PLAYOFF PERSPECTIVE FROM THE TARPIT

By Danielle Alberti
CU Independent, Managing Editor

After the arena had emptied and the athletes hit the showers, one group remained in section 124. With hearts still pounding from a nail-biter of a game, a stoic sense of relief settled among the group. "We’re going to Calgary.”

In the last game of the regular season, the Colorado Mammoth finally clinched a playoff spot—the final seed. Anything can happen in single-elimination playoffs, one fan quickly reminds the others, and their relief turns to hope. One man, donning black and white face paint, slowly walks down the steps toward the floor. Staring at the turf for what may be the last time until January, he removes his top hat and throws it into the penalty box. Inside, written in white:"Voodoo 2009 7-9 Kill Calgary”

It was a hard season. With an all-time regular season home record of 41-15 in seven seasons, Mammoth fans are not accustomed to watching their team lose. But in 2009, they saw the team they loved earn their first losing record since coming to Denver.

As the end of the regular season drew closer, fans began to worry. They watched as team after team clinched the playoffs while Colorado struggled to stay in the running. The gravity of the situation began to set in following an April 11 overtime loss to San Jose. With that crushing loss, the Mammoth only had one chance left.

“Saturday killed me. My soul hurt, my throat hurt, my back hurt, my hands hurt. When that goal from Duch went in, I collapsed. I had no more to give that Saturday,” said Steve Bickel in his podcast following the April 11 game.

Bickel is the host and namesake of “VoodooCast,” a podcast about the Mammoth and the National Lacrosse League. He is also a moderator at the official Colorado Mammoth message board, which acts as a forum of communication between Mammoth fans and members of the organization. Tensions were high on the forum in 2009 as fans increasingly disagreed on the team’s prospect of success.

“It does make me a little sick inside to hear people say that my team sucks—even on the Mammoth boards,” Bickel said. “The Mammoth do not suck. They’ve had some problems this year, yes, that is admitted. But this is way far from over.”

While fans disagreed about team performance and the possibility of success, they were able to agree on one thing—no matter what happened to the team, their fandom would not suffer. “There is no rule in life that says you always have to be positive,” said Scott Redman of Brighton. “As long as I get to watch top-notch lacrosse talent week in and week out, I will be a fan. As a grown man, I know that my team will not always be the best. All I can do is impart my own advice and hope for the best.”

"Every team in every sport is going to have ups and downs where they're world destroyers for awhile and then cellar dwellers for a time," said Josh Athanas of Thornton on the Mammoth forum. "But whether my team ends the year toasting the '72 Dolphins with champagne, or the '08 Lions with Pabst Blue Ribbon, I'm there every game, rain or shine, ready to yell my fool heart out." This has not gone unnoticed by players, who have seen criticism and devotion simultaneously through the season.

"Anytime someone has something negative to say about me, it is always difficult to read and not have a knee-jerk reaction immediately," said Mammoth Captain Gavin Prout. "The fans have supported us at the games through thick and thin. Regardless of the score and our record they have definitely showed us the support at the arena."

“I’d be there if we went 0-16, but I would probably love Jack Daniels just a wee bit more,” said Jessi Oberbeck of Northglenn, who has been attending games since the Mammoth first came to Denver.

The Colorado Mammoth consistently draws large crowds, averaging at 16,475 fans per game. With tickets starting at $5, it can be less expensive than seeing a movie with the family. “The other professional sporting events in Colorado are unaffordable to many, especially during these declining economic times,” said Bo Martinez . “Many families are struggling just to make ends meet. But the price of tickets to attend a Mammoth game allows some families that escape from the daily grind, for an affordable rate.”

Regardless of why fans are there, there’s no denying that the Colorado Mammoth put on a good show and create an electric atmosphere in the Pepsi Center. “My friend brought me to my first Mammoth game and I thought it would be interesting, something different to do on a Saturday night,” said Diane Jurgens, of Arvada. “That was when I got hooked! The music, the fans and the energy were just amazing and I had so much fun!”

“I just love the hard hits, fast play and the way the players on both sides get pumped up by the fans—at least in our house they do,” said Brian Dibonas, also known as “Spike.” But now, the fans are focused on playoffs, starting with Calgary on May 3. “In this league, it's great that if you make it to the playoffs, with a one-and-done system, everyone essentially starts at 0-0 again,” said Melissa Barrow of Lakewood.

A Colorado win in Calgary will end the Roughnecks’ season to send the Mammoth on to the semifinals. The losing record of the regular season becomes irrelevant once the brackets are set, so many fans view the playoffs as another chance to bring home the Champion’s Cup.

“Since I’m fully behind the idea that it’s a brand new season, I’m doing the unforgivable tonight,” said Athanas. “I’m washing both jerseys to get the regular season funk off of them and get them full of playoff mojo.”

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