Dr. Pure's Diagnosis: 2012

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Articles: 9NEWS

Saturday, August 25, 2012

"The night before brain surgery, I thought about death. I searched out my larger values, and I asked myself, if I was going to die, did I want to do it fighting and clawing or in peaceful surrender? What sort of character did I hope to show? Was I content with myself and what I had done with my life so far? I decided that I was essentially a good person, although I could have been better- -but at the same time I understood that the cancer didn't care.

I asked myself what I believed. I had never prayed a lot. I hoped hard, I wished hard, but I didn't pray. I had developed a certain distrust of organized religion growing up, but I felt I had the capacity to be a spiritual person, and to hold some fervent beliefs. Quite simply, I believed I had a responsiblity to be a good person, and that meant fair, honest, hardworking, and honorable. If I did that, if I was good to my family, true to my friends, if I gave back to my community or to some cause, if I wasn't a liar, a cheat, or a thief, then I believed that should be enough. At the end of the day, if there was indeed some Body or presence standing there to judge me, I hoped I would be judged on whether I had lived a true life, not on whether I believed in a certain book, or whether I'd been baptized. If there was indeed a God at the end of my days, I hoped he didn't say, "But you were never a Christian, so you're going the other way from heaven." If so, I was going to reply, "You know what? You're right. Fine." - Lance Armstrong

Friday, August 10, 2012

Beats me CSU

How crazy are they?

Colorado State’s president will format a decision on whether or not the university will fund the construction of a new on-campus football stadium, based on the findings of a 177-page report, according to the Coloradan.

He’s actually taking this proposition into consideration?

CSU officials said it will “energize and engage students, alumni and the Fort Collins community.” And they continue, “it will help recruit better players and coaches, and attract more out-of-state students.”

Are they joking?

Their current stadium, Hughes Stadium, isn’t new by any means but there is no reason to replace it.

The complex holds roughly 32,000 people; the Rams average attendance last year at home was 22,200. It’s located four short miles from campus; most of CSU’s student body lives off-campus.

So why again?

Old Fathers Day Card

Sorry pops.

Oh well, at least it's funny.

Dwights Howard and "His" Team in LA

We all knew that the four way trade that sent Dwight Howard to Los Angeles would make the Lakers the team to beat in the Western Conference. What we didn't know was that the acquisition of "Superman" would make Kobe Bryant relinquish his team.

"The team is his," said the five time NBA Champion. "It should be his."

Kobe doesn't mean it, even it was true, which it most definitely is not.

The Lakers legend has earned the right to say what he wants, even if we all know its a completely ridiculous falsehood, and get away with it.

Dwight may be the second coming of Moses Malone and Shaquille O'Neal, but its still Kobe's team. That's the way it should be.

Stephen Wiltshire: NYC Cityscape

"I'd love to be in his mind, to actually see how he sees things."

Stephen Wiltshire is an inspiring autistic artist, something you wouldn't normally see or hear about. And what he does in this video is truly incredible. After a twenty minute helicopter ride over New York City Wiltshire sketches the entire cityscape in great detail.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Here we go again....

This is a promise. I'm going to do better, I'm going to write more. I'm going to post more.

So stay tuned.... and we'll all see how long it lasts.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Summer Goal: Waterslide

MY GOAL FOR THE SUMMER..... DO THIS.

Bleeker to the CWS

Derrick Bleeker is representing Colorado at the College World Series in Omaha. He is a Skyline High School graduate and now mainly plays left-field for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He is the epitome of a "nice guy"; he's a team player, a hard worker and he remains grounded in his hometown.

Check out the article I wrote about Bleeker.

http://www.9news.com/sports/article/273817/345/Derrick-Bleeker-from-Colorado-to-Omaha

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Shane O'Neill: My first PROFESSIONAL package

My first package for 9NEWS. Wouldn't it be ironic that O'Neill's first day on the job would technically also be mine. We were in the same boat; both nervous and both excited.

http://www.9news.com/sports/article/273372/345/Fairviews-Shane-Oneill-joins-Rapids

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Fathers Day Pops.

Happy Fathers Day …. Coach, teacher, pillow, golfing buddy, fire starter, raft captain, “Main Man” and DAD. For some reason I always wanted to be around you or even be like you, and for some reason I still sometimes do. I’m proud to be your son, pops.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Lebron James made me reconsider my fanhood

As a sports nut, I don’t hate athletes. I despise their ability to be better than me in every possible way, sure, but that fact is inevitable. I’ve come to terms with it.

Lebron James may be the most despicable, in the cutesy Pixar kind of way, athlete of all time. So why in the world did a 12-for-12 free throw night turn me against the world and into a LEBRON BELIEVER? I’m not exactly sure.

Spurn, scorn and scoff all you want.

Amid game 2 of the NBA Finals I found myself rooting for the most hated man in America. It was an interesting feeling to say the least, like wearing socks with sandals and enjoying it.

James was not awe inspiring, like the performance he had in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, or inspirational, as in the commercials he is in encouraging kids to stay in school. He wasn’t even self-endorsing, and flagrant about it.

It is my decision whom to root for, and I’ll be taking my cheering abilities, indirectly, to South Beach with Lebron.

Broncos minicamp dating scene

How much can you really learn about a football team in three days? It’s like a 15 minute blind date in a dimly lit room.

John Fox and the Denver Broncos aren’t alone though. Their minicule mandatory minicamp, three days in only helmets, brought together the roster likely not to differ much from the preseason roster. So despite only getting a glimpse of what is to come from the Broncos, post-Tebow, it wasn’t bad.

“I’m just pleased with everybody’s effort, and I thought we got a lot accomplished. We’ve still got a lot left to accomplish,” said the head coach. But then he quickly reverberated, “All in all, we still have a long way to go.”

Getting in a rhythm in three days isn’t really even possible. It’s like ordering dessert on this seemingly romantic outing even before you know their zodiac sign. But hey, she did, at least, say “yes”.

“It’s all relative,” said Fox who at this time was separated from the team. “ The other 31 teams had no offseason a year ago, and this year they all do.”

There are no real pressing unknowns, so it’s just a positive get together. Peyton Manning will be the starting quarterback, it will be a running back-by committee effort, and the defense is far from good but better than it was. The basics are basically there.

Second date? Make that a month, training camp starts June 28.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

US Open has a lone Coloradoan qualify

The U.S. Open Championship is the toughest test in golf, and a lone former Colorado high school golfer made it past the qualifiers and is ready to take on the challenge.

Shane Bertsch will hit the very first golf shot of the tournament hosted at The Olympic Club just outside San Francisco, California. The former Evergreen High School Cougar, who went on to play collegiately at New Mexico Junior College and Texas A & M, was garnered the very first tee time(Tee Time: 7:00 a.m. off Hole #9 paired with Tommy Biershenk and Martin Flores) after overcoming the daunting task of qualifying for the event at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland.

Thirteen current and former Colorado high school golfers were able to make it past the local qualifiers, but were one step and two rounds short of a chance to play with some of the best golfers in the world.

The Heritage at Westmoor in Westminister, Colorado, hosted a local qualifier and helped Gustav Lundquist, a seventeen year old that attends Regis Jesuit, Greg Johnson, a Bear Creek High School graduate and now attends Regis University in Denver, Jonathan S. Park, a freshman at CSU-Pueblo and Overland High School graduate, Ben Portie, a former University of Colorado golfer and coach as well as a Ranum High School graduate, and Luke Symons, played golf at CU and is ThunderRidge High School alumni and advanced to the sectional.

The other Colorado local qualifier took place in Fort Collins at Collindale Golf Club. Cameron Harrell, an eighteen year old who recently graduated from Air Academy High School and now attends Colorado State University, led the way followed by Derek Fribbs, a Douglas County High School alumni and a junior at the University of Colorado, Danny Hahn, a former Columbine High School Rebel, David Oraee, who went to Greeley West and now plays for the University of Colorado, Mike Kitowski, a Fort Collins High School graduate and former golfer for CSU, and Alexander Gutesha, a Cherry Creek High School alumni and golfer at the University of Kansas.

Outside the Mile High State there were several former Coloradoans that were on the cusp of making the cut for the US Open. Mark Hubbard qualified for the sectional qualifier at Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert, California, but is a native and graduated from Colorado Academy before going to San Jose State University to play golf collegiately. Steamboat Springs High School alumni and Adams State College golfer Ryan Brees made the first cut in Powell, Ohio, at the Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club.

Colorado native, Bertsch will lead the rest of the field into 2012 U.S. Open Championship that is contested Thursday to Sunday.

Tulowitzki reaggravates groin in Triple-A

DENVER- Troy Tulowitzki reinjured a left groin that put him on the disabled list two weeks ago.

His first stint of rehab playing for the Colorado Sky Sox was going well. He hit a two-run home run and a single in the first three innings alone. But a scary moment for the ballclub an hour north on I-25 spread to the Rockies clubhouse quickly.

But from what the manager heard, and told the media just a few hours after the incident, it should be just a slight setback and maybe a positive for a struggling major league team.

“I don’t anticipate, from what I’ve heard, that it’s serious,” said Jim Tracy. “I don’t necessarily have any specific timetable as to when it is he resume a rehab assignment and/or be ready to play for us.”

The All-Star shortstop was recovering from a pulled groin against the Houston Astros and was placed on the 15-day DL on May, 31^st. He was recovering and began his first live-game rehab Wednesday in Colorado Springs.

Tulowitzki was attempting to tag up on a fly-ball to center field; he took a few steps, and returned to the base. He was taken out of the game immediately, As the rumors made their way to Coors Field, Jim Tracy was making sure his shortstop takes his time to get fully healthy.

“On a scale of one-to-ten the initial injury might have been a 9 or whatever, this one is at a 1½ to a 2,” said the manager. “It was more, it scared him. And so rather than push the envelope we did the cautionary thing and removed him from the game.”

Tulowitzki was scheduled to play five innings in Triple-A Wednesday.

Bradley-Pacquiao: Down for the Count

“If this were American Idol, without a doubt, Manny Pacquiao would have won. But it was not. I gave an honest opinion,” said Duane Ford who scored the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley 115-113 to give the split decision to Bradley.

But the long time boxing judge has a point, maybe it should be more like American Idol.

The Pacquiao-Bradley fight, in this day-in-age of technology and pundits , will likely go down as one of the most, if not THE MOST, outrageous doctorings of a prize fight in history. It led SportsCenter the morning after Celtics-Heat Game 7, Stanley Cup Game 5, and the Belmont Stakes occurred.

It shone a black light on a sport that was previously in the dark, but making the travesty and downfall even more glaring and noticeable.

The fight is being reviewed by the WBO, but likely little is to happen. It would be a problem deemed unfixable. A rematch is inevitable, there is a clause in Pacquiao’s contract that entitles him to an immediate second fight, one that will likely gain twice the buzz of the first. But the second fight should be different.

What the sports lacks is star power, most noticably, inside the ropes. And besides beating their heads against the wall, or as Bradley likes to call it “Round 4 with Manny”, they should alter the guidelines of the artbirator. Give the people a reason to watch, with a phone line for them to vote with operators standing by.

You couldn’t replace Michael Buffer with Ryan Seacrest, but rather Simon Cowell for Duane Ford.

Bring in former boxers, athletes, celebrities, and even a few commentators ringside and let them watch the event. It’s “boxing”, not technical “Flamenco”. Everyone has seen a schoolyard scrap, and it’s no real secret, to those watching, who won. Take 9 scores, drop the high and the low and count them up.

What is the harm in that, besides what will occur inside the ropes. Bring stars to the ring, even if they won’t be the ones squaring off.

Boxing is old, it’s lost the raw edge, Pacquiao-Bradley was the final thing you saw before it all went black. It might be down for the count, or it could be up for it.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Heat-Thunder: Here we go

One of the most anticipated NBA Finals in recent memory could place all the crystal balls out of commission forever, because they can’t even predict what is going to happen between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder, in a series that has just commenced.

Lebron James, the three-time MVP, and Kevin Durant, the three-time scoring champion won’t go quietly into the night. To each his own, but neither actually owns one.

If you have this NBA Finals series going anything but 7 games then you BETTER have a good reason. It’s a 336 minute, or more, dissertation waiting to happen.

Kevin Durant and Lebron James will likely play on the USA basketball team that could be the most dominant team in the Olympics since the Dream Team came to fruition in 1992. For now, they’ll be HBO “True Blood” before they become HBO “Entourage”. The two most polar teams will clash like they are attracted to each other.

A prediction of any sort seems moot. Miami’s big three of Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade and James against Oklahoma City’s big three James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Durant will offset each other. They will all go for big games because that is what big players live for. There won’t be a need for all 10 players to be on the court at the same time in the fourth quarter, a 3-on-3 driveway matchup would suffice.

Meteorologist warm of high temperatures and the rumblings of storms. This is going to be good; even “Legend…. Wait for it….”

Derek Wolfe makes minicamp

Dove Valley opened their doors for minicamp Tuesday and for the first time the Broncos first draft pick, Derek Wolfe, walked in wearing blue and orange with the rest of the team.

“[It’s] good to finally be out here with the teammates and working and getting better,” said the defensive tackle.

Wolfe was drafted number-36 overall, or early in the second round after the Broncos traded out of the first round, from the University of Cincinnati. The newest Bronco found himself unable to participate in the first team offseason OTAs (organized team activity). Under NFL guidelines, the former Bearcat had to wait until after his graduating class walked in its ceremony (which occurred Saturday) to join the team.

“You can look at the plays and see what’s going on but when you’re not getting coached up its hard to see what you would be doing wrong. That’s the hardest thing, is being behind,” recalled Wolfe, who was more concerned about not being able to grasp some of the new concepts.

This setback was short-lived.

“Trying to build your confidence, you’re just trying to catch up the whole time,” said Wolfe. “I think I caught up pretty quick and towards the end of practice I started to get it. It’ll come along.”

The 6-5, 300 lbs defensive lineman has a long way to go, but even after a lone practice under his belt Wolfe is adamant about making an impact right away.

“I expect to contribute. Obviously they didn’t draft me with their first pick not to play,” stated Wolfe. The first Broncos 2012 draft pick has already signed a four-year $6.25 million contract. “I have some expectations here and I’m just trying to live up to them.”

The Broncos and Wolfe will continue on with minicamp for two more days before waiting over a month for full training camp to begin.

Karl's NBA Finals Prediction: 9NEWS Article

http://www.9news.com/sports/article/272094/345/George-Karl-picks-OKC-but-favors-Lebron

My very first contribution as a young professional is an article for 9NEWS.

"DENVER - The Denver Nuggets northwest division rival - the Oklahoma City Thunder - takes one step closer to their first ever NBA Championship. The Thunder will begin the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat Tuesday night.
......."

Williams Tweets Playbook

When you “open your playbook” you would not want to necessarily do the way Broncos linebacker DJ Williams did. Via Twitter.

The six some odd plays Williams revealed weren’t reveled by other NFL teams. They weren’t secret plays drawn up, and this isn’t DJ-gate. Every single team in the league has these same plays, and NFL-typeface paper in thousands of 5-inch binders.

The Manhattan Project was never confused for the corner-bar Manhattan.

Over the course of a full season every team will likely show all their plays, on both sides of the ball. They are scouted to the nth degree by the time they line up against an opponent. Most scouts can probably tell you which leg Williams puts his pants on first.

But it’s the principle of the decit. The fact that a leader of the defense, Denver’s second leading tackler last year, would be so inept to wrap up a key piece of information such as this one. The price you pay is theortical.

Williams act, his lack is discretion or lapse in sound judgement won’t lose the Broncos football games. It’s simple a PicSlip. #oops.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

The Art of NBA Screens

Two steps isn’t what it used to be. A pivot foot is far from pivotal in the NBA game of basketball. It’s the whistler-giver, never been called and seemingly never will be ever again.

But not far behind, and not far aloof from this discretion of migration, is a moving screen.

An NBA forward is no small man, so when they come by to set a screen or whatever it is that Kendrick Perkins does, it’s difficult to elude. Try finding mayonnaise in the grocery store with that one mom on the phone gallivanting with the extended push cart, you’re destination is their challenge.

It’s no longer a plausible offense, despite it giving the offense an undeterred advantage.

All-Stars and D-League call-ups are all pros in the art of moving screen. Running up the court with their hands raised as if they are completely innocent, yet going directly at the opposing guard who is helpless and hapless to not get in the way.

They are immovable objects, in stark contrast to their very description, in movement.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Rox take two on Memorial Day

It seems that all the Rockies spring training questions have been answered. Yet the emphatic and exuberant amount of red markings on the page, one that’s under two months in the works, isn’t something Purple Monday fans were hoping for.

Colorado sits a gaudy 13 games out of first place in the NL West, and ten games under .500.

The bright side, or at least the one with a tiny, minuscule, glimmer of hope came in the form of a Memorial Day double dip.

The Rockies are in no place to take a positive note lightly. They don’t have the ability to take a win for granted, granted only 8 have come in this month. Don’t jump ship by calling for a Mayday, on any one of the last days in May; it is rather the exact opposite.

Colorado is bad. Heck, beating the Houston Astros 9-7 and then 7-6 in extra innings under the same moon is making at least one half-literate blogger giddy isn’t right.

But I’ll take it, in hopes that it will be a day to remember, for both those that courageously served our country and a step in the right direction for the Rockies.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Sports Spectacular: #GENErous

#Generous. Sports Spectacular 2012 was one, simply put, the root of the single word.

‘Generous’ or ‘Generosity’ derives from the Latin word generōsus, which means "of noble birth."

Together with Cedar-Sinai Hospital, the many athletes, celebrities and actors alike help sponsor the event to raise money and more importantly awareness to others. These use their platform to benefit genetic research that is so crucial.

It's a beautiful thing to see; sports are full of people able, willing to help and #Generous.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

NAB/BEA Conference; Oh what a trip

I’ve been on two “business trips” this past semester. One to Los Angeles and the Pac-12 basketball tournament and another, this past week, to Las Vegas and the National Broadcasters Association/Broadcasters Educational Association conference. So I’ve had some enjoyable moments, and as one friend put it, “ If they didn’t want us to have any fun they’d send us to Cleveland.”

The latest trip to the NAB/BEA conference was definitely one to remember.

After a tumultuous trip to Las Vegas, which was supposed to be the easy part, coming home from Sin City is the one that’s gives people the most fits, we jumped right in.

We saw the producer, director, and writer (all one guy) of “Breaking Bad”. Interesting lecture on a show that probably took more than a few extracurricular experiences to drum up.

After that it all becomes one big blur, in a good way.

For the next three days we were in “go-mode”. Never a dull moment and nary a time to ourselves, but, heck, that’s what Las Vegas is all about.

We sat second row at speech by James Cameron, just some guy who directed Titanic and Avatar, and Vince Pace, his equal and partner of innovations in 3-D technology.

They talked, most of the devices and terminology went sky-high over my head but these great minds are at the forefront of this curve. For how much they talked about techy stuff they equally lectured on its promise in sport. From the Masters, in 3-D (amazing by the way), to the X-Games, which used 34 3-D cameras, they were truly passionate, because it was a true challenge, about making sports “pop” off the screen and into people’s homes.

The next day we went to an honoring of Betty White. Again we snagged a front table and saw the Golden Girl in action. She is just as funny as any interview or show you’ve seen on television. A true icon.

Right after, and I mean right after we headed to a conference about Geoffery Mason, and hosted by Bob Ley, ESPN personality. I’d heard the name before from books and whatnot but it didn’t really register with me who this was. And apparently neither did it register with anybody else at the conference. We met Bob Ley before the lecture, talked with him for 20 minutes about just whatever. He was friendly and helpful, and just a good guy. Then the lecture began and we were literally 4 of only 20 people in the entire hall, and half were family and friends of Mason. Once the lecture began I immediately knew where I’d heard the name, the World Cup. Mason executive produced the whole tournament and is the Executive Vice President of Production for ESPN. He’s done several Olympic games, Americas Cups, and pretty much any sport you could ever imagine. He is the boss I someday want to work for, and not just because he is with ESPN but because he is transforming the way sports are broadcast.

Coming off that high the final day outlived my expectations. We went to the career fair, a main reason we were there, but at that point, just a footnote on an overall great learning experience and trip. I received great feedback from some top hiring directors in the business. I talked to people from USA Today Sports, NBC Sports, and several stations that were enthusiastic about my potential (nice to get a pat on the back sometimes).

The trip ended, sadly and yet happily we left Vegas. (I don’t know if I can say the same for the other 300 flights out of Sin City that day.) Next stop, Denver, or who knows.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Richardson out for year; torn ACL

Junior wide receiver Paul Richardson was injured in Monday's practice, and was latter diagnosed with a torn knee ligament that will keep him off the field for the entire 2012 season.

This is a huge loss for the Buffs nearly a week before the Colorado football spring game.

According to the CUBuffs website Richardson tore the ACL in his knee when he was "simply planting and trying to make a turn in a non-contact special teams drill."

Richardson was a dynamic threat for the offense last year. Despite missing four games with a sprained knee in 2011 he was still the third leading receiver on the Buffaloes roster, with 39 catches and a total of 555 yards.

The fluke injury hurts the Buffaloes who are very inexperienced on the offensive side of the ball. Richardson was assuming a role as a leader on the team, in the locker room and on the field.

"Obviously, it's a blow to our team, but it's a part of the game," head coach Jon Embree said. "It's an opportunity for others to step up and try to lessen his loss. I thought at first he just rolled his ankle, and it turned out to be this [torn ACL]. It's a shame because he's worked real hard and was doing a great job both on and off the field, leading by example and improving on all the things he needed to work on." (via CUBuffs.com)

Richardson will use a redshirt year and come back with two years of eligibility in 2013.

[Information and quotes from CUBuffs.com]

Friday, April 6, 2012

Broncos 2012 preseason schudule

A new look and now a new season, it’s only 125 days away.

The Denver Broncos released their preseason schedule to the public this week. It’s exhibition football, but there is a buzz in the Mile High City following a surprisingly success season last year where they made it all the way to the Divisional Round of the AFC fashion, in the most dramatic way possible.

Here’s how the Broncos will gear up for the 2012-2013 season:

Preseason Week 1: @ Chicago Bears (8/9-8/13)

Preseason Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks (8/16-8/20)

Preseason Week 3: vs. San Francisco (8/26)

Preseason Week 4: @ Arizona Cardinals (8/29-8/30)

The first action Broncos’ fans will get to see of their new quarterback Peyton Manning will be, most likely, on the television. Denver will travel to the Windy City for the preseason opener. He will be facing former Denver play-caller Jay Cutler, who was also recently joined by former Bronco wide receiver Brandon Marshall in Chicago.

Manning’s much-anticipated homecoming is just that, it’ll be as energizing and rabid a fan base can get for a preseason game. The Broncos will take on Seattle, but the opponent, like many exhibition games, won’t be of note. The snaps he will take under center in an orange Bronco uniform will draw fans by the thousands. (Recommendation: Get your tickets now.)

In the third preseason game, the one where starters will get the most minutes before sitting out and resting awaiting for the season, Denver will have a test. There is turmoil in San Francisco, the 49ers were also a part of the wooing of Manning so quarterback Alex Smith was notably disgruntled, but it was a team that made it all the way to the NFC Championship game a year ago.

The Broncos will get a little bit of everything in the preseason. They’ll see former Broncos, castaways of Denver, a welcoming of a legend and a test that will sure to get the juices flowing. With a preseason like this, the Broncos are seemingly getting ready much bigger things.

Colorado Rockies 2012; top stories to watch for

Ah, baseball season is upon us.

Expectations are rather marginal in Colorado where the Rockies are predicted, by ESPN, as the 18th best team in Major League baseball. There are a lot of unknowns for the team at 20th and Blake, but you can depend on some storylines to pop up.

And here is a little preview….

Troy Tulowitzki was once one of the most up-and-coming players in the big leagues. Now, with the reigns being firmly placed in his hands after Todd Helton past the torch to him, it’s Tulowitzki’s term as leader. This is his team; the Rockies will go as far as he guides them.

The pitching staff is a black book of gorgeous possibility. But there is no better story than that of Juan Nicasio. Last year, while pitching for the Rockies he was struck by a line drive in the neck that endangered his life. His fracture vertebrae in his neck and doctors were hesitant to believe Nicasio would ever be able to regain his full strength let alone pitch in the MLB again. Nicasio is scheduled to start the second game of the year in Houston, but win, lose or draw it’s a great story.

Last year Jorge De La Rosa won four games before the end of April. But Rockies best pitcher tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, which forced him to have Tommy John surgery and sit out the remainder of the year. A comeback isn’t impossible, but recovering to be who De La Rosa once was may be a stretch.

There are veterans, and then there is Jamie Moyer. He’s 49, or in baseball age he’s over the hill or past his prime, but Moyer is still producing. Just like everyone else on the roster, Moyer had to earn his way into the big leagues. The now soft throwing left hander has spent 25 long years playing this sport and looks to be the oldest player to ever record a win in his first start of the season.

Todd Helton welcomes back a former friend, but he won’t be in the clubhouse, he’ll be playing down the street. Peyton Manning, the 4-time NFL Most Valuable Player and former Tennessee Volunteer, was welcomed into Denver and has close ties with Helton. Both played football in Knoxville and have been close ever since.

Michael Cuddyer comes in as the big off-season signee. The former Twin has already turned heads around the Rockies clubhouse. He’s a fun-loving, down-to-earth, and a veteran presence that will help Colorado this season.

It’s third base by committee. One giant hole in the Rockies lineup, both offensively and defensively, will be at the hot corner. Casey Blake was supposed to be a veteran to come in and take the job but he was let go by the organization in spring training.

Dexter Fowler legs could be as important as anything this year for the Rockies. The leadoff man struck out last year 130 times, or in essence, failing to put the ball in play and give up the possibility of legging more than a few out. The now 26 year-old will be an integral part in the offense, with Tulo’s and Cargo’s bat coming up right after him.

In the end, it all comes back to the manager. Jim Tracy will be in his third full year, and it sure is an important one. He took over from Clint Hurdle and was an instant difference maker but the last two years, Tracy managing the length of the 162 game season both times, have been described as disappointing. Tracy will have some pieces to work to mold this team into a possible NL West Contender.

The rosin bag is set, the lines are painted on and there is nowhere to go but up for the Colorado Rockies. They have the pieces, but it will also take some luck to get where some Rockies fans expect them to be.

Today: @ Houston, 5:05 pm

Saturday: @ Houston, 5:05 pm

Sunday: @ Houston, 12:05 pm

Monday: HOME vs. San Francisco, 2:10 pm

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Campus golf today?

“Off the rock, past the lamppost and over the Pomeranian. It’s a par 6,” said one scholar to the other as he teed up his tennis ball on the only green patch not yet inhabited by sorority sunbathers.

Campus golf; it’s the timeless tradition that pits man, with club in hand, against academic entropy.

Take a pitching wedge, a tennis ball then pick your hole. There are no guidelines beyond the ones you set up. This is a game, more of adornment then admiration, less strict but yet in a way still succinct. It’s a sport without true construct that is confined to campus.

From green(-ish) spot to the next, avoiding the cart path (also known commonly as the walkway) to reach your destination. The humiliation of a shanked, sculled, or flubbed shot wears on ones conscience. Against your peers, judged by your peers.

This isn’t regular golf, or is it?

It’s Caddyshack minus the gophers, if you’re lucky.

The sport of urban golf was said to be founded in 1741 in Scotland. The late Duncan Thomas originally played the first shots and holes of such a transformative game outside the White Hart Inn in the Grassmarket area of Edinburgh.

The contest, in its purest form is a technique sprinkled in with minor bits of creativity. It is said to be a “social commentary on the nature of golf and its traditional opinions and attitudes.”

To play against the best campus golfers in the world you need only look one place, the almostGOLF Campus Tour. The events spread across the continental United States and challenge opponents in all areas of skill, amid different layouts on different campuses. (http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ekpSmcw9CXA) It breeds the fervor of fans that are seen in practically any other NCAA sanctioned sport.

Campus golf is like studying for finals, no matter how long you do it, how long you play or sit with your face in the research book, in the end pounding your Head against the wall always seems like a good option.

(Head-brand is a type of tennis ball.)

More information on campus golf and college tournament follow this link. http://www.almostgolf.com/index.php/20080708141/Home/COLLEGE-CAMPUS-TOUR.html

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

College basketball isn't all equal

Men’s and women’s college basketball are straying further apart, by the day, like buoys on rough seas.

When seemingly every player with a semi-, partial-legitimate shot to make the jump to the NBA does so. (Even I was thinking about trying my hand last night after scoring 65 points in my intramural game.) It’s a free for all; they’re going all-in on a pair of 6’s.

Yet on the women’s side, is actually standing for something. They show valor, of giving a scholarship back to the university because they did not win Oklahoma a National Championship, and in their minds they “did not earn” it. (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/news/story?id=4045542) They demonstrate grit, the kind that comes in the form of playing before empty stadiums and long road trips that don’t encompass the luxuries that other teams enjoy. And they illustrate fortitude, when Brittany Griner decides, with “no doubt” in her mind, to finish her education at Baylor to play out her senior season. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/baylor-star-brittney-griner-says-shell-be-back-next-year/2012/04/03/gIQAfupOtS_story.html)

“I made a commitment. When I make a commitment, I keep my word,” said Griner.

A different game, a different mentality.

NFL debuts new Nike uniforms

The NFL locker rooms won’t look all that differently this coming season despite the new logo hanging from their jerseys sleeves.

All 32 teams, including fan gear will wear the ‘Swoosh’ as Nike received approval to be the leagues sole apparel dealer. The arrangement stipulated an “exclusive five year contract”. The leagues previous sponsor was Reebok, who is also owned by Adidas.

The terms of the deal were not disclose, but according to the Citigroup Inc. Reebok made $350-million dollars a year from their NFL contract.

The Oregon based sports-giants maintained a lot of the semblance of mainly all the teams, especially those whose histories and images are ingrained in their communities culture. There are little alterations, yet the overall theme didn’t stray to far from the past.

The new uniforms did have a new-age feel, and there is only likely to be more of that coming in the future.

“We plan on changing the NFL jersey dramatically just like we’ve done with the college programs, using new thinking and the greatest technology available. The NFL program hasn’t had the same type of advancement in recent years,” said Nike Brand President Charlie Denson (via CNBC)

Nike continues to push the boundary on athletic innovation and creative fashion improvements.

NFL.com webstory

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8280d110/article/nfl-nike-roll-out-new-uniforms-for-all-32-teams?module=HP11_around-the-league