, he looked like a cross between a muscular man-smurf and a steroid-enhanced Bart Simpson who had just emerged from taking the polar plunge.

Everyone’s man-about-town, RapidMan popped up on the morning news, at public events, greeting fans, noshing with the tailgaters and, in general, being the must-have on everyone’s guest list. Indeed, during peak season you’d hear so much about RapidMan, it would make you blue in the face.

He was the Colorado Rapids’ first mascot from the team’s first year in 1996 until the Fourth of July, 2007, the day he officially retired. RapidMan, whose true identity remains a mystery to most (and will because he wants it that way) eventually realized that it was time to move on. That night in 2007, when he stepped down, just three years before the team won it all, he had served the club for 12 seasons. That night, they had a “testimonial match” at halftime to pay tribute to his dozen years of service. On hand were several of the blue-profiled hero’s fellow mascots from around Denver, who wanted to participate in his last event. A quick look on the Internet reveals an upbeat, strutting, high-fiving RapidMan, whose presence went far beyond MLS games. Archived TV clips show him on the ski slopes, at tailgate parties, up on stage with performers at various concert venues, entertaining the kids, ambling through the red rock countryside and even out skateboarding.

The creators of RapidMan, members of that first season’s Rapids marketing team, described him in the following terms:

“RapidMan was born a small drop in the natural springs high in the Rocky Mountains. As he grew, RapidMan traveled by brook, stream and river where, in 1996, he flowed onto the scene of Major League Soccer. He started out as the Colorado Rapids water boy, but in an official tryout and subsequent competition, RapidMan prevailed. After all the other runoff had evaporated, RapidMan emerged as the team’s true mascot.”

On his back he wore was the name “RapidMan,” which arched over his official team jersey number, H2O.

And the rest, they say, is just water under the bridge.

So where did RapidMan go? Rumors have it that he went on to a new career as a TV host and some say they saw his steel blue profile on several regional TV news desks. Others claim he became a coach in the lower leagues and reportedly was fired from one coaching job after a row with team owners about changing the team colors to blue. But most feel that his azure-hued countenance landed him a prestigious gig as a stand-in for members of The Blue Man Group in Las Vegas. Indeed, his final departing video heavily infers that he still may be performing with the group at the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas.

We tried to follow up with RapidMan, attempting to track him down after eight years - but to no avail. He could not be reached for comment. But comment or no, the endearing vision of that ice-cool, sunshade-spectacled face will forever be seared into the hearts of Rapids fans everywhere.

Will he ever show up again? Who knows?

If you renewed prior to August 1st, you will have been automatically entered to win over $20,000 worth of incredible prizes!Prizes include: a trip to the 2016 MLS All-Star Game, pre-season flyaway, official team gear and exclusive experiences, concert tickets, and more!

Each day, a 2016 Full Season Ticket Member will be selected to win a unique prize.If you renewed by August 1st, you were automatically entered to win on all 20 days.If you renew on day 12 you are entered into the draws for days 12 through 20.AND you can win multiple times!

Purchase or renew your season tickets for 2016 NOW and be entered to win the remaining prizes in August.Click here to see a full list of prizes.

Today's prize is a 2016 MLS All-Star Game Flyaway.