2/6/10

       I've been playing with some video and pictures from last season. 

                   

2/3/10

What a day. I'm still feeling the effects of this flu and woke up this morning about 6am with my back aching from sleeping the previous twenty hours. The "feeling like sh-it" hits in waves and today it's about 50/50.

 Anyways I checked my email this morning and there was an email from Tom Reese of HotStove.com. He was sending out a question to Rockies Bloggers regarding Jason Marquis.

The question was:

Did the Rockies make a mistake in allowing Jason Marquis to leave via free agency? The club doesn't seem to have an heir apparent ready to take his spot in the rotation.

Great question. I was foggy headed when I replied with my answer but to my surprise it was printed at along with another Rockies Blogger that I've never heard of.

                Click here to see the article: RPR on HotStove.com.

 Kind of neat to be quoted talking about your favorite sport. Believe me I'm not bragging just sharing :)

 I'll know I've made it when Alana Rizzo from FSN is kind enough to interview me :)

                                                     (Photo by Captain_Chase)

On a different note, Krista and I have been known to show Hunter and Mylee music videos from the 80's. We do this so they understand exactly why we looked like we did back then and because every now and then you just need a good laugh.

A few weeks ago we showed them Twisted Sisters video of "We're not gonna take it" and they fell in love with it. After watching it at least a hundred times the kids decided they wanted to try and copy the video.

                          If you've never seen the original video here it is:

             

                               Now here is Hunter and Mylee's version. 

               

                                               I think they did a great job.

Along with the email from Tom Reese this morning was an email from my friend and long time Rockies fan Robert Harmon. It was a short email stating that he and Bennie were ok and he included a few pictures of what was left of his VW bus affectionately known as"Jeff". 

What now Robert, a rental car for the trip to Tucson for Spring Training?..Glad you and Bennie are ok. That was scary.

FYI- I can legally marry people in the State of Colorado. I've got two under my belt and they're both still married.

             How cool would it be to marry someone at Coors Field this season?

Who wants to be the first to get married by the Rockpile Ranter during a baseball game?                                  Thanks for your click...D The Rockpile Ranter

1/23/10

                                                    Rockies Fest 2010.

This would be the second time this special Rockies season ticket holder event has taken place and the second time we've been there. The weather was expected to be in the mid-40's today and for January in Colorado I'll take that.

                                            Below are two things that don't mix.

Let me tell you though I did have to fight of the urge to run out there lay my a-ss on the field and start pumping out snow angels :)

 Mylee didn't make Rockies Fest today because she's been sick for almost a week.  

Let me tell you my little girl was extremely sad she couldn't go so we promised to get her Rockies mini-bat signed for her. We did just that thanks to Huston Street. I chatted with a lot of people yesterday and everyone agreed Street has one of the nicest autographs in baseball today.   Hunter and I had a little time to kill before our the "Pitcher and Catcher interviews" so we toured the Press Box.

                                    While inside we each took our photo ops.  Me in that chair, high above with the killer view of the field. I tell ya it felt like I was home.  I must have been sitting in "The Cowboy's" chair because it was broke in real good.

As we killed more time and wandered the Club levels of Coors Field we walked up on a huge bin of baseballs. I was half expecting Zack Hample to pop out of them so when he didn't I asked someone what this was.

I was informed that object was to guess the number of balls in the cage and it you could only enter if you were 15 or younger.

                    Lets just say the prizes were a baseball collector's dream.   I took a few moments and filled out entries for Hunter and Mylee as did every parent with kids I'm sure. 

While we were standing there fixated on the autographed bats I bumped into Joy aka LUVMYROX who was there with her family. I believe they also were killing time waiting for their Outfielder interviews to begin.

A few minutes and a hundred feet later I ran into Marianne aka R-Luv who was also exploring the festivities with her family.

Funny thing and I hope I get this all correct. Joy and Marianne have known each other for years through the Rockies forums. During Rockies games they comment back and forth with each other on the forum but up until today had never physically met.

When I met up with Dan today he mentioned that the two of them finally met each other here at the Rockies Fest.

Ladies I'm sorry I missed that photo opportunity. Congratulations how appropriate that you met at Rockies Fest as you both are HUGE fans....Too Cool.

 It was time for us to head up to the Pitcher/Catcher interviews. This took place up in Club level. The MC's hosting this Q N A were Alana Rizzo (my favorite FSN employee), and that other guy Drew Goodman.

 For some reason my hands started to shake every time I tried to take a picture of Alana. The above picture was the clearest of the bunch.

Here's a shot of most of your Rockies pitchers and catchers for the upcoming 2010 Season.

 

     Let me break it down a little better. Below is Chris Iannetta and Matt Daley.                       Taylor Buchholz, Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis and Huston Street                             Randy Flores, Greg Smith and Miguel Olivo                           Last but not least Jason Hammel and Matt Belisle

Most of the questions they asked were a bit regular side. However,I did manage to get video of Jeff Francis when he was asked about his arm and his return.

                                                    Here's the video:

              

                   So I guess he's back. I wish him the best. We need the Canadian.

After the interview session it was autograph time. Our first session was Huston Street and first base coach Glenallen Hill.

As I approached Huston Street I said "Hi I'm Don I write the Rockpile Rant" and I asked him if he was going to continue his MLBlog. Street replied "Yeah, I'd like to".

You heard it here first. 

Then I moved onto Glenallen Hill. As he was signing my mini-bat Hill asked me "What do you do with all those autographs?" I started laughing and said" Mr. Hill you asked me the same exact question a year ago at spring training."

 Hill looked at me and said "You know I don't ask everyone that question".

I'm not sure what he meant by that but he was smiling when he said it so I'll take it as a positive.

Two down and we had time to burn again. As we walked by the Jeff Francis/Rich Dauer autograph session we noticed the line was short. I asked if we could just go through as it was the tail end of this session and the extremely cool Usher let us. 

That totally made my day because I just happend to have with me my 2007 Sports Illustrated magazine with Jeff Francis on the cover. Hunter went into the room first and right away Jeff asked him what his name was.

                          Then Jeff wrote "For Hunter" on the picture and autographed it.                                          Very classy Jeff....Thank you. I handed Jeff my magazine and he looked left at the Usher standing beside him and said "See told you, here's the first one". Again I was like WTF? But I think Jeff was making note that every time he autographs for fans someone hands him one of those Sports Illustrated issues.

              Least I hope he wasn't making fun of me..We're both from Canada?

Rich Dauer signed a picture for Hunter and a mini-bat for me and then we were outta there.

We headed downstairs and while wandering around an Usher asked if we would like Eric Young Jr's autograph. Without hesitation I said "Yes Sir" and within a few minutes we were standing in front of EY Jr.

                                     Here he is signing Hunters baseball.  

                                           EY Jr signing my mini-bat.         EY Jr really seemed like he was having a good time. Keep'n it real, I like that.

When we walked out of there directly across from us was the long line for Don Baylor and Randy Flores. I felt a big smile growing because I've never managed to get Don Baylor's autograph before. It's not that he wouldn't sign, just really bad timing on my part. 

Today Don Baylor signed an Inaugural Year Rockies Magazine with his picture on it for me. 

When I handed him the magazine I said "Mr. Baylor you haven't changed a bit", He looked up at me and said smiling "Yeah right". Then he autographed it for me. 

                          Here's Don Baylor autographing Hunter's baseball.                                Here's Randy Flores autographing Hunter's baseball.

Hunter and I hurried upstairs so we could catch the tail end of Matt Belisle's autograph session..

 These plates may not be fine china but I'm sure their worth more than the plates I eat off of.          These beauties are a couple of the bat-shovels used to break ground on the Rockies/D-Backs new Spring Training Facility east of Scottsdale last year. I just wanted to show how the MLB labels game used items. Specifically ones from big games.

                Notice how they misspelled Tulowitzki's last name on the first helmet.                                You can see me Tulo and Coors Field in this picture.          This is a special helmet made just for Charlie Hayes who suffered a broken jaw. This is the unsigned original artwork used to make the Coors Field Inaugural year opening day ticket.                             The World Famous Colorado Rockies Humidor.

                                               Todd Helton's locker.

                                                Indoor batting cages.

                                     Hunter with a lean mean Don Baylor. 

     My Inaugural year Rockies magazine with Don Baylor's fresh autograph on it.  My 2007 Sports Illustrated with Jeff Francis on the cover with a fresh Jeff Francis autograph on it.   My mini-bats In order...Glenallen Hill, Eric Young Jr, Huston Street, Rich Dauer, Randy Flores, and Clint Barmes.                             Here's all of it minus the hampster and Hunter's stuff.

                Here's a shot of Ryan Spilborghs on his way to his next session.  

          Just as Hunter and I were leaving Club level heading home we ran into Robert.                                                     Best hat of the day.

                                   Hunter making his mark just like his pops.

  The Rockpile Ranter blessing Coors Field for the upcoming season.(I can legally do that).   

It was great to see all of you again. Dan, thank you once again for this special opportunity.

This is the year folks. The chemistry between this group of fellas feels right. We've had a taste of the post-season twice in recent years and we can't go backwards right?

It starts with believing. I believe, Hunter believes, everybody I ran into at Rockies Fest believes.

               I'm D The Rockpile Ranter and I believe I'm finished with this entry. 

 

1/22/10

Tomorrow is Rockies Fest. Hunter and Mylee and I will be there. Expect a lot of pictures as this event is very picture worthy. I look forward to bumping into a bunch of people I know.

                See you at Coors Field (If not, I'll make you feel like you were there).

                                                 D The Rockpile Ranter

1/16/10

I've been waiting for today since Christmas. My favorite duo on the planet are back in Colorado for another show.

                               Tonight Krista and I will be in Boulder attending...

                                        Cheech and Chong "Get it Legal"

We took in a performance of theirs in Denver a little over a year ago...Here's a link:

                They're as old as dirt and I laughed till it hurt

Besides, Chong is from Edmonton Alberta Canada and I've actually been there. I'll have pictures and video up in a few days.

Congrats to Buchholz and Barmes and De La Rosa, both will be Rockies for another year and I like all three of them. Other than Todd Helton I respect Barmes more than any other Rockie. It's a combination of his play, his attitude and work ethic and my interactions with him over the last couple of years. Clint has always been a class act the few times we've been face to face and fans remember that....At least this one does.

Anyways glad to have all three around for another season as they are an integral part of the Rockies.

I'm still depressed about spring training and the lack of me physically being there. I guess I'll have to wait until I retire before I can make the trek down there on a yearly basis. Who knows, maybe a six months in Arizona six months in Colorado thing could work good for a retired guy who loves watch live baseball? Guess I'll know in twenty years.

Next weekend I'll be able to forget about spring training as I'll be at Coors Field with Hunter and Mylee. We'll be attending the Second Annual Rockies Fest. A huge "Thank You" to Dan for hooking us up with tickets again for this special event.

Lots of stuff to do at the Rockies Fest. Instead of telling you here's the link from last year:

              Rockies Festivus was the Bestivus in the Westivus 

I've noticed a lot of new Rockies blogs out there. That makes me proud because I may not be the original Rockies MLBlog but I am the longest running and I've always enjoyed reading other Rockies bloggers take on a game I may have been at.

All I ever wanted out of blogging was to promote my team and have a picture/video diary of my family's adventures at the ballpark. Now with the growing mass of Rockies MLBloggers  we almost have a community...That's f'kin cool :) 

                                                   I have an idea.

 Let's pick a time this season when all the Rockies MLBloggers can attend a game together. It doesn't matter how old you are or how many games you go to or even how long you've been MLBlogging.

Nothing formal, maybe just meet early at at game for batting practice hang out, get to know each other better and have some fun before the game starts..

                   You never know, one of us could snag a ball or an autograph.

A while back I thought about doing something like that with the loyal commentors on the Rant.... But on a positive note I run into most of you at Coors Field at various times of the season :) 

ROCKIES MLBLOGGERS...Tell me what you think this? Are you even interested? Is there a special game you think it should be? Should we meet for a burger at Blake Street before the game? Should I rent a bus to pick everyone up? (kidding). 

When I have a better idea of who is into this shindig we can have a vote for which game we all should congregate at...

                                If you're there at Coors I'll see you next weekend.

                                                      GO ROCKIES

                                                   D The Rockpile Ranter

1/10/10

Hey all, I just wanted to let you know that I've created a new website for fun. It's called People of Boulder.

Here's a link if you want to check it out: People of Boulder.Com

As always I'd love to hear what you think. Feel free to leave a comment there or here or both if one of the pictures inspires you to do so. Thanks a bunch.

                                                 D The Rockpile Ranter

  12/31/09                           HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !

                               I started out 2009 with a bold statement.

 "2008 was Great...But 2009 is Mine". When I said it I wasn't sure what I meant by it but I thought it sounded good. I was highly charged as the Rockpile Rant was a Top 100 blog for the baseball year 2008.

I was anxiously waiting for the new year and Rockies spring training 2009 in the Mobile Blogging Unit. I also took aim at cracking the top ten list as a fan MLBlog.

January is usually a non-baseball month for me. Not that there's nothing going on, I just don't pay a lot of attention...I have a lot of side projects.

But that all changed when Dan called me and mentioned that he had a few extra tickets to something new the Rockies were testing out called Rockies Fest.

I jumped on his offer and he asked if a couple of the regular readers/commenter's on the Rockpile Rant might want to attend.

 I thanked Dan profusely for allowing me to offer up his extra tickets and I contacted Mark (writer of Baby Paul's Baseball Blog), and Marianne aka R-Luv (pictured below with me) and offered them the tickets.

Both accepted the tickets. Rockies Fest was the first time Marianne and I had met and not only is she a HUGE Rockies fan but she's a very cool lady. She was as thrilled to be inside Coors Field meeting the players as I was.

The Rockies Fest was a good time for all and was quite successful for a virgin event.

                   Here's the entry from January if you want to check it out:

   Rockies Festivus was the Bestivus in the Westivus: 

I was able to take Hunter and Mylee and we really enjoyed the tour of Coors Field's underbelly. Below is the kids and I in the Rockies Interview room.         Who knows if there will be a Rockies Fest 2..Great idea Monforts...Fans dig it.                         Especially this fan..Thank you Rockies and thank you Dan. 

Throughout January, February I teased and tantalized readers with pictures of "This is not the Mobile Blog Unit".

      This ended with an entry in which I finally revealed the MBU. I called it...

   With no further ado I present the MBU 

I also invented a fan interactive sport called Hagg'n. I'll admit it needs a bit of tweaking but the concept is genius and props to me for actually inventing something.

  I'm not Bragg'n but I think you'll dig Hagg'n

                  Then it was finally time to hit the road...Tucson bound.Andy (from Spring Training) who got his nickname because of this trip was my accomplice on this guys dream baseball vacation. He and I hit hard for eight days in sunny Tucson.

We woke up early every morning and drove our sleepy as-ses to Hi Corbett field by 7am so we could meet and greet the players as they showed up for early morning practice.

Every day we parked the Mobile Blog Unit in front of Hi-Corbett field for the players and fans to see her in all her glory. 

My personal mission was to support the Rockies, promote the Rockpile Rant and get Todd Helton's autograph.

I also wanted to debut my new Ranter jersey---->

The magic jersey brought me luck because I snagged the first batting practice baseball of the season from Clint Barmes the first time I wore it. Clint had a hard time deciding who to toss it to. 

(Pay no attention to how empty the stadium was...the competition for baseballs that day was fierce :). During our last Rockies/Brewers game of Spring training I snagged my first live game home run ball off of David Ortmeier in right field at Maryvale baseball stadium.

Andy (from Spring Training) managed to snag his first live game home run ball too at this game but his snag wasn't nearly as spectacular as mine. Hey say what you want...It may not have been a regular season snag but I was thrilled. Andy (from spring training) was moderately happy.

I called that entry...Snagged my Holy Grail at Maryvale

Later on in the regular season I took a drive down to Colorado Springs for a Sky Sox game and was lucky enough to get David Ortmeier to autograph my home run ball. I mentioned to him the story of where and how I had caught the ball he was autographing and that it was his first home run as a Rockie.

                        Truth be told, David could have cared less. Such is life.

Which reminds me of another funny thing that happened during spring training. One morning when Andy (from spring training) and I were out front of Hi-Corbett getting my banner signed by almost the entire team.

Vinny Castilla walked by us and I asked very politely if he would sign my banner...He stopped, looked at me and said "I'm not a player man" and walked away. Up to that moment I had really liked Vinny Castilla.

That prompted the entry...

          Here's the Skinny on Vinny

I love that entry..It's one of my favorites..On that same day I finally was able to get Todd Helton to sign my Big Stick bat...It had taken me years to get an autograph from Todd and he was very kind to me while was signing it. I'd ove to go hunting with that dude.

                                 First Class guy...First Class autograph.

The Helton bat and my hand-drawn banner are my two most prized Rockies possessions.

Spring Training in the Mobile Blog Unit was a baseball blogger's dream come true thanks to my father-in-law who let me borrow his RV and transform it...Thank you Joe. 

   The best part the MBU was I could just park, turn on the laptop and blog from anywhere.

                             And I did, usually parked beside Hi-Corbett Field.

I ran into Mark, his wife Patti and Baby Paul at Hi-Corbett. Here they are pictured in front of the MBU. I miss reading Baby Paul's  blog..Mark get back to blogging man :)

                      The MBU's maiden and only voyage was a huge success.

The Rockpile Rant received crazy comment love from all over the world and I took thousands of pictures during my stay in Tucson.

The locals didn't want us to leave, they erected a shrine in our honor and gave us the keys to the city in case we come back. 

Instantly the Rockpile Rant became a household name. The TV and Radio offers came flying in. Me in an attempt to try and "Keep things Real" refused all offers for fame and fortune and very quickly drove that big a-ss RV back to Colorado because I was seriously missing my wife and kids.

     Besides..I'm a helluva nice poor guy, if I were rich I'd probably be an a-sshole. 

That was it for Spring Training 2009. As far as Andy (from spring training) and I were concerned the trip was a huge success. Andy (from spring training) plans to return to spring training in March 2010. The locals are await his return.                    Unfortunately I will not be able to attend Spring Training 2010.

 I had to make a choice (life's full of choices ya know), and I'm choosing to be one the first fans to attend the first Spring Training game at the new spring training facilities to be shared by the Rockies and the D-Backs in 2011.

                 Now let's  move onto the Rockies 2009 regular season.

Krista and I made our appearances the Rockies first regular season home game against the Phillies. It was fun but it was a total mad house and I may skip it this next season. 

I called this entry: Phillies Pay on Rockies Opening Day

Antyime we can spank the Phillies it's a good game. This game was even better because I got to see and visit with baseball friends I hadn't seen much all winter.  

During the Phillies batting practice Krista and I ran into R-LUV aka Marianne. She was there with her son and they were out collecting some serious Hagg'n points...I appreciated that.

            Here she is taking a picture of her son posing with an Usher for a Hagg'n point.                             Here's the other side of that photo..I like this one.

                    I've mentioned before that I have a "stuff to do before I croak" list.

 I've tried to keep mine on the simple side as I don't need a lot of extra stress toward the end of life. 

Truth be told, other than sex in space catching a live home run ball during the regular season is right at the top of my list.

Many times this season Dan has hooked me (and whoever was with me) up with a couplee of sweet Pavilion seats. He's been helping me in my quest to catch that home run ball and in my eyes that's a classy thing for a fellow snagger to do. 

All I can say is I came close this season. I managed to just miss Ryan Spilborghs first home run of the year.

Sixty year old Robert beat me to it (seriously folks...he had a good jump on me), and we both managed to get on TV with his home run snag.

              Here's a link to the video of Robert and I chasing after that ball:

                          Spilborghs home run and Robert's snag

 It was my first time on a highlight video and I was pretty stoked. Not nearly as excited as Robert who spent the next twenty minutes calling everyone on his cellphone explaining how he had caught Spilly's (his favorite Rockie) first home run of the year.

Believe me you I soaked up that experience. Wish it was me...Next year, count on it.

 I attended my first professional sporting event with my parents this year.

As you can tell the weather was a tad on the cold side but both my mom and dad were troopers and said they had a good time.

I was just thrilled they wanted to go and see what I do and hopefully understand why I do it.

Mom and dad...maybe the next game we catch we can wear shorts and drink a beer instead of lukewarm hot chocolate.

I'm know for taking a lot of pictures at sporting events (understatement).

This year I was at a Rockies game when I ran into two Rockies MLBloggers like myself.

Those two were Emily (writer of I Live For This and Tom (writer of Rocky Mountain Way Outside Coors Looking in).

 Batting practice was still going on and they came down to the first row of the Pavilion to say "Hey".

I'm not very talkative during batting practice so instead of talking I did what I do best at batting practices and I caught a BP homer and gave it to Emily. I had no idea it was her first baseball ever at a game.

                                   Then I took a picture of the both of them.  A few days later that picture made the cover page of MLBlogs.com. I still have this picture cut out and hanging on above my desk at work.

I love writing the Rockpile Rant because I'm discovering that there are many people out there that think like I do.

Occasionally I would hit up the Rockies forums and try to promote the Rockpile Rant. 

Early on in the season I started getting comments on the Rant from a nice lady nicknamed LUVMYROX aka Joy.

I loved getting her comments because she agreed with a lot of what I wrote and always had something positive to add to the topic.

Joy and her family are HUGE Rockies fans and I had the chance to meet her and her husband on April 27th.

                      Here's the entry:

If there's no Snagg'n there's always Tagg'n

Joy, you and your family are as cool as they come and it was an fun running into you at games. I wish you and your the best for this New Year.

I have to mention another Rockies blogger...Missy, writer of the MLBlog View from the Rockpile. She's an Usher for the Rockies and another HUGE Rockies fan. I met her underneath Coors Field once this season and a couple of times in the Pavilion.

             Very nice lady...and as I said you won't find a bigger Rockies fan.

   Then there's Kylie, writer of the Rockies MLBlog.   Blake Street Blogger

She's been commenting on the Rant for a long time and she recently moved to Colorado to attend school. I had the chance to meet her at a game in August. Kylie loves Tulo and loves her Rockies. I have a feeling I'll see her at more Rockies games next season. 

A couple of firsts for me this season while I'm thinking about them:

-I snagged the first batting practice baseball of Rockies Spring Training at Hi-Corbett field in Tucson.

-I snagged the first batting practice baseball of the season at Coors Field tossed up to me by Jorge De La Rosa.

-First time I was able to shoot video of myself catching a batting practice ball successfully.

               

-First time I was on a home run video with Spilborghs home run that Robert snagged.

-First time I was able to stand on Coors Field near home plate and get autographs.

-First time I caught a live home run ball even though it was Spring Training.

-First time I've attended a below freezing post-season game. The one this year made the record books.

-First time I was able to get Todd Helton to autograph something for me.(He signed three items for me this season).

-First time I was able to get Garrett Atkins autograph. For some reason He avoided me like the plague.

-First time the Rockpile Rant was ranked in the Top 5 for an entire season. Thanks to you.

-First time I was able to shoot video of another MLBlogger snagging her first baseball (Emily)

                

-First time I've seen myself in Rockies video...You can see Robert and I around the 45 second mark.

                         

-First time I've gotten to meet the Happy Youngster. Nick was as cool in person as I thought he would be. Family man, World Class snagger..Public Servant...All around great guy. The dude caught Prince Fielder's home run ball his second game at Coors Field...Amazing

-First time I was there to take a great picture of my favorite baseball player's big moment.(Helton's career 500th double).

                                 Things I didn't get to do this year.

-Catch a live home run ball or foul ball during a regular season game.

-Get Sal Fasano to sign the cracked bat of his that I have.

-Convince the Rockies that sending the Rockpile Ranter to Rockies Fantasy Camp would be a win/win thing for everyone involved.

-Snag baseballs and have a brew with Jim from Utah (Next season buddy).

-Take batting practice with the Rockies. (I can dream).

-Tour the manual scoreboard. I had several chances and never took the opportunity.

-Out-snag Zack Hample just one game this season when he was here at Coors Field. (He's the King).

                                        Noteworthy Moments.

                Dan's daughter Emily attends her 300th game at the age of 5...WOW

                               Manny Corpas makes Hunter's season:

                

                         

                               Buddy Carlyle makes Mylee's season. 

             

 Hazen (Andy from spring training son), gets his first ever Batting Practice ball.

My buddy Shad's son Sam for getting his first pro-baseball autograph..Manny Corpas.                                                  A Special Thank you to:

Dan for all the kind things you've done for my family and I and for trying to help me on my quest for a home run catch...(Seriously thank you).

Robert for hang'n with me in-between BP and the start of the game and for teaching my kids astronomy.

Queen Geri..Queen of all Ushers...For always having something nice to say on the Rant and for being a kind and generous soul :). I wish you the best and I hope you have a great New Year my friend.

                             Randy for being the ULTIMATE Rockies fan. Captain Earthman for serving the "Coldest beer on the planet" with a smile and an insult.I'd like to thank the Rockies for giving me a post-season this year, a reason to blog and the ability to feel like a kid for a couple hours at at time for a minimal charge and no pimples.

Oh yeah, I'd like to thank the person who invented those translucent skins you use to fill up brats and hot dogs. Without those intestine thingys who knows what the we'd be eating at a ballgame?

Nobody needs to tell me I'm a lucky guy. This year has been one hell of a ride and I loved every second of it. If I missed mentioning you in this year end entry I'm really sorry. It's not that I don't love you..It's just I'm old and I forget sh-it sometimes.

                   Thank you to everyone who has and will visit the Rockpile Rant.

                                 I wish you all a safe and Happy New Year.

                              See you in 2010 my friends...Bloggers bring it on.

                                                    D The Rockpile Ranter

12/20/09            Broncos vs Raiders Invesco Field at Mile High

I don't have the opportunity or money to attend a lot of Broncos football games. Since they built Invesco Field at Mile High and tore down the old Mile High Stadium ticket prices for a Broncos game have become ridiculious.

I picked up these tickets in August for Krista's birthday present.(Thanks Dan). We never miss the Broncos/Raiders game.

                          For a good reason too, we're what you call Raider Haters. FACT: After a Broncos game a Raider fan can usually get from the stadium to his car with out bodily harm. 

I'm not so sure you could say the same about a Broncos fan working his way back to his car in Oakland.  

Bronco fans take their tailgating seriously. Krista and I had spent the previous night in Colorado Springs at a long time friend of ours X-mas party so our tailgating consisted of a six-pack and a couple of Subway subs.

With that said we had food and booze... what more do you need to successfully tailgate?

Ok,... one of these contraptions might be nice but remember folks I was scraping just to afford the damn tickets in the first place...Cool stuff though. The parking lot was filled with Bronco vehicles and maniacs of all kinds.

      As we approached the front of Mile High we noticed the first tribute to the Barrel Man.

                   Notice it says "The Greatest Superfan Ever...Nice touch Broncos.

       There was a moment of silence during the game for Chris Henry who recently passed.       All the photos I took today were taken from the 500 level so they are not the greatest.

                                                              Before

                                                               After

                                       Did I mention it was a beautiful day?

It's not often you can catch a Broncos game in December and not need a heavy jacket.

                           Here's video of the Broncos running on to the field.

              

As I had hoped, before the game started there was a video tribute to the Barrel Man. Instead of a moment of silence they called for a Broncos Cheer. Additionally they did the wave starting in the South Stands until the game started.   

                

 That was cool. I have no idea what else the Broncos Organizaton may have planned for the memory of the Barrel Man. I did notice during the game when they were trying get the fans pumped up the Barrel Man would pop up on the big screen and give a cheer...I liked that.

                                     Here are some more random pictures.

                                                                                                                A shot of Denver

                                   Don't even ask me what the hell this was.

               Scary moment during the game when Champ Baily got his bells rung.

 

              

                              

The Raiders had our number today. The Broncos defense was non-existant. Kyle Orton was totally off his mark today and it's not easy to miss Brandon Marshall as he's a really big dude with long arms.

                                      Here's a shot of the almost final score. Second year in a row the Raiders have beat the Broncos at home and we paid to see it. The Broncos lost this one in the last minute of the game. Such is football I guess.

                                                    D The Rockpile Ranter

12/17/09

It's that time of year again. Time for the Annual Rockies season ticket holders Pavilion Party at Gunther Toodys.

Here's the entry from last year: 2008 Pavilion Party

This event is a good time and it's fun to see all those familiar faces. I'll have the entry up in a few days...

                                                  D The Rockpile Ranter

12/9/09

Wow, it's been a while since I've sat in front of a computer staring at my blog. It seems different now. Before when I was blogging I was running on adrenaline. Now, I don't feel rushed anymore.

Our move to the mountains really taxed my ability to attend Rockies games, work full time, be a father and keep up a top ten MLBlog.

 At the end of the Rockies/Phillies post-season game aka "The coldest post-season game in history" I was mentally done for a while as you could see in the lack of recent entries.

However, myself being a super fan in Colorado it would be impossible for me not to write an entry on the recently passed Bronco Superfan..the Barrel Man.

You see, I respected the Barrel Man.

Without fans professional sports cease to exist.

Most might disagree but in my small mind I consider myself the Rockies unofficial mascot.

This man also was considered the Broncos unofficial mascot.

Although when you make the Hall of Fame that in my eyes sort of makes it official.

I've attended 1-2 Broncos home games for at least the last ten years. Almost every game I'm dressed in several layers and by the time I get home I'm ready for a hot bath.

 Not the Barrel Man. Nobody except he and his wife knew what he wore underneath that barrel.

Everything  on the outside of that orange cylinder was exposed to the brutal elements.

Simply amazing. The temperature of the "Coldest baseball post-season game in history" was a nut shriveling 27 degrees. That's probably close to what the average temperature of a Broncos game in the winter time is. 

Had I watched that Rockies game in dressed only in a barrel I would have been a popsicle.

I don't know how the Barrel Man did it, but he did it...And he did it for a long time.

                             Here's a little history on 'The Man in the Can".

His name was Tim McKernan and he started attending Broncos games in 1967. The barrel was donned first in 1977 resulting from a bet from his brother. Here's a quote from the Barrel Man.

"He wanted to see me on TV out in California," McKernan said. "I had painted a barrel to make a drum out of it to look like an Orange Crush can, told him about it and he bet me 10 bucks that I didn't have the guts to wear nothing but the barrel to a ball game."

 He retired from being the Barrel Man for thirty years after the 2007 Broncos season due to Doctor's orders.

McKernan was the first Broncos fan inducted into the Visa Hall of Fans at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Several years ago, McKernan sold the famous barrel he wore for Super Bowl XXXII for $30,000.

 The Barrel Man had it autographed by 49 Broncos and he sold it to a Black Hawk, Colorado casino.

 McKernan gave 10% of the profits to the Jubilee House in Gunnison, Colorado.

 The Jubilee House is a domestic violence and sexual assault emergency shelter serving a large rural area in Colorado.

Ok Broncos, time to step up to the plate on this one. I have heard a lot of ideas for tribute to the Barrel Man and these are the ones that I liked. The Barrel Man should absolutely be in the Ring of Fame at Invesco Field at Mile High and a bronze statue of the Barrel Man should be erected somewhere in the South stands so the Barrel Man is is seen cheering on the Broncos for as long as the Broncos organization exists.  It's not a lot to ask and as I mentioned at the beginning of this entry, without fans,... professional sports cease to exist.

 

 

The Barrel man may have been imatated but he's never been duplicated. 

That would be impossible because he was truly one of a kind

I trust the Broncos organization will do the right thing. I've never met the Barrel Man but I've been within a few feet of him at a Broncos game.

The guy was magnetic.

Krista and I will be at the next Broncos home game vs the Raiders on Dec 20th.

This will be the first Broncos home game since the Barrel Man has passed.

 I really hope they have some kind of tribute for him. Fans like this one don't come around often.

                                         

 

 

                                         

 

 

                                           REST IN PEACE BARREL MAN                                 THE BARRELS IN HEAVEN ARE FELT LINED

                                    Got a Barrel Man Story? I'd love to hear it.

                                               D...The Rockpile Ranter