The Denver team mascot, known as "Rocky," collapsed during a recent home game, raising concerns among fans and team staff. The incident occurred during a timeout, when Rocky was performing his usual high-energy routine. Suddenly, he stumbled and fell to the ground, causing immediate panic in the arena. Medical personnel rushed to the mascot's aid, assessing his condition and providing immediate care. Fans, players, and staff watched with bated breath as the situation unfolded. Eventually, Rocky was able to regain consciousness and was carefully lifted onto a stretcher.
The debate between Farrant and Manchester continues to this day, while the cemetery remains a popular location for occult, paranormal and vampiric enthusiasts.
In a letter to the Hampstead and Highgate Express on 6 February 1970, he wrote that when passing the cemetery on 24 December 1969 he had glimpsed a grey figure , which he considered to be supernatural, and asked if others had seen anything similar. He claims that this time he and his companions did succeed in forcing open, inch by inch, the heavy and rusty iron doors of a family vault indicated by his female psychic helper.
Eventually, Rocky was able to regain consciousness and was carefully lifted onto a stretcher. He was then taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. While the exact cause of Rocky's collapse remains unknown, it serves as a striking reminder of the physical demands placed on mascots.
Vampires, Magic Duels, and Headless Bodies
London's creepiest cemetery was once the site of dueling magicians and mobs of stake-carrying vampire hunters.
31 Days of Halloween: On Atlas Obscura this month, every day is Halloween. Stop by the blog every day this month for true tales of the unquiet dead. Come for the severed heads, stay for the book bound in human skin. Every story is true, and each one is a real place you can visit. We dare you.
Today we are inspired by one of London’s most famous cemeteries and a bizarre period in its history, when it became the stage for dueling magicians, a roving vampire, and mobs of stake-carrying “vampire hunters.” Welcome to Highgate Cemetery in the 1970s.
For a long time, anyone who was anyone wanted to be buried in London’s fashionable Highgate Cemetery. Filled with the famous dead - Marx the most famous among them - Highgate is built in the classic Victorian style. (Think weeping angels.)
But by the 1940s, the cemetery had fallen into disrepair and become overgrown and covered in vines giving it an iconic “haunted” look. (Helped no doubt by the fact that a number of Hammer Horror films were shot here in the 1960s.) But it was in the 1970s that the cemetery turned into the backdrop for a truly bizarre scene, involving dueling magicians, hordes of stake carrying vampire hunters, and left a trail of unearthed bodies in its wake. (Photo Source for above.)
In the 1970s the US and the UK were alive with an interest - and terror of - the occult. Astronomy was everywhere, bands like Black Sabbath ruled the airwaves, and films like the Exorcist were frightening teens everywhere. It was against these backdrop that a sort of media mass - hysteria took hold of the UK.
Though the details are a bit murky, it began with reports of a “creature” in the graveyard. The story was likely generated by one of the two main players in the incident magicians / exorcists / full-on maniacs Seán Manchester and David Farrant. Eventually the story became that it was a vampire (a Transylvanian prince brought to the cemetery in the 1800s) and Manchester and Farrant both vowed to hunt down and kill the beast. (They also pronounced each other charlatans.)
As described in the (not to be fully trusted) book Beyond the Grave, “many claimed to see a particular creature hovering over the graves. Scores of ‘vampire hunters’ regularly converged on the graveyard in the dead of night. Tombs were broken open and bodies were mutilated with wooden stakes driven into their chests. These stolen corpses, turning up in strange places, continuously startled local residents. One horrified neighbor to the cemetery discovered a headless body propped behind the steering wheel of his car one morning!” (Photo source for below)
Farrant, playing the part of the dark magian, appeared on the cover of a local newspaper next to a naked girl and promising to sacrifice a cat to rid the cemetery of the vampire, saying “Blood must be spilled, but the cat will be anesthetized.” Meanwhile, Manchester played the “good” magician, saying “My opponent intends to raise a demon to destroy me by killing a cat - I will be relying solely on divine power.”
Eventually Sean Manchester announced an official vampire hunt, and according to Wikipedia, on Friday the 13th, “a mob of ‘hunters’ from all over London swarmed over gates and walls into the locked cemetery, despite police efforts to control them.” Though the two magicians were set to “duel” in the cemetery, it never took place. (Photo Source for Below.)
Eventually Farrant was arrested when found in the churchyard next to Highgate Cemetery with a crucifix and a wooden stake, and in 1974 was jailed “for damaging memorials and interfering with dead remains in Highgate Cemetery.” Though neither magician ever found the supposed vampire, real graves were ransacked and real corpses staked and beheaded in the search.
The debate between Farrant and Manchester continues to this day, while the cemetery remains a popular location for occult, paranormal and vampiric enthusiasts.
Today we are inspired by one of London’s most famous cemeteries and a bizarre period in its history, when it became the stage for dueling magicians, a roving vampire, and mobs of stake-carrying “vampire hunters.” Welcome to Highgate Cemetery in the 1970s.
Rocky's routine involves intense physical exertion, acrobatic maneuvers, and interacting with fans, all of which can be exhausting. The incident sparked a discussion about the need to prioritize the health and well-being of mascots. Mascots play a crucial role in boosting team spirit, entertaining fans, and creating memorable experiences. However, little attention is often paid to the toll these performances can take on their physical and mental health. Rocky's collapse forces us to question whether enough is being done to ensure the safety of these beloved characters. Efforts should be made to establish guidelines and protocols addressing the physical demands placed on mascots. Regular check-ups, proper training, and ongoing support from medical professionals could help prevent such incidents in the future. Additionally, organizations must prioritize the well-being of mascots, encouraging breaks, rest, and recovery to avoid burnout. In conclusion, the collapse of the Denver team mascot, Rocky, during a home game serves as a wake-up call for the sports community. It highlights the need to prioritize the health and safety of mascots, who bring joy and entertainment to fans. Implementing measures to ensure their well-being can lead to improved performances and a healthier environment for these beloved characters..
Reviews for "Denver Team Mascot Collapses: Lessons Learned for Mascots Everywhere"
1. Samantha - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Denver team mascot collapses." The storyline felt weak and didn't hold my interest. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth. The writing style was also lackluster, with repetitive phrases and cliché dialogue. Overall, it just felt like a poorly executed attempt at a story. I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Mike - 1/5 - "Denver team mascot collapses" was a complete waste of time. The plot was predictable, and I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, but it never did. The characters were unlikable and difficult to relate to. The writing was riddled with grammatical errors and poor sentence structure. I couldn't wait for it to end, and when it finally did, I felt relieved. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.
3. Emily - 2/5 - I'm usually a fan of sports-themed stories, but "Denver team mascot collapses" fell short for me. The pacing was uneven and made it difficult to feel any sense of excitement or anticipation. The climax was underwhelming and didn't provide a satisfying resolution. The dialogue often felt forced and unrealistic. Overall, it just didn't live up to my expectations and left me feeling underwhelmed.
4. Steve - 1/5 - I found "Denver team mascot collapses" to be poorly written and lacking in substance. The plot felt disjointed and never fully developed. The characters were forgettable, and I struggled to connect with any of them. The author's attempt at humor fell flat, and I found myself cringing at the forced jokes. Overall, it was a disappointing read and not something I would recommend to others.