the    sides

So I’m ready to go home but the Rockies have called a 5 PM news conference to discuss the fiasco of the ticket sales or non-ticket sales this morning.

I’ll give you a play by play account. Meanwhile, the reaction in Denver is hot. I mean they are fuming mad and should be. The chance that ticket brokers and out of towners get tickets before fans in Denver do is incredibly high and the Rockies management is doing nothing to protect that or prevent it.

The Red Sox did. You can read what they did here. Once again, we get to watch the growing pains of the Montforts learn how to own a major sports franchise.

5.00 - FOX reporter is ready and says on air - “I know nothing. The Rockies said they would be here at 5 and they’ve lied to us again.”

5.10 - still no Rockies management. Reporters are looking really irritated. More so than normal. The server crash screwed up ticket sales for the rodeo, the arts center, and CU football as well.

5.11 - FOX news just came on the webcast and said that it would start in 20 minutes.

5.12 - Someone just asked - “What are they waiting for? The riot police to show up? That’s actually not a bad idea.”

5.13 - I’m sitting here in a major crisis…okay, it’s not major but it’s significant. If I get in the car to go home, I’ll miss the press conference. If I stay here, I’m going to be late for dinner. Calling Amy…asking her for what she thinks…

5.16 - Still nothing. I’m going to risk it and go home…take with me 2 laptops.

5.18 - Right as I’m about to shut down the computer, a dude walks up to the mic.

5.20 - False alarm…some news geek reporter trying to get a perspective shot for his camera crew.

5.56 - Home….no news conference. Now it’s getting really funny. The national media is picking up on the fiasco…and they’ve just reported Denver Broncos WR Brandon Marshall was arrested for DUI this morning at 2. Great day for Denver, huh?

6.16 - Rockies spokesperson Jay Alves comes out….”We will have more information before your 10 o’clock broadcast.” One of the reporters asks him “How in the world could you guys let this happen?” Jay gets a bit testy - “Don’t get mad at me. We’re trying to work it out.” And he walks off.

So, we’re in a worse boat than what we were before. Now no one knows how the Rockies will resume selling tickets or when or under what guidelines.

The Montforts get this chance to redeem their reputation in Denver, a chance in one single month go from boneheads to brainchildren and they strike out…looking. It’s a fair question to ask of the Rockies - how in the world could you let this happen? The Indians, the Red Sox, the Diamondbacks, and the Yankees all had lotteries in place to sell home-field tickets to home-field fans in a way that made sense and at the very least TRIED to avoid the ticket-scalpers and put as many home-town fans in the stadium.

We know every system is flawed and there is always a few that get through the cracks…but this…this is like inviting the fox to sleep in the hen house - to steal a phrase from my grandfather.

Ridiculous. Makes me wish I was a Boston fan…almost.