As has been widely reported, 12 people were killed and 59 injured in a theater by a lone gunman at a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" on Thursday night/Friday morning. The incident is largest mass shooting in U.S. history, taking place in Aurora, Colorado, just minutes from Denver.
As the Colorado Rockies are in San Diego to take on the Padres, Rockies manager Jim Tracy took a moment prior to his normal pregame press conference to address the tragedy with media.
This is what Tracy said:
"Before I give you the update on where we're at with our players and things like that physically, I'd like to just make a brief statement about the tragedy that has occurred in our home town last night. On behalf of our entire organization, our hearts and our prayers and every thing else, our feelings and everything, go out to the victims and their families and to the State of Colorado in the tragedy that took place last night. I think that when you experience something like that, the realization that we're just playing a baseball game tonight pales in comparison, in relation to what a number of people are going through as we sit here right now. I just felt like it was not only important but imperative that I make a comment in relation to that. Our thoughts, our prayers, everything we've got as an organization goes out to the people and the families of victims of the incredible tragedy that took place earlier this morning in Denver, Colorado."
There is speculation among media attending Friday night's game as to whether the shootings will have an emotional or psychological effect on the players from either team. A moment of silence was observed just prior to the start of the game, right before the National Anthem.
As has been widely reported, 12 people were killed and 59 injured in a theater by a lone gunman at a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" on Thursday night/Friday morning. The incident is largest mass shooting in U.S. history, taking place in Aurora, Colorado, just minutes from Denver.
As the Colorado Rockies are in San Diego to take on the Padres, Rockies manager Jim Tracy took a moment prior to his normal pregame press conference to address the tragedy with media.
This is what Tracy said:
"Before I give you the update on where we're at with our players and things like that physically, I'd like to just make a brief statement about the tragedy that has occurred in our home town last night. On behalf of our entire organization, our hearts and our prayers and every thing else, our feelings and everything, go out to the victims and their families and to the State of Colorado in the tragedy that took place last night. I think that when you experience something like that, the realization that we're just playing a baseball game tonight pales in comparison, in relation to what a number of people are going through as we sit here right now. I just felt like it was not only important but imperative that I make a comment in relation to that. Our thoughts, our prayers, everything we've got as an organization goes out to the people and the families of victims of the incredible tragedy that took place earlier this morning in Denver, Colorado."
There is speculation among media attending Friday night's game as to whether the shootings will have an emotional or psychological effect on the players from either team. A moment of silence was observed just prior to the start of the game, right before the National Anthem.