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November 7, 2007 Cheer Cheer
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MIA, the Colorado sports fan. Granted, I’m still “you kids get out of my yard” geezer cranky after the World Series weekend in Denver. A week and a half later still finds me still hacked to the max with the local’s lack of support. Viewers nationwide witnessed the World Series and Monday Night Football, watching our teams have an “o-fer”, three losses and no wins. First, the Red Sox sweep, then it’s the Broncos agonizing loss to the Packers. But the weekend’s most glaring disappointment to those watching from inside the park was the total lack of a home field advantage at either Coors or Invesco. A large percentage of Coloradoans seemingly could care less about the Rockies or Broncos. Their passion is reserved for the visitors. Fans living in our Mile High state continually save their cheers for teams located far, far away. Why? The Monday night battle with Brett Favre and his Pack was but the latest example. Easily a third of the over seventy thousand in attendance were cheering for the “Cheeseheads.” “So what part of Wisconsin is home?” I asked a Packer fan. “Oh, I’m from Colorado Springs” came the reply. Why does a fan from our neck of the woods pick a team from the Frozen Tundra to root for? Beats me. At least the Packer fans were well behaved, unlike the multitude of Steeler supporters, “Oh, I’m from Arvada but I’ve always rooted for the Steelers. The Broncos suck”, bellowed an alcohol fueled, black and yellow jersey wearing endomorph in the South Stands. In the drunken bore category, no group measures down to the Red Sox partisans packing Coors Field. After spending two games surrounded by alcohol fueled New England loudmouths, it’s readily apparent why Bay Staters continually re-elect Ted Kennedy. Granted, blame for the huge Red Sox turnout in Denver is squarely on the shoulders of the Rockies front office and their total incompetence in ticket distribution. “The Rockies are such losers”, slurred the Red Sox fan in the next row. “I couldn’t get a ticket to Fenway but Colorado was a walk in the park.” And what hurts the most? He couldn’t be more correct. Please understand, folks living here and enjoying the lifestyle unique to our Centennial State do indeed pay taxes and contribute to the economy. They have every right to cheer for whatever uniform strikes their fancy. But why not local teams? If the Red Wings are so near and dear to your heart, the timing is perfect for a move to Detroit. Right now’s a great time to sell a Colorado home, and, word has it, absolute steals await on a house in Hamtramck. The same situation is true in the Monongahela Valley Steeler fans. Packer backers take note, realtors say it’s the perfect time to buy in Appleton, Boscobel and Manitowoc. “Oh, I can’t get a seat at Lambeau Field” said the Colorado Springs Packer fanatic. “So Wisconsin people really support their team?” I replied. “You better believe it, the Packer nation is incredible.” “So, why don’t people here support the Broncos?” I asked. “Colorado doesn’t measure up to Wisconsin?” And then the discussion deteriorated back to “Broncos drool, Packers rule!” Is it time for a new state motto? “Colorado, love living here but not the kind of place one roots for.” |