Memories #1: Colorado Rockies hockey

(While doing a massive cleanup project on my home office recently, I came across lots of stuff that reminded me of good old times: friends, family, work, sports, et al. I tend to save those kinds of things, because I enjoy the memories that come back when I look at them. So I tossed them [gently] into a box or three. And once a week or so, I'm going to pull one out and subject you to a story about it. This is the first one of those.)

The Colorado Rockies were a National Hockey League team, mostly forgotten now. The Rockies played in Denver for 6 seasons in the late 1970s and early '80s. Their wacky logo was a mountain carved out of the Colorado state flag. They were spectacularly unsuccessful on the ice, making the playoffs only once in those 6 seasons. The Rockies are known for having employed Don Cherry as head coach, and for being the first sports team to use "Gary Glitter's Rock & Roll, Pt. 2" regularly at games.

Despite their generally crappy play, Barbara and I used to love going to the games. For part of their run, Barbara was the assistant public relations director for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, who played in McNichols Sports Arena, also the Rockies' home. Because of this connection, Barbara could get into the Rockies games, and she was able to sneak me in also by getting me this pass:

Eventually, Cherry left the team, the team left town, and a perennially crappy baseball team stole the name.

Comments

[Jim]

The good ole days of the not so good old Colorado Rockies. I was at the last game in Denver so many years ago. I recall seeing a sign one fan brought to the game: "Peter Pan Gilbert, the fairy that flew out of Denver." I was 14 at the time and won a Beer making kit at that game, fan appreciation at its very best.

[Kevin]

I also remember the last season in Denver, wherein the Rockies beat Gretzky's Oilers once and tied once at a sold out Big Mac. Fantastic atmosphere top to bottom. Avs could do with some fans like those.

[Scott Cunningham]

I remember being 17 and taken my younger brother and 2 friends to the game and feeling like we were in the big time show because this was the NHL (even though the Rockies sucked we loved them). The most memorable game was my last one when Don Cherry was coach and the Rockies where playing the Hartford Whalers who had some old guy named Gordie Howe on the team. Man even at his ripe old age of I believe 52 the man could play, and my brother just missed getting his stick. Hard to believe where we once watched hockey Invesco field now stands. Those were some great times I will Never forget the ORIGINAL Colorado Rockies!

[Jim Dwyer]

Best things about going to Rockies games with my family:
-Krazy George
-Buying the cheap seats and moving down
-hanging out near the boards during the pre-game skate, waiting for a Rockie to give you his stick
-post-game skates on real NHL ice
-meeting the players

[jeff nigh]

Whatever happend to the player named Ranniker?