Two Rockies Fans Take One for the Team

They thought they were supporting their club. The Rockies and the City and County of Denver thought otherwise.

A A A Comments (2) By Sean Cronin Thursday, Oct 18 2007

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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.)

Mike Gorman

Dan Burk, left, and Travis Reed at game four of the National League Championship Series.

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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."

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Fred 11/09/2007 5:29:00 PM

Shame, shame any lawyer who advocates that the law should be violated! Oh, my, my, because "We all wanted to do it", that makes it OK? What would have happened if everyone in the stands did mob the field...placing players, managers, officials, and others into danger? Did you see what happened in Arizona in Game 1 of the NLCS when the fans threw things into the field, because "they wanted to"? The end result of their prosecution, my dear attorney, is not locked in stone just because the police did their job and put them into the system (which was their own fault, remember?. The police had no choice but arrest them so as to prevent the mob scene from occurring! While one of these two idiots made the voluntary decision to plead guilty...it should be noted for the record that the result of Mr. Reed's prosecution is that the Denver City Attorney's Office ended up dismissing the charges (Check the court record).....Hmmm, sounds like they took the cop's comments into consideration. It also sounds like Mr. defense attorney owes the professionals in "the system" an apology! Ignorant idiot - just like a defense attorney to spout off without knowing the facts.
jesse d. hall, Lawyer 10/24/2007 9:31:00 PM

Once again, "our" legal system, "our" police, and "our" society failed its greatest members � those contributing to the success and admiration of The People�s victory. Once again, by over-zealous policing and judges streamlining due process of law, the system has failed us all. How the hell is confining these lads in a jail (through admittedly disparate treatment of them) and forcing a criminal record upon them helping society. These poor gents will be forced to reckon with this criminal record for the rest of their natural lives � for doing something ALL of us wanted to do, some of us thought about doing, but none of actually had the balls to do! Well done, Dan Burk and Travis Reed; well done indeed, my friends! Now if we can just rid ourselves of this stumbling block called �the legal system.� It�s unfortunate, however, it takes two fine fellows like Burk and Reed to expose the ridiculousness of the legal process in Colorado � given that slipshod, fast-food, assembly line �justice� is happening everyday to the poor, the homeless, and mentally ill (i.e., the forgotten) of our great city. (Shame on you Rockies policy makers, police, and judges � you�ve let us all down, and you�ve failed yourselves once again!)