Sayers on the Sideline: Rocky mountain high
Tim Sayers
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Sports
I love roller coasters. The ups, the downs, the adrenaline rushes are all exhilarating. So to be a Colorado Rockies fan has always been right up my alley: the ups, the downs, the adrenaline rushes, especially this season.
The 2007 season began as it usually does each year, with my brother and I joking about how this is finally Colorado's year and that the road to the World Series goes through Coors Field.
At the end of April, things were no different. The Rockies, 10-16, were dead last in their division. Here we go again.
Then May 22 came around. Maybe it was the altitude or maybe it was an early birthday present for me. The oddest thing started to happen: the Rockies actually started winning - a lot.
Over the next month, the Rockies - a team most people put just above the Kansas City Royals for most likely to win the World Series - went 20-7, including a three-game sweep of the Yankees. Needless to say, I was excited.
But as with all good roller coasters, a high only leads to a fast, downward plunge, and the Rockies did not disappoint. Colorado decided it'd be best to dangle the hope in front of me before they snatched it away and lost nine out of their next 10 games, struggling into the All-Star break with a .500 record of 44-44.
The Rockies spent the next two months meandering around the middle of the Divisional and Wild Card race.
Apparently, they were simply biding their time before they shot out again at 60 mph, like the Hulk ride at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. They won 13 of their last 14 games, finished with a record of 89-73 and tied for second best record in the NL but, more importantly, clinching the NL Wild Card spot.
Are these the same Rockies who, before this year, had gone to fewer playoffs than the Marlins (who entered the league in 1993 with the Rockies) had won World Series titles?
Forget the Bronx Bombers. How about the Coors Cosmonauts? Hmm, still needs work.
Now we've, and I do mean "we've," won our first ever playoff series, and are inching closer and closer to the impossible dream.
So don't fret all you true Devil Rays, Texans or Bobcat fans. If you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.
As for me, this is one high I don't want to come down from.
The 2007 season began as it usually does each year, with my brother and I joking about how this is finally Colorado's year and that the road to the World Series goes through Coors Field.
At the end of April, things were no different. The Rockies, 10-16, were dead last in their division. Here we go again.
Then May 22 came around. Maybe it was the altitude or maybe it was an early birthday present for me. The oddest thing started to happen: the Rockies actually started winning - a lot.
Over the next month, the Rockies - a team most people put just above the Kansas City Royals for most likely to win the World Series - went 20-7, including a three-game sweep of the Yankees. Needless to say, I was excited.
But as with all good roller coasters, a high only leads to a fast, downward plunge, and the Rockies did not disappoint. Colorado decided it'd be best to dangle the hope in front of me before they snatched it away and lost nine out of their next 10 games, struggling into the All-Star break with a .500 record of 44-44.
The Rockies spent the next two months meandering around the middle of the Divisional and Wild Card race.
Apparently, they were simply biding their time before they shot out again at 60 mph, like the Hulk ride at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. They won 13 of their last 14 games, finished with a record of 89-73 and tied for second best record in the NL but, more importantly, clinching the NL Wild Card spot.
Are these the same Rockies who, before this year, had gone to fewer playoffs than the Marlins (who entered the league in 1993 with the Rockies) had won World Series titles?
Forget the Bronx Bombers. How about the Coors Cosmonauts? Hmm, still needs work.
Now we've, and I do mean "we've," won our first ever playoff series, and are inching closer and closer to the impossible dream.
So don't fret all you true Devil Rays, Texans or Bobcat fans. If you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.
As for me, this is one high I don't want to come down from.
Be the first to comment on this story