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.   

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.

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.

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]

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

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