I miss my Dad.

by rockhead on Oct 16, 2007 9:36 PM MDT

My dad loved an underdog. He would latch onto a team doing what none of the "talking heads" said they could do, and cheer them on with such fervor that you would have believed he had been a life-long fan. If you're a college basketball follower, think of the run George Mason had to Final Four a couple of years back. That they eliminated our beloved Tarheels from the tournament was only a momentary drawback.

My dad would have loved these Rockies. Their historic run to the World Series would have provided him with more fodder for his crusade against media bias, the money thrown around by the Evil Empire, and the ridiculous starting times for teams not in the eastern time zone.

Better yet, he would have loved them because I love them. Had he lived to see this run, he and I would have spent hours on the phone, swapping emails and IMing each other about the Rox. I'd have filled him in on the physical prowess of Holliday, on the sheer joy of watching Tulo turn yet another spectacular double play. He would have been cheering for Todd to finally get to the promised land. He would have loved that this team is home-grown, not a staff full of hired guns. He had played minor league ball himself back in the 50s for the Thomasville HiToms, in the Carolina League.

I was lucky enough to have been at Coors Field last night. The experience was incredible, inspiring, magical, thrilling and more. I yelled myself hoarse, and didn't get to bed until around 2 am. Still, in the midst of all that joy, I felt such a sadness. I wouldn't be able to call my dad today and tell him about Seth's pinch hit, Matt's towering blow to center field, the noise level that rivaled old Mile High Stadium, or that Mr. Byrnes got what he deserved as the last out of the series. The feeling lasted only a moment, then I was swept up again in the tidal wave of the moment.

But again today, it hit me.

My father died on April 29th, 2006. Pancreatic cancer took him from us quickly. Given the pain he was in, I remain thankful that he didn't linger on, hooked up to IVs and other miscellaneous equipment. He was great dad, but most importantly, he became one my best friends as I grew older.

I post this diary not in search of sympathy or pity. I just wanted to share with my fellow Rockheads that there once lived a guy in Virginia that would have loved this team, and their amazing journey, as much as we do.

I miss him.

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Beautiful story

Thanks for sharing. :)

by Gregory Pratt @ Purple Row on Oct 16, 2007 9:43 PM MDT reply actions

That's a great, and sad, story

One of my joys this season has been seeing my dad become more and more of a full-fledged Rockies maniac. He, my sister, and I spent a late-season game against the Dodgers on Instant Message together since we couldn't be together in person, and my dad was whooping it up, cheering YES!!! in ahead of gameday so I knew that good tidings were ahead. He gushes about the team (especially Tulo) and it's been a whole lot of fun to share it with him. I'm so sorry you don't have your dad to do likewise.

Get Demented. Mother of the Baby Tulos; available at fair price for your Tulo-less ballclubs.

by Silverblood on Oct 16, 2007 9:44 PM MDT reply actions

I am SO happy for you!

Cherish these times. I'm thrilled for you that your Dad can be a part of this great run with you. And thanks so much for the kind comments.

"Wishes come true, not free." - Stephen Sondheim

by rockhead on Oct 16, 2007 10:39 PM MDT up reply actions

Thanks!

It's the personal stories like this that really give meaning to the Rockies historic run. Sure, I like to read about all the stats, and compare us to other great teams, but it's the human impact that it's had on an individual level that truly defines this as something special.

by Two low rocks on Oct 16, 2007 9:52 PM MDT reply actions

Thanks for sharing this story

There's just something about baseball that really seems to bond families together. That was clearly the case with you and your father. Thanks so much for telling your story.

Personally, I'm kind of on an island as far as being a Rockies fan goes at this time of the year, being out in Indiana for college. But Fall Break happens to fall during the LCS every year, and I swore that if the Rox made it that far, I'd be there.

Seeing the Rox win the pennant in person was great. Getting to hug my mom, dad, and brother in the stands when the game ended was really what made it one of, if not the, happiest moments of my life.

mvn.com/mlb-rockies - Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.

by Franchise26 on Oct 16, 2007 11:08 PM MDT reply actions

My Father passed

away several years ago (17..I'm 42 now). He loved baseball, and loved an underdog, same as your father, so he would have LOVED this Rockies team.

He got to do a lot of stuff in his life. He was decorated Navy WW2 veteran, who wouldn't dream of driving a Japanese or German made car on principle. He made a nice life. Loved in his small town, and his church, his hand shake was his word, and his opinion was valued by everyone. He never filled out a loan application, the local bank knew he was good for whatever he needed. He coached Mike Hargrove in little league, knew Warren Span as "just another rancher". He was the last of good old breed.

But one dream he had, that he never got to do was attend a World Series game (technically the St. Louis Cardinals in a WS game). When the Rockies clinched, and was heading to the World Series, I thought how I got to go the the Division Series game, and Sunday's NLCS game, and I felt privileged. Now I want to go the World Series and I'm thinking how this was one of his dreams. I actually thought about getting 2 tickets, and not giving the other one to any one...it would be my dad's seat.

I still miss him.

Resign Kazuo Matsui! Hurdle is still an idiot!

by Redhawk on Oct 17, 2007 1:59 AM MDT reply actions

Similar feelings/stories

My Dad passed four years ago when I was 16 (also of cancer, albeit a different type). He loved all sports (which helped shape me into a general sports nut), but the sport he always had deepest in his heart was baseball. He coached me in little league, talked about baseball more than any other sport, and was more passionate about the Rockies than any other team (even the Broncos, which is really saying something).

As I just moved to Denver, living in a house right down the street from where I grew up, I think about him a lot. I watch the majority of these games by myself or with people who don't really understand baseball. Most of the time I think about how great it would be to have him here to see this team doing what they're doing.

We always talked about how one summer we were going to take a road trip around the country, hitting up a baseball game in every stadium, culminating in returning to Denver just in time for the playoffs.

I miss the ole guy everyday.

by A.J. Haefele on Oct 17, 2007 3:38 AM MDT reply actions

Bless all of you and your fathers

Thank you for the post. I am so sorry for all of your losses.

I am lucky to still have my father alive. I would feel just as you did if he wasn't. My dad started me swinging a bat at age two. He played and pitched to me hours upon hours even after I turned pro. Even at 70 years old he still will play catch with me and my son but begs us to throw lightly. He lives 1000 miles away so I see him once a year or so.

He saw his son be all conference, all state, lead the state in hitting, drafted into the pros, played in college division I, played in the minors up to AA, and scouted for four years for the Cleveland Indians.

Tough bird who said if I went 3-4, I messed up that one at bat. He has been watching the Rockies and roots for Helton and Brad Hawpe (we were both lefties so he has a bias). He also has taken a liking to Seth Smith (go figure).

This sort of discussion is what separates baseball from other sports. It is truly a remarkable game with strategy, skill, athleticism, mathematics, history and nostaglia. Football is driven by fantasy and gambling.

Baseball is driven by fathers and history.

Godspeed to all of you and know that your fathers are watching and rooting for the Rocks. They are proud of you for the men you have become.

by PinchHitLancePainter on Oct 17, 2007 9:25 AM MDT reply actions

THINK WHAT YOUR DADS ARE THINKING AS

they are aware of your feelings. As the faether of 3 sons, I'm sure he couldn't be prouder.

by 86 wins in 07 on Oct 17, 2007 9:24 PM MDT reply actions

Thanks for sharing...

such a personal and touching story Rockhead. My dad wasn't around a lot when I was growing up and as we got older it seemed like the only thing we had in common was baseball. Talking about the Cubs and Cardinals, and later the Rockies brought us closer together. Now we talk after just about every game, and I watched the Rockies NLDS clincher at his house. Baseball is an amazing sport, there is nothing more satisfying than playing catch with a father or son, and it is astounding how people can be brought together by a bunch of guys hitting a ball around.

There's only one Rocktober!!

by Charlie77 on Oct 19, 2007 8:24 PM MDT reply actions

Baseball (softball)

My dad loved baseball and he taught me how to throw/catch/etc. as a small boy. It was probably the only activity that we enjoyed doing together as we are very different in personality and I was very independent and did not involve him in very much of my life.

I never played baseball (or any other sports) which I know disappointed him. I always loved playing in the backyard with friends but never played organized sports.

As an adult, I got talked into playing on a company softball team and began calling my dad to ask for tips or advice or to make sure that I remembered something correctly. We ended up meeting at the batting cages every couple of weeks (he has played several leagues concurrently for as long as I can remember) and last year he actually stepped in to play for a team that I put together at work which had a last minute defection.

It is amazing how the 20 years between him teaching me baseball in the backyard and him playing softball with me as an adult were almost identical experiences. I hadn't forgotten a thing and he was just the same - loving the game and so excited to be teaching it to me.

Probably the closest that my father and I have ever been has been while practicing hitting or fielding and I am definitely thankful that baseball is able to cross the generations and provide such a close bond between fathers and sons.

by MADness on Oct 20, 2007 2:25 PM MDT reply actions