In folklore and literature, witches have long been portrayed as highly skilled practitioners of magic, often with supernatural abilities and powers. They are often seen as either good or evil, depending on the context of the story. Throughout history, witches have been both feared and revered, with societies sometimes going to extreme measures to either eradicate or protect these mysterious figures. The idea of trading a witch, however, takes on a different angle. To trade a witch can mean a variety of things. It could refer to the act of exchanging a witch for something valuable, such as money, goods, or services.
Solomon was a tough act to follow. As one of the most electric entertainers ever to grace an NBA game, Solomon certainly goes down as an obvious choice for the mascot Mount Rushmore. He's also one of the greatest backward half-court shooters ever — even when garbed in mountain lion gear.
At the beginning of the 2021-2022 NBA season, fans began to notice that Rocky, the beloved mountain lion mascot of the Denver Nuggets, seemed a little different. It was no wonder Kenn Solomon, the man inside the Rocky suit since 1990 the year the mountain lion was born and a 2008 Mascot Hall of Fame inductee, had retired, handing off Rocky s paws to his successor.
It could refer to the act of exchanging a witch for something valuable, such as money, goods, or services. This could be seen as a way for someone to harness the power of a witch for their own gain, potentially using their magic for personal advantage or protection. On the other hand, trading a witch could also be seen as a method of getting rid of a witch, similar to selling or banishing them.
Father-Son Duo: OG Rocky Helps Out New Rocky During Nuggets Games
At the beginning of the 2021-2022 NBA season, fans began to notice that Rocky, the beloved mountain lion mascot of the Denver Nuggets, seemed a little different. The mascot's patented backward half-court shot was falling much less often than it had in the past. And Rocky's energy just seemed to have changed.
It was no wonder: Kenn Solomon, the man inside the Rocky suit since 1990 — the year the mountain lion was born — and a 2008 Mascot Hall of Fame inductee, had retired, handing off Rocky's paws to his successor.
Solomon was a tough act to follow. As one of the most electric entertainers ever to grace an NBA game, Solomon certainly goes down as an obvious choice for the mascot Mount Rushmore. He's also one of the greatest backward half-court shooters ever — even when garbed in mountain lion gear.
Kroenke Sports and Entertainment has always been skittish to talk about the people inside the suits of Rapid Man, Bernie, Wooly, Gunnersaurus and Rocky, and so they failed to reveal publicly — despite its being quite the lovely public relations layup of a story — that Solomon had handed off the large paws of Rocky to his real-life son, Drake Solomon. Drake had worked for the Nuggets as an entertainer who dunked from a trampoline during breaks in play. Westword broke the news of the Rocky switch in November 2021.
However, the story of Kenn Solomon didn't end there. With eight more lives remaining, he couldn't sit still.
Now, Kenn can be spotted in Ball Arena at Nuggets games, but not in the Rocky suit (which, by the way, is 5'10" with a tail length of three feet). The OG Rocky and the real-life father of the man currently gracing the Rocky suit is now serving as an omnipresent assistant to the mascot during Nuggets games.
Neither Kroenke Sports and Entertainment nor Kenn Solomon returned requests for comment on this story.
But on the night of January 9, when the Nuggets easily beat a Los Angeles Lakers team that was without both LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the story was easy to see: The Solomon family patriarch greeted fans sitting in seats both courtside and also near the tunnel where Rocky comes out during intermissions. He wore a headset just like the one that his other son, Cade, wears as Rocky's chief handler during games. Meanwhile, Kenn's third son, Garrett, has been working as Hooper, the mascot for the Detroit Pistons.
It's definitely a family affair.
During the game between the Nuggets and the Lakers, Kenn took on a similar role to Cade's, helping Rocky navigate the floor and participate in various stunts. For example, both Kenn and Cade helped guide an inflatable tower with Rocky hidden inside to half-court. As soon as the tower inflated, Rocky burst out.
Sporting a purple-dyed soul patch, Kenn was also there right next to Rocky as he attempted to drain a backward half-court shot during the fourth quarter of the game. Like a coach teaching a player how to perfect a jump shot, Kenn was either providing verbal guidance to Rocky or, at the very least, serving as a calming presence. Sadly, though, Rocky didn't end up hitting the half-court shot that night.
But although the mascot is not as good — yet— at nailing the shot as Dad was, Rocky appears to be improving over the course of this season. And Nuggets fans surely want to see their mountain lion cub continue to improve, since it's going to be a long season. After all, the Nikola Jokic-led squad looks poised to make a run at an NBA championship.
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Conor McCormick-Cavanagh is a former staff writer at Westword, where he covered a range of beats, including local politics, immigration and homelessness. He previously worked as a journalist in Tunisia and loves to talk New York sports; he now lives in upstate New York.
It was no wonder: Kenn Solomon, the man inside the Rocky suit since 1990 — the year the mountain lion was born — and a 2008 Mascot Hall of Fame inductee, had retired, handing off Rocky's paws to his successor.
This could be due to a perceived threat the witch poses or superstitions surrounding their presence in a community. In some stories, the act of trading a witch is portrayed as a dangerous and forbidden practice. It is often warned against, as it is believed that witches cannot truly be controlled or contained. Offering a witch in a trade could have unforeseen consequences and potentially unleash their powers in unexpected ways. Regardless of the intentions behind trading a witch, it is clear that this concept revolves around the notion of manipulating or exploiting their powers. It speaks to the deep-rooted fascination and fear that witches have held in human societies throughout history. In conclusion, the idea of trading a witch taps into the allure and danger associated with these mystical figures. Whether seeking to harness their power or dispose of their presence, trading a witch represents a complex and potentially perilous endeavor..
Reviews for "Taking Stock of the Witch Market: Trends and Insights in Witchcraft Trade"
1. Emily - 2/5 - As someone who loves historical fiction and fantasy, I was really excited to read "To Trade a Witch", but I was ultimately disappointed. The story started off promising, with an interesting premise and strong world-building. However, as I delved deeper into the book, I found the pacing to be sluggish and the plot to be predictable. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters, as they seemed one-dimensional and lacked depth. Overall, "To Trade a Witch" fell flat for me and I couldn't fully immerse myself in the story.
2. Joshua - 3/5 - While "To Trade a Witch" had its moments, I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed by the overall execution. The writing style was decent, and the author clearly put effort into creating a unique setting. However, the characters felt unrealistic and their motivations were unclear. I also found the romance subplot to be forced and unnecessary, taking away from the main plot's potential. Overall, "To Trade a Witch" had potential, but it failed to fully captivate me.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I was intrigued by the concept of "To Trade a Witch" and was looking forward to a thrilling and magical adventure. Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, with long and unnecessary descriptions that didn't contribute much to the plot. The characters lacked depth and were difficult to connect with. I also found the dialogue to be stilted and unnatural, which made it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, "To Trade a Witch" left me feeling bored and unsatisfied.