Defining the terms.
“Rockies manager Clint Hurdle opines that season-ticket holders want ‘immediate gratification.’ As a season-ticket holder from Day One, I would hardly say that wanting more than two playoff appearances and four winning seasons in 16 years qualifies as the need for immediate gratification. The Rockies have been about unfulfilled promises and complete lack of accountability. Hurdle can say he ‘takes responsibility’ for lack of production, but having one of the longest tenures of any manager with such a losing percentage, is he really accountable? Is general manager Dan O’Dowd accountable for touted young players now regressing or failing? Are Charlie and Dick Monfort accountable for so much disappointment? The Rockies may call it stability; I call it acceptance of mediocrity.”
Neil, Denver
Kiz: Didn’t Hurdle suggest that if you don’t believe in his ballclub, stop coming to the ballpark? That advice had to sting frustrated season-ticket holders heavily invested in the Rockies’ success. Know what once got Don Baylor fired as skipper? No-shows in LoDo. Those who don’t learn from history . . .
Wrong blue-light special.
“Well, you certainly stirred emotions with the suggestion it’s time for Nuggets center Marcus Camby to go. How ’bout trading Kenyon Martin instead of Camby? Why do nice guys finish last?”
Toni, sweet on Camby
Kiz: I’d be the last guy to hammer MC for being nice. But Camby’s salary is also trade-friendly, while the ugly contract Kiki Vandeweghe once gave K-Mart makes it impossible to move him.
Avs’ wait worth it.
“I have quite a bit of trust in Avs general manager Francois Giguere. He’s tossing the dice not to get a marquee unrestricted free agent, but Brian Rolston and Marian Hossa will be overpaid and neither play center, so I don’t think they could really fill the void if Joe Sakic retires.”
BC, Littleton
Kiz: The NHL champion Red Wings thought Hossa was worthy of a $7.45 million salary, while the Avs spent about 10 percent of that sum on journeyman defender Daniel Tjarnqvist, whose real value might be in a game of Scrabble, not hockey. What’s wrong with this picture? And does Sakic really want to be part of it?
Not in a Melo mood.
“Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony is not a team leader, doesn’t play defense and stands around on offense when he doesn’t have the ball. If you’ve got a guy who throws the coaching staff under the bus and waltzes into court knowing his celebrity status will get him off the hook for drunken driving, why do you think he’s good for Denver?”
Danno, Melo basher
Kiz: At the risk of ruining my reputation as a hanging judge, Melo’s mistakes merit a spanking from the Nuggets, not expulsion from town. What’s more, although Brandon Marshall’s year of living dangerously should scare the Broncos, I think it would be unfair for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to suspend him at this point.
Melo getting Swift-boated.
“I can handle the public discourse on how to make the Nuggets better, but the abuse Melo has received in recent weeks has been relentless, like he is one rung below Osama bin Laden on the evil scale. Why such hate?”
Dawn, Melo backer
Kiz: When Melo said “We quit” against the Lakers, some fans couldn’t handle the truth, just as some folks in the Nuggets’ locker room couldn’t handle looking honestly in the mirror.
Parting shot
And today’s parting shot is from a Rockies fan who wants to make a bigger stink about my underwear than shortstop Troy Tulowitzki’s smelly batting average.
“There you go getting your shorts in an uproar, Kiz. Couldn’t wait to get in your shots at the Rockies, just like last year at this time. Dude, chill out. It’s a 162-game season. Tulo’s hitting, and Ubaldo Jimenez is getting it together. At the end, the Rockies will be near the top.”
Nick, keeping the faith
