4/9/09

I really could overwhelm you with pictures and a monster blog today, and as much as I’d like to do just that, tomorrow is the Rockies home opener and my folks are arriving in town so I’m a short on time but I’ll do my best.

Let me tell you that this Power Aid contest that Hunter won was really a good time and all of the folks who helped with this promotion were really on their game.

We showed up at 5pm and they greeted Hunter and another winner with Power Aid backpacks.

Inside the backpacks were a couple bottles of PowerAid, wrist bands, two T-Shirts, a Power Aid water bottle, a towel and an Autographed Carmelo Anthony jersey.

This jersey was the real deal too. Not a replica jersey like the one I was sport’n.

That was really cool of them and one helluva way to get greeted.

Hunter and I were floored.

Hunter told me later, “Dad I know you want this jersey but I want to have it framed”. I told him I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want an autographed Melo jersey but I didn’t want “his” jersey.

I tell you what though..I’m jealous as hell :).

After the presentation of the backpacks we all headed over to the trailer where they do all of the editing for the basketball game. They were really nice to us and explained in a nutshell what they do before and after the game inside this mobile trailer.

When we finished touring the trailer we walked over to the hallway and that was where we waited for Melo to show meet us..

While we were waiting I saw Anthony Carter walk by, Renaldo Balkman, Chauncey Billups and Chris Anderson (Birdman).

When Melo walked in as he passd me he saw I had on his # jersey and he gave me a hand slap.

Then he walked up to Hunter and the other winner and said hi and talked to them a little bit.

Hunter had a few questions he wanted to ask and Melo was REALLY cool about answering them. Melo was totally a class act tonight and it was really nice to see Hunter keep his stuff together and not get nervous and forget how to talk.

Here’s a video of Hunter asking Melo a few questions:

Then we all posed for a photo.

Thanks Melo, those few minutes you spent with my boy will leave a lasting impression on him for the rest of his life. Thank you sir for making it a positive one.

 

 

 

Then we headed out to the court to wait for Chris Marlowe (FSN play by-play announcer) to give meet the kids and tell them a little bit about what he does.

 

 

 

 He shook my hand I said “Nice to meet you Mr. Marlowe” and he hit me back with “Call me Chris”. Chris I know you’re a busy guy but thanks for spending some time with “my guy”.

He writes a really good  blog for the Nuggets and you have no idea how bad I wanted to slip him a Ranter card and talk some blogging with him. I reminded myself that tonight was Hunter’s night not mine.

Hunter was so good and so polite to all of these new people. I was really proud of him.

Here’s video of Chris explaining some stuff to the kids:

That was pretty much it. They told us we could hang out court side for a while until they asked to leave.
         What a great opportunity to take pictures. this fella below would be the Birdman.

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Birdman has some intense fans. Check out this artwork.

Enjoy the picture show and half-time video of “The Rubber Man”. Let me warn you about the Rubber Man, this video is way beyond strange.

We headed up to our seats on the first level Row 15 and watched the Nuggets go back and forth a little bit with the Thunder. In the end the Nuggets were just too strong with Melo scoring 31 points, JR smith scoring 17 and Nene scoring 21.

Nuggets win 122-110 and I would like to thank PowerAid, FSN Rocky Mountain, Altitude Sports, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Marlowe, Pepsi Center the Denver Nuggets and anyone else who may have had a hand in this once in a lifetime experience for Hunter.

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Best beard of the evening————>

Below is Rocky messing with a guy who is not too thrilled.
                         Rocky’s persistent though and the dude eventually cracked..

                                          Check out this fan’s tattoo. Is that real?

Missed that tattoo, here’s a close up of this beauty.

Rocky wishing the guys good luck.
   It’s always nice to know when your down, your friends are right there to pick you up.

 Check the Rockpile Ranter’s picture blog over the next couple of days. I’ll have the rest of this games pictures uploaded.

Tomorrow is the day, opening day at Coors Field.

I work half a day, go home for an hour then head out to Coors field for day one of Hagg’n, tagg’n, snagg’n and making memories so I can be bragg’n.

I’m D,….The rhyming Ranter with the funky fresh banter. Old Skool, but not an old fool.