Faces trading places.
“What if Arizona had taken Jay Cutler in the 2006 NFL draft and the Broncos ended up with Matt Leinart? So far, Leinart has been a bust.”
Andrew, Littleton
Kiz: Heaven forbid. You have to wonder if the Cardinals are beginning to feel Punk’d by taking Leinart. He’s starting to look like just another pretty face with a nose for controversy. Gotta ask: Is Leinart doomed to become the Paris Hilton of NFL quarterbacks? For all the blunders Denver has committed in personnel during recent years, any chance the Broncos have of making the playoffs this season can be summed up in two words: Jay Cutler. Forget the John Elway comparisons. Cutler could become the Troy Aikman of his generation. It’s not a bad goal, considering Aikman was elected to the Hall of Fame the same year the Broncos drafted Cutler.
Dishonor . . . squared.
“If Tiananmen Square is the face of China, did anyone notice the huge portrait of Chairman Mao that dominates it? Is anyone disturbed by the fact a man responsible for far more deaths than Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin put together has his face in a place of highest honor? I think it is high time we awaken to moral values and be aware the man responsible for the greatest genocide of the 20th century was glorified in full view of millions around the world who watched these Olympic Games.”
Ingrid, Boulder
Kiz: The number of Chinese deaths properly attributed to the regime of Mao Tse-tung is hotly debated among scholars. But, if you believe the controversial book “Mao: The Unknown Story,” the death toll could be higher than 70 million. And that grim statistic would make the 51 gold medals won by China at the Beijing Games seem trivial by comparison.
No, not fishing poles.
“Kiz, after seeing the synchronized swimming competition at the Olympics, do you know if there will be synchronized pole-dancing at the 2012 Summer Games in London? Think I would like to start training a team at Shotgun Willie’s.”
Gerry, Centennial
Kiz: Only at Kickin’ It headquarters can the topic of conversation turn from genocide in China to strippers in London faster than you can order a vodka and Red Bull. Hey, these are my peeps, and that’s why I love them. In years past, croquet and tug of war were both Olympic sports. So never say never. But I’m guessing pole-dancing doesn’t have much of a future in the Summer Games, although it could provide pay-per-view revenue for the broadcast-rights holder.
Keeping the real score.
“In all the fine sportswriting from the Olympics, your columns were the ones I never failed to read. I am no big sports fan, but what you write is more than just sports; it is the heart behind the headlines.”
Corky, loves a good story
Kiz: Why writing sports never grows old: The final score is only the beginning of where our discussion can go.
Haunting coincidence.
“The passing of Gene Upshaw leaves a void that will be tough to fill. He was a man of conviction. He was a leader, on and off the field. He will be missed.”
Larry, Encino, Calif.
Kiz: As a Hall of Fame guard, Upshaw wore No. 63. The longtime director of the NFLPA died suddenly after his 63rd birthday. You don’t have to be a numerologist to find that more than a little spooky.
