All-Star Snub Not So Bad

Chauncey was snubbed by fans and coaches this week when he was left off the NBA West All-Star team.  I know I should be disappointed as a Nuggets fan and staunch Billups supporter in this not so unsurprising turn of events, but I’m really not.  In fact, I’m secretly relieved that he won’t be pounding the hardwood and will instead have those callous laden feet and taxed ankles safely propped up on the coffee table at home watching it like the rest of the NBA fans. 

It's okay that Billups won't play with Melo.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the egos involved in pro sports and it is an accolade many players would enjoy during their playing careers.  However, don’t you think Stockton would trade his 10 superstar games for just one ring?  This grown-up version of the high school homecoming court popularity contest is just another way to make money for the NBA and should be looked upon as a fun distraction versus endorsements of extraordinary skills.  However, my congratulations go out to the Nuggets coaching staff and Melo and I’m proud that the Nuggies are well represented at the mid-season event!

Don’t Prout, Mammoth Will Contend

Despite the fact I’m not a fan of cold weather and shorter days, this is a fun time of year for the Colorado sports fan.  The Avs and Nuggets are playing meaningful games, DU hockey is in full swing, CU basketball teams are into the Big 12 schedule and the Mammoth are back in the Pepsi Center!  If you haven’t been to a professional indoor lacrosse game, then grab a cowbell and schedule a game on your Blackberry.  It’s a fun night out whether you’re with the family or a bunch of party friends.  The games are fast, loud, exciting and the Mammoth perennially fields a winning team.

For those of you that have been following the Mammoth over the years, you’ll have to learn some new names with 7 rookies on the 2010 roster.  Gavin Prout, who has been with the team for the last six years, served as captain, is the team’s all-time leading scorer and was the 2006 Champion’s Cup MVP, was traded in the off-season to the evil Rochester Knighthawks along with fellow forward Andrew Potter and two 2010 draft picks.  In return Colorado got a highly regarded rookie, Ilija Gajic, and a first round pick in 2012.  Gajic joins his two brothers in Colorado, so let’s hope they turn into the NLL’s version of the NHL’s Sutter’s.

Prout ended up in Edmonton after another trade and led his new Rush team to a 14-13 win over the Mammoth in the season home opener.  The highly touted rookie has shown why Colorado was willing to give up its captain and draft picks to get him.  Gajic has already taken home one Rookie of the Week honor, is 9th in the NLL scoring with 18 points, and is second in points for rookies sitting only 1 point behind Garrett Billings of the Toronto Rock.

Jersey names and numbers aren’t the only changes going on over at The Can.  Mammoth President and GM Steve Govett fired coach Bob McMahon just two games into his third season behind the bench where he posted a 16-18 record going 0-2 in the playoffs.  Not a stellar record for a franchise that has made the playoffs in each of its 7 years in the league.  Govett will add interim coach to his job description and explained that the NLL’s best fans deserve better results:

“I have a standard and a vision for this team,” the new coach stated. “And sometimes it’s hard to have others buy in to that vision and carry it out if they’re not 100% in sync with what I’m looking for. I think our fans deserve better than what we’ve shown on the field so far.”

Govett is searching for a permanent replacement, but will not set a timeline for the hire.  The team has responded positively to the change winning two tough road games in overtime this past weekend.  Colorado evened out its record at 2-2 and jumping from last to third place in the West.  There are 12 regular season games left and 7 home games starting this Saturday night against the league leading Washington Stealth.  Don your best black outfit, pack your cowbell and head to the Pepsi Center to do your part in keeping up Colorado’s reputation as the loudest and toughest place to play in the league.

Christmas Break is Over, Time to Step Up

What’s so great about this season’s Nuggets team is the leadership of its veteran players.  Some nights Melo takes over, others Chauncey earns his Mr. Big Shot nickname, and every now and then Kmart runs blue light specials all night long.  The last couple of nights Billups has decided it is time to stop losing games to inferior teams and has taken control. 

Billups getting ready to drain another 3!

On Wednesday night Mr. Big Shot tied his career high by throwing down 37 points during the Nuggets first overtime of the season in Oakland against a young feisty Warriors team.  Billups hit 2 quick treys to start the overtime and picked up an assist on JR’s 3 that all but put the nail in the coffin of Golden State.  The final was 123-118.  Not only did Denver tourniquet the bleeding against sub .500 teams, but extended their record to 7-2 in 2010.

Last night Chauncey had no intention of playing another stanza of free ball and got the team fired up against the visiting Clippers in the third quarter.  Billups contributed 13 of his 20 points during a 31-9 run during that period.  Mr. Big Shot has made 21 3-pointers in the last six games with four coming last night.  Melo had 28 points and 10 rebounds on the news of his selection as starting forward in the All-Star game.  Even Kmart made contributions in the 105-85 laugher, but was laughing all the way to the bank.  Martin donated $1,500 to Haiti relief efforts for each rebound – he grabbed 14!

Chip Defends Crown

Boulder has an Aspen like celebrity in its midst!  Chip, the CU mascot, successfully defended his title at the 2010 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship this past Friday.  The judging is split into two parts comprised of a video submitted in the fall and live skit performed the following January. 

Chip jammin' at nationals!

Unlike in 2009, Chip entered the January skit competition in first place after the video judging in November.  Being the Big Dog Buffalo that Aubi, Wildcat, Smokey and all the other top mascots were gunning for the pressure was intense for Chip and his handlers.  The team spent winter break creating and perfecting a skit that would not only be more creative than their record-breaking 2009 performance (earning an 11 on a scale of 1-10), but also get the crowd involved and excited.  The result was “Chip’s Dance Party” that featured old school music blasting from a jukebox to an iPod booming current tunes.  By all accounts the entire audience was waving their hands in the air and jammin’ like they just didn’t care. 

The Big 12 was represented well not only by CU, but Oklahoma and Kansas finished in the top 10.  As in football, the SEC had a strong showing with four mascots in the final 10 and Auburn’s Aubie taking second place.  The Big 10 rounded out the field, also with four finalists, lead by third place finisher Goldy Gopher from Minnesota.

Need a Job? Broncos Are Hiring!

Here we go again!

For most fans that follow the Broncos it wasn’t a big surprise that two former coaches, now in charge of other NFL teams, decided the time was right for raiding McKid’s cookie jar. After a post bye week implosion and the understandable heated reactions of a thirty something first year head coach, it didn’t take much for Shanny and Kube to lure key staff members away from Dove Valley.

Long-time Bronco and highly respected running backs coach Bobby Turner took a promotion to assistant head coach in Washington is rejoining his old boss Coach Shanahan. Offensive line coach Rick Dennison took his oft imitated and highly effective zone blocking scheme to the Houston Texans. The Oilers Part Deux have been attempting to execute on zone blocking over the last two years and now have the guru in place in an attempt to get Kubiak a contract extension next year.

Now defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has resigned!  He was the first hire of the McDaniels era and engineered an amazing defensive turnaround by switching from a base 4-3 D to a sack happy 3-4. With several head defensive jobs available he will probably land somewhere quickly. With the next D coordinator hire it will be the Broncos 5th in as many years.

Rumors are already flying that McKid will hire another ex-Pat and bring in 60-year-old Dan Pees who will not seek a new contract after his current Boston obligation expires at the end of this month. New England has allowed an average of less than 20 points in regular season games during Pees fours years as defensive coordinator. The Pats had a few meltdown games, most notably against the Ravens in the first round of this year’s playoffs. Overall he is considered a solid football guy.

Fans can’t really blame McDaniels for trying to bring as many chowder heads as possible. There’s no doubt he is overwhelmed in his first full year as the head guy of one of the best multi-million dollar NFL franchises in the league. He can’t afford to waste energy convincing people the Belichick way is the right way, so bringing in a bunch of guys that will not only coach in that mold but players that will preach it in the locker room seems like a smart move. Expect more major player changes (especially in the O line – hey how about a trade with the Skins), and possibly a few more coaching moves in this off-season. If you thought last year was crazy and a roller coaster ride, then save your money on Elitch’s passes because here comes another wild ride!

Broncos on the Cusp

What a 2009!

It’s been one heck of a ride this year for Broncos fans, which actually began on New Year’s Eve 2008 with the firing of Mike Shanahan!  Mr. Toad has nothing on Bowlen and the Broncos.  Denver fans were stunned when Shanny was let go, but not too many cried over it after the 2008 Broncos became the first NFL team ever to blow a three game lead with three games left since the league started divisional play in 1967.  Then came the surprise hiring of Josh McDaniels as the youngest head coach ever to take the helm of the 50-year-old franchise.  This was followed by a four-month long media feeding frenzy.

The young brash coach wanted to clean house and get the type of players on the roster that he was used to working with in New England.  Having connections to the Patriots, McKid knew there might be an opportunity to bring Matt Cassel (who he knew could run his offense) to Denver and opened talks with the Patriots.  Of course we all know what happened when Baby Jay caught wind of this.  What I want to know is why a QB that has never had a winning season or taken his team to the playoffs was making personnel decisions with Shanny AND labeled a franchise quarterback?  Remember this quote after his coach was canned:

“I was talking to Mike yesterday about personnel moves,” he said in an interview on KCNC-TV in Denver. “I’m as shocked as anybody else. I think it’s the wrong move.”

Hmmm, wonder why neither one of them is no longer with the organization.  Of course, the whole Jaygate fiasco put crazy ideas into Baby TO’s head and he started throwing tantrums in hopes of being traded and subsequently getting mo’ money.  Not only did sitting out put him waaaay behind in learning McKid’s complex new offense, but didn’t give Orton the reps needed to get timing down with the team’s #1 receiver.

Finally B-Marsh joins the team because he can’t afford to sit out, get fined, pay fat attorney fees and pay for an engagement ring on his measly salary.  Pre-season starts and Bronco Nation gets a look at their new team, literally.  There were only 24 players remaining on the roster from the 2008 squad, a totally revamped 3-4 defense led by the fiery veteran Brian Dawkins, and a new quarterback with an average resume managing a New England style offense.  McDaniels was trying to put together a team and still working kinks out during the four meaningless August games, so there were times when it looked like Mullen HS could beat these guys and the boobirds let them know it.

The first real test was at Cincinnati against a future playoff contender and it seemed the Immaculate Deflection gave the Island of Misfit Players some confidence and swagger.  Although fans and media types weren’t giving Santa Josh any kudos it kick started the Broncos on a 6-0 run and soon the bandwagon overflowing.  Then along comes the big bad bye week and a 0-4 stretch characterized by really bad football.  Denver has righted the ship, but fans are never sure which streaky team will show up from week to week.  The boys in blue and orange, and for a couple of weeks brown vertical stripped socks, are still in the playoff hunt.  I’m sure the next three weeks will keep us on the edge of our collective seats, but I don’t see this Bronco team losing the last three games and getting knocked out of the playoffs.  I wonder if Jay will call Bowlen for playoff tickets?

Throwback Days at the Foam Dome

With another painful football season coming to a merciful end, Buffs fans can turn their attention to and actually get excited about the men’s basketball team.  Buzz finally has his guys in place after most of Patton’s recruits bailed because the work ethic and expectations were too much for them to handle.  Coach has these kids wanting to play team ball and buying into the philosophy that has been proven successful in the NBA and at Air Force.  This isn’t going to be another season where CU has a good pre-conference record then gets destroyed.  In case you missed it, these gritty guys played tough at the Maui Invitational without their head coach who was with his seriously ill mother in Chicago.

The Buffs are 5-2  after dropping two heartbreakers in Hawaii then coming home and taking care of business against the San Francisco Dons.  On the Big Island CU had Gonzaga on the ropes the entire game and let them sneak back in during the closing minutes to lose 72-76.  Next up was Arizona which went into overtime but lost 87-91.  They picked up a consolation game against Chaminade, but came away knowing they can play with the big boys.  The Big 12 is brutal this year, but look for this team to pull off some upsets at home.

Higgins vs SF Dons

The 2009-10  Buffs is still young with only one senior, guard Dwight Thorne II, but he’ll get good help from junior Cory Higgins (team leader and top scorer) and freshman Alec Burks.  Still too many freshmen and sophomores to make a run at the Big 12 title, but I love the attitude and hustle this team brings to the table.  It reminds me of the run and gun team of the 1990-91 season that almost took home an NIT championship.  CU is not only bringing back that gritty, wind-sprint style of play but the fashion sense too.  The Buffs will wear the silver home unis for the first time in 19 years, so what can go wrong?

The Buffs head to Oregon this Friday to play OSU in the Big 12-Pac 10 Hardwood Series.  Big 12 play opens in Austin on January 9 followed by Baylor at home on the 12th.  Let’s have the Foam Dome rockin’ like it used to in the early 90’s when Billy Law was running the offense and the seats were filled with gold and black clad fans.  After dropping several gut-wrenching contests to Big 12 foes at home last year, you can be sure the tables are turning and the Buffs will notch some of those in the win column this year.

Lightning Strikes Mile High

The Broncos aren't out, but need to step up!

After that Charger lightning storm Sunday afternoon that had Broncos rearing and running for cover, the fans in orange and blue have every right to start making plans for a January trip to Mexico.  However, looking at the Broncos playoff chances based on the overall record and AFC standings at this point in the season there is still plenty of hope for more games after the season finale at home against the Chiefs. 

If you have actually been watching the rise and fall of the 2009 edition of the Broncos it looks like local sports fans will be turning their attention to the Nuggets and Avs after recovering from an extended New Year’s weekend.  Since the bye week the Denver defense has been in an early gift giving mode handing over yardage, penalties and TDs.  It seems the once number one ranked D couldn’t even stop Hawk’s Buffs now days.  The offense is just as generous with turnovers, penalties, questionable play calling and opening lanes to the QB.  The aggressiveness, passion and focus on execution seem to have gone the way of the Canadian geese.

If you are a glass is half full kind of person and think the guys can right the ship there is still hope.  The Broncos are only one game behind the Chargers in the AFC West after splitting the season’s head-to-head match-ups and currently hold a slight edge in the tiebreaker (2-2 vs 2-3 against common opponents).  It will take more effort from the Broncos over the last six games than will be needed from the Chargers given their respective schedules.  Not only do the good guys have to go back to work with only three days to make much needed repairs, but will be hosting a Giants  team coming off an overtime win against Atlanta which put an end to their own four game losing streak.  Here’s the breakdown.

BRONCOS	CHARGERS
Giants (6-4)	Chiefs (3-7)
at Chiefs (3-7)	at Browns (1-9)
at Colts (10-0)	at Cowboys (7-3)
Raiders (3-7)	Bengals (7-3)
at Eagles (6-4)	at Titans (3-6)
Chiefs (3-7)	Redskins (3-7)

There is opportunity for the Broncos to overtake the Chargers in the division, but they will need to take care of business and get a little help from other teams. 

I’ve been hearing talk about how pathetic the Broncos are for blowing a 3 1/2 game lead after starting the season 6-0, but few are giving the Chargers credit for turning it around.  Other than the Saints and Colts which are NFL royalty at 10-0, no other team is as hot as the Bolts.  They have won their last five in a row after starting the season 2-3.  There is no other NFL team, outside of the two undefeated clubs, that can match that streak.  There are only five teams with a 4-1 record over that stretch, but eleven other teams (including the Broncos) that have gone 1-4 over the same period with the poor Browns notching a NFL worst 0-5. 

Bottom line is that the Broncos have a decent remaining schedule and enough time to turn it around to take back the AFC West lead, but it has to start this weekend at home against a vulnerable Giants team.  The hometown team is a conundrum.  Let’s hope McKid doesn’t think trading the Pats for Junior Seau before Turkey Day is the solution.

Benedict Blue Bombs

Really?! Baby blue?

As an alum of the University of Colorado I tend to be a bit biased in my assessment of the young folks walking away from Boulder with a sheepskin in their hands. Yes, I’m an admitted homie. This weekend, however, has shaken my faith in the mental prowess of those graduating from Buffland in the next several years.

A SENIOR (who should know better), started a Facebook blue boycott against the current Buffs football coaching staff.  Taylor Rhode, an

Facebook tampering

 accounting major, wanted to send a message to CU officials by coaxing students to don baby blue t-shirts to the Texas A and M game in silent protest and to show the similarities of the losing teams that wore similar colored unis in the early 1980’s. While I appreciate the historical knowledge of Buff football, Taylor needed to think outside the Rocky Mountain box – like in the direction of southern California.

Taylor, think about this for a minute. Darrell Scott just left in midseason with the expectation that he will follow his uncle to UCLA and the current Bruins coach is ex-Buffs wunderkind Slick Rick Neuheisel. Do you know the colors that the UCLA Bruins wear? It is BABY BLUE and gold!  Unknowingly you made those that played your little dress-up game look like they support a university that could very well have three guys that dissed the institution you and/or your parents are spending thousands of dollars for you to attend!

After storming the field with the lame baby blues glittering brightly in another beautiful Boulder afternoon, hopefully Taylor and his army felt like the hypocrites they appeared to be on TV.  Try just slapping some corn cobs on your head and hitching up your overalls and call it a day next time.

Bored Sportswriters Find Story at CU

Sportswriters and sportscasters that cover the Colorado sports scene are obviously jonzing for some controversy.  The Broncos have started 6-1 to quiet the McKid bashing, the Nuggets are off to their best start as a franchise at 5-0, and the baby Avs lead the NHL in points.  Couple that with the fact no local pro players (e.g., Brandon Marshall and JR Smith) have gotten into any legal trouble recently and these guys are worried their lead stories will be follow-ups to the Buffs cross country team’s disappointing second place finish in the Big 12 Championships!  Oh, but there’s more gold in them there Flatirons.  Darrell Scott just laid a big palet of fodder at their collective doorsteps by quitting the CU football team in the middle of a challenging season. 

The sky is obviously falling on Dan Hawkins and the CU football program because Scott, a back-up running back, has decided to leave Boulder to return to sunny So Cal.  Those who are shocked haven’t been paying attention.  Probably the biggest factor for the five star recruit picking CU over Texas was the fact his uncle, Josh Smith, was a rising star receiver for the Buffs.  After Smith transferred this past summer, and Scott was not only injured but backing up Speedy, it is no surprise the kid bolted the Rocky Mountains.  I’m sure 2 feet of snow in late October along with a 2-6 record didn’t do anything to sway him towards staying.

It certainly isn’t a shot in the arm for this beleaguered football team, but college players are in and out of programs all the time.  Think about the lives of five star recruits - they are hormonal teenagers with huge egos that are blown-up bigger and bigger as major schools tell them how great they are and how each of them will be the star of their respective teams (Can you say Heisman?).  Scott was no different, but the problem was he didn’t see Speedy coming down the tracks.  There were other contributors to Scott’s unhappiness in the People’s Republic. 

•  The budding star transferred into another L.A. high school for his senior year, so loyalty to a struggling program is not in his repertoire. 
• Scott was out of shape when he came to CU as a freshman after missing camp because of academics.  That lead to a slow start and probably contributed to his injuries last year.
• Hagan was hard on Scott when he got here and told him to earn a starting spot by working hard. Don’t think anyone has ever told him he actually had to EARN a starting job.
• He missed the support of uncle Josh who transferred to UCLA during this past summer to pursue a degree in media arts (he wanted to study film production). 

Sometimes a kid needs a new start, so maybe he’ll be successful on Slick Rick’s sunny campus. Meanwhile, Hawk gets no credit for recruiting Speedy who was getting offers from D2 schools and has been an amazing back especially given the poor O line play.  He gave Speedy a scholarship and gave him a chance to start despite landing Scott who was supposed to follow Salaam onto the Heisman stage.  Giving everyone on the team a fair shake should give you the best opportunity to win.

I know the Colorado sports talking heads are twisting the story around to say that it will hurt Hawkins on the recruiting trail, but I disagree.  High school kids want to play in college and with Scott leaving any incoming freshman will have a good shot at eventually starting.  Good luck at winning a national championship at UCLA in the next three years.  CU still has good depth at tailback to finish off 2009 and I would like to see junior Demetrius Sumler get a chance to carry the ball again.  Sometimes divas are best left in Hollywood.