Here’s the choice Saturday night: preseason football or exhibition baseball.
Watching preseason football holds the excitement equivalent of viewing a three-hour film on the evolution of the sunflower. Watching your 2005 Rockies is the equivalent of a six-hour film on the sunflower.
Preseason or not, a tad boring or not, Broncos football is back in town Saturday night, when Denver hosts the San Francisco 49ers at 7 p.m. at Invesco Field at Mile High.
There will be plenty to watch as the Broncos make their maiden 2005 appearance on their home turf as they begin their quest to christen their “new” home with a playoff game.
There will be plenty of new faces. Of course, Jerry Rice is making his Broncos home debut. Be nice to the game’s all-time leading receiver. A fan in Houston last week asked Rice if he was 87. The home folks shouldn’t wonder past the age of, say 78.
Take a long look at Maurice Clarett. Here’s a hint: Look at the bench. It could be his first and one of his final games in Denver.
And, of course, wear plenty of orange and brown for the Broncos’ new defensive line.
– Bill Williamson
THE COUCH
ON: ESPN might need to change its acronym to LLWS this week. The Little League World Series begins today in Williamsport, Pa., and it looks like the cable network wants to give all those fantasy-leaguers an early look at their 2011 draft picks. While The Deuce is picking up a few games today, ESPN will have a five-game stretch Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. Between now and the Aug. 28 championship, 29 of the 32 games will be aired live by the ESPN family, including ABC picking up the title game.
OFF: The weather should be just fine Saturday night for an evening ride through the streets of downtown Denver. The 13th annual Moonlight Classic cycling ride hits the streets, with an earlier start time this year. The ride begins at 10 p.m., and the last one off has to leave the capitol by 11 p.m. The course will stay open until 2 a.m. Front and rear lights are a must. Riders can register up until 11 p.m. ($40, $30 children and seniors). For more information, go to www.moonlight-classic.com.
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
1. The IndyCar race at PPIR go off without a hitch, serious crash or rain delay.
2. The Rockies not get runners picked off second base trailing by six or more runs.
WEAK IN REVIEW
1. NHL lands on the Outdoor Life Network. Sure, OLN gave us Lance Armstrong’s run at history the past few years, but that’s a big drop from ESPN and ABC, isn’t it?
2. Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch think they’re in bumper cars at Six Flags.
3. Armstrong is backing 24 Hour Fitness; too bad not all of the gyms live up to their name and are open 24 hours.
AROUND THE STATE
Last weekend, monster trucks rambled across the base of Copper Mountain, and this weekend it’s the best of motorcycles. The third annual Suzuki Cyclefest returns with some of the top AMA riders rolling into the mountain. Beginning today, some of the circuit’s top riders will be racing as well as performing freestyle tricks and high-flying stunts. There are plenty of events for spectators, including guided and nonguided rides and equipment checks. And just like any good gathering at a ski resort, there will be demos, including bikes from Buell, Suzuki, Harley-Davidson, Yamaha and Kawasaki. For more information, go to www.coppercolorado.com or www.rpmcolorado.com.
