Jock Itch: The Sign Lady cometh

When the Denver/Boulder Decider “decided” to write an article about Vicki, I got an email and was at first a little concerned. However, a few emails later and I found that this paper which reaches the likes of Austin, Chicago, LA, Madison, New York City, San Fran and DC was indeed the genuine article… and this got me to thinking.

How is it a publication without the big name and hundreds of years of history like the Rocky Mountain News and any number of other papers can survive? Simple actually. They find news and write about. They don’t make-up news (ok, I know, the Onion) but instead “report” the news. Amazing. What a concept. Reporters actually reporting the news instead of trying to create their own news and spin it. What will they think of next?

So, I give you the fun little article they wrote about my wife, Vicki Ray. Now to be fair, there are many Nuggets fans who have been following the team longer than Vicki… but I’m not sure they all have the same passion. At least I like to think so… but of course I’m “Vicki’s Husband”. Just look at my Jersey! Thanks!

Jock Itch: The Sign Lady cometh
by John Reidy April 14, 2009

One woman might be the glue holding the up-and-down Nuggets together.

Watching the Nuggets lose to the Lakers in Los Angeles last week, I was reminded how vile L.A. fans are. Many are celebrities desperate to be seen on national TV. Others are rich Californians lounging courtside, and who could be watching baseball for all they know. And don’t get me started on Lakers fan and infamous douchebag Ashton Kutcher. I’m sure there are some fans in L.A. who actually follow the team, but they’re sitting in a seat that should come with a pair of complimentary binoculars. To be fair, you could go to a Nuggets game and think the same thing.

But there is one Denver fan who sits in a premium seat who can never be accused of douchebaggery because she’s there for one reason and one reason only: cheering on the Nuggets with a homemade sign carefully crafted for every occasion and almost every player.

Vicki Ray is known to those who frequent The Pepsi Center as the No. 1 Nuggets fan in existence, but for short, they call her The Sign Lady. She sits in the front row and always holds an inspirational sign (“Nuggets, we believe in you,” etc.) urging her team to victory. If you’ve never seen her, she’s a prettier version of the Broncos’ Barrel Man, minus the barrel. She started going to Nuggets games on a whim back when the team still played at McNichols Sports Arena, and she’s been a fixture ever since. She even started her own Denver sports blog, 5280fan.com.

The Denver Nuggets are having a hell of a year, and Ray was there even when things weren’t looking too good. After shedding their inconsistent play (and problem child Allen Iverson—whom Ray still holds a special place in her heart for), the Nuggets have surged down the stretch to the second best record in the Western conference, and they’re on the verge of setting a record for single-season wins by a Nugget team. It has been 15 years since the team made this many wins, and nearly all of those seasons in between were ghastly to witness: The 1997-1998 season was a dreadful low with the Nugs cobbling together a paltry 11 wins. The roster has changed dozens of times since then, but Ray remained steadfast in her support during the infrequent highs and the comical lows.

Ray also is a foremost collector of Nuggets merchandise, including items plucked directly from the sweaty heads of the players as they jog off to the showers. Here’s a montage of Ray’s house, where all of her Nuggets stuff is stacked up. I apologize in advance for the horrific mash-up playing in the background:

It’s quite a collection. Considering my wife was on the fence about allowing a Nuggets beer cozy in the house, Ray’s husband must be a saint.

The NBA playoffs start this week, and since I’ve incorrectly predicted that the Nuggets would advance from the first round for the last three years now, they should bow out early based on my belief they will advance again. I’ve been hanging in there for a while, but if anyone should be rewarded for his or her diligence, it’s Ray. No matter what happens this postseason, she’ll be in her usual seat, holding a sign that inspires a Nuggets victory. Ashton Kutcher? He’ll still be a douchebag.

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