Notes for all and all for notes. …
The Nuggets haven’t won a game since April, but George Karl feels closer to turning the corner now than he did then.
Why? Because he has seen what the San Antonio Spurs have done since beating the Nuggets in the playoffs. Namely, dominate Seattle and Phoenix.
“I’ve talked to them, so I know how they feel about the series,” Karl said, when asked about the Spurs. “It’s a good foundation. We can take some pride in how we played them. We played them physically tougher than the teams playing them now are. We just couldn’t score on them. That’s OK. It’s a growth process. Very few teams ever climb the mountain without being knocked to the ground.” …
Saw it, still don’t believe it: Todd Helton in the .250s on June 1. Then there’s Mark Grudzielanek, cruising along at .331, 70-some points higher than Helton. Moral to the story? Baseball is more of a team game than you think. As in, if you’re surrounded by quality hitters, you get better pitches to hit and, voila!, you become a better hitter. If not, you don’t get anything to hit and you start swinging at marginal pitches. …
Helton’s issues bring to mind a quote from the archives, circa spring training. Said Helton, when asked about the prospect of being pitched around, “I’m going to get one pitch to hit … and I’d better hit it.” …
Yeah, I know, Clint Hurdle hates “on pace” notes, but I can’t help it: The Rockies, 4-23 at the one-third mark of their road schedule, putting them on course for 12-69. …
A stat you probably won’t see on Tony La Russa‘s bust at Cooperstown: Da Rox, 59-56 against the Cardinals in 12-plus seasons. …
What were the odds? Paris Hilton is marrying some guy named Paris. In a related development, I just changed my name to Danica. …
The lovely and talented Danica Patrick will be in Our State on Aug. 21 for the Honda Indy 225 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Sure enough, says track spokesman Clark Curtis, “There’s been a spike” in ticket sales. “We’ve had people calling all week wanting to make sure she’s running.” Tix, $35 for upper grandstand, $25 for lower, are available at 888-306-7223 or www.ppir.com. …
Turns out the merry, merry month of May was a little merrier for some than others. To wit: Rangers lefty Kenny Rogers, all but given up for dead in his mid-30s, finished the month 6-0, 0.98. …
The key to Rogers’ success? He reportedly was seen drinking a six-pack of flaxseed oil after his latest W. …
Rogers’ success has helped the Rangers’ starters compile a snappy 3.79 ERA, fourth in the A of L. Their hitters, meanwhile, are leading the league with 279 runs. …
The player who makes the Pistons go? They’re 7-0 in playoff games in which Rasheed Wallace goes for 20-plus. …
Don’t you just love those “voluntary” NFL minicamps? They’re voluntary, all right. Provided you want to see your name in big, bold letters on the waiver wire. …
By the numbers: The original Blake Street Bombers – Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga, Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla – combined for 139 home runs in 1995. Ten years later, the Rockies’ team is on course for 156. …
Clemson football coach Tommy Bowden, to The (S.C.) State, after flying over South Carolina’s stadium in an F-16 fighter jet: “I pushed the button, but they were firing blanks.” …
Albert Pujols wouldn’t talk to Post baseball maven Mike Klis for a story on how great a hitter he is? Sheesh. I must be getting old. I remember when coming to Coors Field made hitters happy. What, did Pujols take a bat to the humidor, too?
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN 560 AM and on Fox Sports Net’s “Insider Edition.” He can be reached at 303-820-5452 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
