Sports

Rockies fever

Jeromey Balderrama

Like everyone else in Denver, I am plagued with Colorado Rockies fever.  Their recent hot streak that got them into the playoffs has been amazing to say the least.  I had the opportunity to be at the game on Sunday, experiencing the circumstances that got them into the 1 game tie-breaker with San Diego.  I did the unthinkable: missed watching a regular season Broncos game so I could watch baseball!

The energy was Coors Field was amazing as we were watching the Rockies overcome the Diamondbacks, while we also watched the scoreboard between the Brewers/Padres game as well.  Since the Rockies Inaugural year I’ve probably been to 30-35 Rockies games, but I had never felt the incredible energy that resonated in that stadium before until Sunday.  I can only imagine how Monday’s tie-breaker game surpassed Sunday’s excitement as well.

I’m not going to jinx anything, but I do believe that the Rockies do have a chance to do some major damage in the playoffs.  I didn’t get to see Game 1 against the Phillies, but it sounded like the Rockies were able ride the momentum and punch the Phillies in the mouth on Wednesday.

No one outside of Colorado is giving the Rockies a shot.  Some may attribute it to east-coast bias throughout the sports media, or simply the ignorance of sports commentators not knowing the Rockies players, or the stigma of playing half of your games at high altitude. Whatever it is, I hope the Rockies can shock some people.  Win or lose, the best part is that they have a young, home-grown core that can only continue to improve from here.

<br />My shot of the Rockies celebrating after they clinched the Tie-Breaker game with the Padres on Sunday

A good Favre joke

Jeromey Balderrama

This is a great story about Brett Favre that I’m sure both Packer and Broncos fans will enjoy… Thanks to Mile High Mojoe for passing this on via MySpace…

Brett Favre, after living a full life, died.

When he got to heaven, God was showing him around. They came to a modest little house with a faded Packers flag in the window. “This house is yours for eternity, Brett,” said God.

“This is very special; not everyone gets a house up here.” Brett felt special, indeed, and walked up to his house. On his way up the porch, he noticed another house just around the corner. It was a 3-story mansion with a Blue and Orange sidewalk, a 50 foot tall flagpole with an enormous Broncos logo flag, and in every window and a huge bronze Stallion in the front yard!

Brett looked at God and said, “God, I’m not trying to be ungrateful, but I have a question. I was an all-pro QB, I won a Super Bowl, and I was even the MVP.”

God said “So what do you want to know, Brett?”

“Well, why does John Elway get a better house than me?”

God chuckled and said “Brett, that’s not John Elway’s house, it’s mine.”

Ugliest throwbacks – ever

Jeromey Balderrama

I love throwback jerseys, especially in the NFL.  Throwbacks remind us of the history of the team, as well as pay tribute to the players that wore those uniforms back then.  I secretly wish the Broncos would go back to wearing the Orange jerseys from the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s.

However, there are some throwback jerseys that belong in the past.  The jerseys the Eagles are wearing this weekend serve as that very example.  Seriously, have you seen anything uglier?  These apparently were worn by the Eagles in the 30’s, back then weren’t they wearing the leather helmets? The Eagles should have used that excuse as the argument to keep these in the closet.  Ugh…

By the way, the Washington Redskin’s throwbacks aren’t much better.

Technorati tags: Philadelphia Eagles Throwbacks, Ugly Footall Jerseys

Reliving "The Kick"

Jeromey Balderrama

Now that the positive news regarding Bills TE Everett, I can look back at last weekend’s game and take a some solace in the fact that the Broncos are 1-0 and and the memorable ending that took them to win that game:

My favorite part is Javon Walker catching the ball, then looking at the clock and booking it to the sideline.  Granted, it took a while for the offense to jell, but they stepped up in the 2nd half when it mattered, and made some pretty big plays to get them in a position to win.

I don’t think this will be as classic as “the drive”, but this is a win that I’ll remember for a while.

Update: This weekend we’re playing the Raiders. My buddy Matt found this gem to help us see what we’re up against.

Technorati tags: Broncos

The games of NFL Football

Jeromey Balderrama

The NFL kick-off is about 90 minutes away, and I couldn’t be more happy for a new season of football.  I try to get interested in other sports, but ultimately it’s football that I thrive in watching.  Not only do I love watching football, but also playing games around football: specifically fantasy football and NFL pick’em.

I fear this year I may be in football games overload, as I prepared myself for tonight’s Saints/Colts matchup, I ended up visiting 7 different web sites to get things ready.

On the fantasy side I have 5 fantasy football teams I had to prepare:

  • On Yahoo:
    • TJ Who’sYourMama – In my Raidah Hater’s league – this is the league where I personally know everyone and consider it my "serious" league.  We do Yahoo Fantasy Plus.
    • YouPlayToWinTheGame – In my Facebook Friends – a friendly game of Facebookers (obviously)
  • On ESPN
    • Dhani’s Bow Tie – On "Broncos Breakin" a random league that I joined to see what ESPN Fantasy Football was about
    • Dhani’s Bow Tie – Denver Steelers – got bit by the fantasy bug
    • Team Gaudreau – Indianapolis 477951 – this was a result of an evening I stayed up too late and decided to join on a whim

On the football-picking side I also have a lot of activity

  • Balderrama Football Pool – Family football pool – this has been a long-time tradition and we’re bringing it back after a year hiatus
  • 950 the Fan Football Pick’Em – This is something that a fwe of my friends do for fun.  The winner of EVERYONE gets a big screen TV.  It’s free, so if you’re like to play, join "47 Lynch Fans"!
  • HBO’s Inside the NFL – Beat the Hosts – This is something just for fun
  • ESPN Pigskin Pick’em – Another fun one
  • Pro Pigskin Pick’Em on Facebook – This looked interesting, and what the heck

So as you can see, I’m going to be making the rounds on Saturday nights, frantically trying to take care of everything.  But I wouldn’t have it any other way, I’m so glad football is here!