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NEW YORK -- Take that, Pokemon. On Sunday, the Japanese prime minister turned up at the Olympics closing ceremonies to promote the 2020 Tokyo games dressed up as Mario , the eponymous hero of the popular video game series created in 1985.Who is Mario and how did he come by his global appeal? Heres a closer look.---WHY SUPER MARIO?Japanese animation and game characters from Hello Kitty to Pac Man also made appearances in the closing ceremonies. But none of them may have the global reach of Super Mario, the game franchise that was a hit when Nintendos video game system and Game Boy burst onto the scene in the 1980s.Prime Minister Shinzo Abes appearance as Super Mario was a crowd-pleasing reminder of how much the game helped spur on the videogame revolution in the U.S. and globally. Abe emerged from a green pipe in a big red Super Mario cap and costume, holding a glowing red ball kicked to him by famed manga soccer star Captain Tsubasa.---HOW DID SUPER MARIOS APPEARANCE COME ABOUT?Tokyo 2020 organizers said in a statement that the Super Mario idea came up during a brainstorming session. Staff at Nintendo would say only that the government asked to borrow the character for the show.---MARIOS BACKSTORYThe franchise began in 1981, when Donkey Kong debuted as an arcade game. Donkey Kong soon became the hottest selling arcade game in the business. In that game, a character called Jumpman, similar to Mario, tried to save a damsel from a big ape. Super Mario came a long four years later, packaged with the Nintendo Entertainment System, popularizing the side-scrolling videogame format.Marios first job was carpentry, but later he became a plumber, and in many games he travels up and down in a world of underground pipes. In his book Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World, David Sheff wrote that Mario was named after Nintendos U.S. landlord, who was demanding back rent from the companys fledgling U.S. arm. Nintendo doesnt confirm or deny the story.---BY THE NUMBERSThere are more than 100 games, for various gaming systems, ranging from Donkey Kong to Super Mario Kart, in which Mario is the primary character, and many more in which he makes appearances. Mario Brothers is the best-selling video franchise of all time, with more than 490 million units sold since 1995, according to research firm NPD.Custom NCAA Shirts . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Custom College Jerseys Online . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. http://www.collegecustomjerseyscheap.com/ . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Discount Custom NCAA Shirts . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Stitched Custom NCAA Shirts . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J.WASHINGTON -- Tayler Hill scored 21 points, Leilani Mitchell added 20 points and the duo combined to make nine of Washingtons season-high 16 3-pointers in the Mystics 118-81 victory over the short-handed Chicago Sky on Wednesday night.It was the most points scored by Washington in franchise history -- topping a 109-106 three-overtime victory over Connecticut this season. The Mystics shot 60.8 percent from the field, including 16 of 28 from distance.Chicago forward Elena Delle Donne, the top scorer in the WNBA at 22.1 points per game, played just eight minutes and sat out the entirre second half because of a thumb injury.ddddddddddddEmma Meesseman added 17 points and Stefanie Dolson had 16 points for Washington (12-17). The Mystics trail Phoenix and Seattle, which beat New York on Wednesday, by a half-game for the final playoff spot.Washington made 10 3-pointers in the first half and led 56-39.Courtney Vandersloot had 17 points and eight assists, and Cappie Pondexter added 16 points for Chicago (15-14), which sits in fifth place. ' ' '