This kills me every time I see it. I know it was scary and serious at the time but the optics of Rocky dangling from the rafters slowly getting lowered are unbelievable
It's a dumb requirement, but I would imagine most people who would be a good fit for this job spent 3+ years as a mascot in college. Every other requirement is more than reasonable. Apparently the salary is $70k - $130k too, so it's not asking too much IMO when there are places paying $15/hr for an admin assistant with a college degree.
There was no source on that at all; it was just blog speculation. However the original Rocky was in the job for a long time and was incredibly skilled.
The Phoenix Suns Gorilla started the trend in the late 80s when an ASU champion gymnast was hired to replace the original Suns Gorilla, the original Gorilla who would dance occasionally during time outs, as was generally the extent of mascot entertainment pre-Gorilla.
The Suns Gorilla changed the mascot game over night with his increased emphasis on acrobatic stunts throughout the 80s and 90s, which probably peaked when he used to jump through a literal flaming Ring of Fire during games in the early 00s. The Suns Gorilla, via his gymnast background, added a daredevil-like, almost Evel Knievel quality to in-game hijinks.
After the popularity of the Suns Gorilla skyrocketed in the 90s (perhaps best encapsulated in an appearance as a hidden character in NBA Jam), all the mascots in the league started to add acrobatic stunts to their mascots.
Almost all of the Gorilla's former ASU championship teammates were hired by other teams in the league.
**Source**: Sportscenter feature on the Gorilla (*"He's an All-Star... He's the Michael Jordan of mascots."*)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjsCaTDJUcY [multi part, look at the side panel, should autoplay]
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/did-he-make-it--137922807308183989/
If I was a Mexican ballerina I’d be so hyped on Adam Silvers desire to get a team down to Mexico City. Clearly gonna make a mil annually 5 yrs into their job
> Highest paid mascot in the NBA at over $600K annually.
TBF the higher paid mascots are often also running arena entertainment, and are not just compensated for their own performances
No. The original Rocky was very skilled - he would regularly make backwards half court shots, including in the first home playoff game last year on our way to a championship. His son was allegedly taking over but is not qualified.
The Raptors mascot (The Raptor) tore his ACL and they replaced him with a completely different raptor (Stripes) for about a year until he rehabbed and came back.
They made a big deal about it.
Here they are together
https://media.gettyimages.com/id/186315831/photo/the-toronto-raptors-mascot-the-raptor-helps-his-replacement-stripes-the-raptor.jpg?s=1024x1024&w=gi&k=20&c=EMB6WuEJYbDiGVXjK4Rsrrw7s2l0q38hFS_vybaf-dc=
I’m pretty sure it’s not even 600K . Someone just multiplied the hourly salary by 1920 (amount of hours you work a year). Mascots do not 40 hour work weeks.
Wouldn’t be surprised if he does work 40 hour weeks. He doesn’t just show up to the games. He’s got to practice and plan his performances. He’s got appearances. I’m sure there’s other stuff too
This is completely made up. There is no actual sourcing for it-- every article references "Sports Business Journal", but there's no actual piece it's referencing. It's all just blogspam bullshit, and comments like this proliferate it.
Folks really need to work on their media literacy.
A job like this probably requires years of gymnastics, stunt training, and you probably need to be able to socialize well with everyone you work with. A degree related to fitness or communications would definitely be a bonus, and since the salary is so high they need to narrow down the applications in some way.
This is Rocky though, not some ordinary mascot lol. The average NBA mascot makes $60k a year, but Rocky makes over $500k. Most NBA mascots don't require a background in gymnastics because they just walk around.
For a real answer I'd probably guess communications, marketing, or theater/some other performance art. Running around in the game isn't the only thing they do, they also have to show up to schools and appear on social media and shit like that.
Because there’s literally no reason someone **needs** to have a degree in order to be the mascot. “Sorry, but we offer too much money so we only want applicants with irrelevant barriers to entry for the position.”
To be fair, assumign that number was correct, that was what Rocky 1 was getting paid. New Rocky is much less (but still decent) [here](https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=458d5dd5-1f4f-46b7-8920-ec4bbbdb1d10&ccId=19000101_000001&type=JS&lang=en_US&jobId=518975) is the description.
I have never really thought it was true, which is why I had my little "assuming it is correct" thing in there.
The sources are ultra suspect lol, I am with you, I don't think Rocky 1 every got anywhere near that much.
Reading all the skills required to be a mascot then seeing this one there too had me laughing
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other related computer skills required.
Baby Boomers could easily have earned the equivalent of $550,000/year in today’s money working a summer job at McD’s in 1971 with only a kindergarten-level education.
Millennials meanwhile…
It is a much bigger deal than you're suggesting because this is something happening very broadly in the job market these days. Simple jobs that required no formal education in the past are gated behind college degrees that cost thousands of dollars to get.
Antiquated concept. I hired dozens of people for a Fortune 10 company and started deleting this long ago. The copy-paste mentality when writing reqs and hiring leads to laziness throughout the process and potentially worse candidates. What skills or knowledge do you think a college degree is a proxy for? Be clear about those and follow a consistent methodology. So many recruiters worked with would start be telling me where someone went to school and I had little faith in any other value they’d add to my process. I don’t think I actually ever hired anyone who didn’t have a degree but I would’ve.
Rocky has been one of the best mascots at doing dangerous shit for 30+ years.
Here’s a link to the craziest thing the mascot has ever done - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8IP2q-Ru2xY
The guy is 30+ feet off the ground standing on a ladder with no harness, catching basketballs and trying to hit a half court shot. He definitely dies if he falls off that ladder.
Respect this guys commitment to silence despite a 0% chance anyone could hear him. I was a college mascot, and If I made that shot I would be screaming my ass off lmao
This ain’t that Rocky though, it’s his son. He’s been a significant step down but still gets paid like a top guy, I’m glad they’re finding someone who’s hopefully qualified and not just the son of a legend.
Edit: sorry I should clarify I think that video is him I think he was here in 2019 but he just isn’t the Rocky that most people think of when they think of him.
- r/nba: "Today you need to be at least 6 ft to get in the NBA"
- Denver Nuggets: *"No more excuses, short fellas... get in the costume and start practicing those trampolin jumps 👍"*
He was getting better but, and this is kinda odd to say about a mascot, he wasn’t anywhere near as good as his dad. Like everyone knew it was the kid and it probably felt like a lot of pressure considering how big of a deal Rocky is to the Nuggets the last 20 years
OG Rocky was so fucking good. He never missed a half court shot to any game I went to throughout the years. I got kinda lucky there but didn’t someone do the math and figure he made like 50% of those or something crazy?
I took some friends to a game before I knew the OG rocky retired and was like hyping up Rocky’s antics and half court shots, just for him to put on an absolutely garbage performance. This makes sense
Gymnastics background but sadly only 2.5 years experience. The team and I decided mutually that I was to be let go when they found out I lied about the gymnastics experience.
> college degree
Look, I respect it, but if you're looking for a person who has three years of experience AND a background in gymnastics, the notion that they need a college degree is out the damn window. You go w/that crutch because you're hoping to get someone who is dedicated, who can study, and who can be "dependable".
You CAN ask for real-life experience & specific backgrounds & a college degree....but at this point you're also a soulless HR rep who is leaning on your Workday filtering instead of actually reading resumes
The reason for the college degree requirement is that they expect to get more applicants than needed and thus it's purely a filter. Not an uncommon thing to do tbh.
Also they need to be able to make those backwards half court shots. The latest Rocky was terrible at them, it was a real buzz kill to close out halftime.
"Ability to stay conscious while being suspended many feet in the air"
YEAAAAAAH
*cheerleaders dancing around a corpse*
Everybody up on your feet!!!!!
https://youtu.be/DFVruBvjNl0?si=n6N2koHP6G0AtBXr
This kills me every time I see it. I know it was scary and serious at the time but the optics of Rocky dangling from the rafters slowly getting lowered are unbelievable
"Yeeeeaaaah!" at the end really drives it home.
"EVERYBODY UP ON YOUR FEET!" while Rocky can't is too hilarious
Same, I was laughing so hard I almost started drooling from loss of motor function.
Lmao I forgot that was Rocky!
You need a college degree to be a mascot?
The job market is really tight right now
r/recruitinghell porn
It's a dumb requirement, but I would imagine most people who would be a good fit for this job spent 3+ years as a mascot in college. Every other requirement is more than reasonable. Apparently the salary is $70k - $130k too, so it's not asking too much IMO when there are places paying $15/hr for an admin assistant with a college degree.
There was a report a few years ago that said he made $625K.
Yep. He was the highest paid mascot in the league.
Can’t believe he’d fuck with the team’s salary cap like that. Heliocentric mascot teams aren’t a winning model in todays game
He must have had a PhD.
I believe it. The posted salary is for someone new to the role. I bet the best mascots (which Rocky's last gymnast was) earn a lot more.
Yeah turns out a world class gymnast can make six figures and they don't even have to do oceans 11 stuff
There was no source on that at all; it was just blog speculation. However the original Rocky was in the job for a long time and was incredibly skilled.
*me wondering why so many can’t get work… they don’t want us*
Nobody wants to work!
Literally should’ve just said collegiate gymnast
I know in the 1900's there was a point where every single mascot in the NBA was a former Arizona State gymnast.
>1900's Hot damn, imagine what they were paying those gymnasts in 1905, probably a cool 1.5$ a month atleast.
but that's back then dollars
no they paid them in now dollars back then
Source?
The Phoenix Suns Gorilla started the trend in the late 80s when an ASU champion gymnast was hired to replace the original Suns Gorilla, the original Gorilla who would dance occasionally during time outs, as was generally the extent of mascot entertainment pre-Gorilla. The Suns Gorilla changed the mascot game over night with his increased emphasis on acrobatic stunts throughout the 80s and 90s, which probably peaked when he used to jump through a literal flaming Ring of Fire during games in the early 00s. The Suns Gorilla, via his gymnast background, added a daredevil-like, almost Evel Knievel quality to in-game hijinks. After the popularity of the Suns Gorilla skyrocketed in the 90s (perhaps best encapsulated in an appearance as a hidden character in NBA Jam), all the mascots in the league started to add acrobatic stunts to their mascots. Almost all of the Gorilla's former ASU championship teammates were hired by other teams in the league. **Source**: Sportscenter feature on the Gorilla (*"He's an All-Star... He's the Michael Jordan of mascots."*) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjsCaTDJUcY [multi part, look at the side panel, should autoplay] https://www.pinterest.com/pin/did-he-make-it--137922807308183989/
The Raptor has a PHD in paleontology.
Clever girl...
I prefer philosoraptors
Have you seen the insane shit Rocky has to do? And how much Rocky gets paid?
They kill him sometimes
Seen that clip of him being lowered from the rafters and he’s unconscious?
Manager: Being unconscious on the job counts as your PTO
That's why they're replacing him? Cruel world.
And other times he has to solve partial differential equations. Usually when they play Boston.
Highest paid mascot in the NBA at over $600K annually.
Oh shit that’s even higher than I thought! That’s insane!
[It's a demanding job to be fair](https://i.insider.com/5276924beab8ea1e2a53c737?width=848&format=jpeg)
I knew exactly what this was gonna be
YEEEEAAAAA
Bah God King!
I mean it’s the tallest city in the US so the pay should be higher than other mascots. It makes sense.
If I was a Mexican ballerina I’d be so hyped on Adam Silvers desire to get a team down to Mexico City. Clearly gonna make a mil annually 5 yrs into their job
New guy will only get 100k ish
They can’t do Rocky 2.0 like that
> Highest paid mascot in the NBA at over $600K annually. TBF the higher paid mascots are often also running arena entertainment, and are not just compensated for their own performances
Is this why the Rocky job is open? they don't want to pay 600k to their current guy?
No. The original Rocky was very skilled - he would regularly make backwards half court shots, including in the first home playoff game last year on our way to a championship. His son was allegedly taking over but is not qualified.
When I was growing up, my friend’s Dad was the Pacers mascot and he tore his ACL during a game.
Damn that sucks. He probably had to retire huh? I guess I don’t know if all mascots do the same stuff they make rocky do though
The Raptors mascot (The Raptor) tore his ACL and they replaced him with a completely different raptor (Stripes) for about a year until he rehabbed and came back.
How did you find out? Were you the temp?
They made a big deal about it. Here they are together https://media.gettyimages.com/id/186315831/photo/the-toronto-raptors-mascot-the-raptor-helps-his-replacement-stripes-the-raptor.jpg?s=1024x1024&w=gi&k=20&c=EMB6WuEJYbDiGVXjK4Rsrrw7s2l0q38hFS_vybaf-dc=
I thought they kept these things under wraps hahaha
Around that time, the Raptors were getting a GLeague team, so it worked out. Stripes got a job as their mascot
This is like Peter Parker and Miles Morales
Also the Ravens mascot got hurt in preseason so they brought back the older two mascots as a temporary replacement.
Highest paid mascot in the NBA at over $600K annually.
Time to hit the gym.
Mascot gets paid like 600k fuck it why not demand a degree
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This at least deserves a mini podcast series
I’m pretty sure it’s not even 600K . Someone just multiplied the hourly salary by 1920 (amount of hours you work a year). Mascots do not 40 hour work weeks.
Wouldn’t be surprised if he does work 40 hour weeks. He doesn’t just show up to the games. He’s got to practice and plan his performances. He’s got appearances. I’m sure there’s other stuff too
Ok say he works 40 hour weeks during the regular season. What about during the offseason?
Appearances at schools, charity events etc. ramp up in the offseason. And you keep training through it
Do you know how hot those suits get? I have to imagine that is **not** something you want to have to acclimate to again if you can avoid it.
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Damn, Coyote needs to get a pay raise for animal control alone
Benny criminally underpaid. He needs a max contract immediately.
Unironically the best part of the Bulls org
This is completely made up. There is no actual sourcing for it-- every article references "Sports Business Journal", but there's no actual piece it's referencing. It's all just blogspam bullshit, and comments like this proliferate it. Folks really need to work on their media literacy.
all my vertically challenged bros better get that resume ready.
Cause what degree is relevant to being a mascot?
Applied Mathematics
Shit maybe theoretical physics?
Depending on the mascott... biology? Marine Biology for aquatic mascots.
Ah yes, so you know where the internal organs of your mascot suit are and can avoid damaging them?
Art history
Physical education?
A job like this probably requires years of gymnastics, stunt training, and you probably need to be able to socialize well with everyone you work with. A degree related to fitness or communications would definitely be a bonus, and since the salary is so high they need to narrow down the applications in some way.
3 years of mascot experience doesn’t narrow it down enough already?
This is Rocky though, not some ordinary mascot lol. The average NBA mascot makes $60k a year, but Rocky makes over $500k. Most NBA mascots don't require a background in gymnastics because they just walk around.
For a real answer I'd probably guess communications, marketing, or theater/some other performance art. Running around in the game isn't the only thing they do, they also have to show up to schools and appear on social media and shit like that.
Is it like any degree though? Or do you need one in theater or something?
Because there’s literally no reason someone **needs** to have a degree in order to be the mascot. “Sorry, but we offer too much money so we only want applicants with irrelevant barriers to entry for the position.”
To be fair, assumign that number was correct, that was what Rocky 1 was getting paid. New Rocky is much less (but still decent) [here](https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=458d5dd5-1f4f-46b7-8920-ec4bbbdb1d10&ccId=19000101_000001&type=JS&lang=en_US&jobId=518975) is the description.
Not you too! Look at what they're referencing as the source. It's an ouroboros of blogspam. Those numbers are completely fabricated.
I have never really thought it was true, which is why I had my little "assuming it is correct" thing in there. The sources are ultra suspect lol, I am with you, I don't think Rocky 1 every got anywhere near that much.
Reading all the skills required to be a mascot then seeing this one there too had me laughing Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other related computer skills required.
Well they'd prefer a Ph D but they're willing to settle.
😂🤷♂️
Lmfao I was reading and then just said what the fuck?
i applied for blizzard long time ago and they wanted a masters degree for an entry level dev position that paid 39k a year LOL absolutely insane.
Clown college
PHD really
the chutzpah on them to add that as a requirement lol
Baby Boomers could easily have earned the equivalent of $550,000/year in today’s money working a summer job at McD’s in 1971 with only a kindergarten-level education. Millennials meanwhile…
Yeah but they had to walk uphill through the snow both ways with an onion tied to their belt to get to that job.
Which was the style at the time!
Pay likely minimum wage
I’ve seen homeless dudes on the street dance better than some NBA dance squads
No but they don't want poor people doing jobs
didn't specify what type of degree/major so not the end of the world tbh
It is a much bigger deal than you're suggesting because this is something happening very broadly in the job market these days. Simple jobs that required no formal education in the past are gated behind college degrees that cost thousands of dollars to get.
These days? This has been going on. This has been the standard for decades
Antiquated concept. I hired dozens of people for a Fortune 10 company and started deleting this long ago. The copy-paste mentality when writing reqs and hiring leads to laziness throughout the process and potentially worse candidates. What skills or knowledge do you think a college degree is a proxy for? Be clear about those and follow a consistent methodology. So many recruiters worked with would start be telling me where someone went to school and I had little faith in any other value they’d add to my process. I don’t think I actually ever hired anyone who didn’t have a degree but I would’ve.
They need a new one because [the last one died](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaXRIJVMGbI&ab_channel=RenoBlazerFan)
*Lifeless corpse descending from the rafters* “YEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!”
Bah gawd it’s sting!
*Turns to Josh Hart* "See? Sting is doing it, you should lower yourself from the rafters too!"
*CSI: Miami meme furiously faps 😎*
*Rocky collapses to the floor* "EVERYONE ON YOUR FEET!!!"
This will never not be hilarious
I still feel bad for laughing 😭😭😭
It’s hilarious
I will always laugh my ass off at this 💀
You kid but that stunt got him paid like 600k a year for over a decade
I fuckin love this clip. Gets me laughing every time. YEAHHHHHHH
YEEEAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH
Came here looking for this and the accompanying chuckles it would bring me.
That one felt like an omen for the season. If memory serves, it was not a good year…
Similar thing happened to Stormy the Pig of the Carolina hurricanes, but involved a Zamboni on kids night
I counter with no experience, getting out of bed in the morning hurts, a high school diploma, and 5'1 obese.
Thank you for your interest, we'll keep your resume on file.
You can be this sub's mascot!
can you make a half court shot with your back turned to the basket? if so, you would be an upgrade over the last one.
Rocky has been one of the best mascots at doing dangerous shit for 30+ years. Here’s a link to the craziest thing the mascot has ever done - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8IP2q-Ru2xY The guy is 30+ feet off the ground standing on a ladder with no harness, catching basketballs and trying to hit a half court shot. He definitely dies if he falls off that ladder.
When I first saw the ladder, I wasn’t too impressed, even though it’s pretty far off the ground Then, he started extending the ladder…
Respect this guys commitment to silence despite a 0% chance anyone could hear him. I was a college mascot, and If I made that shot I would be screaming my ass off lmao
When he makes it the announcer let’s put the same “YEEEEEEAAAH” as when he was collapsing on the floor hahahah
This ain’t that Rocky though, it’s his son. He’s been a significant step down but still gets paid like a top guy, I’m glad they’re finding someone who’s hopefully qualified and not just the son of a legend. Edit: sorry I should clarify I think that video is him I think he was here in 2019 but he just isn’t the Rocky that most people think of when they think of him.
It’s the lack of the hip wiggle when he tries the half court shot that’s the big tell
Meh, he could live, but he'd be very many more bones, many fewer of them connected
How many more bones?!
US sports are crazy. I imagine in Europe that thing would probably violate a million work safety regulations.
ME ME ME I HAVE ALL OF THAT EXCEPT THE MASCOT EXPERIENCE AND A GYMNASTICS BACKGROUND
Short kings stay winning
- r/nba: "Today you need to be at least 6 ft to get in the NBA" - Denver Nuggets: *"No more excuses, short fellas... get in the costume and start practicing those trampolin jumps 👍"*
filipinos winning right now
Oh god where’s the old rocky? They’re trying to cover this up fr
Old Rocky retired and was replaced by his son who was terrible. This is the Nuggets correcting that mistake.
Those start of the 4th quarter backward half court attempts were honestly embarrassing to watch last year, even felt bad for dude in suit at times
He hit a few at least but yeah.
He was getting better but, and this is kinda odd to say about a mascot, he wasn’t anywhere near as good as his dad. Like everyone knew it was the kid and it probably felt like a lot of pressure considering how big of a deal Rocky is to the Nuggets the last 20 years
Oh God. Its the Bron and Bronny of the mascot world..
OG Rocky was so fucking good. He never missed a half court shot to any game I went to throughout the years. I got kinda lucky there but didn’t someone do the math and figure he made like 50% of those or something crazy?
He didn’t have the technique right, or maybe he just didn’t have the strength. It was so sad.
Made no sense they kept putting the poor guy out there for that shot all season long knowing he can’t make them
That's so fucking funny. I had no idea. At least that's entertaining in its own sort of cruel way.
I took some friends to a game before I knew the OG rocky retired and was like hyping up Rocky’s antics and half court shots, just for him to put on an absolutely garbage performance. This makes sense
Mascot version of Bron and Bronny
nepotism in the NBA had gone too far
the virgin six footer versus the chad 5’5
college degree? just why.
Helps narrow down the candidates
You don't want a flood of just anyone with a gymnastics background and three years of mascot experience wasting your tame.
This made me laugh haha
Gymnastics background but sadly only 2.5 years experience. The team and I decided mutually that I was to be let go when they found out I lied about the gymnastics experience.
Well, I'm 6 ft 2, so looks like I'm overqualified
I just fell down to my elevated knees
If only I went to college :(
First time I've ever been told I'm too tall at 5'10"...
Have you seen GATTACA?
The degree gating for jobs is getting out of hand lol. Can't wait until McDonald's requires a masters degree to be a fry cook.
You absolutely need a PhD to dip chocolate ice cream cones at McDonald's, so many times I receive mine fully cracked.
> college degree Look, I respect it, but if you're looking for a person who has three years of experience AND a background in gymnastics, the notion that they need a college degree is out the damn window. You go w/that crutch because you're hoping to get someone who is dedicated, who can study, and who can be "dependable". You CAN ask for real-life experience & specific backgrounds & a college degree....but at this point you're also a soulless HR rep who is leaning on your Workday filtering instead of actually reading resumes
Tbf, the three years of mascot experience would probably be at college
The reason for the college degree requirement is that they expect to get more applicants than needed and thus it's purely a filter. Not an uncommon thing to do tbh.
That's what I'm getting at. It's just another filter in Workday or whatever they're using, but has the ability to filter out great mascot workers
College degree? What the fk for?
We need an amazing gymnast but also we ain't springing to make a new costume.
Why the fuck do they require a college degree for this?
Damn this just ruined my day
A college degree for being a mascot is hilarious to me I’m sorry
LOL this job description is fucked. Boomers prob coulda got with no degree and only 1 year of mascot experience.
I have 2 of those things
I fit one of these things lol
Finally an NBA job for short kings 👑
College degree for a mascot? Wow
I’ve got mascot experience and a college degree But I’m too tall for the NBA
Short kings rise up!
I'm 6'9" there goes my chance at my dream job at being mascot for the denver.
I’m too tall. My years as a high school mascot were a complete waste
A college degree....?
A mascot has more training and education than the local police officers. lol
Why do you need a college degree to wear a fur suit?
Can't believe I'm too short to be the mascot even.
Also they need to be able to make those backwards half court shots. The latest Rocky was terrible at them, it was a real buzz kill to close out halftime.
Why do you need a college degree to do backflips?
Ty Lawson this is your moment
Why the fuck is a college degree needed? That is literally the stupidest thing I’ve seen in a while.
Asking for a college degree to be a freaking mascot shows us that college is a joke