National Basketball Freelancers

As fans, we are naïve; sometimes plain dumb. We paint our chest, buying hundred dollar tickets to sick on wet seats in -10 degree weather and we truly believe that NBA players want to win a championship.

It’s not that they don’t want to win; most of them would do anything to win one. Brian ‘The Custodian” Cardinal (Ever wonder how he got that nickname?) can viably attest to that fact.

This day-in-age they are programmed, like the new NBA Jam, to know that the only true measure of success is how many wins you can get.  But we are only now becoming aware that this is only the case IF there is an NBA season.

Unlike football, David Stern cannot keep them off the court. There are no Coach Carter chains on the doors, and definitely no soliloquies that pronounce the players and owners greed and the calling for a agreement to be made. The players are content to go play in select venues with their buddies.

It’s Bagger Vance meets Space Jam.

And why would they want to stop doing it? The players get to go out and play in games they want to play in. They get paid as much money as people are willing to pay to see them (which is turning out to be lumps of money). There is no pressure on the players to take over an exhibition game. They don’t have to go to towns like Milwaukee and Oklahoma City. Some fans, outside competitors may get the opportunity to get some playing time against their favorite pro. And they get the freedom that most of them probably haven’t felt since they were in elementary school.

Players play to win the game; but that NBA game is becoming more and more overrated. 

Colorado not close at the Horseshoe

Heading into Ohio State, and the biggest stadium most of these players have ever seen, the Buffaloes had the opportunity to change many people's minds about this program. The game was televised nationally; no blackouts anywhere except for a couple frat houses.

Colorado’s newest coaches have said everything right since they were appointed in October. They even looked, and felt the part. (Not this.)

But, as Jon Embree has said several times in several different situations, ‘there is a difference from saying something, and then proceeding to go out and do it’ (I’m paraphrasing here). So when he said that this time was going to be a ‘physical team that runs the ball’ I completely believed him.

Then the Buffs got the ball for the first time.

“We have been awful starting games,” said Embree. The first three plays were all throws and were all unsuccessful; they used 21 total seconds and gave the ball right back to the Buckeyes  “We script plays and we go through it and we give them the looks and we practice it.”

The Buffs want to be physical program, in a name-sake game and that’s how you open the game?

If you are losing, and you need to score in a hurry I can completely understand the philosophy of throwing the ball numerous times. But if there is more than 30 minutes left in a game, so before half time, you cannot disregard everything you ever preached.

In the first half Colorado snapped the ball 23 times; 18 passes and only 5 runs. In those five prescribed running plays none lost yards and they averaged over 4 yards per carry. (‘Four yards a carry’ is something Embree has also stated previously.)

Colorado wants to return to playing good football, but you can’t just say that to win games.

Silence is Orange; Denver nips Bengals

The Denver Broncos came into the game against the Cincinnati Bengals in midseason form. One game into the season and fans were already frustrated on more than one platform; the running game was inept, the quarterback’s job should be in question and the defense aloof and looking for answers.

But as we see in all sports; winning silences all critics.

“This is one of the best wins that I’ve ever been a part of,” quarterback Kyle Orton said following the 24-22 Denver win. The 3-year Broncos starter has received much of the blame for much for the obvious offensive struggles in the opening week against the Oakland Raiders.

Orton threw for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns on the sunny Sunday afternoon, and buys himself at least another week as the starter.

The running game can also be attributed to this offensive success. “I was happy with the way our guys handled themselves offensively just because we were going to have to run the ball," said Fox, "and we did."

Willis McGahee was the leading rusher for the Broncos a week after Denver accumulated 38 total yards on the ground. McGahee ran for over a hundred yards and kept the Bengals defense guessing the whole game.

“We stuck with it. The line did a great job. Willis making yards, making downhill yards, making tough yards." Orton appreciates this change of pace, and he needs this to be consistent part of the Broncos offensive schemes.

But this two-point victory isn’t only moral, but its promising figuring the amount of injuries the Broncos were facing. Champ Baily, Knowshon Moreno, Brandon Lloyd and many others were forced to sit out put the onus on some back ups.

“The mentality we have here is next man up. The guys that are after those guys came in and performed great." said Miller

It was philosophy that carried swiftly inside the Broncos locker room. And breeding this idea, along with the first win of the year will give the confidence and a key learning point. Coming at the right time, after several years of disappointment, and moving in the right direction.

“You have to learn to win in this league, and,” said Fox, “not saying anything about the past, but when you have that culture these types of wins give you confidence."

The first tally in the win column for the Broncos came in an exciting 2 point win against a team they should beat. But it also comes with a good, quick, librarian like ‘shhhhh’.

Jim Gray Speaking at the SJMC Graduation

Oh how the times have changed.

Four years ago I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. I had some ideas but none that I could legitimately say we’re in the works. Times have changed and so have I; it’s rather crazy to look at what’s all happened.

Let me first start with a story.

I’ve always talked about getting someone big in the sports broadcasting world that has graduated from Colorado to speak at our graduation. So the names of Rick Reilly, Chris Fowler and Jim Gray have always made their way to the front of our minds.

And on Tuesday after coming back from the Rockies game with some of my friends we were joking about have our commencement called ‘THE GRADUATION’ with Jim Gray speaking at it. (In pun of his interview with Lebron James proclaimed ‘The Decision’.) So I tweeted that out to all 118 of my followers. Half joke, but also half for real.

‘THE GRADUATION! for the SJMC at the University of Colorado.... We want Jim Gray to give our speech can we make it happen @espn @NBCSportsPR’

And the very next day I get an email from my internship coordinator at CBS. He said that I needed to come in and fill out some paperwork, and also that Mr. Jim Gray called the station looking for me.

I was excited and hesitant. I didn’t know if the guys at CBS were messing with me or if this was real. But I called the number they gave me, and left a message at the ‘Office of Jim Gray’. (Which was already the best moment of semester, and I was just talking to a machine.)

And today I received a call from the man himself. (Slightly surpassing the last high moment.) He was happy to come give the speech at our graduation commencement, and he was excited that I reached out to him to talk to him. We talked for about 20 minutes in casual conversation.

Coming into college I would have never thought this would ever happen to me, but today I talked on the phone with Jim Gray. And I can’t thank him enough. See you on May 10^th Jim Gray; I’ll be the one in the black robe and funny looking square hat.

Backup QBs; 2nd to no one

Backup quarterbacks are a hot commodity. They’re the Italian mixed meatloaf at the linoleum coliseum that is the middle school cafeteria.

Matt Cassell was compensated $62.7 million for his superior clipboard holding skills. Kevin Kolb is getting $63 million, $30 million in guaranteed money. He’s worth more than the Liberty bell, which coincidently has been struck more times than Kolb himself in the vicious game of football.

When a backup falls asleep in a meeting the quarterback coach gentle covers them with a blanket as if not to wake them. Veterans don’t haze backups; they would feel bad for taping these little guys to the goalposts.

So what is the allure of the decoy-play caller? The clipboard concierge? The human-softballing juggs machine? The bench barista? The headset hunk? The stout scout?

They are in constant queue, but are never tall enough to ride the roller coaster.

Everyone loves them. If the team is winning they might as well apply to become the centerpiece in the lost art of male-cheerleading, but if the team is losing then they are Joe Namath with more charisma, a more studious Peyton Manning, throwing a better ball than Tom Brady and like Jay Cutler, only with better hair.

They aren’t the fish you caught; they are the fish you tell your friends you caught.

Second string quarterbacks are necessary, and they are vital to a team’s success. But lets not let them steal the big piece of cake at the metaphorical birthday party; they should be able to blow out the candles first.

Rocky Mountain Showdown; Good not Great

You always remember your first.

“It feels great,” said Jon Embree after his first victory as a head coach, “My first win as a player was against these guys so to do it as a coach means a lot.”

It doesn’t hurt that his inaugural victory comes against, what is now, Colorado’s only true rival.

The 16^th Rocky Mountain Showdown matched the undefeated Rams against the defeated Buffs but lacked the anticipation that many Colorado natives once knew. The two teams combined for 8 wins in 2010 (only 7 if you don’t count the Buffs win in the same matchup last year), and the last bowl game for either team was Colorado State’s win over Fresno State in 2008.

Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium, which holds upwards of 70-thousand people, was far from full. There were patches of empty seats scattered throughout, but the no-shows (whom are usually booed at Mile High Field) didn’t lessen the energy that translated to the players on the field.

“I heard them; I don’t count them. I don’t spend too much time looking at them,” said CSU head coach Steve Fairchild about the fans although the Rams were only able to see a little more than 17-thousand of their 31-thousand (55%) allotment, “There were enough people there to provide an atmosphere.”

The 55-thousand that staggered into the building from the exponential rowdy tailgates saw a physical game. The Buffs defense took on a new mentality that made them fly to the ball.

“I take responsibility for the personal fouls because I told the team in their today that I took the leash off – there were no rules,” said Embree who usually doesn’t handle the defense, allowed the Buffs to fly around in this big game, “There were no rules and I took the leash off them.”

Colorado’s defense slowed down the Rams rushing game, only giving up 67 yards on the ground and only 176 through the air for sophomore Pete Thomas. But the 10 minute drive to seal the game for the Buffs, the defense stepping up, and even the win was once again overshadowed by the mistakes.  

“I’m happy. I’ll be happier,” said Jon Embree who was clearly upset by numerous mistakes that are constantly plaguing the Buffs.

“There are a lot of things we need to fix too,” said senior Ryan Miller. Colorado came into the game as one of the most penalized teams in the nation and was flagged 10 times for 114 yards on Saturday. “[Today] definitely wasn’t a perfect game. We had a lot of penalties; we need to clean that up.”

The Buffs have a long way to go, but the victory is most obviously a step in the right direction. But CU can’t stew on the victory too long; they have to start preparing for the Buckeyes and a streak that nobody in black & gold can avoid.

“As soon as possible,” said senior Anthony Perkins.

Sportsmag Week: 2

Another week of Sportsmag is in the books, literally. (You'll have to watch the third video to understand that reference.) So have at 'em....

The Colorado Cup was decided on aggregate goals a week ago, bring the Cup back to Boulder this year. But Denver University didn't get a chance to play the Buffs in the tournament; the game this weekend isn't for a trophy but it might as well be. 

Concussions are one of the most dangerous injuries an athlete can sustain on the playing field. The long term effects from them are subjective to many medical professionals. We look at how Colorado is handling them and how the NCAA mandate is keeping student-athletes safer.

Technology has changed the landscape of media guides and how they are put out. The NCAA has stepped in and started to regulate how they can be used. The Buffs are among many schools transitioning to digital copies of these invaluable sources of information. 

Finally, we look back at 9/11/01 through the eyes of Colorado athletes...

Buffs lose heartbreaker to Cal - Short Recap

Jon Embree’s return to Boulder and Folsom Field probably went better in his dreams. Only a little better though, the only thing that was missing for the new head coach on Saturday was a Buffs win.

“We didn’t play good enough – we lost. I don’t care if we run for two yards or 1,000 yards, we have to win the game,” said Embree following the disappointing 36-33 overtime loss to new Pac-12 opponent California.

The upsides from this back-and-forth game were hard to ignore though.

The combination of Tyler Hansen and Paul Richardson tore apart the Colorado record books. Hansen threw for 474 yards, a new school record, and of those 284 went to Richardson, also writing his name in the record books.  

“I think Paul Richardson is a star in the making and we are seeing it,” said Embree of the sophomore whose 11 receptions tied a school record.

And, don’t forget about Will Oliver’s right leg that gave the Buffs a chance to win the game in the extra period. “It was the reason I picked him. It was a gut feeling,” Embree said about the true freshman that made sent the Buffs into overtime with a 33 yard field goal in the final minute of the game, “That kid is going to be good and he was the answer for us.”

The more than 50-thousands fans that stacked Folsom Field have something to be more than excited about. But the coach wants more.

“Disappointed, I thought we would win,” said the coach. Embree isn’t going to look at numbers as a victory unless the numbers also point in the Buffs favor on the scoreboard following the game.

To Love Michael Vick or not?

Michael Vick is everyone’s 3^rd grade crush. And this is a lily that continues to grow pedals; I love him, I love him not, I love him, I love him, I love him not.

At Virginia Tech people couldn’t wrap their mind around a dual-threat quarterback. He was criticized and critiqued and then he won. Vick went on to play just 2 years with the Hokies and he is now considered one of the most dynamic players to play college football.

I love you not, I love you.

The San Diego traded away the #1 overall pick to the Falcons, who took Vick. (Fun fact; Vick was also drafted by the Colorado Rockies.) He then blossomed in Atlanta, and led his team deep into the playoffs in his second year in the league. And then the craziest and most demoralizing of stories are the ones involving Vick and dog fighting. 

I love you not, I love you, I love you not.

Vick returned, against all odds and versus everyone, including the 11 men on the other side of the ball and played well. He changed people’s minds, by inflicting change within himself.  

And now his star is shining brighter than ever, in a city that doesn’t settle. Will Vick be successful?

I love you, I love you not?