Source: Governor’s Office
ESPN columnist Rick Reilly talks to the media about his bad Rockies bet.
STATE BILL COLORADO
Columnist Rick Reilly of ESPN kept his word Tuesday and “washed” — or at least, touched — the Capitol dome with his tongue.
Early in the Colorado Rockies season, Reilly wrote that if the Rockies made the playoffs, he would wash the Capitol Dome with his tongue. The Rockies last week clinched the National League wild card by beating the Milwaukee Brewers.
By Daniel Williams, DENVER DAILY NEWS
No Colorado Avalanche player will ever don the No. 19, because “19” belongs to Captain Joe Sakic.
And the club made the move official Thursday as Sakic’s No. 19 was raised to the rafters of the Pepsi Center in an elaborate hour-plus-long pregame retirement ceremony.
The ceremony featured a brilliant highlight film that featured a classic 21-year-old Sakic interview where he was sporting a jean jacket and talking about his hockey hopes and dreams.
Current Avalanche players all wore Sakic No. 19 jerseys, and all stood on and watched one of the great players in NHL history leave the game once and for all.
Team owner Stan Kroenke was on hand, as well as team president Pierre Lacroix — who both spoke graciously about Sakic’s career.
Finally, Sakic spoke before a sold-out crowd that erupted once he was announced.
“You always look forward to the home opener. I am kind of getting that itch,” Sakic told the sold-out Pepsi Center crowd, which went nuts at the thought of a Sakic comeback.
“Just kidding,” Sakic quickly added.
Sakic went on to thank Quebec and the Quebec Nordiques, Lacroix and Lacroix’s commitment to winning, Kroenke and every Colorado Avalanche fan in the packed-out Pepsi Center.
He also emotionally thanked his many teammates throughout his 20-plus years – and many of them were on hand in the press box.
“Enjoy every minute because it goes by way to quick,” Sakic sadly told some of the younger Avalanche players.
Sakic then concluded his speech before his No. 19 banner was raised, but before one crazy and very loud fan yelled down: “One more time, Joe!”
Sakic laughed, and quickly responded: “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
Moments later, Joe added: “Good night, everyone, and thank you so much.”
The crowd immediately rose to their feet for a five-minute standing ovation, which turned into chants of “Super Joe! Super Joe!” And Sakic then walked off the NHL ice for the last time.
Distributed by Colorado Capitol Reporters
By Mark Knudson, DENVER DAILY NEWS
Dear Sonny Lubick,
It was a day that made you proud to be a CSU Ram: The unveiling of the brand new $20 million academic center and indoor football and basketball practice facility right there on campus, just across the street from the dorms I lived in all those years ago.
The place is state of the art. No longer does CSU trail its Mountain West Conference rivals (or its in-state rival for that matter) in facilities and amenities for coaches and student athletes. This ain’t no stinkin’ bubble. This place is awesome, and will be a huge advantage for recruiting an even better class of athlete to Fort Collins. The future is looking bright.
It was a beautiful day, and a large sun-baked crowd got to see and hear from some of the legends of CSU football. Current players wandered over for practice with big grins on their faces. Former players shook their heads in amazement. A gentleman named Frank Faucett, who played for Colorado A&M way back when the football team played at Christensen Field over on College Avenue, was there too, talking about when he played in the Raisin Bowl. Really. CSU administrators thanked everyone who had contributed for being there and pitching in, while the green and gold balloons rose to the sky. Cool stuff.
Where were you?
There was just one thing missing: You.
Listen, we all know things didn’t end like they should have for you at CSU. In a perfect world, you would have gone out on your terms, to the pomp and circumstance that you deserved. You built CSU into a nationally recognized football program … you put us on the map with old fashioned hard work and dedication.
In a smaller sense, I can relate to your feelings. My dismissal from the Colorado Rockies during the inaugural season wasn’t exactly how I envisioned ending my baseball playing career. Heck, I had flown home during the all star break one July and spent two days campaigning for the vote to build Coors Field. Later, I turned down two other free agent offers to sign with the expansion Rockies, knowing full well what I was getting into … just because I wanted to be a Rockie. After I left the team – on their terms, not mine – I was upset for a time, but after awhile, I decided it would better for me to move forward and do what I could to help the franchise that meant a lot to me. Jerry McMorris put me back to work in community relations a few weeks later.
Obviously, my importance to the Rockies pales in comparison to your importance to CSU. In more than a century of playing the game, no one person has meant more to Colorado State Rams football than Sonny Lubick. Everyone associated with the school wishes it could have ended better. But it didn’t. Nothing anyone can do to change that now. What’s done is done.
Stay a part of CSU
What should not be done, however, is Sonny Lubick’s association with Colorado State. You mean way too much to all of us to stay detached like this. We need you back. I know you were invited to the ceremony, and despite the lingering feelings, it would have been fantastic if you would have accepted and been there. Of all the ovations that afternoon, there’s no doubt the largest one would have been for you. It would have been a standing O.
I know that hard feelings are hard to move on from most times. No one blames you for the way you’ve felt. I’m just saying that maybe it’s time now to finally put all of that stuff behind you … let go and start anew. You could still help make CSU a better place, and help a lot of people that hold you in very high esteem. Steve Fairchild, a coach who honed his craft under your tutelage and who would love to continue to honor your legacy, is a Sonny Lubick guy, right? He brought back Larry Kerr, who was such an important part of your staff. Your son Marc is on the coaching staff. Heck, a whole lot of these kids that have jumped out to a 3-0 start are guys you recruited. Think they’d like to have you around, even if it was just a little bit?
They all play their games on Sonny Lubick Field, for Pete’s sake.
Please think about it. Maybe it’d be OK to let bygones be bygones. From top to bottom, everyone wants you back as part of the CSU family, sooner rather than later.
I have to amend one earlier statement. There were two people missing at the ceremony … Rich Bircumshaw would have loved it, too. It’s a shame we don’t get to hear him describe the new buildings in a way only he could have.
I feel pretty safe in saying that Rich would have wanted you to be there, too.
Mark Knudson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and member of the 1993 Colorado Rockies. He writes sports column for the Denver Daily News. Respond to this column at editor@thedenverdailynews.com.
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Source: camscat16 via YouTube.com
By Daniel Williams, DENVER DAILY NEWS
Shannon Sharpe never does anything quietly. Sunday, the former Denver Broncos tight end entered Invesco Field by parachute, skydiving his way on the Broncos’ Ring of Fame as the Broncos beat the Cleveland Browns 27-6.
The Broncos improved to 2-0, and they did it in impressive fashion late in what was a close game — but Denver’s new Orange Crush-lite defense led by Elvis Dumervil’s record four sacks wasn’t going to be denied.
“I think we did a good job today of managing the game and not turning the ball over,” said Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. “We didn’t force things and force the ball down field because it wasn’t there.”
Peyton Hillis fumbled the game’s kickoff, but Denver’s defense held the Browns to a field goal.
Two possessions later, Denver’s defense again came up big, forcing a fumble deep in Browns’ territory.
“We had the offense’s back,” said defensive lineman Kenny Peterson. “We have to keep grinding, and the offense has to keep moving the ball up and down the field.”
Three plays later, Kyle Orton found tight end Tony Scheffler for a two-yard touchdown, giving Denver a 7-3 lead.
Browns quarterback Brady Quinn then took Cleveland down field on an 11-play, 51-yard drive, but Denver held the Browns to a Phil Dawson 47-yard field goal.
Early in the second quarter, Orton engineered an ugly 13-play drive that Matt Prater capped off with a field goal, giving Denver a 10-6 lead.
Both club’s offenses sputtered the rest of the first half, until the 2:32 mark when Denver got the ball back and attempted to go down field and build on their lead.
Orton, who struggled again in the first half but still never turned the ball over, dinked and dunked the Broncos down field on a long 17-play drive.
“We moved the ball pretty effectively, and we did some good things out there today,” Orton said. “We took what was there and we didn’t turn the ball over, which is the most important thing.”
However, Prater missed his first field goal of the season wide left, and the Broncos failed to generate points in a close game before the half.
Orton struggled at times in the first half, throwing multiple balls away and into the dirt, completing only 11 of 27 balls thrown — but Denver still controlled the game.
Denver’s running game didn’t produce early, gaining only 53 first-half yards. But Denver’s running backs were also only given 13 attempts to do so — compared to Orton’s 27 passing attempts.
To start the second half, Dumervil forced a fumble on the third play from scrimmage, and Brian Dawkins recovered it.
“We are a cohesive unit — you do not see a lot of selfish guys on this side of the ball,” Dawkins said of the defense. “The front seven is playing well right now, and the secondary is doing the same. I wouldn’t trade playing with these guys for anything.”
Brandon Marshall, who was sparingly used throughout the game and who didn’t look very happy about it on the sideline, finally made his first game impact in two weeks.
Marshall caught a 15-yard Orton pass that set up a Prater 38-yard field goal, but again was taken out of the game shortly after.
The following drive Denver’s defense forced the Browns into a three-and-out, and Orton led the Broncos on a nine-play drive.
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Photo: University of Colorado
By Peter Rossi, LAW WEEK COLORADO
DENVER — Although it’s widely believed that the recent 10-year football contract between the University of Colorado and Colorado State University is a done deal, the paperwork is still missing the signatures of top school officials as final details are hammered out.
But don’t expect the deal to collapse, representatives for the schools said last week. Both sides have indicated they are happy with the agreement, which was announced Aug. 31. But “the contracts aren’t executed yet, and we’re still finalizing it,” said Elvie Henderson, CU’s senior associate general counsel. The final piece is determining ticket prices, which CU Assistant Athletic Director Tom McGrath expects within 30 days.
In all, three agreements govern the extension of the so-called “Rocky Mountain Showdown” for 10 years at Invesco Field at Mile High. The game was played this year at Boulder’s Folsom Field, where stadium capacity and revenues are lower.
The first agreement is between the two universities to continue playing football for the next decade. Both sides said that there weren’t any contractual holdups and that they both wanted to have the series in Denver. “All parties involved are satisfied with the arrangements,” CSU Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk said.
That agreement allots 55 percent of the tickets to CU and 45 percent to CSU. “The reason why that’s important is that every ticket that we sell out of those 55 percent of seats, the money stays in our athletic department,” McGrath said.
McGrath said CU officials did not want the fans thinking that for every dollar they spent on a ticket, 45 cents would go to CSU. “It might come out the same, but clearly schools are motivated to sell their own tickets because when you sell your own tickets through your own ticket office, then you keep 100 percent of the revenue,” he said.
The “foremost issue was ticket sales,” Henderson agreed.
The second agreement is between the schools and the Metro Denver Sports Commission, which is tasked with marketing the game in Denver. That agreement includes both schools providing the commission with promotional tickets. Neither McGrath nor Kowalczyk would disclose the financial agreement reached with the commission.
The sports commission is a nonprofit organization charged with bringing sporting events to the Denver area. Similar agreements with the commission were in place the past three years the game was played at Invesco.
“They’re a third party that will go out and try to sell sponsorships and promote the game in Denver,” McGrath said. “Both schools are looking at a greater presence in the Denver market.”
The third agreement is between both schools and Invesco Field to play the game at that location for the next 10 years.
Television rights for the game are determined by whoever the home team is, and referees will be assigned from the conference the home team is from. The home squad will also coordinate all credentials for the schools, officials, dignitaries and the media.
The main reason there wasn’t a significant contract holdup in negotiations is because both schools financially benefit tremendously. “For us, it’s minimally an additional $600,000 to $800,000 in revenue” a year, Kowalczyk said. “Of course, it’s money we can use and put back into our program for the benefit of our student athletes.”
McGrath said, “There’s a lot more seats down in Denver for both schools, which benefits ours sponsors and our fan base. The financial model really works.”
Revenues from the games will go into the athletic departments, which will help fund scholarships. Last year, CSU’s scholarship tab for all student-athletes was $6.4 million, and CU’s bill was $8 million.
By Gil Whiteley, DENVER DAILY NEWS
Your Denver Broncos found a pot of gold Sunday after a rainbow pass to Brandon Marshall from Kyle Orton got knocked up, rather than down, then fell into the waiting arms of the leprechaun-like Brandon Stokley. Stokley took the ball 87-yards and then some, because he refused to go into the end zone and ran across the field to run more time off the clock.
The Broncos beat a terrible Cincinnati Bengals team that couldn’t get out of their own way, never mind the Broncos. I wish I could write that this was a great win, but all it was was a lucky break.
On the Broncos’ last offensive drive, they had moved deep into Bengals territory, only to suffer a false start by Ben Hamilton for a five yard loss, then a holding penalty on Casey Wiegmann, which brought them back another 10. At that point they were still in field goal range on the 35-yard line, which would translate into a 52-yard field goal. Then Orton dropped back, and instead of throwing the ball away took a seven-yard sack that took them out of field goal range.
Those kind of mistakes cost you games in this league, and the 27 needless yards given up should never have happened. The Broncos would have had a 9-0 lead with 6:29 left. Had that happened the end of that game would have been a lot more boring, but it’s what should have occurred. People tend to forget the little things that happen when the big lucky break bails them out, but it did happen, and it should have cost them the game.
I’m sorry, but Kyle Orton just doesn’t have the arm or the mental makeup to be a successful NFL quarterback. His ball has no zip on it, and the defenses have time to close while his throws are traveling leisurely through the air.
It would be like picking low hanging fruit to criticize Brandon Marshall for letting the ball go through his hands in the second quarter, because he was interfered with just before the ball got there. The defender grabbed Marshall around the body and turned him slightly as the ball approached in an unhurried pace.
Broncos fans will be out and about all week long, bragging about how they new the Broncos were going to find a way to win, but this is not a good team, at least offensively. Kyle Orton should have ended the game 16-28 for 163 yards, instead of his 17-28 and 243 yards and a 100.7 QB rating.
I’m still not sure about the defense, but at least they looked like a professional unit. Mike Nolan has put together a group of players who are not afraid to hit. They came up with big hits when someone came across the middle, and the Bengals dropped some ball hearing footsteps.
Bottom line is that the Broncos are 1-0, and coming home to play the Cleveland Browns. The Browns aren’t much to write home about either — they lost to the Vikings 34-20. So the Broncos have a good shot at going 2-0, or even 3-0 at Oakland the following week. But after that, all the lucky tips in the world won’t help. They will lose their next eight games. Don’t pull out you pompons quite yet.
Listen to Gil Whiteley everyday at noon on “Gil and Woody” on AM 1510 KCKK. The views expressed in this column are Whiteley’s and not necessarily those of the Denver Daily News. Respond to this column at editor@thedenverdailynews.com.
By Daniel Williams, DENVER DAILY NEWS
The “Rocky Mountain Showdown” will return to Denver next year.
The annual CU vs. CSU football game returns to Invesco Field starting in 2010 and the game will stay there for a decade, the Metro Denver Sports Commission and officials from Colorado State University and the University of Colorado announced Monday.
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper was the opening speaker at the rivalry’s annual pre-game luncheon that featured additional speakers: CSU athletic director Paul Kowalczyk and CU athletic director Mike Bohn, as well as both school’ head coaches, Dan Hawkins from CU and CSU’s Steve Fairchild.
“I am so excited to have this game back in Denver,” Hickenlooper said.
It will be the 82nd meeting between the two schools ,and the Sunday, Sept. 4, 2010, game will count as a Colorado State University home game.
“The energy and excitement inside the stadium here [at Invesco Field] is very unique and very intense — it’s just a great atmosphere,” Hawkins said.
Game tickets will be split on a 55 percent basis to CU and 45 percent to CSU, with the same revenue split from club seats and suites for Invesco events from their owners who purchase the option to attend the CU-CSU game.
“The economic benefits of playing the game in Denver cannot be understated, and if we expect to compete on the national stage and continue to grow our programs, it will take the kind of revenue this game generates,” Kowalczyk said.
The University of Colorado leads the in-state series all-time 59-19-2, and last year CU won 38-17 CU at Invesco Field in front of 69,619 fans.
“Every sports bar, every restaurant with a TV and every college football fan with an itch for the start of the season will be tuned in watching us go head to head,” Fairchild said.
Next year’s game will be moved from Fort Collins to Invesco Field, where reportedly both schools can generate more than $1 million in revenue.
The game will be played on Labor Day weekend eight times, except in 2011 and 2015 when CU will open the season on the road at Hawaii.
Distributed by Colorado Capitol Reporters
By Gil Whiteley, DENVER DAILY NEWS
As in life, the anticipation is always much bigger than the event; you can ask my ex-high school girlfriend.
Jay Cutler was in town last night, and nothing much happened except the Denver Broncos fans that he rated as sixes mightily booed him, but they booed him like nines.
Neither Chicago nor Denver looked very good, In fact, booth these teams may be in for a long season.
Quarterback Kyle Orton can’t seem to lead any of his receivers on crossing routes and missed several guys badly, who were just standing there after running a button hook.
Orton not the answer
Orton can’t play a lick. He’s the athletic equivalent of Don Knotts, fumbling for his bullet. The Broncos receivers were routinely running routs short of the first down marker and turning punters Brett Kern and Britton Colquitt into an MVP candidates.
If this is the Josh McDaniels Denver’s getting, then Denver got got. If it wasn’t for Peyton Hillis and Devin Hester, this Broncos and Bears game was unwatchable.
In keeping with Josh speak, injuries are now called either upper of lower extremity injuries. We get the hemisphere of the anatomy, not a specific body part. They wouldn’t let the media in the press box that Orton injured his hand, even though it was reported on the radio and TV immediately.
This is it, Denver. This is the Broncos in the last appearance by the regulars. None of them are expected to play in the last preseason game, but who knows? Seventy-six thousand of you signed up for 10 games of the most boring football of your lifetime. Look out, Detroit, here come the Denver Broncos.
To his credit, Cutler wasn’t sacked but was hurried several times and knocked on his can by Dumervil three times in the first half. Thanks for being in the building, Elvis.
McDaniels watch
I’m officially on the McDaniels watch. He has done nothing to impress me, or anyone else in the Rocky Mountain Region. The Broncos are supposed to know who can play by this time in the preseason. I’m not sure who can play, or what formation they’re supposed to be in. The real problem is that the Broncos don’t know, either.
Other than a couple of individuals (Hillis, Eddie Royal and Dumervil), this Broncos’ effort was a mess. Josh McDaniels is ill prepared to be a head coach in the National Football League. That doesn’t mean he won’t be someday, but yesterday wasn’t it.
The over/under for the Broncos this season is now at seven games in the win column. That is looking like the biggest no brainer in the history of no brainers. I should know, I’m accused of having no brain every week of my life.
The Broncos will have trouble winning four games in 2009.
Have a nice fall.
Listen to Gil Whiteley everyday at noon on “Gil and Woody” on AM 1510 KCKK. The views expressed in this column are Whiteley’s and not necessarily those of the Denver Daily News. Respond to this column at editor@thedenverdailynews.com.
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By Gene Davis, DENVER DAILY NEWS
Reba Stoner had to endure people shaking her tent, blaring car horns and the overall commotion that comes with camping out on one of the busier intersections in Denver on Wednesday night — and she still has nine more nights to go before SNIAGRAB starts.
SNIAGRAB — bargains spelled backwards — enters its 55th year next weekend and expects a record turnout due to the down-sloped economy. Hailed as the world’s largest ski and snowboard sale, hundreds of people are expected to camp out outside of Sports Authority, 1000 Broadway Ave., to be in the front of the line for the super sale when it kicks off a week from Saturday at 8 a.m.
Camping out prior to SNIAGRAB has become an event unto itself. Food vendors, onlookers and promotional tents will join the campers, and as an added incentive, Sports Authority will give away more than $100,000 in prizes — including a new 2009 Subaru Outback — to some of the eager shoppers.
Stoner staked her place in the front of the line this year by setting up her tent two days ago. She is hoping to lay claim to some of the prizes that are being given away, adding that the recession was the main motivator for her securing her place in line a week and a half before the event begins.
“It’s extremely crucial to save money these days,” she said. “Last year I could buy what I wanted a week before I went on the mountain, whether it was on sale or not. This year I can’t because of the economy…I need to save money and get the biggest bang for my buck.”
The Texas transplant is planning to save $2,000 by buying a new snowboard, bindings and coat during SNIAGRAB, which offers up to 70-percent off on leading brands like Burton, Volkl, K2, The North Face, Columbia and Sims.
Stoner doesn’t expect her week-and-a-half campout to be easy. She is focusing on staying hydrated, sleeping in the morning hours to avoid the late night commotion, and always being ready with a change of clothes in case the weather changes. Because she is first in line, she knows she will have to be a constant presence around her tent to keep her place.
Stoner isn’t alone in her adventure. Her friend Marvin Maricic was out to show support Thursday afternoon, though he won’t be camping out with her.
“I’m impressed by her,” he said. “She knows what she wants and is going after it.”
Distributed by Colorado Capitol Reporters
By Daniel Williams, DENVER DAILY NEWS
Some Denver Broncos fans couldn’t wait for his departure, while others are still heartbroken he’s gone.
Either way, Jay Cutler is a Chicago Bear and no longer a Bronco.
And Wednesday the Denver media had their first crack at Cutler through a conference call; however, this time Cutler didn’t crack back as he has done repeatedly in Chicago, slamming the Broncos and Broncos’ fans on multiple occasions.
“Probably poorly,” Cutler said when asked how he expects to be received by the fans. “That would be my first guess.”
During the brief interview, Cutler refused to take cheap shots at the Broncos, repeatedly calling this weekend’s third preseason game between the Broncos and the Bears “only a preseason game,” and he even praised Broncos’ fans.
“They’re good fans there and how I left, it wasn’t the best situation, so that should be expected,” Cutler said. “But both sides are happy now, and we’re moving on, I’m not getting into specifics, and I’m sure they’re not either. It happened, it’s over with and we’re both moving in a different direction.”
Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels also downplayed Cutler’s comments and the game after practice Wednesday at Dove Valley.
“There are not two people playing out there on Sunday night. Jay is obviously a good player and doing some good things for them right now,” McDaniels said. “We are just into the Bears and what they do on every side of the ball and trying to improve our team and get ready to play a good football game Friday night.”
In other Broncos news…
With the injury of backup quarterback Chris Simms that is expected to sideline him for up to a month, the Broncos Wednesday announced the signing of quarterback/punter Ingle Martin.
Denver also on Wednesday waived rookie running back Marcus Thigpen, who signed with the team on Aug. 17, to make roster room for Martin.
Martin (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) is a third-year player who joins the Broncos after finishing last season with Kansas City. He also saw time on Tennessee’s practice squad from 2007-08 and competed on Green Bay’s active roster as a rookie in 2006.
Martin was selected by the Packers in the fifth round (148th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft from Furman University.
As a senior, he earned second-team All-Southern Conference honors at quarterback and added first-team accolades at punter, averaging 43.2 yards per punt.
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