Seems everyone ’round these parts knows it only as “The Stock Show.” But we’ll be hog-tied if the National Western Stock Show doesn’t also include “Rodeo” in its title.
That’s “The National Western Stock Show, Rodeo and Horse Show” for the uninitiated. And it’s the 100th anniversary of the local agri-party, to boot. And if you didn’t know it was coming to town, you will soon if your olfactory senses are active.
The three-week show officially kicks off Saturday. But the world’s best bull riders hit the Denver Coliseum beginning Monday for the three-day Professional Bull Riders Denver Chute-Out. The event is sanctioned by the Professional Bull Riders and will pay a $50,000 purse. The top 90 bull riders in the world will attempt to survive a 45-rider cut, then try to make the final round of 15 before a winner is determined.
Back to horses. On Jan. 13, a show-jumping competition – the Gambler’s Choice Open Jumper Stake – pits riders on a 10- to 14-jump course, with winners determined by accomplishment and degree of difficulty.
There’s also the Catch-a-Calf Contest beginning Jan. 14 for 4-H members, in which 16 contestants try to catch eight wild calves. And the fan-favorite Mutton Bustin’ competition starts Saturday, with 5- to 7-year-olds clutching for dear fun to the back of a sheep.
WEAK IN REVIEW
Loving Keith Jackson, the veteran ABC college football play-by-play announcer, is kind of like loving a great-great-great-great grandfather. His old-time charm truly is old. Was that Jackson or Andy Griffith who shilled midgame for ABC’s “Jake in Progress” by mentioning the love life of its lead actor John “Stah-mos.” But Jackson doesn’t need to be hip when he can pull out descriptions like that of Trojans running back LenDale White, who was “like an 18-wheeler running downhill.”
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Al Davis hire former Colorado football coach Rick Neuheisel as head coach of the Oakland Raiders. Other than a successful Broncos run through the playoffs, nothing could be better news for local football fans than Neuheisel taking over the rival Raiders. We can see it now: a Raiders two-point formation with five linemen to the right of center and four wide receivers. And Neuheisel strumming guitar on the sideline. Revenge would never be sweeter than to win your local NFL office pool by betting on the Broncos to beat Neuheisel. If only you could win $18,523 in the pool, like Neuheisel did betting on the NCAA Tournament.
THE COUCH
ON: A monster of an early season for women’s college basketball games shakes down Saturday when No. 1 Tennessee hosts No. 7 Connecticut. The Volunteers (14-0) dominated the sport in the late 1990s, with three consecutive national titles between 1996-98. But the Huskies (12-1) stepped up, winning four of five from 2000-04. After Baylor sneaked away with a surprise title last season, the two heavyweights look to get back to the top in a competitive year that includes good teams at Duke, LSU, Baylor and North Carolina, among others. Ann Strother, a senior from Highlands Ranch High School, leads UConn with 16.5 points a game. Leading scorer Shanna Zolman paces the Vols with 15.9 points a game. KCNC-4 will broadcast the game at noon.
OFF: Not a race for the feeble, the 17th Turquoise Lake 20-mile Snowshoe Run in Leadville on Saturday will take racers around the lake on trails, above the lake for a 2,700-foot climb to 11,370 feet and on the lake for a precarious jaunt with views of surrounding mountains. It’s one of the more difficult races of the season, and starts at 10 a.m. at the Sugar Loafin’ Campground 3 1/2 miles west of downtown Leadville. Buck up and check out salidarec.com/ccrc for more information.
AROUND THE STATE
If the Nuggets (16-17, 4-6 last 10) are to turn around a so-far disappointing season and erase a sub-.500 record, they will have to do it against the best teams in the Western Conference. That chore starts at 7 p.m. today at the Pepsi Center against Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks (23-9) and continues at struggling Houston (11-18) on Sunday. Then, the Nuggets have games against Phoenix (20-11) and Northwest Division-leading Minnesota (15-14).
