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Rockies: I did what I could
Contributed by: Jared Keller on 10/29/2007

Didn't write a thing about 'em. Since early August, I've not penned, typed, telegraphed, or scratched down on paper a word about the Colorado Rockies. This is due to an arrangement reached by my friends and I, once we realized that anything written by me on the topic was, in fact, like a straight-up Kryptonite martini for the dashing fellow in the stylish blue tights.

For the past several seasons, I've done what I could to promote the club in my writing, and in each case, the Rockies would respond by immediately cratering. As such, it wasn't exactly rocket science to figure out that, in order to help these Kid Rocks along, I should just shut the heck up. I did so, and they took off. Like rockets. Like purple-clad, Louisville Slugger-fueled Lockheed Martin-assembled (in their Waterton facility) rockets bound for baseball immortality.

I'm a baseball guy. Always have been, always will be. Oh, sure...I grew up here, and I love me some Broncos. Similarly, I love hockey, and have been thrilled to watch the Avs skate to a couple of Stanley Cups. Nothing...nothing in my sports life, however, will ever top the moment in 1991 when National League President Bill White announced that Denver would be the recipient of one of two expansion teams, to begin play in the 1993 season.

I was a sophomore in high school, and a baseball lover without a home team. These Rocks, though, were mine from day one. I've still got my '93 Rockies team baseball card set, and my David Neid rookie card (Neid was the first player taken in the expansion draft, and was a highly rated prospect in the Braves organization, who did approximately nothing as a big leaguer...). On my bookshelf at the office, you'll find a set of 1993 Coke bottles marking the Rockies' inaugural season. I'll always remember listening to their first regular season game (a loss at Shea against the Mets) on my way to play in one of my own ballgames during my senior year of high school. Like the Rocks, we lost that day (curse you, Aurora Christian Academy!).

In college, I was the runner-up (out of more than 300 applicants) for an internship with the Rockies, and I still remember the sting of losing out.

In short, I'm a long-time fan. I'm no bandwagoner.

Still, I'd forgotten how much I love both the game and this team until Helton's improbable shot off of Dodgers star reliever Takashi Saito in September. I saw from Helton - my long-time favorite player - absolute, unfiltered, unguarded elation as he rounded third, and leapt into the arms of his gathered teammates at home. Watching this scene, I found myself grinning. Uncontrollably. At a Rockies game. I never thought I'd see the day again.

Since that time, I've bitten my tongue, held my fire, and refrained from writing a thing about the Rockies, and they've been hotter than a pawn shop's inventory.

Until the Sox. Until the Sox socked the Rox, which totally sux.

This playoff run has cost me my fingernails, has likely taken years off of my life (thanks to the constant heart-pounding), and has - improbably - caused me to regress even further into absolute immaturity as I happily sat for hours watching grown men play a kids' game while I gripped their rookie cards and sat on the edge of my couch, screaming like a six year-old headed to Chuck E. Cheese's.

It cost me dearly.

Last night, however, I got something back. When the Rocks were down, and in danger of getting swept by a big bad team from Back East, I felt helpless. I felt that sickening, sweet helplessness of youth, and, like a kid, knew that the team needed my help. I turned my hat inside out, plopped it back onto my head, and leaned in close to the TV, with my little girl giggling at her daddy's silly rally cap. Seconds later, Atkins hit a two-run shot, and my heart skipped a beat. Something deep in my goofy little heart woke up again; something that'd been asleep for years.

Yeah...we know how it ended last night.

This team is something special, though. There's a life, and a spark of unselfishness there, and it's a wonder to behold.

To the Rocks, I say "you're welcome". Come next season, I'll keep these pages clear of your names, statistics, and tales of daring-do. Won't say a peep. It's the least I can do.

When do pitchers and catchers report?


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Showing 1 of 1 comments
Submitted By: Joseph Kirchmer
posted on 10/30/2007 @ 2:44:38 PM
Rated Story
There's a silver lining here. The next time we make it to the World Series, we'll know what we're getting into. We now have World Series experience, something many other clubs cannot say. Go Rockies!
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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Jared Keller

Littleton

Jared Keller has posted 465 stories and 64 comments since joining on 12/1/2005. Jared Keller 's average story rating is 4.86.
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