Yesterday, during a game between the Denver Nuggets and the Washington Wizards, the Nuggets mascot passed out on the court. The incident occurred during a timeout when the mascot, named Rocky, was performing a stunt. Rocky was attempting to jump off a trampoline and through a flaming hoop when he suddenly collapsed. Players from both teams rushed to Rocky's aid, as well as medical staff who were on standby. The game was temporarily put on hold as the mascot was attended to. Spectators watched with concern as Rocky was carried off the court on a stretcher.

Looking Back At The Time The Nuggets Mascot Passed Out After A Pregame Stunt Backfired

On December 15, 1990, the Denver Nuggets introduced the world to Rocky, the anthropomorphic mountain lion that has provided fans with plenty of entertainment over the years. However, nothing tops the unintentionally hilarious moment we were treated to when the person inside the costume passed out during a pregame stunt that went wrong in 2013.

For decades, Rocky was embodied by Ken Solomon, an aspiring actor who deployed a wide variety of antics to help the animal he embodied become one of the most beloved mascots in the NBA. While the Nuggets are oddly secretive about the identity of the person who plays Rocky, it’s believed he passed the torch to his son Drake (who reportedly rakes in more than $600,000 a year) after portraying the most for more than 30 years.

Solomon put a ton of time and effort into his role as Rocky, as he routinely pulled off acrobatic stunts and high-flying dunks and had an uncanny ability to sink blind half-court shots with ease.

However, the job also came with its fair share of hazards—as evidenced by the fairly infamous night when thousands of fans watched a motionless Rocky slowly lowered down onto the court.

Spectators watched with concern as Rocky was carried off the court on a stretcher. Initial reports suggest that the mascot may have fainted due to heat exhaustion or dehydration. It was a particularly hot day, and the mascot was wearing a heavy costume throughout the game.

The time the Denver Nuggets mascot passed out while being lowered from the ceiling remains an all-time NBA moment

On November 1, 2013, the Nuggets welcomed fans to the Pepsi Center for their first home game of the season in a showdown against the Trail Blazers.

It was the first of many largely forgettable games in a largely forgettable season, as Denver fell in a contest that Portland won by a score of 113-18. However, it will always have a place in NBA history thanks to what transpired before tip-off.

Rocky and the Nuggets opted to pull out all the stops for the home opener, as Solomon headed up to the rafters in the arena prior to the game and hopped into the harness that was supposed to lower him down to the floor.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned, as the rope attached to Rocky descended a bit too quickly. While the operators attempted to correct the speed, they did so a bit too abruptly, and Soloman had the wind knocked out of him to the point where he was temporarily unconscious.

While it was clear something was amiss, the announcer tasked with hyping up the crowd continued with his spiel as a spotlight continued to focus on a motionless Rocky slowly making his way down from the rafters before collapsing to his knees once he hit the court.

To this day, there aren’t many videos with the ability to make me laugh uncontrollably every single time I watch them without fail quite like that clip.

You obviously have to feel bad for Soloman (who was sidelined for the remainder of the game), and while it was undoubtedly a scary moment, you don’t need to feel too bad if you have a similar reaction as I do when you consider he wasn’t seriously injured and made a quick return to his mascot duties.

Connor Toole is the Deputy Editor at BroBible. He is a New England native who went to Boston College and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. Frequently described as "freakishly tall," he once used his 6'10" frame to sneak in the NBA Draft and convince people he was a member of the Utah Jazz.

Issue 111: A Mile-High Stunt Gone Wrong

I’m currently writing this email from Denver, where I’ve been enjoying a little pre-birthday celebration.

I’ve eaten far too much good food. I’ve played bocce ball in a bar. I’ve been to two Colorado Rockies games — and even saw a walk-off home run! And I have most likely walked more than I have during the rest of the entire summer combined.

What I have not done is try and enter a building from the roof. Why? Because I’ve been scarred thanks to a Denver Nuggets game from eight years ago.

(Also because of several other reasons, but this is the only basketball-related one.)

Back in 2013, Rocky, the Denver Nuggets mascot, was making a grand entrance for the team’s home opener. He was harnessed and rappelling down from the rafters — the plan was for him to land, unharness, and then wow the crowd with crazy hijinks. You know, like a typical mascot.

Only things went awry VERY quickly.

Rocky passed out almost immediately as soon as the harness started lowering him down. All we see is his very limp body slowly dropping toward the earth.

This event is a real thing called suspension trauma, and should you or someone you know ever encounter it, get out of the harness immediately.

While it was a scary situation at the time, Rocky was, in fact, okay. A quick recovery in the hospital and he was soon back to doing all the wacky things we know and love.

That fact also makes it okay to laugh at the moment when Rocky finally reaches the ground and the PA announcer gives us a hearty “Yeahhhhhhh!”

Really capturing the gravity of the situation there.

This is far from Rocky’s only spectacularly outrageous situation. He’s also participated in things like decking a small child during a football game and has an ongoing feud with NBA-er Russell Westbrook.

And if this email made you sad, watching it happen in reverse is much more inspiring.

That’s all ’til next time. Thanks for reading!

P.S. Did you get this post shared with you? Subscribe to Crisp Bounce Pass here.

Nuggets mascot Rocky gives Denver fans a scare after pregame stunt goes awry

A pregame stunt by popular Nuggets mascot Rocky gave fans in Denver quite the scare on Friday night.

Rocky, widely considered one of the best mascots in sports, got the wind knocked out of him as he was being lowered down to the court in a harness before the Nuggets home opener against the Blazers.

Rocky collapsed on the court as horrified fans watched on, according to Denver’s ABC affiliate. The station reported that Rocky was checked by doctors and taken off the court.

The Nuggets later announced that Rocky was okay, but would not return to the game. The costumed mountain lion character is expected back for Denver’s next game against the Spurs on Tuesday.

Tom Merolla, an executive producer for Denver’s CBS4, tweeted this horrifying photo of the lifeless body being lowered to the court:

“Can’t lie, seeing Rocky’s lifeless body being lowered was kinda creepy,” tweeted one fan.

Rocky took to Twitter Saturday morning to reassure his fans that he was okay.

“Feeling much better, #NuggetsNation! Thanks for your support. I hope to be back in action for 11/5 vs the @Spurs. Go @DenverNuggets!”

The Nuggets didn’t show much life during the home opener and fell to 0-2 on the season with a 113-98 loss.

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Публикация участника Karen Kronauge, MBA

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Our beloved Denver Nuggets mascot, Rocky, proves that he's not only athletic, but GENEROUS as well. He's truly the best of the best.

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I love this video more every time I see it! Let's count the people getting #DOPAMINE hits! #1. The fan receiving the teddy bear(s) #2. Rocky the Mountain Lion (Kenn Solomon) #3. All the other fans present watching this hilarious exchange #4. The MILLIONS of people who have seen this video See the positive impact ONE goofy, silly idea could have?

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The Nuggets organization has assured fans that Rocky is receiving the necessary medical attention and is expected to make a full recovery. This incident serves as a reminder of the physical toll that being a mascot can take. Often, these individuals work long hours in uncomfortable costumes, performing physically demanding stunts to entertain fans. While their job is to bring joy and entertainment, it is important to ensure their well-being and safety. Fans and players have expressed their support for Rocky, wishing him a speedy recovery. The Denver Nuggets organization has also announced that they will be reviewing their mascot's performance protocols to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Overall, this incident highlights the importance of taking care of mascots and providing them with appropriate conditions and support. It serves as a reminder that behind the fun and entertainment of a sporting event, there are individuals working hard to bring joy to fans, and their well-being should always be a top priority..

Reviews for "The Emotional Toll of Being a Mascot: Nuggets Performer Opens Up"

1. John Doe - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with the "Nuggets mascot passed out" video. While I understand that accidents can happen, it seemed like the organizers weren't prepared for such a situation. The whole video felt unprofessional, and I couldn't help but feel bad for the mascot. The lack of immediate assistance and the slow response from the staff left a bad taste in my mouth. It's a shame because I usually enjoy watching the Nuggets' content, but this one just missed the mark for me.

2. Sarah Smith - 1/5 - I found the "Nuggets mascot passed out" video to be extremely disturbing and inappropriate. Not only does it glorify the humiliation of someone dressed up as a mascot, but it also shows a lack of care for the individual's well-being. The fact that they thought it was okay to film this incident and even post it online is a complete disregard for the mascot's dignity. I was appalled by the lack of sensitivity shown in this video and will think twice before supporting the Nuggets organization in the future.

3. Jane Wilson - 2/5 - I wasn't a fan of the "Nuggets mascot passed out" video. While accidents can happen, it felt like the video was making light of someone's distress. It lacked empathy and came across as more of an attempt to gain attention and views rather than a genuine concern for the well-being of the mascot. I hope that the Nuggets organization takes this incident as a learning opportunity and implements better protocols to ensure the safety and respect of their mascots in the future.

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