Flash back to last October, when the city was abuzz during one of the busiest sports weekends this town has seen in years.
That weekend, starting Oct. 5, the Broncos, Avalanche, Rockies and Rapids each hosted games in Denver. And, among other various nonprofessional attractions, the Race for the Cure took to downtown streets with thousands of people.
Now, more than eight months later, we may be recalling that weekend — except cram everything into one day, Saturday.
It’s “Jam-Packed Weekend II” in Sports Drown, USA.
This time around, hopefully, things will be easier and breezier. The rundown:
• The Rapids on Saturday hope to turn around a two-game losing streak — one that’s seen them drop from Western Conference leader to out of playoff contention in MLS. The Rapids have been outscored 6-3 in their past two outings — road games at Los Angeles and Toronto.
This week, the Rapids (5-7-0, 15 points) host defending champion Houston (4-4-5, 17 points) at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City at 7:30 p.m. The Dynamo, despite having one fewer victory than Colorado overall, is in second place in the conference, three spots ahead of the Rapids.
• In Denver on Saturday, the struggling but still competitive Colorado Crush could reach a significant milestone. Despite a 5-10 record, the Crush — which hosts the Kansas City Brigade (3-12) at Pepsi Center at 6 p.m. — could actually earn a home playoff game with a win.
The Crush currently is the No. 5 seed in the American Conference, but seeds 3 and 4 will host a first-round playoff. The No. 4 team currently is the Utah Blaze (5-10). The Brigade-Crush game airs on FSN.
• And at nearby Invesco Field, the Denver Outlaws look to remain the best team in Major League Lacrosse when they host the Chicago Machine at 7 p.m.
The Outlaws (4-1), behind the league’s second-highest scorer in Brian Langtry (12 goals, 13 assists, 27 points), will face a Chicago team that has struggled so far to a 1-4 record.
AROUND TOWN
A Rockies original.
Veteran sportscaster Charlie Jones, who died of a heart attack last week at age 77 in La Jolla, Calif., will be remembered as a major voice of the NFL and a veteran of NBC’s Olympics coverage.
But in Colorado, Jones is known as the first TV play-by-play voice of the Rockies. He held that job from 1993-95, working first with Duane Kuiper, then with Dave Campbell.
Now, 16 seasons later, the Rockies are defending NL champions, and they host the New York Mets in a three-game set at Coors Field through Sunday.
The Rockies, with Drew Goodman in the role once held by Jones, will face the Mets tonight (7 p.m., FSN), Saturday (6 p.m., FSN) against New York starter Pedro Martinez, left, and on Sunday (1 p.m., KTVD-20).
STAY ON THE COUCH
Junior finds his groove.
These were supposed to be the dog days of the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Last week’s stop in Michigan — an often boring track on the stock-car circuit — turned entertaining when Dale Earnhardt Jr. stretched a fuel load down the stretch to win his first race in 76 tries.This week, the Cup stops in Sonoma, Calif., for the Toyota/Save Mart 350, a less-than-scintillating road- course stop. But the race, airing Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on TNT, will give fan favorite Junior a chance to repeat. Or it could give Jeff Gordon — five wins and four poles on the course — a chance to shine.
Either way, the race better live up, because the dog days continue next week in Loudon, N.H., for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
GET OFF THE COUCH
From Peak to Creek.
Getting outdoors on the weekend can take you all over Colorado. And on Saturday, two events will do just that.
The Sierra Club’s Shoshoni Peak Scramble in Grand County will take hikers up Pawnee Pass, along the Continental Divide and over to Sho- shoni Peak, a 10-mile round trip at more than 12,000 feet in elevation. Check for more information.
And closer to town, Cherry Creek State Park will host the Tri the Creek Spring Triathlon, with an 800-meter swim, a 14-mile bike ride and a 5K run. See for info.
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Camarena heads boxing card.
Mixed martial arts seem to be blowing up. But some people are calling a fad a fad. For fans of the sweet science, boxing still can’t be beat. That’s why Saturday’s card at the National Western Complex in Denver, put on in part by Barry Fey, should be a treat. The bill is headlined by Denver southpaw super lightweight Donald Camarena (18-4) and heavyweight Jevon Langford, a former Cincinnati Bengals defensive end. Both boxers are managed by Inside Boxing editor Aurelio Martinez.
WEAK IN REVIEW
Will there ever be “D” in Denver?
The Celtics’ trouncing of the Lakers to win the NBA title should have retaught the rest of the league a lesson, especially the Nuggets. Since the Bulls won the first of three consecutive titles in 1996, how many NBA champions were the best defensive team in the league that season? Among the Spurs, Pistons, Lakers, Bulls and Celtics, at least 10 trophies went to the league’s best team on defense. The Nuggets — ahem — ranked next-to-last in the NBA in defense this season.
