Big loss with no Rocky prep coverage

Say what you will about the closing of the Rocky Mountain News – the final edition is tomorrow after 150 years in business. But one thing that will be missed is its interest in covering the prep sports scene.
Scott Stocker has been doing that line of work for as long as I can remember. He started with his own publication, then joined the Rocky. More than most, he understands how important prep sports coverage is to a major metropolitan area and to the young men and women he's covered.
Sorry .. the Denver Post can't compare. The level of interest just isn't the same.
I've known Scott for a long time. Regardless of event, regardless of weather, Scott always has a smile on his face and a story to tell. And isn't it nice to be around people who thoroughly enjoy what they do!
I hope someone can come in and fill the void of good prep sports coverage left vacant by the departure of the Rocky Mountain News.
I really do.

Favre may be serious

Word is that the free Fox folks are talking to Brett Favre about becoming an analyst next season.
He just might retire after all ...
Until some team comes up with a better offer.

Join the fun

It's getting toward the end of February, and that means the winter sports seasons are about to wrap up.
We didn't get anyone from the swim teams to the state meet in Fort Collins last week. But the four schools that field wrestling teams sent 21 grapplers to the state tournament at Pepsi Center in Denver.
Four or five of the basketball teams could qualify for the state 4A and 5A tournaments next week. The seedings come out Sunday afternoon.
Come join the fun as we start down the road toward a batch of state champions.

E-e-e-e-e-e-e nuff -- part 2

Anyone else sick and tired of watching the pregame introduction of Shaquille O'Neal from the NBA All Star Game the other night?

Return to Rockies of 2007?

Before we start talking about a run to the World Series for the Rockies – and as magical as the Rockies run to the World Series two years ago was – let's remind ourselves of a few things.
Two years ago, the Rockies caught fire at the right time. Winning 20 of 21 in September and October is astounding, yes. But the Rockies – like everyone else in their division – were bad up until then.
The Rockies lost Matt Holliday to impending free agency. Brian Fuentes is working for the L.A. Angels of Anaheim/Azusa and Cucamonga. Todd Helton cannot be counted on to hit 40 home runs. It would be great if he could be counted on at all. After all, he had back surgery during the offseason.
Those are some pretty good-sized holes to fill for a team that wasn't very good a year ago.
Playoffs? Would be great. World Series? Not likely.

Mullen fans out of order

Did you see where the Mullen student section got a little carried away with itself in a basketball game against Overland the other night?
Some of the cheering turned downright filthy. Why? Most of the Overland players are African-American; most of the Mullen cheering section is white.
Cheering for your team is one thing. Cheering against the other team is something else. But being racially insensitive is out of bounds.
I hope those students at Mullen "walk a mile" in the shoes of someone of a different culture. It would be the best lesson after something that stupid.
I'm not going to hold my breath, though.

Avsolutely inconsistent

The local NHL team can't beat the likes of Phoenix or St. Louis or even Columbus.
They can't score very much either.
But the Avs scored five goals in regulation against Detroit and won in a shootout.
If you have answers to why Colorado isn't any more consistent than this, you might be entitled to part-ownership of the team.

Favre part 2

Is this it?
For real?
The retirement of Brett Favre?
The only retirement that can last the length of a professional football season?
A reincarnation of that new soap opera, "As the Stomach Turns?"
I'll wait for the Cliff Notes version.

Pro Bowl charade

Now that the 2008 season's Pro Bowl (or is that a glorified touch football game?), is over, we cans tart discussing the plans for next year's Pro Bowl.
It won't be in Hawaii right after the Super Bowl. It will be in Miami right before the Super Bowl.
Because of the odd rules, the game isn't that good to start with. The NFL, in its infinite wisdom, decided to basically take its top two teams' selections out of consideration for the game by moving it to the week before the Super Bowl.
One more reason not to watch.

A-Rod and roids

Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees is the latest big-league baseball player to be accused of taking illegal steroids. This time, it happened in 2003, according to Sports Illustrated.com, which said this morning it had four sources who could verify the information.
Any surprise?

This borders on being stupid

First, it was a slam dunk contest, whose idea is very stale (as most things tend to get after 30-something years).
Then it was a match race between Charles Barkley and NBA referee Dick Bavetta.
Now ... it's a game of H-O-R-S-E that's been introduced to the world of the NBA All-Star Game Feb. 14- 15.
Thanks just the same. But there's some spilled milk in the fridge that requires my attention.

Quite the finish

If it weren't for the fourth quarter last night, the Super Bowl would have gone down in history as another clunker.
How many thought Arizona would make a game of it? How many thought Pittsburgh (with its emphasis on a good run defense) would have enough offense to run down the field and score the game-winning TD?
The fourth quarter did a lot to improve the status of the NFL postseason this year. But the best description of the first three quarters came from a couch in Pasadena, CA. Dad said he wanted a glass of Scotch "to wipe the horrible taste out of his mouth from watching the first three quarters of the game."