Mr. Smith goes to … ? Receiver Rod Smith deserves to have his jersey retired by the Broncos. His place in the Hall of Fame is up for debate.
Rich, DenverKiz: Throughout his 12-year career in Denver, Smith and I regularly needled each other and debated everything. He often threatened not to be interviewed unless I gave him $20, then would filibuster for 20 minutes. Here’s our latest debate. Smith told me he should be in the Hall of Fame, if production and championships count for anything. With all due respect, I believe Smith falls short of Tim Brown and Andre Reed, receivers still awaiting a call from Canton. But there has never been a Broncos player more committed to winning than Smith, and his journey to stardom is among the more inspirational stories in franchise history. So, on the September afternoon when he is honored as the newest member of the Broncos Ring of Fame, I agree it would be fitting for his No. 80 jersey to be retired. The ball is in your court, Pat Bowlen.
Cubs West? Yikes. Not on your watch, Kiz! Dan O’Dowd’s dismal record as Rockies general manager for 13 years has escaped the attention it deserves, until now. Thanks for being a voice for fans that are not interested in the Rox becoming Cubs West. No more excuses. O’Dowd built this team, and it’s time to show it can be more than mediocre. Dick and Charlie Monfort, take notice!
Thom, Centennial
Kiz: I’ll give you a dollar if you can get any of those sentiments on the in-game scroll of fan comments during the Rockies’ TV broadcasts. And don’t forget the exclamation points! They like that!
New ace better than new coach. It’s nauseating to watch the Rockies give away games. The pitching is awful. It might not be pitching coach Bob Apodaca’s fault, but the bottom line is the same and he is responsible. Fire him! If manager Jim Tracy doesn’t have an ulcer, he must be on the way to one.
Bob, Aurora
Kiz: Rather than a new pitching coach, wouldn’t you rather have a legitimate staff ace? I know. I ask for too much.
Theory of Relegation. Please address the real problem with the Rockies. Franchise ownership does not have the monetary or business savvy to bring real baseball to Denver. The Rockies are bush league. Our city deserves better.
Susan, Denver
Kiz: If this were soccer, the Rockies would be battling the Cubs and Padres to avoid relegation to a lower league. Now that would make for some late-season drama.
Boycott Coors Field. The Rockies get a free ride every year. Fans go to a Broncos game to watch football. Fans go to the Avalanche and Nuggets to watch the game. But, among the 30,000 fans attending the Rockies on a spectacular summer evening, at least 50 percent don’t even know who is playing. They are there to rendezvous and drink beer, then leave Coors Field without even knowing the outcome, while baseball fans like me leave depressed with another lackluster performance.
Jerry, Parker
Kiz: No lie, during a recent afternoon loss to Arizona, the loudest buzz in the ballpark was by a swarm of bees. The Rockies keep score by tickets sold. What will speak loudest to ownership? Empty seats.
Kick it with Kiz by writing mkiszla@denverpost.com. Or listen to him 7-9 a.m. Monday through Friday on 93.7 FM and 1510 AM.
