Broncos need new coach.
“Everyone talks about pro sports as a business. Well, the owner of the Broncos sure does not act like an astute business person by keeping Mike ‘Little Napoleon’ Shanahan. The team and fans deserve a lot more. Pat Bowlen needs to point to Shanahan for lackluster performances with a whole bunch of excuses. The coach reminds me of the 42nd U.S. president, the Teflon man. Maybe Shanahan should join the campaign of Bill Clinton’s wife, and give Broncos Nation something to celebrate. Mr. Bowlen, it is time to separate friendship from business.”
Jay, Dillon
Kiz: Are we to consider the 34,000-square-foot castle that Shanahan is building for his wife and self in Cherry Hills Village as wretched excess after he led the Broncos to a 16-16 record the past two seasons? Nah. Look at this way: Shanny can adopt the eight loyal employees the team recently fired as a cost-cutting measure and let ’em sleep in the basement, next to the bowling alley.
Nothing neutral about Duke.
“When it comes to college basketball, people are very neutral about Notre Dame. I think if you were in the Pepsi Center on Thursday night, and listened to the NCAA Tournament scores being announced, you would know which team is the most hated in college basketball. Hint: The team is located in Durham, N.C. It’s a sad commentary on society when a clean program that wins is hated.”
Steve, Fort Collins
Kiz: How much does America like to see Duke lose in hoops? All I’m saying is: For many folks, their one shining moment of the NCAA tourney is anything that makes Mike Krzyzewski cry.
Outcoached, not outstanding.
“Is there a worse coach in the NBA than George Karl? I don’t think so. This guy gets outcoached night after night. The Nuggets have enough talent to have won 10 more games. The way Karl handles his rotation, timeouts and the clock is embarrassing. The way he handles players is even worse. I know he is owner Stan Kroenke’s buddy, but how much longer do we have to endure his pathetic, no-energy, no-knowledge handling of this team?”
George, Centennial
Kiz: Off the top of my head, these are coaches in the Western Conference who coax more wins out of talent than Karl does: Gregg Popovich, Jerry Sloan, Phil Jackson, Rick Adelman, Byron Scott and Mike D’Antoni. But Karl is definitely (well, maybe) a better coach than Avery Johnson.
Rockies ripping off true fans.
“I was there in 1993, sunburned in Mile High Stadium, for opening day for the new expansion Rockies. We all know the Rockies have had trouble with ticket sales recently, losing season-ticket holders, and then last year’s World Series ticket fiasco. But I understand the World Series ticket problems. First-time growing pains. It happens. Now we have the 2008 home opener after a tremendously successful season, with our first National League pennant. But what happens to true fans? First, if you buy a ticket for opening day, you must buy a ticket for another game of the opening series. Worse, if you rent a suite for opening day, you must rent a suite for another day during the season. Brilliant decision. Is this the ‘take it in the shorts because we just won the National League pennant’ marketing plan?”
Kevin, Englewood
Kiz: Can you blame them? Before the season is over, sounds as if perhaps the Rockies will need to charge half price for every game in which their fifth starter takes the mound.
Parting shot
And today’s parting shot goes a long way to diagnosing the occasional fits of grumpiness by your favorite Post sports columnist. Blame it on sun deprivation as a child. Or the death of Studebaker, whose 1953 Commander Starliner was a car so cool it looked like a big, black shark.
“Like you, Kiz, I was born in South Bend, and my family had a Studebaker. It is too cloudy in the winter in northern Indiana.”
Eric, happy Colorado resident
