I logged on to the Colorado Rockies web site on Tuesday, October 23, hoping I would get another chance at vying for tickets on-line. Yesterday's attack of major league baseball's web site provider gave me hope, along with 8.5 million other Rocky fans that I might have a second chance to purchase World Series tickets.

This time I logged on early, 11:45am. Nothing there yet. I check back at 12:00pm on the nose. The web site clicks over and wa' la...movement. A screen opens up with the following; "Please wait for the server to become available. The site is experiencing heavy loads at this time." I'm thinking the only load, is the one I'm being handed. The countdown proceeds starting at 120 seconds, 119, 118. I wait. My heart racing with excitement. 3, 2, 1,...reset, 120, 119, 118

This goes on for twenty minutes. Finally at 12:20pm the countdown gets down to the number one and it sticks. Oh my gosh, I'm in. I receive one bar, then two, then three, then four, then five and then...nothing...The screen is in a holding pattern for five minutes. The Microsoft circle spins, so I know the machine is working. The suspense is like the song, "bases are loaded and Casey's at bat." ...and then the site kicks me out and restarts. 12:25pm. 3,2,1 I'm in again. One bar, two bars, three bars, four bars, five bars... nothing. 12:29 I am kicked out and the process starts anew. I know the first page states, "Do not refresh this page or you will be dropped to the end of the line. Thank you for your patience. Patience . I have been waiting for twelve years to attend a local World Series game and you want me to have patience.!!!

120, 119, 118...3,2,1 at 12:41 I'm in again for a third time. Please baseball gods, let me get a World Series ticket. A minute goes by. The Microsoft circle spins. My heart still races. I have now invested more than forty five minutes of my time trying to get a World Series ticket. I don't care. I want to get a ticket to see my Rockies play in the World Series. Now, I am sounding a little weird even to myself. Please, oh please let me connect. Let me at least hit a bunt. I rub my computer screen for good luck. Hey, my Mom used to rub the slot machines in Las Vegas and she used to win so why not try. Anything for a chance at good luck. I have a friend who believes that if you say it, it will happen. I even try this. Think good thoughts. Still nothing.

Dam, the site kicks me off. 120, 119, 118...Now it's starting to feel like a first date, all you want is to go to first base and you can't even hit the ball. Oh my, I'm even writing this in purple ink. It's a sign. Rocky's purple. It's meant to be. 3, 2, 1...on hold... nothing. The site kicks me out once again. 120, 119, 118 the countdown proceeds. I'm no quitter. I keep going. Maybe I shouldn't have shaved today. You know ball players are so superstitious. Darn, I shouldn't have shaved. Where is that rabbit's foot I used to have in my desk? 3,2,1...one bar, two bars, three bars, four bars, five bars...hold again. Now I feel like the Phillies and D-Backs. So close and yet so far away. 12:59pm. I'll give it one minute more and then forget it. 3,2,1...nothing. Dejected, I log off. I feel lousy. Oh well. Like thousands of loyal fans I guess I can pay a scalper an unreasonable amount of money for a ticket. No I think not. I'll just go to the Chophouse right next to Coors Field to feel some of the excitement, order a steak and a beer and watch the game on TV. So close and yet so far away. GO ROCKIES!!!