Ticket request No. 2,031. “I live in California and have already spent a bundle on playoff tickets this year. So I am hoping to lower my costs for the World Series. I figured a high-profile guy such as yourself might have access to some seats. Kiz, if you come across any, maybe you could give me a call.”
John, Sacramento, Calif.
Kiz: No problem. Keep your grimy fingers off your computer keyboard on Monday morning and stay close to your phone. If I hit the Series ticket lotto, this is my sacred promise: You’ll be the 2,031st person on my call-back list.
Apologize to Monforts. “You owe the Monfort brothers a huge apology. You have been proven wrong. These owners’ approach to baseball has been proven successful.”
Dan, Windsor
Kiz: Dick and Charlie Monfort caught lightning in a bottle. Good for them. Good for the team. Good for long-suffering baseball lovers. So I’m happy to offer congratulations to the owners, but an apology? No way. Because, if anything, Dick and Charlie owe baseball lovers a huge refund check for the ticket money these owners pocketed during more than a decade of ridiculously poor management decisions. Tell you what. We’ll call it even.
Lightning strikes 14 years late. “We all thought Eric Young’s home run as the first Rockies batter during a major-league game in Denver was a harbinger of great things. It was. But it took, what, 14 years?”
Rusty, Longmont
Kiz: While many folks would trade years of lousy baseball for one glorious shot at the World Series, it certainly didn’t stop Rockies fans from telling the Monforts what they really think. The boos were loud when the franchise owners were introduced at Coors Field after the team won the National League pennant.
Loyal Lubick. “Sonny Lubick is Colorado State football, and in a world where a win-at-all-costs mentality would lead some coaches to throw their own mother under the bus to get ahead, Lubick is the definition of integrity. Anywhere else, the offensive and defensive coordinators would have been fired two years ago. God knows I want them gone, but I respect Sonny’s loyalty.”
Tony, Firestone
Kiz: Maybe the honorable thing would be for some CSU assistant coaches to submit resignations, so Lubick is not forced to be loyal to the bitter end.
Respect goes both ways. “It’s amusing Boston ace Josh Beckett wants to call out 78-year-old, 110-pound Kenny Lofton of Cleveland and whines that he just wants Kenny to respect pitchers, yet it’s OK for Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez to stand at home plate and grandstand until a home run actually leaves the field.”
Robert, Denver
Kiz: And what player would you rather see manning left field for the BoSox? Colorado hero and humble slugger Matt Holliday, perhaps? Better be careful what you wish for, my man.
Parting shot
And today’s parting shot is a big thank-you note to the 15-year-old cancer victim who befriended Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and reminded us all that you don’t have to win 21 of 22 baseball games to be a baseball hero.
“Kyle Blakeman. What a brave, young boy. In No. 64, the Rockies have an angel with them.”
Rick, San Jose, Calif.
