Magic: The Gathering, Lord of the Rings Commander decks, offer players the chance to immerse themselves in the fantasy world of J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic novels while playing the popular trading card game. These Commander decks, also known as EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander) decks, are designed for multiplayer gameplay, where players compete against each other using unique and specially curated decks. The Magic: The Gathering Lord of the Rings Commander decks bring together the rich lore and characters from Tolkien's universe and combine them with the mechanics and gameplay elements of Magic.
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.
How much money does Rocky, the mascot of the Denver Nuggets, make a year?
The Magic: The Gathering Lord of the Rings Commander decks bring together the rich lore and characters from Tolkien's universe and combine them with the mechanics and gameplay elements of Magic. Each deck revolves around a specific character or theme from the Lord of the Rings series, allowing fans to experience their favorite moments and engage in epic battles. The decks often feature iconic characters like Gandalf, Aragorn, Frodo, and Sauron, among others.
The Nuggets are engulfed in a battle with the Los Angeles Lakers for the conference finals in the NBA.
Update: May 18th, 2023 12:42 EDT DOUG PENSINGER AFPTeam mascots earn a decent living, but their salaries are significantly lower than those of the players. The job typically involves dancing, entertaining the audience with humor during games, and making appearances at team-related functions.
Boardroom TV, a media network co-founded by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman, reports that the average annual salary for a professional mascot is approximately $60,000.
But how much does Rocky from the Nuggets make a year?
Rocky the Mountain Lion, who represents the Denver Nuggets, earns an annual salary of $625,000, making him the highest-paid mascot. This figure exceeds the job’s median salary by a factor of ten.
Rocky the Mountain Lion earns more than 10 times the average pay for professional NBA mascots (around $60k).
As per the Sports Business Journal, Rocky’s hourly rental rates are $750, with a reduced rate of $500 for corporate partners. Having Rocky attend a birthday party costs $400 for a 30-minute visit or $750 for a one-hour visit.
The affordable means of coming across Rocky is through an in-game visit, priced at $135 for season pass holders and $150 for non-pass holders. The mentioned rates encompass expenses beyond the performer’s earnings.
About the author
Andy is a Miami native journalist and translator who is always on top of what sporting activity is taking place across the globe, and he aims to ensure all relevant information is shared with fans. Mainly focused on the US competitions of NBA, NFL and MLS, he also has a keen interest in international soccer, including Spain's LaLiga and the English Premier League among others.
Each character's deck is centered around their unique abilities, skills, and the world they inhabit, creating a sense of authenticity and immersion for players. The decks include a mix of creatures, spells, artifacts, and enchantments that capture the essence of the characters and their adventures. Playing with these decks allows players to relive key moments from the Lord of the Rings storylines or create new narratives within the established universe. The strategic depth and variety offered by Magic: The Gathering combined with the imaginative world of Tolkien's works make these Commander decks an exciting and rewarding experience for fans of both franchises. Additionally, the Lord of the Rings Commander decks can be customized and enhanced with additional Magic cards to further personalize and improve their gameplay. This allows players to experiment with different strategies, playstyles, and synergies, ensuring that no two games are the same. Whether players are looking to recreate iconic battles, embark on new adventures, or simply enjoy a themed gameplay experience, the Magic: The Gathering Lord of the Rings Commander decks offer a fantastic way for fans to immerse themselves in the world of Middle-earth while enjoying the strategic gameplay of Magic: The Gathering. In conclusion, Magic: The Gathering Lord of the Rings Commander decks provide a unique and immersive gaming experience by bringing together the beloved characters and world of J.R.R. Tolkien's novels with the strategic gameplay of Magic: The Gathering. These decks allow players to relive memorable moments, create new narratives, and engage in epic multiplayer battles within the Lord of the Rings universe..
Reviews for "The Fellowship's Journey: Exploring Quests in Lord of the Rings Commander Decks"
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