-Waking up every morning to the Sports Section in the Rocky Mountain News, reading up on Tracy Ringolsby's articles on how the Rox have finally become relevant.
-Poring over box scores every night, adoring the guys who came up big in tight spots.
-Watching Willy Taveras make every impossible play in CF look easy.
-Knowing that if the ball's in play, it'll be an out, because no one in our lineup knew how to make an error.
-Wondering what Dan O'Dowd will do with 3/5ths of our rotation on the DL, only to see him work his magic by calling up Ubaldo and Morales, and then sign guys like Ramon Ortiz, Denny Bautistsa, Mark Redman and Elmer Dessens.
-While driving to Utah for my cousin's wedding, we would listen to XM Radio with rapt attention, begging for another W to stay alive.
-Driving back from the Dave Sanders Invite, only to find out the Rox lost to Arizona to all but end their playoff hopes.
-Getting out of the theater the next day to the shock of the Milwaukee announcers on XM; Tony Gwynn, Jr, of all people, hit a two-out, two-strike triple off his hero, Trevor Hoffman, to send the game into extra innings, which virtually saved the Rockies' playoff heartbeat.
-Watching the Rockies destroy the D-Backs that same night, 11-1, to set up a dramatic final day of the season.
-Going to Coors that Sunday with my brother, excitedly talking about the possibilities that day could bring.
-Hearing the groan of the sell-out Coors crowd after seeing the Padres take an early 3-0 lead on the Brewers.
-Knowing that the Padres had a chance to win, watching the 50,000 Rockies fans erupt when the Rox ran out of the dugout at the start of the game.
-The constant scoreboard watching....and watching the players nervously check the Padres game too.
-The roar of the crowd when the Brewers charged back, eventually winning 11-6.
-The intense uproar after the Rox, thanks to some Lodo (pitching) magic by Ubaldo and Manny Corpas, beat Arizona, 4-3, to clinch a tie with San Diego atop the Wild Card, forcing a one-game playoff at Coors.
-Calling my parents 10 minutes later, only to find out that they were already on their way to King Soopers to buy 4 tickets to said game.
-Finding out that they bought 5 and Mike Brown would be joining us.
-Arriving to Coors that night, more excited to be at that game than I had ever been in my entire life.
-Tearing my hair out every grueling inning, knowing full well that I may never see a game more intense than the one playing out in front of me.
-Running to an opening on the concourse to see Torrealba's home run to put us up 3-0.
-Feeling my heart sink after Adrian Gonzalez hit a go-ahead Grand Slam off Josh Fogg in the 3rd.
-Calling for instant replay in baseball after Atkins's home run wasn't awarded.
-Feeling my heart in my throat after Holliday misjudged an easy liner to left to allow the Padres to tie it at 6 in the 8th.
-Feeling a nervous wreck after every Padres threat and every Rockies strikeout in extras.
-Knowing that the season was over after Hairston's two-run shot off of Jorge Julio in the 13th.
-Watching the crowd rally around this wonderful team for one more inning.
-Getting the feeling it could actually happen, especially with Trevor Hoffman, a terrific closer with a horrific fear of pitching at Coors Field.
-Screaming louder than I have ever screamed after back-to-back doubles by Kaz Matsui and Troy Tulowitzki.
-Crying unconrtollably after Holliday's game-tying triple.
-Watching the stars align as Todd Helton stepped to the plate....then realizing that life isn't THAT perfect, as Hoffman intentionally walked Helton.
-Seeing Jamey Carroll smack the first pitch he saw to right.
-Seeing Brian Giles make the catch above his head.
-Watching Holliday make a mad dash to the plate.
-The throw.
-The Slide.
-SAFE!
-Pandemonium.
-Knowing that nothing will stop these Rockies.
-Wearing the biggest smile on my face as Clint Hurdle hoisted the National League Plaque 16 days after the greatest Wild Card Tiebreaker in MLB history.
-Never wanting that moment to end. Ever.
-Willy Taveras
-Kazuo Matsui
-Matt Holliday
-Todd Helton
-Garrett Atkins
-Brad Hawpe
-Troy Tulowitzki
-Yorvit Torrealba
-Josh Fogg
-Jason Hirsch
-Brian Fuentes
-Jeremy Affeldt
-LaTroy Hawkins
-Matt Herges
-Mark Redman
-Ryan Speier
-Jeff Baker
-Jamey Carroll
-Corey Sullivan
-Mike Gallegos
-Jamie Quirk
-Keli MacGregor
And most of all, I miss this:
