Two Rockies Fans Take One for the Team

Doing the time wasn't easy, and Burk missed the first game of the National League Division Series between the Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies. "I spent 21 months at a boarding school in the Dominican Republic, and that was nothing compared to three and a half days at Denver County. I talked to guys at Denver County who said they'd been in jail in L.A., and they said this was worse than experiences they had there."

But he's even more upset about how the Rockies raised their ticket prices for the National League Championship Series, which began October 11. "I think Rockpile tickets are like a hundred bucks now. It makes it hard for fans like me to get out to support their team." (Rockpile tickets for the NLCS were actually priced at $30.)

No one from the Rockies organization returned repeated calls seeking comment for this story.

Reed still faces a trial on October 23. "I can't say that I don't regret it," he says, "but I think it's going to be a pretty good story to tell in the future." He's torn over whether to hire a lawyer, however: "I'm kind of broke right now, so I don't know if I can afford a lawyer."

In fact, if it came down to it, both Reed and Burk say they'd rather spend what little cash they have on more Rockies tickets — which is exactly what they did this past Sunday and Monday night, dropping $120 a head for games three and four of the NLCS against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies won both games, sweeping their way into the World Series. Burk and Reed stayed in the stands.

The way they see it, their crazed act on October 1 was simply an act of love, a way to express their dedication to a team for whom their undying devotion is just now paying off. Both have been fans since the beginning and have vivid memories of the first home game the Rockies ever played. They talk about Eric Young's historic home run like it was yesterday. Both were seven years old at the time.

"I still have the '93 inaugural ball in its case. I love the Rockies," Burk says, before adding, "I'd go to jail for them."