
Best time of year!
There was too much to make note of after this huge sports weekend, so I’m just going to touch on everything today. Unless you live in a cave outside of Boulder, you know the Broncos passed their first “test” of the season – as if playing any other NFL team is Powder Puff football. And if you are just a passing fan you should know that the Rockies didn’t win the West, but are in the postseason. What you may not know is that the Rapids missed a chance to clinch a playoff spot, the Roller Dolls are off to Philadelphia, and the Avs remain undefeated.

The Crush is back!
Let’s start with Orange Crush Redux. The Broncos passed their first real test, as the crow eaters are calling it, by beating the Cowboys 17-10 at Invesco Field yesterday. The vaunted D gave up 10 points in the first half, but after the break shut down the league’s second leading rushing team and sacked Romo 5 times in the game. After four weeks of competition the Broncos defense is ranked second in the NFL behind the Giants in total yards allowed. Here’s something I bet you didn’t know, Denver’s running game is ranked fourth overall – just behind the Cowboys which dropped two spots after visiting Mile High. Just a note to all you season ticket holders that still don’t believe – if you’re going to sell your tickets pawn them off to a Bronco fan instead of a visiting team fan. It was embarrassing to hear the announcers say there was a large contingent of Cowboy fans in the stands yesterday and you could HEAR them!

Toad isn't the only one with a ride.
Local baseball fans finally stepped off Mr. Tracy’s Wild Ride on Saturday night when the Dodgers beat the Rockies 5-0, after a Frankie Morales meltdown in the 7th, to win the NL West. Colorado had the Dodgers back on their heels and wondering if they made a mistake waiting to pop the champagne in celebration of the postseason until they captured the division crown. LA celebrated with the So Cal fans, but the Rockies shrugged it off since they had already sprayed their celebratory beverages. The NLDS starts for the Rox Wednesday in Philadelphia at 12:37 PM Colorado time on TBS. I’m guessing employers might see a spike in sick days this week or at least extended lunches.
If you have followed the Rapids since the team donned the green and yellow unis, then you are aware that the team hasn’t tasted the postseason since 2006 after six straight appearances. Colorado could have clinched a spot in the postseason with three points this past weekend, but could only muster another tie. The team (40 points) is idle this weekend and could be overtaken by New England (38 points) and drop into the eighth and final playoff spot with two games left in the season. The Rapids have the ability to score, but seem to have gotten cold feet over the last four matches. They all ended in ties and Colorado hasn’t found the back of net more than once in any of those games. Get ready for another nail-biting end to a Colorado team’s season with the Rapids visiting Dallas and rival Salt Lake to finish the regular season.

WFTDA Nationals
For those of you that missed it, the Denver roller derby teams hosted the WFTDA West Regional tournament (Derby on the Rocks) this past weekend, and both Denver teams earned a trip to the National Tournament in Philadelphia to be held November 13-15. Although the Oly Rollers from Olympia, Washington won the event the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls and Denver Roller Dolls took the #2 and #3 spots, respectively. Only the top three seeds from each of the four regional tournaments are awarded a spot at nationals, so congratulations are in order for our Denver teams. Good luck in Philly!
Again, unless you’ve been hanging out in a tent at RMNP the past week you know the Avs kicked off their season on Thursday (same day the Rockies clinched the WC spot) with a tribute to longtime captain and future hall-of-famer Joe Sakic that culminated with the raising of his number to the rafters of the Can. The young team was so amped they went out and whupped up on the San Jose Sharks (last year’s Pacific Division winner) by a final score of 5-2. Then Craig Anderson, the newly acquired 28 year-old net minder hailing originally from Illinois, pitched a shutout (3-0) against the Canucks on Saturday for the second Avs win of the season. Colorado is 2-0 and leading the Northwest Division!
For sports fans in the Rocky Mountain region it’s another fun and glorious fall with playoff contenders fighting for titles and high hopes for teams early in their seasons. Let’s hope the Rockies and Rapids can take us on another long wild postseason trip. Although I didn’t mention the colleges, there is still hope for conference titles and bowl games in the young season. Who needs a Disney ticket to catch a wild ride if you’re a Colorado sports fan!?