Rockies Fest 4…Now There’s More
1/19/2012
It’s almost that time of the year again.
That day towards the end of January where hardcore Rockies fans get to walk around the innards of Coors Field like they bought and paid for the place. In years past tickets to this event were cherished and have been difficult to obtain. I mean seriously how often does the average Joe get the opportunity to poke his head inside the humidor or meander through the Rockies locker room and see how messy the Deuce’s locker is?
My thing is I like to covertly toss my Ranter cards into the players lockers . No players have ever contacted me from that move, but it’s fun and kind of a ritual now for me.
Is this your first time going? Check out the previous Rockies Fests.
Here’s last years 2011 Rockies Fest blog entry…. Rockies Fest 3
Heres the 2010 Rockies Fest blog entry…. Rockies Fest 2
And I was at the first one too but WordPress lost that blog entry for me.
Anyways, the Rockies have broadened what Rockies Fest is this year. For the past three years Rockies Fest was a season ticket holder only event. This year being what the Rockies call “The Year of the Fan” the powers who be added an extra day to the event and now non-season ticket holders can enjoy the experience for only…
Here I am blessing Coors Field in 2011
Here I am Blessing Coors Field in 2010
I’ve decided not to Bless Coors Field this year.
I’m not mad or anything it’s just that it hasn’t worked. I will however be Tebowing from that exact spot. You ask why? Well I Tebowed in a bottle suit in the north end zone at Mile High Stadium and the Broncos advanced to the playoffs.
I figure it can’t hurt right?
I’m “D” The Ranter and I’d like to welcome Jamie Moyer and thank him for making a middle aged guy feel young 
See you at Rockies Fest on Saturday…“D”
Doing My Part to Inspire Art
1-17-12
It’s one thing to admire someone’s artwork. What takes that to a new level is when that person admires your work and they take it and they add their own touch to it.
Here’s a picture I recently took at the Steelers vs Broncos game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
Here’s that same picture after Kyle Banister got ahold of it
Thanks Kyle, I’m honored and I think you did a fantastic job. If you’d like to see what’s next on Kyle’s drawing board become his friend on FACEBOOK. He’s working on a Giambi piece next
I’m ”D” The Ranter and this is some cool stuff…”D”
Fifteens no Seven but this Seasons been Heaven
1/8/12
STEELERS VS BRONCOS…THE REMATCH
This entry took a while to create because I had too many pictures to choose from. I finally decided since I couldn’t go see the Broncos take on the Patriots in person, I’d wait until after I knew who won the game to post this entry. Sorry to tease you.
As did most Broncos fans I went through a mixed range of emotions this past week. I was extremely excited that the Broncos made the playoffs but I wasn’t sure I felt they deserved to be there. Eventually as the week wore on I became comfortable with it
Krista and I had originally planned to sell our tickets and watch this one from home. However Coach John Fox called for all Broncos fans to not sell their tickets to avoid a Steeler takeover of Mile High like there was in 2006. Which is why we kind of didn’t want to attend in the first place.
Coach Fox asked nice and we knew we wouldn’t miss this game.
Besides, I was lucky enough to purchase two more tickets the day they went on sale in the south stands and Mike the Rox Addict was our guest this game.
For me this football game was about sweet justice/revenge. I was at the Steelers/Broncos game in 2006 when the Steelers embarrassed the Broncos and I hate that memory.
However, when your team is in the playoffs and you didn’t expect to be there, it’s all just gravy baby.
After the Broncos loss the previous week the media let loose on Tebow. They were waiting like hungry hawks for that opportunity to slam Tebow. The sound of every Sportscaster in America chanting “I told you so” echoing across the radio and television was enough to make me want to hurl.
I wanted see Tebow to shove a big win down their tiny microphones.
Here are a few pre-game pictures.
Steelers taking the field..Boo!
The Coin Flip. Broncos win and elect to kick.
Cartman getting the crowd ready.
First kick of the game.
The ball bouncing off the uprights after Prater’s monster kick.
Double choke.
Champ Baily proving you’re never to old to fly.
The taking down of Big Ben.
This is the Tebow Touchdown series.
Yeah!
Steelers Touchdown.
Steelers Field Goal.
Eddie doing his thing series.
The Decker injury series.
Broncos Field Goal
The dude who sits beside us…The Broncnator
I’ve never seen Mile High this amped before. The 12th Man was a major factor in this game every time the Steelers touched the football.
I was in a perfect position to take a picture of the winning touchdown. Here’s Thomas running in the game winner but as you can see it’s all blurry. That’s because Bronco Nation had Mile High stadium shaking so violently that my camera couldn’t compensate.
That’s never happened before.
“In your face Pittsburg”, and the best thing was nobody believed the Broncos could do it except Bronco Nation. The same Bronco Nation that was going absolutely nuts as Thomas rapidly approached the end zone ball in hand. The wife and I were hugging and high-fiving strangers we’d never even met.
That’s a memory and feeling I’ll never forget.
My first year as a Broncos season ticket holder was incredible. So many highs and lows. My wife and I tailgated every game and cheered our hearts out no matter how the Broncos were doing. If you look closely on TV during any Broncos field goal or extra point kicked, In the first row up on the fifth level just above the handicapped row you can usually see the both of us standing up cheering. I’m usually snapping pictures.
From the demise of Kyle Orton to the Rise of Tim Tebow. This season had everything because I expected nothing.
I know Tebow needs work. The Broncos as a whole need work. I’m hoping that Coach Fox has the resources, knowledge and the testicular fortitude to make some wise choices come next season. Props to Coach Fox for his ability to think outside the box this season, I respect him for that.
It can’t be a bad thing John Elway taking the young Tebow under his wing this off-season and passing on those golden nuggets of wisdom tucked away inside his legendary head right? Only time will tell on that one.
This concludes the 2011 Denver Broncos Football Season on the Rockpile Rant and I must tell you I really, really(yes two reallys), enjoyed taking pictures of football for the first time.
What’s next you ask?…Well it’s Rockies Fest this Saturday January 21st. I know a whole bunch of Rantics are going to be there and I’m really looking forward to hang’n with everyone. I miss baseball and my friends Yo!
I’m ”D” The Ranter and remember you can do what I do, but then I’ll just come back and do it better.
So sit back and just leave it to me …”D”
Running Full Throttle in a Bottle
Game 16
Chiefs vs Broncos (1/1/2012)
The Ranter family was highly anticipating this game for several reasons. Firstly this game featured the first ever match-up between Denver’s former Quarterback Kyle Orton and Denver’s new Quarterback Tim Tebow.
The Broncos were just one win away from winning the AFC West and Kyle Orton was on a mission to destroy Denver’s playoff chances, shove a win down Denver fan’s throats, and put on a solid performance as teams that could need a Quarterback next season will be watching his performance closely.
The other reason we were excited was I had recently won a contest sponsored by Bud Light. I won the chance to wear a Bud Light bottle suit and race two other bottles on the field during halftime at this particular game.
In addition Bud light and the Broncos awarded me two tickets to the game and a parking pass. We decided it would be fun to take Mylee and Hunter so they could see their dad dressed up like a beer bottle at halftime. I was stoked and very much looking forward to being able to stand on the Broncos field for the first time. More on this whole experience further into this blog entry…
Here are the kids pre-game. This was their first official Broncos tailgating experience, they’re quick learners.
The weather was decent for tailgating and we spent some time chatting with Andy from Spring training and Hunter and I tossed around the football.
Hunter managed to tell off some KC fans in his own special way.
The Mile High skydivers were in full effect. I wish I could show you all of these photos, they’re really cool.
The big flag.
The coin toss. The coin is in the air next to the cameraman’s shoulder.
A couple of shots of Tebow coming out of the Broncos tunnel.
Here are some game pictures I took in no particular order.
About halfway through the second quarter the folks who were doing the Bud Light race arrived at my seat to take me down to field level. When I arrived at the end of the tunnel field level there were six minutes left before halftime. I was allowed to watch the game from that spot until two minutes were left then it was time to get my bottle suit on. I was given the Bud Light Lime bottle (I had no choice), and about a 30 lb backpack to strap on my back to keep the bottle pumped up.
Then the other bottles and I returned back to the tunnel and waited anxiously for halftime. I’m the white and green bottle.
I had a lot of friends at this game and as competitive as I am I had to win this thing. I had spent several days pondering exactly what I’d do if I won.
In the end I decided I absolutely had to spike the ball and do a “Tebow” while in the bottle suit.
Me standing around enjoying the moment.
Here’s what the race consisted of. We were supposed to run to the 10 yard line drop and do 5 push ups. Then run through the cones and across a ladder. Next I had to catch a football and haul ass back to the start line.
Simple enough right?
Well the announcer Roach said “On you mark, get set” then he pause a few extra seconds and in that time I stepped forward then to be fair I stepped back. As I was stepping back Roach said “Go”.
I was behind from the very start.
I stopped exactly on the 10 yard line to do my push ups but the other bottles kept going.
As I started to push up I stopped to look up and see why the other bottles kept going.
Then I saw them finally drop and I knocked out my push ups.
I managed to gain some ground in the cones even though Bud Light Wheat (the orange bottle), skipped two of them.
By the time I hit the ladders I had a small lead.
Then the dude tossed me the football and I dropped it.
At that point I was like “Shit”, and I scrambled to find the football. It only took me a few seconds to find the ball but it’s not easy bending over in a bottle suit.
Once I regained possession of the ball the race was back on but I was dead last again.
I was gaining ground fast.
The fear of losing was taking over my old body and I reached deep inside for that last burst of energy.
I managed to catch Bud Light Wheat and it was a photo finish. In the end I was announced the winner(remember the Bud Light Wheat bottle skipped two cones)..
I was a bit winded but I scored a win for my kids and my fans.
And if you’re wondering if I pulled of my T-Bud?(Thanks Todd)…You Betcha!
This is the video Krista shot of the whole thing.
Here’s what I won. A Broncos shirt, a Broncos pin, some stickers, a Bud Light hat, a Broncos magazine, a koozie, and the last thing in the bag was an envelope. The envelope contained a piece of paper that said I could choose an Authentic jersey of my choice.
Thank you for this opportunity Bud Light. That my friends is how you start out a New Year.
Chiefs beat the Broncos in the final game of the regular season and I still have no issues with losing Kyle Orton. His performance was Ho-Hum kinda dull, just like him.
If Orton’s plan was to send Denver fans a message, he didn’t. Props to the Denver Defense for keeping us in this game.
Broncos Coach John Fox has specifically asked Denver Season Ticket holders not to sell their tickets. This is because way back in 2006 (the last time the Broncos made the playoffs), Mile High Stadium was filled with more Steelers fans than Broncos fans and it was straight up embarrassing.
I’m ”D” The Ranter and I’m still on the Tebow wagon, but I feel like my ass is dragg’n. The rest of America can go ahead and tell Tebow he can’t win a Superbowl.
Not me, I’ve recently seen life from inside the bottle and I believe…”D”
GO BRONCOS!!!
Four months till Spring…Trying another thing
11-30-11
DEVILS VS AVALANCHE
I received an emergency text from my buddy “B”. He informed me that the Colorado Avalanche have been having some difficulties winning games at home and he had an extra ticket for tonight’s game.
The Avalanche needed my help.
When that’s the case and a free ticket is available, I’m willing to lend my services.
I’m all about winning at home.
It’s been way too long since I’ve attended a hockey game. Growing up in Canada watching hockey was a regular thing and it’s sad to say that’s one of the things I’ve let slip. The main reason being for the cost of one hockey game I can see a whole bunch of Rockies games.
Props to my buddy “B” for hooking me up with 1st level tickets.
This was my first time ever photographing professional hockey and it’s a hell of a lot harder than baseball I can tell you that. It’s not easy to follow the puck with a camera and at times I found myself waiting for the puck to find it’s way into my viewfinder.
Remember back in the day when Fox had the glowing puck that would leave a streamer? I always thought that was cool.
I believe it was called Fox Trax
Hockey is so fast paced you don’t have time to get bored. Best part is there’s enough time between periods to actually grab some food or buy a souvenir and get back to your seat before you miss anything.
This game started off with a bang as the Avalanche scored three goals in the first period. That’s the second time this season the Avs have done that. That’s what I’m talking about.
Here’s the first goal scored by Milan Hejduk . O’Reilly and Landeskog got the assist.
I could see my presence was making a difference. Being a Super Fan of several sports I give off a lot of “Karmic Goodness”. Since this was my first Avalanche game in several years the Avalanche were basking in it.
I posted the picture below in my Facebook, if you look to the right of these two dudes you can see Dexter Fowler front row all smiles.
That’s cool, Ryan Wilson(below) and I were all smiles too. This game was exciting.
This is 20-year-old Matt Duchene.
Jan Hedja from Prague, CZE.
Protecting the goal.
Team Captain Milan Hejduk.
Ryan Wilson, this dude is fun to watch.
Goalie Semyon Varlamov from Samara Russia.
Kyle Quincey
Daniel Winnik
Shane O’Brien
Rookie Gabriel Landeskog in full resolution.
Here’s another of Gabriel.
One more..I recently acquired Gabriel’s autograph so I’ll be watching this kid.
The Devils only goal.
This is the kind of game you want to attend.. This was the Avalanche’s highest scoring home game this season.
Final Score 6-1, Avalanche with a huge win over one of the NHL’s stud goalies.
Say what you want but I know my presence helped.
I’m “D” The Ranter…Avalanche I’m available if you need me…”D”
He’s no Messiah…But he’ll run by ya.
11-17-11
Jets vs Broncos
A shot of Sports Authority Field as it was just starting to get dark.
Von Miller making an entrance.
Why do people dislike this guy so?
I didn’t know much about Tim Tebow before he became a Bronco but this guy is winning me over. I’m not blind, I realize Tim is seriously rough around the edges but what he lacks in experience he makes up for in heart and balls.
Bronco fans have waited a long time for the right quarterback. I have thoroughly enjoyed every home game I’ve attended this season where Tebow was the starter. He brings a much-needed ”vibe” back to a stadium that has been lacking a beat.
My last picture of Kyle Orton. Seems he was picked up by the Chiefs. I hope he’s the starter when the Broncos host the Chiefs on New Years day. I’m sure there won’t be an empty seat in the house. Notice I didn’t say it was the last game of the season.
All I know at this point is with Tebow, you never know?
My prediction…Orton puts on a ho-hum lackluster performance and Broncos get the win.
First play of the game, Tebow pass to Thomas…In-Com-Plete
Look at the size of the arms of #93. Tebow is a big guy, but this dudes arms are the size of Tebow’s legs.
Nice to have Eddie Royal back.
Tebow doing an on field version of “Tebowing”
I didn’t see this guy hop over the wall, I caught up with him as he was getting tackled.
Tim Tebow touchdown series.
Oh Yeah!!
Broncos take this one with another 4th quarter come from behind win at the hands of Tim Tebow. Final Score 17-13.
Haters keep on hating and telling Tebow he can’t do it.
Broncos fans know what happens when you tell Tim he can’t do something.
I’m “D” the Ranter. Long time Broncos fan and first year Broncos season ticket holder who’s luv’n it…”D”
Blow Me Down…Superwind Hits our Little Town
11/13/11
Alternate titles for this blog entry were “Got Wood” and “Sure you’ve been blown at home, but ever had your home blown?”
The were three things I noticed when Saturday nights Superwind finally subsided and I hesitantly opened the curtains to survey the damage. The first thing I noticed was the power was still out. The second thing I noticed was the grill dumped over on its side. The third thing I noticed was my neighbor’s house.
That shocked me because it used to be not visible from our porch.
Their house is normally blocked by a row of trees that used to be our wind block.
The news stated that there were microbursts that exceeded 100 mph. Microbursts my ass. Krista and I were in the cabin pretty much awake all night long and the wind never let up. Throughout the night we heard several loud cracks and felt the ground thud so many times I stopped counting.
We were awake when the tree next to the house was uprooted and fell onto the house. It hit right where we sleep and we could hear the branches banging on the roof all night long. That was unsettling to say the least.
This bad ass wind storm wasn’t micro anything.
Here’s another shot of that tree leaning on the cabin.
The same tree from the back of the cabin.
Here it is after we removed top 2/3rd as it was dangerous just hanging there. The double tree in the picture below and the tree to the right of it both struck the cabin when they were uprooted.
To add insult to injury we recently switched satellite providers. Below is what’s left of our new dish. Notice the old-fashioned TV antenna in the background is untouched and standing proudly.
Sad to say I didn’t get to see the Broncos win at KC on Sunday. No worries I’ll be at Mile High on Thursday vs the Jets.
On the plus side I’d say I picked a great spot to put my shed. Trees down all around it and it escaped unscathed. Look at the size of the tree that uprooted behind it.
Another shot of the wind break trees that hit the house. Notice the previous satellite providers dish is unharmed…WTF??
Back of the house.
Not all the trees were uprooted. The tree that took out the satellite dish snapped at the base as did the biggest tree on the property.
This tree was huge and it sucks that it’s gone.
RIP buddy
We lost thirteen trees. None of us were hurt and the kids were actually away for the weekend.
I’m “D” The Ranter…Still living on the mountain top but I’m no King of the Mountain. This little incident shows us in reality we’re all Mother Natures bitch…“D”
Yeah it’s Sad..Farewell to Heavy Metal’s Dad
11-5-11
Thin Lizzy..Black Label Society and Judas Priest.
I had purchased tickets for this trifecta almost four months prior to this show. It’s supposedly Judas Priest’s last tour so I wasn’t going to miss it. As my friend Drew and I entered 1st Bank Center Thin Lizzy was finishing up their opening set with “The Boys are Back in Town”, they sounded good.
Here’s Zakk Wylde and his band the “Black Label Society”. I’m not familiar with Zakk’s new stuff I just remember him as the guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne for many years.
Gotta admit, that headdress is pimp’n.
Here’s video of Zakk Wylde and his Band Black Label Society
Tight band, worth seeing if you get the chance.
I did a blog entry about Judas Priest the last time they visited Colorado. They played Red Rocks Ampitheater with Whitesnake and another band I had never heard of called “Pop Evil”. I called that entry..”Heavy Metal is still alive as Rob does the Job”.
I was going to link that blog entry to this one however when MLBlogs converted to the WordPress format apparently that blog entry was lost. I had no idea until I started looking for it. I knew they had lost a bunch of my blog entries but I was quite fond of that particular one. Thanks again MLBlogs, another memory wiped out.
This tour was called the Epitaph tour and it seemed Priest tried to play a song from every album. That’s not that easy when you’ve been cranking out Heavy Metal music for over 40 years.
I had no idea that they were attending this show but I ran into my friends Marc, Donna, Jack and Kim. They attended the last Judas Priest show at Red Rocks 2 1/2 years ago with me…How cool is that?
Unfortunately K.K Downing will not be on the Epitaph tour. Rob Halford released this letter explaining the situation.
Props to Richie Faulkner for doing an amazing job for K.K.
Here are a couple of videos I shot of Rob Halford and Judas Priest.
This was the last concert I’ll ever attend without earplugs. There was no way I was going to sit in the seats on the side of the stage. This was my last chance to see Judas Priest and our seats were General Admission on the floor in front of the stage baby.
My ears paid the price for that. I’m “D” The Ranter and you better hurry up if you want to witness the original pioneers of Heavy Metal in action.
Everything is better live…“D”
T didn’t Bow…He Buckled
10-30-11
Lions vs Broncos
Krista and I were really amped for this game along with the rest of the Bronco Nation as was witnessed by the enthusiasm of the tailgaters gett’n down in the Broncos parking lot pre-game.
I had no idea what to expect from Tebow this game. We all know he managed to pull out that win in Florida with a lot of prayers and some plain old last second luck. My opinion (which was formed during Kyle Orton’s last game) was I’d rather see Tebow lose and get the experience than see Orton’s unmotivating presence on the field.
By the end of this game that’s exactly what we got to see. Chalk this game up to experience as the inexperience of our new quarterback was painfully obvious.
Have I mentioned that I love photographing the skydivers as they enter Mile High?
These dudes are f’kn nuts.
The horse coming out of the horse.
Tebow doing the stand up version of Tebowing.
The coin toss. If you look close you can see the coin.
Right off the bat the Broncos marched downfield and scored a touchdown that for some reason was not a touchdown in the referee eyes. The play was reviewed and in the end wasn’t changed.
The Broncos settled for a field goal.
Then the game went from bad to worse.
All I could do is watch in disbelief and take pictures. Here you go.
Champ Baily doing what he does best.
Well amost…Johnson broke the tackle and scored.
This game was painful to watch. Even more painful if you paid to watch it.
Final Score..Lions 45 Broncos 10
I haven’t given up on Tebow. Stuff like this helps a fellow build character. But if you listen closely you can hear the rest of America saying “See Denver, you get what you ask for”.
And they’d be correct.
I’m the Ranter…Baby steps, as painful as they may be.
I’m not going ot tell Tebow “He can’t do it”.
Go Broncos…”D”
Meet Gabriel Landeskog at MVP Sports..Support Youth Hockey
Avalanche 2nd pick Gabriel Landeskog will make an appearance at MVP Sports Cards & Memorabilia.
He will be at MVP November 19th from 3:00- 4:30. This will be Gabriel’s first public Autograph apperance. Gabriel is donating all the money from the signing to Foothills Youth Hockey.
Space is limited because the pricing for Gabriel’s autograph is a GREAT deal at only ten bucks.
Stop by MVP SPORTS CARDS AND MEMORABILIA early and pick-up something for Gabriel to Autograph.
414 S Teller St, in the Belmar Shopping Center, Littleton Colorado. 303-972-8393
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