On Friday, in celebration of National Bobblehead Day, The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled limited-edition bobbleheads featuring three Milwaukee area residents that all played roles during the Milwaukee Bucks’ exhilarating run to an NBA Championship last season, the team’s first in 50 years.
The bobbleheads feature: DJ Shawna (Shawna Nicols) the Bucks’ official in-game DJ and producer whom many consider one of the top open-format DJs in the country; Ben Tajnai, who became a local celebrity and “good luck charm” with his stirring rendition of the national anthem at the Fiserv Forum during the Bucks’ title run; and Dan Roberts, the drink-chugging, shirt-ripping sensation who became a social media star for his antics during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Fiserv Forum.
All three bobbleheads are being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee.
Each bobblehead is individually numbered to 2,021 and they are only available for pre-order through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s online store. The bobbleheads are $30 each, in addition to a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order. They are all in production now and expected to ship in May.
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The smiling DJ Shawna bobblehead, standing behind two turntables and a mixer, is wearing a bandana with headphones around her neck. The front of her DJ table includes her name and “DARE TO BE” – her clothing line and movement aimed at inspiring people to reach their goals.
Tajnai’s bobblehead, which plays a clip of him singing the National Anthem, features a bearded figure singing into a microphone on a basketball court base bearing his name with an American flag backdrop. He is wearing an open black sport coat, which reveals a black shirt with No. 6 across the chest.
Standing on a circular base bearing his name with a half-dozen empty cups at his feet, Roberts’ bobblehead features him holding up six fingers and wearing the remnants of his torn shirt. In addition to a bobbling head, the figure’s belly also bobbles.
Known for her infectious personality and high-energy mixes that keep crowds engaged, DJ Shawna has been entertaining fans of the Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers and Marquette Golden Eagles, among others, for nearly a decade. A basketball standout herself, Nicols won three state championships in high school at Milwaukee’s Pius XI and was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. She went on to play at the University of Wisconsin and later played professionally in the Netherlands. DJ Shawna is the author of the children’s book, “Adventures of Bob in Downtown Milwaukee,” with all proceeds going to support those who are dealing with chronic homelessness in Milwaukee.
Tajnai, an Oconomowoc resident, found himself in the national spotlight when millions of viewers watched him perform the national anthem during the NBA Finals. He sang the anthem at every home game and the Bucks posted a 10-1 record in those contests. Tajnai also performed the anthem in the Deer District during road games throughout the playoffs. He put the capper on the team’s parade celebration two days after the Bucks won the title when he sang “We Are the Champions” to the thousands of fans gathered in the Deer District.
In the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Bucks and Atlanta Hawks at Fiserv Forum, the 6-foot-9, 470-pound Roberts was shown on the Jumbotron during a timeout. Taking advantage of the camera time, Roberts slammed a mixed drink, ripped his shirt and held up six fingers to signal “Bucks in 6,” much to the delight of the sold-out crowd. The 33-year-old Roberts became an instant social media sensation.
