Friday was the Rockies’ Opening Day, and a big day for Denver bigwigs. More than 200 bold names shoehorned into the Coors Field picnic area behind the ballpark for an invite-only, VIP pre-game party, complete with beer, hotdogs, burgers, prime rib, and shrimp cocktails. The VIPs slapped backs and smiled, they celebrated the game, the team’s excellent prospects, the fine weather, and their own good fortune to be in Denver, at a baseball game, on such a day.
It was also a good day to be a politician.
Mayor Bill Vidal noted that he was born in Cuba, “So baseball is in my genes. Ever since the they came to town, I have loved the Rockies.”
Mayoral hopeful Chris Romer was celebrating opening day just an hour after the Denver Post endorsed his candidacy on-line. “I’m looking forward to a great year,” he said. “I’m going to take it one pitch at a time, just like the Rockies.”
Other mayoral candidates spotted at the picnic were Carol Boigon and Doug Linkhart.
Former Gov. Bill Owens, a big baseball fan, was singing the day’s praises, as was current Gov. John Hickenlooper. “This is the day my true diurnal clock resets,” said Hick.
Rockies co-owner Dick Monfort was looking to the sky. “I’m in charge of the weather,” he said. “Everybody comes to opening day, good bad or indifferent.”
The Rockies faced the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday, and visiting team owner Ken Kendrick was on hand. “I have a second home in Aspen. It’s like coming home to be here.”
So who does he root for?
“Well, since I own one of the teams I have to root for them. But I’m a Rockies fan when Arizona’s not playing.”
A highlight of the party came when city marketing man Steve Sander and Downtown Denver Partnership boss Tami Door hit the floor during a hello hug — with hot dogs, mustard and drinks flying in the air, most of it landing on Door.
Also in the crowd: Peter Coors, Mike Rosen, Dick and Eddie Robinson, Juanita Chacon, Sen. Mark Udall, former Gov. Bill Ritter, Barry Hirschfeld, Steve Farber, , Bill Hanzlik, Jeff McMorris, Josh Hanfling, Pete Papilion, Mike Boyle, Kristin Johnson, Linda and Robert Alvarado; Bob Thompson and Annie Ellis.
