Torrealba a tough loss. “What do the Rockies do? What the Rockies have always done – pay lip service about how they want to keep the core of the team together, then punt. What is more important than catcher Yorvit Torrealba in this regard? If $1.5 million a year is reason enough not to sign a guy who was Mr. Clutch, what chance is there of signing Matt Holliday? Absolutely zero.”
Hal, Colorado Springs
Kiz: Sure, five mil per year is a steep price to pay for a catcher with no throwing arm and modest pop in his bat. But where Torrealba proved priceless was in his relationship with Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales. Those young pitchers would miss Torrealba more than you do.
Coach compassion. “I like that Broncos coach Mike Shanahan supports running back Travis Henry. In our culture, we are too quick to condemn. It seems to me someone from our generation ought not to appear to condemn marijuana use. It trashes your heritage of questioning social and political authority.”
Bill, Larkspur
Kiz: Ah, yes. The Summer of Love. I remember it well. I was 9. And I loved the sound of baseball cards in the wheel spokes of my bike. Speaking of love, what’s it got to do with the court records that insist Henry had nine kids with nine different women?
Joint hypocrisy. “To have marijuana on the NFL’s list of banned substances, right up there with anabolic steroids, is ridiculous. Mary Jane is definitely not a performance-enhancing drug. I do not smoke MJ, but I have. And I inhaled. To ruin a young man’s career over a joint is mean-spirited, prejudicial and counterproductive to the whole substance-abuse policy.”
Jim, NFL critic
Kiz: Athletes can do far worse to the game’s integrity than fire up a doobie, brother. For example: If baseball slugger Barry Bonds had rolled a joint instead of reaching for the flaxseed oil, here’s betting he would be in far less trouble with the law.
Rock-headed voters. “You all had better make some noise about the NL rookie of the year. What an absolute joke. Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun might be the worst-fielding third baseman in baseball.”
Chris, Denver
Kiz: Aargh! Is that enough noise for ya? Anybody can see Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is a more complete ballplayer. Fun fact to know and tell: Braun was required to dress up as a hot dog as part of his rookie hazing with the Brewers. Baseball writers who voted Braun as ROY showed what they have for brains, and should be required to dress up as rocks.
Parting shot
And today’s parting shot amplifies the wisdom of a parent who understands youth sports are about more than the scoreboard, especially after watching dozens of Chatfield High School football players weakened by a virus face powerful Mullen in the state playoffs.
“I never heard one Chatfield kid use illness as an excuse. They lost to a bigger, better team, but left everything on the field. My son’s only comment was how sad he felt for the seniors, because most of them will never put on shoulder pads again.”
Valerie, Littleton
