Psst. Hey, you, Broncomaniac. Yeah, you, the one who’s spent the past five weeks gnashing your teeth over the Jay Cutler saga.
That couldn’t have been easy for you, deciding if you were for or against a quarterback who pouts more than a Victoria’s Secret model.
And it can’t be a whole lot of fun rooting for troubled wide receiver Brandon Marshall. I mean, when a guy’s police record makes more news than his receiving stats, that has to be a bummer.
But I have a springtime solution for you. Do yourself a favor and go over to 20th and Blake.
Check out Ubaldo Jimenez and his 98-mph fastball, killer curveball and megawatt smile. The kid’s got Cy Young Award stuff and a personality worth rooting for.
Check out catcher Chris Iannetta. If you don’t know anything about him, let me clue you in. In the Rockies’ opener in Phoenix on Monday, he hit a 441-foot rocket that left home plate like it was fueled by NASA. If he stays healthy, he’ll become an all-star — this year.
I’m sure you’ve heard about Troy Tulowitzki by now. Yeah, that guy, Tulo. After a lousy 2008 season, he’s back. Watching Tulo run deep into the shortstop hole, pivot and gun the ball to first base is one of Colorado’s natural wonders.
And there’s more to see at Coors Field: Ian Stewart’s raw power; Ryan “Spilly” Spilborghs wearing his love of the game on his jersey sleeve; Dexter Fowler chasing down a long flyball in the huge expanse of center field; and Todd Helton jabbing, bobbing and weaving against the pitcher, then driving the ball to the opposite field.
No, this isn’t a paid advertisement for the Monfort brothers. Believe me, I know all about the fans’ issues with this franchise. And believe me, I get Broncomania. I grew up here and I covered the Broncos for this newspaper for seven years.
I’m just saying that after a long, gray winter featuring the Bowlen- Shanny affair, followed up by the soap opera known as McJaygate, it might be a ray of sunshine to check out the Rockies.
Go see a bunch of young players who actually love the game.
