There’s note business like show business. …
Barring any 11th-hour developments, Willy Taveras will be the Rockies’ opening-day starter in center field.
Hey, you up there in the Rockpile, contain your excitement, will ya?
Taveras, he of the four career homers in 1,100-plus at-bats, isn’t exactly what a lot of Rox fans had in mind for the club’s long-standing problem in center field. But know this about Taveras: If he gets the job done, great. If not, he doesn’t figure to be around for long.
“There’s going to be a little more of a market for center fielders next year,” Rockies owner Charlie Monfort said.
A lot more, actually. Among those who could be free agents are Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Mike Cameron, Aaron Rowand, Corey Patterson and Ichiro Suzuki, who will make the switch to center this season.
Yes, this is the Rockies we are talking about. As in, money is always an issue. But don’t be surprised if, at some point, they ante up to fill the black hole in the middle of their outfield. …
Monfort’s goal for 2007? To finish .500. “Eighty-one wins,” he said. “You’ve got to get 81, then hopefully steal some here and there. If so, you’re right there.” …
Marcus Camby is averaging 12.6 rebounds a game, just behind NBA leader Kevin Garnett’s 12.7. I only mention it because the Nuggets have been in the NBA for 30 years and never have had one of their own lead the league. …
Then there’s Reggie Evans, who’s leading the league in rebounds per minute. As for his free-throw shooting … did I mention he’s leading the league in rebounds per minute? …
From the good-things-happen-to-good- people dept.: Ex-Nugget Dikembe Mutombo being honored by President Bush during the State of the Union festivities. …
By the way, hoops fans, Bill Walton says it’s OK to clap once in a while now that the Nuggets have won five straight. …
Congrats to Allen Iverson for scoring his 20,000th NBA point. To put that number in perspective, here are five members of the So Close Club: Bob Lanier (19,248), Terry Cummings (19,460), Walter Davis (19,521), Dale Ellis (19,004) and Bernard King (19,655). …
Suns coach Mike D’Antoni, to The Arizona Republic: “I wouldn’t trade my job for anything in the world.” Or, I suspect, his point guard. …
The Suns have a 15-game winning streak after beating the Knicks on Wednesday. According to the numbers crunchers at the Elias Sports Bureau, they’re the only NBA team ever to have two winning streaks of 14-plus before the all-star break. They had a 15-game streak earlier in the season. …
Hey, what’s a couple of zeros between friends? The cheapest ticket for Super Bowl I was $6. The cheapest ticket for Super Bowl XLI is $600. …
Which team to go with in the Big One? If you think Rex Grossman is more likely to turn it over than Peyton Manning, go with the Colts. Fact: Teams with fewer turnovers than the other guys are 29-3 on Super Sunday. …
The Panthers have hired ex-Browns assistant Jeff Davidson as their offensive coordinator. Yes, the same Jeff Davidson who played on the Broncos’ offensive line in the early 1990s. …
Maybe there’s hope yet for this sports world of ours. Ex-Rockie Dale Murphy has launched a foundation, called “I Won’t Cheat,” designed to dissuade young people from doing steroids. …
Not that Joe Sakic has had himself a career, but, according to ESPN, his 18 career points in the NHL All-Star Game were more than the entire Eastern Conference roster (15). …
No goons allowed: Wednesday marked the 30-year anniversary of the last roughing penalty in the All-Star Game. …
And finally, today’s golden-oldie quote, courtesy of Hank Aaron: “It took me 17 years to get 3,000 hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course.”
Jim Armstrong can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jarmstrong@denverpost.com.
