Magical Mishaps: A Look at Witches Getting Stuck in Trees

In a dark and eerie forest, amidst the flickering moonlight, a witch soared through the skies on her enchanted broomstick. With her long black cloak billowing behind her and her pointed hat perched on her head, she was a sight to behold. Guided by the light of the full moon, the witch cackled with delight as she flew higher and higher, reveling in her powers. But as her excitement grew, the witch lost her focus and failed to notice a looming danger ahead. A tall, gnarled tree stood in her path, its branches reaching out like skeletal arms. With a sudden jolt, the witch's broomstick collided with the tree, sending her hurtling towards its trunk.

So far, the Denver Nuggets organization and its parent company, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, have kept quiet about who's inside the Rocky suit. While a beloved, longtime NBA mascot passing his suit to his son seems a layup of a public relations story, KSE has shown zero interest in courting press regarding that subject.

While mascot work runs in the family, fans started to notice that Rocky seemed a little different once the switch was made from Kenn Solomon to Drake. Kenn Solomon, the talented acrobat who first filled the suit of Rocky, the Nuggets mountain lion mascot, in 1990, will be back in uniform launching his patented backward half-court shots at an NBA championship game for the first time in his storied career.

With a sudden jolt, the witch's broomstick collided with the tree, sending her hurtling towards its trunk. Time seemed to slow down as the witch's body twisted and turned in mid-air, her screams echoing through the forest. With a sickening thud, she crashed into the tree, her broomstick splintering into pieces upon impact.

OG Rocky Will Appear in His First NBA Finals With the Nuggets

Kenn Solomon has been winning fans since 1990, and he's come out of retirement for the basketball championship.

As the Denver Nuggets prepare to take on the Miami Heat for the start of the NBA finals on Thursday, June 1, one man who has been with the squad for over three decades will finally get his first shot at a championship. But he'll never show his face.

Kenn Solomon, the talented acrobat who first filled the suit of Rocky, the Nuggets' mountain lion mascot, in 1990, will be back in uniform — launching his patented backward half-court shots at an NBA championship game for the first time in his storied career. He may even troll opposing players, such as Jimmy Butler, making them the target of his hilarious antics during the series.

Solomon served as the Nuggets' mascot for over thirty years, shooting to a spot in the Mascot Hall of Fame with his humorous skits, relentless energy and dangerous moves. He passed out while being lowered to the court one time, for example, and also got knocked down by a playful punch from Charles Barkley in another instance.

But the fan favorite quietly hung up his paws two years ago, passing the mountain lion suit to his son, Drake Solomon.

During games this season, Kenn Solomon could be seen sporting a purple-dyed soul patch as he coached Drake during Rocky's half-court shots. A second Solomon son, Cade, serves as Rocky's minder during games, while a third, Garett, works as Hooper, the mascot for the Detroit Pistons.

While mascot work runs in the family, fans started to notice that Rocky seemed a little different once the switch was made from Kenn Solomon to Drake. Rocky, previously a lights-out shooter from backward half-court range, couldn't buy a bucket. And the mascot didn't have quite the same pep in his step.

But then a medical issue landed Drake on the mascot injured reserve list this year. The Nuggets didn't have to look far for a replacement: Dad was ready to suit back up. and enjoy the first championship games of his long career.

So far, the Denver Nuggets organization and its parent company, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, have kept quiet about who's inside the Rocky suit. While a beloved, longtime NBA mascot passing his suit to his son seems a layup of a public relations story, KSE has shown zero interest in courting press regarding that subject.

Kenn Solomon has also declined to talk about it.

But then, he's busy these days. On May 31, in full Rocky regalia, he joined Mayor Michael Hancock in front of the Denver City and County Building for a ceremonial street renaming honoring the Nuggets. And tomorrow he'll be back in Ball Arena.

The trio of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. make the Nuggets the clear favorite in the first game against Jimmy Butler's Miami Heat. The altitude and home-court advantage will help, too. But Rocky's energy gives the Denver team an added edge.

When asked about the team's X factor during a May 30 appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, Nuggets coach Michael Malone responded, "No doubt, Rocky."

As Rocky, Kenn Solomon certainly was the team's X factor during three decades of poor play and heartbreak. Even when the Nuggets sucked and the actual team wasn't the draw, Rocky kept fans coming out.

And now, after all those years of hard work, he finally gets his shot at a championship ring. Do they come in mountain lion size?

Kenn Solomon will deserve some kind of reward, since he won't be cashing a $625,000 check at the end of the season; sources with knowledge of his actual salary say that the widely reported claim is 100 percent bogus.

Still, real Nuggets fans know that when Kenn Solomon is in the Rocky suit, he's worth his weight in gold.

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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.

Kenn Solomon has been winning fans since 1990, and he's come out of retirement for the basketball championship.

The force of the collision knocked the wind out of her, leaving her breathless and disoriented. As the echoes of her screams faded away, the forest fell eerily silent. The moon peered through the thick canopy of leaves, casting a pale glow on the witch's crumpled form. Her once vibrant cloak was now torn and tattered, and her hat was nowhere to be seen. Slowly, the witch regained her senses, groaning in pain as she attempted to stand up. She could feel the rough bark of the tree against her back and the damp forest floor beneath her. With a wave of her hand, she summoned a small orb of light to illuminate her surroundings, revealing the extent of her predicament. Trapped in the embrace of the tree, the witch realized that her powers would be of no use in escaping. She cursed her recklessness and the arrogance that had led her to disregard the dangers of the forest. Now she was left to rely on her wits and determination to free herself from this unexpected prison. With great effort, the witch managed to wriggle free from the tree's branches, wincing as splinters dug into her skin. Bruised and battered, she took a moment to catch her breath before limping away from the unforgiving tree. Though her pride had been wounded, she knew she must learn from her mistake and exercise caution in the future. And so, with a renewed sense of humility, the witch moved on, her journey through the night sky temporarily halted. The tree stood as a solemn reminder of the consequences of her haste, a lesson etched in her memory forever..

Reviews for "From Broomsticks to Branches: The Evolution of Witchcraft and Tree Navigation"

1) John - 1 star

I found "Witch flying into a tree" to be a real disappointment. The storyline was weak and lacked any depth. The characters were one-dimensional and underdeveloped, making it hard to care about what happened to them. The dialogue was also poorly written, with cheesy lines that made me cringe. Overall, I felt like I wasted my time reading this book.

2) Sarah - 2 stars

I had high hopes for "Witch flying into a tree" but was left feeling unsatisfied. The premise had promise, but the execution fell short. The pacing was off, with slow, meandering sections that left me bored. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and unresolved. I wanted more answers and closure. While there were some interesting elements, they weren't enough to save this book from being a disappointment.

3) Michael - 2 stars

I was really looking forward to reading "Witch flying into a tree" based on the buzz it received, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype for me. The writing style felt pretentious and overdone, with overly flowery descriptions that distracted from the plot. The main character was annoying and lacked any redeeming qualities, which made it hard to root for her. I also found the magic system confusing and poorly explained. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied with this book.

The Witch, The Tree, and The Power of Nature: Exploring Symbolism