Rockies Ready To Scale World Series Mountain.

Troy Tulowitzki is a Rockie 4 life

The Colorado Rockies are agonizingly close to being a great that's right a GREAT team one that will contend for years and win the World Series that TULO promised in his press conference today. To get there the Rockies must improve 3 key things

1. Play.500 Baseball on the road

Splitting 81 games on the road along with 50-55 wins at home could win the Rockies first Division and set them up nicely with Home Field Advantage through the playoffs. Coors Field usually is a nightmare for teams but when you throw in a rabid, sellout crowd and cold weather what normally is an uphill battle turns into a full scale Everest climb. In addition the Rockies CANNOT lose on the road to bad teams far too many times the Rockies have lost series on the road in Washington D.C, Pittsburgh, Florida, Arizona, and other places the Rockies have no business losing in. The rockies DO NOT have to be great on the road Average will do.

2. Figure Out First Base

There is no doubt that Todd Helton is Mr. Rockie he has been the face of the franchise and stuck with them through all the lows throughout the last decade. But there is no denying that Helton's Productivity has slipped in the last few seasons, First Base is a power position you need power from there if you expect to play deep into October, the Rockies need to find a first baseman that can either A. Replace Helton full time, moving Todd into a defensive sub and nightmarish late innings pinch hitter (Todd still has the best eye in the game and can still draw walks which is huge late in games) or B. Split time with Helton at the spot giving Todd more rest and fresher legs late in the season.

3. Get Maximum Improvement From Key Players

Two players under the gun will be Ian Stewart at 3rd Base, and Chris Iannetta at Catcher. Both have shown to be more than able to become forces at a Major League Level but both of them have gone through periods of maddening inconsistency, the knock on both of them is that they strike out too much especially on the road learning to be a bit more patient and not going for the Home Run Dagger every at bat (Stewart is especially guilty of this crime) will make the Rockies lineup downright Icy for opposing pitchers a healthy Stewart and patient Iannetta leave no holes in the Rockies Lineup 1 through 8.

With the Broncos in turmoil, the Nuggets maybe or maybe not trading Melo away, and the Avalanche muddling along until the playoffs and through key injuries. Today gave Rockies and sports fans in Denver one thing they have coveted for a long long time...

Hope.

Dark Clouds, Days loom over Broncos

Finding words to describe this Broncos game and season is becoming harder and harder by the day. Just a couple of days after getting the "splash of water to the face" accusation of cheating the Broncos rain cloud would not go away and it rained enough on them to put them on the wrong end of the score and out of the playoff chase in every way but mathematically.

Rams 36

Broncos 33

The 10,000 or more no shows who decided to spend their Sunday in something else now have a while to contemplate coming back, the Broncos do not play a home game until the day after Christmas. My guess is that double that amount will stay home for the last 2 home games, for a franchise that has had precious little to cheer about the last decade this looks like to be the empire crumbling around Pat Bowlen. Cheating, fan lethargy, and then an embarrassing loss on the home field to a rookie QB (don't get me wrong Sam Bradford is the real deal) would be enough to make anyone give up the ghost. It isn't clear if Josh Mcdaniels makes it to the 2011 season but to get the jump on that season TIM TEBOW MUST PLAY REAL MINUTES AT SOME POINT THIS SEASON. Kyle Orton's feelings be damned the FUTURE is now for the Broncos.

Dark Days Indeed.

For Buffs and Huskers Time To Look Forward.

Not quite the ending we were hoping for.

Nebraska 45

Colorado 17

So now we say goodbye not only to Nebraska but to the BIG 12 conference, Ironic that the one school that forced the moves of these 2 schools sunk to such a dizzying low but Texas deserved every bit of what it gets.

Both teams in my opinion move to tougher conferences which is not so much a problem for the Huskers as it is for the Buffs who will need to pick a coach first and find a way to not be kicked to the basement in it's new home.

Time To Give Thanks...

As Thanksgiving approaches here is what i am thankful for this year.

-I have amazing friends, friends that love me despite the crazy life i live being a sports fan.

-That i live in an amazing Sports City that despite our lack of recent success always is full of bright moments that give me and others the chance to love sports all over again.

-The Rockies are inches away from being something very special. also i am thankful that when that happens my good friend Jeff K and I will be together to share it, there is NOTHING like a world series win and the Rox are almost there.

-The Buffs and Huskers play one final time in BIG 12 play, but we can always dream of a CU vs. NU Rose Bowl game that would hijack new year's parties everywhere from here to Lincoln.

-That Sports to me is still fun, i always said i would walk away from being a fanatic when it didn't feel fun anymore, well glad to say the fire still burns within me.

Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours

Tommy

Broncos No Match For Chargers Shocking Attack

Once again it was Phillip Rivers and San Diego who got the last laugh, the Broncos once again on the receiving end of the Chargers cruel joke are everything but buried in the 2010 season. Football fans in Colorado will once again face a Christmas and New Year with the Broncos playing utterly meaningless games. The days where Broncos fans filled the old, intimadating MILE HIGH STADIUM in Blizzard, Blowout, and impending thought of Armageddon coming are over. There will be oceans of empty seats at The Vesc on Dec 26 and Jan 2, it will say sold out but in name only.

The Broncos on the opening drive Marched down the field like a Army Drill team and punched San Diego in the Mouth it was 7 to 0 and hope was renewed the Broncos COULD DO IT! but alas we should know better. Phillip Rivers who has owned the Broncos since he came into the league got it in gear and took the Broncos to the woodshed, even Brian Dawkins the Broncos "WEAPON X" and spiritual leader on Defense looked like he was every bit of his 37 years. 7 to 0 turned into 21 to 7 and game over.

The remaining games read like this

Vs. St Louis- A for sure win this summer, now...not so much

@ Kansas City- KC in December, Revenge, UGLY

@ Arizona- A team that looks AS bad as Denver, could go either way

@ Oakland- They Thumped the Broncos In Denver, The Black Hole might swallow the Broncos

Vs. Houston- Gary Kubiak fighting for his Job and maybe the playoffs

Vs. San Diego- Game will mean MUCH more for Chargers, or maybe nothing at all if they lock the division up by then.

For the 5th straight year no playoffs for the Broncos a sad fact seeing as we haven't even hit Thanksgiving yet.

Sea Of Red Filled With Doubt Now.

Being named Thomas has given me the upper hand in talking about doubt i would think.

Huskers fans won't admit this and they won't show it but the sea of Red is terrified of losing to the Buffs on Friday. Doubt pours from Lincoln right now believe me the Huskers having lost a tough emotional game last week are feeling the heat Lose to the Buffs and Hell we have nothing on the winter in Lincoln especially if it ends up costing NU a shot at the Big 12 title (Missouri would have to beat Kansas on Saturday for this to happen).

Buffs could turn Huskers fans RED with Anger.

The Colorado Golden Buffaloes will walk into next weeks game against the hated and loathed Nebraska Cornhuskers (1:30pm Friday, ABC) with all the momentum and heads held high holders of a two game winning streak and with a chance to somehow make a Bowl game after a miserable middle of a season.

Nebraska walks in wondering where Mom left the Aspirin after getting kicked 9-6 by Texas A & M and 90,000 crazy Aggies. They can whine and cry about the Refs all they want to, spin conspiracy theories about how the BIG 12 is out to get them on the way out the door and how nobody loves them, everyone hates them (trust me we do NO LIES THERE!) Save it for the sports bar or corn field lunch breaks Big Red fans you got beat period.

And wouldn't it be fitting if Colorado the team that Nebraska claims isn't a rival to them comes to Lincoln and kicks the Red into a cold, harsh winter with Mama and the Corn with no trip to Dallas and the Big 12 championship game. That would Haunt the Huskers knowing that Colorado got the last laugh in the sea of red.

There will be lots of people that will give the Boys in Black and Gold very little chance to win there, but while it's hard it is NOT IMPOSSIBLE to win in Lincoln in fact a woeful, putrid, Texas team did and i am not so sure the Buffs aren't a better team now than Texas. And Buffs fans only need to look back to 2001 Nebraska ranked # 1 in the country came to Boulder and got destroyed in front of God and Country. Or 2004 when the Buffs went to Big, Bad Lincoln and (GASP!) beat the mighty Red in what might have been Joel Klatt's Best game as a Buff.

The Huskers have all the pressure going into this game, the mighty red empire could crumble and it could be caused by a team that you all love to hate no matter how much you deny it.

GO BUFFS!

College Football Weekend Picks

COLORADO over Kansas State

NOTRE DAME over Army

Tuesday Morning QuarterBack:Broncos Leave Chiefs Red Faced

10 Rapid fire thoughts from the Broncos vs. Chiefs game

1. This Broncos team would have been nice to see in September or October

2. The D played it's best game of the season, they were knocking people around

3. Kyle Orton might be better than anyone thinks

4. The Chiefs i think...stink to be honest with you

5. Big win for the crowd at Mile High after that Oakland debacle they needed a feel good game

6. Those Orange Jerseys should be the home jersey every time yes?

7. Brian Dawkins has at least 3 good years left in him..easy. dude is a MONSTER

8. Running Game...nice to see you again missed you

9. The Broncos play another big AFC West game monday @ San Diego

10. The Broncos win Monday 31-24

Redemption Weekend For Broncos, Buffs.

On one weekend the Broncos and Buffs at least for a brief moment caused us joy as opposed to the nightmarish grief they had bestowed upon yes since the summer.

First my 3 thoughts on the Buffs win over Iowa State (The Broncos post will come Tommorow in the "Morning After Column".

1. The team looked more relaxed and loose and played like a team that knew how to win and hold their heads high for a change. The Buffs made smart decisions (i.e Running the ball with the lead in the 2nd half) and looked as good as they have all year.

2. Cody Hawkins must have had a rough week and how did he respond? He came out and flat out played the best game of his Buff career, many people in the media thought he would fold up but he didn't. It sold me on the fact that Cody is a great guy maybe not the best football player but a stand up guy who plays the game the RIGHT WAY for the RIGHT REASONS.

3. The Buffs could still somehow find a way into a Bowl game this year with wins over Kansas State this Saturday in Boulder (12:10 kickoff) and @ Nebraska in the last day after Thanksgiving game. The Buffs have played well in Lincoln The last decade and could shock the country if they pulled that game out a long shot to be sure but why not?

Broncos Face The Dreaded Must Win Vs. Chiefs

One of the most tired lines in sports is "Team X is facing a must win game" well guess what the Denver Broncos are facing said must win game this week at Mile High against the surprise, upstart, where did they come from Kansas City Chiefs. At 2-6 the Broncos are in a position where they will have to win almost if not every game from here on out, the last time the home fans saw the Broncos they were getting humbled 59-14 by the hated Oakland Raiders that had the fans at home reaching for remote and the fans in the stands leaving for the exits. A win this week would help the damaged psyche of Broncos Nation that no doubt will be calling for Head Coach Josh Mcdaniels head if the season continues to spiral out of control remember the Broncos have only had 2 losing seasons in the last 11 (1999, 2007) but have had 3 straight 8-8 seasons so to say the fan base is restless would be an understatement.

Week 10 Picks

Baltimore @ Atlanta (Thurs.Night)- Ravens

Lions @ Bills- Bills

Vikings @ Bears- Bears

Jets @ Browns- Jets

Titans @ Dolphins- Dolphins

Bengals @ Colts- Colts

Texans @ Jaguars- Texans

Panthers @ Buccaneers- Bucs

Chiefs @ Broncos- Broncos

Seahawks @ Cardinals- Seahawks

Cowboys @ Giants- Giants

Rams @ 49ers- 49ers

Patriots @ Steelers (Sunday Night)- Steelers

Eagles @ Redskins (Monday Night)- Eagles

Byes: Green Bay, Oakland, New Orleans, San Diego

Underground Denver Sports Fans Know The Place To Be...

My sister wrote a note on Facebook lamenting the state of the Denver sports fan here http://www.facebook.com/notes/amanda-holley/where-did-all-the-dedicated-fans-go-to/10150116049439112

I am going to tell her where they went but i am afraid she is not going to like the answer.

1. They Stay at home

When a night out the avs costs over 200 bucks for 4 people (i am assuming people want good seats but even 4 of the cheapest seats will set you back over 100) add in dinner, parking, and the hassle of fighting the legendary Denver traffic and i can see why some people would say "Eff this i'll watch in HD on a 60 inch TV". In this Economy sports tickets are not the precious things like they were when i was a kid when going to a Broncos game was the highlight of my week and i couldn't wait to sit through church and then get my butt to Mile High to watch my team play.

2. They Grow Up

Some People (I said some not all) grow out of the passionate cheering on of the old home team. Oh sure they will follow them, watch them on TV sometimes, maybe every now and then go to a game with some friends but often time sports gets put on the back burner for family, the wife, the job etc.

3. The Move Out Of State

Makes me sad to say but there might come a day where your old boy T may have to leave this sacred state i love so much in search of more money or the American Dream. Lots of people have moved into Colorado from other states (mostly California) and have brought the team allegiance with them, they love the Lakers, Dodgers, Raiders, and won't change just because they love to live in our beautiful city, which is cleaner, cheaper and better looking than where they came from.

4. They are exposed for Bandwagon Fans

Did not see any empty seats in 2001 when the Avalanche were steamrolling to the Stanley Cup. Didn't see many empty seats when the Nuggets played in the western conference finals just 2 years ago (though i did see some Lakers Fans). At the old Mile High Stadium you would never see fans of other teams or people telling people to sit down and be quiet. It's very easy to cheer for a team when they are winning in fact it might be the easisest thing to do in life, but when your team is in a down cycle or losing a lot it becomes much tougher (and less "cool") to cheer for with such passion.

But what Bandwagon fans don't realize is that it's the losing and coming so close that makes the winning that much sweeter when it does happen. When you jump from winning team to winning team you then have NO IDEA what it's like to lose when can bond fans together. you really miss out on something that makes sports great do don't be this fan.

5. They Have Found The Colorado Mammoth

The Mammoth fans are the best fans in the state period. Don't believe me go to a game (like half game, half rock concert, elements of demolition derby and gladiator war thrown in) the fans are rabid and loud and into it from the first faceoff until the final horn. The Mammoth outdraw the Avs because of ticket prices and the Nuggets mostly due to the nuggets not knowing what fan base to cater to but the Mammoth have no such challenge knowing that the "blue collar fanbase" that used to go to broncos games but can't afford the Nuggets or Avalanche fare need a place to go. It also is a great option for families which lets the kids get into the team early in life that way they can "grow up" with this team.

So Amanda don't give up hope, they are out there the passionate among us.

Hawkins Out At CU (from CBS4 Denver)

http://cbs4denver.com/sports/ncaa.college.football.2.2001786.html

The only question now will be is he gone now or will he finish the year out.

The Morning After Monday Edition: Hawkins Still Here But Why?

CU athletic director MIke Bohn is expected to meet with Hawkins sometime this week. Sources say Bohn is reluctant to fire him before the season ends in order to keep the continuity with Cody, the lone scholarship quarterback available.

That's all i needed to see in today's paper to realize that the inmates are running the asylum up in Boulder which leads us to this question "What happened to come to this point?"

Road Woes

Well for starters Hawkins has been terrible on the road in his 5 years on the job CU has lost 15 straight true road games dating back to 2007 and 17 games total played outside of the 303 with 2 neutral site games going as losses as well. Most of these games have not been close and some of them have been downright embarrassing including 2 humiliating losses the last 2 times the Buffs have visited Missouri. Even Average teams can hold serve at home (something that Hawkins hasn't even been able to do) but the road does not lie and it says that Hawkins has more than worn out his welcome here in Boulder.

Lack Of Signature Wins and Too Many Signature Losses

Dan Hawkins In My Opinion has had 1 Big victory in his 5 years here (the 2007 win vs. Oklahoma at Folsom Field) Oklahoma was ranked # 3 at the time and CU stunned them. Hawkins to his credit does have some good wins (07 vs. Nebraska, 08 vs. West Virginia) but he has never been able to capitalize on them and in his last 2 years has no wins that stand out as big or important.

People will remember that loss to D-II Montana State, stunning losses to bad CSU teams in 2006 and 2009 and Toledo, and getting kicked by Big 12 dregs Iowa State and Baylor. They have not won a Big 12 road game since beating Texas Tech in 2007 that's right almost 3 calendar years since the Buffs last win on the road in the conference.

CU must fire Dan Hawkins.

It took one of the worst losses in the History of Colorado University but i think the message will be clear.

Dan Hawkins A man that i loved at Boise State and praised as he came to bring the magic to Colorado has reached the edge of the cliff at old CU. If there is any sense in the Dal Ward Center Hawkins will be asked to clear out his office sometime this week. Of course there will be people that will want the A.D Mike Bohn to wait until Nebraska no doubt crushes the buffs by 100 or more in the sea of red but i say bad head coaches like toothaches must be taken care of post haste. The Buffs had a chance to fire him after a horrid 2009 season but instead chose to bite the bullet and after starting 3-1 this year and beating Georgia at home in a mild upset the "I told you so" crowd proceeded to the front of the line of the bandwagon.

Since then CU has not won a game and has been undressed in the last 2 against Oklahoma a good team, and kansas a team that i'm not sure even a mother can love. Anyone who went to enjoy a spring like November day in the Mile High City came home and wondered where it went wrong.

CU headed to the Pac-1o next year must do the right thing and get rid of Hawkins before they allow 2005-06 to happen again where firing Gary Barnett destroyed recruiting setting up the 2-10 season coached by...you guessed it Dan Hawkins.

Goodbye Hawk.