It was a really blah time for Sports fans in Colorado. The Colorado Buffalos and CSU Rams both finished the year without bowl invitations. The Broncos were really having a tough time of it, they would be very lucky to win half of their games. The Nuggets were off to an okay start, but they were not even on the TV. What was a 7-year-old super fan to do? Max sat down with his dad and said words to that effect. “Dad I am so bored. There is really no one to cheer for.” 

Dad wouldn’t hear of it. “Put that smile back on your face, we’re going to the park and we’ll throw the ball around and have us a great old time. “So, Max and his brother bundled up and followed Dad to the park. Max and Dad had a long catch, with both baseballs and footballs, then played a few games of horse. Since neither of them liked to lose, they lingered quite a while on the horse game. Finally, Dad said “Max your brother wants to swing for a little bit. I’m going over to push him, can you

amuse yourself for a few?” Max was up to the task, and was soon shooting baskets, catching flies he threw himself, and punting the football all over. Once he hit the ball really hard, and it rolled up coming to rest at the feet of an old man sitting on a bench.

“You really got a hold of that one” said the old timer. “You looked like Nolan Arenado with a cut like that.” Max couldn’t help but respond, since he loved to watch Arenado play and could not wait for the next Rockies’ season. “Nolan Can sure belt ‘em,” continued

the oldster, “But he makes the biggest difference in the field. Why he is still in his 20s, and he just won another platinum glove! That’s really something!” Max asked what a platinum glove is. The gentleman explained “Platinum is the world’s dearest metal, and so they made a special award to make use of it. It is the award they give to the league’s best fielder, and Nolan has won it multiple times – how about that! Do you follow the Rockies?” 

“You bet I do” Max shot back. “I love Nolan and Charlie and Trevor and Dezzy and Tony

and I sure miss DJ. I love to go to games with my parents and we imitate the announcer and call out their numbers when they come up to bat. Listen to this: Next up- number twe-nnnnnnty- SEV- UN Trevor STOre – EEEE.” As he drew out each syllable dramatically.

“Ha-ha,” the old man chuckled, “that’s really something. I’m glad you love the Rockies – how about other sports?” Max let on that he liked watching the Broncos and the Buffalos, and loved going to Nuggets games with his Mom or Dad and brother. But he looked down and mumbled; “I guess I have a confession to make.” 

“What’s that?” asked his new friend, expecting to hear the worst.

“I love the Rockies, Nuggets, and Broncos but my favorite team is the Astros.” Max related to him.

“Is that all?” asked the old timer. “I actually have been working in Houston for a while myself, and I like the Astros too. There’s nothing at all wrong with that.” Max and the old guy played a little catch and passed a few more minutes, then the man started to cough and hack, and excused himself. “I best be

going” he said, but I sure enjoyed talking to you, youngster.” Max saw his dad walking back with his brother and realized he had to go too. He said his good byes and shuffled off.

“Who was that?” asked Dad.

“Some nice old man.” Said Max. “We talked about sports and played a little catch.” Max did not think much more about it, until a few weeks later his Dad called to him.

“Look here Max” he called when Max got home from school. “Isn’t this the guy you were talking to a few weeks ago at the park? “

“Sure, looks like him” Max replied, as he

stared at an internet posting that said, “Famed Scientist Passes On.”

“Well I’m sorry to say he has passed away” his Dad mentioned “But it turns out he was kind of a big deal. He was working on a cure for malaria, a disease which effects people in poor tropical countries. He was working at a famous hospital in Houston and thinks he had a cure, but he was afraid of something. It says he had an assistant who turned out to be a bad egg, and he knew he was not going to live much longer. So, his assistant said he wanted to sell the cure for 500 Billion dollars and franchise

each dose for a thousand dollars each. The old man realized the people who need the cure most could never afford that, so he built an elaborate code system to protect it and said whoever figures it out gets the rights to it. He prayed it would not be his assistant who figured it out.” 

“But listen to this,” Dad continued, “the whole thing is crazy. It says go to the vault where he locked the potion, and type in a championship metal, then it gets even nuttier. He wants you to respond to the following: NACBTSIDNJ. Follow that with