The Avalanche and Sharks agreed to postpone Games One
and Two of their Stanley Cup Playoffs due to the tragedy at
Columbine High School in Littleton, CO. The games scheduled
for Wednesday and Thursday will now be played Saturday and
Monday at the San Jose Arena. In addition, the Rockies
postponed Wednesday's game against the Expos and now leave
Denver for a 13-game road trip (THE DAILY).
PAINFUL PROCESS: Avalanche President & GM Pierre
Lacroix: "[Ascent CEO] Charlie Lyons said: 'We're close to
this community. We have to act like all these kids are our
kids.' We've agreed to go and start the series in San Jose
in due respect to the situation. It's our way to show our
community our respects to the situation" (DENVER POST,
4/22). Sharks GM Dean Lombardi: "We couldn't have played
(last night), we couldn't have played tomorrow (tonight),
either. We talked about playing Saturday, but I don't even
think that's good." Sharks G Mike Vernon: "This incident is
devastating, it's the only appropriate thing to do. Sports
is a very minute part of our society" (S.F. CHRONICLE,
4/22). Rockies co-Owner Dick Monfort: "It's a hard time to
get up and cheer and yell. I first thought we would play
(Wednesday) and get the healing going, but it is obvious the
time is not right." Rockies Chair Jerry McMorris: "As we
get into this it is more and more tragic and more and more
overwhelming. The mood (Wednesday) is clearly the same or
even worse than (Tuesday)" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 4/22).
McMorris: "We're exploring ways we can reach out to the
community -- the school, the parents, the students, the
S.W.A.T. team -- because everybody is deeply involved in
this and we're going to try to do the right thing. ... Our
players have gotten more upset as this has gone along" (CO
Springs GAZETTE, 4/22). Expos Manager Felipe Alou: "Right
now, you don't worry about doubleheaders. I'm worried
about society, about the children" (DENVER POST, 4/22).
IN REMEMBRANCE: Starting today, the Rockies will wear a
Columbine High patch with the school's colors and script on
their right sleeve. The Avalanche plan to wear a similar
patch as well on the sleeves of its sweaters. The Nuggets
will feature a "small patch on the shoulder area" of their
uniforms. The Nuggets and Avalanche "also plan to donate
money from their community fund to victims and their
families" (Clay Latimer, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 4/22).
THE RIGHT MOVE: In Denver, Bob Kravitz writes that
yesterday was "no time to fall back on the halfhearted
platitudes about providing a wounded community with two,
three hours of escapist relief" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 4/22).
In Toronto, Grant Kerr writes that the teams "responded
accordingly" to the tragic events, and the members of the
Avalanche and Sharks "seemed almost relieved" when the
series was delayed (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/22). In Edmonton, Mark
Spector calls the postponements the "only decent thing to
do" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 4/22). But in DC, Dan Daly writes
that "there are times when we need our games ... and this is
one of them. In fact, sports may never be more useful than
in periods of mourning" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/22).
