Here today, notes tomorrow. …
Kenyon Martin, for the time being, anyway, is here, but his old coach is long gone.
Say goodbye, Nuggets fans, to the kinder and gentler George Karl.
Karl went out of his way last season to be more patient than the Crazy George of years past. He thought the players earned it after their 32-8 finish the season before.
But after the Nuggets’ ship sank in a perfect storm of controversy, Karl’s offseason M.O. is to rediscover his edge and reinstitute discipline within the ranks.
“I’m angry,” said Karl. “People around here can see the difference. I’m already kicking my coaches in the butt. I’m a competitor, and I’ve got to sit around and watch other teams play. I’m not saying we can beat those teams, but if we do some things better, we can be more competitive.” …
By the way, the number, close as I could determine after talking to various Nuggets front-office types, is one. That’s how many times K-Mart has set foot in the Pepsi Center since his suspension. He showed up after the season-ending team meeting to clean out his locker and hasn’t been heard from since. …
Sure, sure, Roger Clemens had every right to choose the Astros. But that doesn’t mean we have to be happy about it. If you’re a ball fan, you had to be pulling for the Rocket to land in Boston.
Clemens in Fenway ready to battle it out with the Evil Empire. That would have been the most dramatic comeback since David Crosby’s liver. …
Just wondering: When does The Kansas City Star hire the girl who won the national spelling bee to cover Team Mientkiewicz? …
Another day – Friday, in this case – another low-scoring game at the LoDo Failure To Launch Pad. “It’s beyond my imagination,” says Rockies owner Charlie Monfort, “how Coors Canaveral is playing.” …
For the record, Monfort assures me the commissioner’s office is fine with the humidor, no matter how low the scores go in LoDo. No snoops, no sleuths, nothing. As long as the balls meet weight specs, everything is good to go. Well, except the Rockies’ lineup, that is. …
The more things change at Coors Field, the more they remain the same. The Rockies’ future, as has been the case for a while, rests in the hands of kids who’ve never played there, mostly notably Ian Stewart and Troy Tulowitzki. …
Our Town’s own Roy Halladay on why most big-leaguers from Colorado have been pitchers: “In warmer places – Florida, Texas – guys are playing year-round. For a pitcher, it’s almost better if you’re not throwing year-round. It’s better suited here for pitchers than position players. Position players in the warm-weather states get a little better jump because they’re outside every day playing.” …
The Pistons have been eliminated. Great. Now Rasheed Wallace can be as incognito as he was when he was playing. Talks a good game, though. …
Bumper sticker spotted on George Steinbrenner’s limo: “My DL list can beat up your honor student.” …
Are things getting spooky on the baseball injury front, or what? Your all-DL starting rotation includes both Cy Young winners from last season – Chris Carpenter and Bartolo Colon – disably backed up by Ben Sheets, Mark Prior and Rich Harden. Sorry, A.J. Burnett, you’re a middle man on this juggernaut. …
As all we snobby Americans know, the only thing worse than soccer is warm beer. So it’s official, then. There’s no reason for anyone from the United States to go to Germany to watch the World Cup. …
No e-mails, please, soccer fans. You’re entitled to your opinion and I’m entitled to mine. That being the case, here goes: Just because Europe and a half-dozen llama herders in the Andes care about kickball doesn’t mean I have to. …
Carolina vs. Edmonton for Lord Stanley’s big ol’ beer mug. No offense, ‘Canes fans, but I’m with Canada in this one. I mean, what do they have to look forward to up there other than winning the Cup and swatting mosquitoes all summer? …
Nice to see Aaron Rowand back in the Phillies’ lineup after losing that fight with an outfield wall. A month ago, you wondered when the sympathy card from Kris Draper was arriving.
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN 560 AM. He can be reached at 303-820-5452 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
