From Larry Brown’s overalls to Doug Moe’s sideline prowling and the Alex English-era rainbow skyline uniforms, the Nuggets never have been a team to follow the rules.
Like an ABA ghost that refuses to be exorcised, the Nuggets are in a world of their own. No arena can keep them caged — literally.
On Saturday, the Nuggets travel to Palm Springs, Calif., to play in the NBA’s first outdoor game in 36 years. Denver will play the Phoenix Suns at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, a 16,000-plus seat open-air stadium. The game will air live on TNT.
It will be the first outdoor NBA game since the Suns played the Milwaukee Bucks in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in a preseason tilt Sept. 24, 1972. In that game, played in a baseball stadium, Dick Van Arsdale and Connie Hawkins led Phoenix to a 116-103 win over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson of the Bucks.
The NBA’s move outdoors follows the NHL’s Winter Classic on New Year’s Day. Playing in front of 71,217 freezing people at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, N.Y., the Penguins topped the Sabres 2-1 in a shootout.
The midwinter game played in the falling snow turned out so well the NHL will do it again this season, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, with the Blackhawks taking on the Red Wings.
The WNBA also took a cue from the NHL. In July, the New York Liberty played the Indiana Fever in the first basketball game at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, N.Y. It was the first regular-season professional outdoor game, won by the Fever 71-55.
But basketball and hockey aren’t the only sports to relocate outdoors.
The Professional Bowlers Association in 1999 played its first outdoor championship at Bryant Park in New York City. The tournament drew a standing-room audience to see Eric Forkel win the title with a final-round score of 243 on portable lanes.
And in 1974, the weather and Muhammad Ali played rope-a-dope in the Rumble in the Jungle in Kinshasa, Zaire. In front of more than 60,000 people in the outdoor stadium, Ali knocked out George Foreman in the eighth round, minutes before monsoon rains moved in over Zaire.
The Nuggets on Sunday have lots to live up to for a preseason game.
Nuggets vs. Suns
What: The NBA’s first outdoor game since 1972
Where: Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Palm Springs, Calif.
When: Saturday, 8 p.m. TV: TNT
AROUND THE STATE
Aussie football, skating hits Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs this weekend will be in the national sporting spotlight as host of the U.S. Australian Rules Football National Championships and the Southwestern Regional Figure Skating Championships.
More than 1,000 rugby players — on 28 men’s teams and six women’s teams — will battle at the Air Force Academy’s Cadet Fields on Saturday and Sunday. Colorado will be represented by the Denver Bulldogs. Check for information.
And continuing through Sunday at Colorado Springs World Arena, the Southwestern Regional will determine skating champions in men’s and women’s events. Regionals are the first step toward a spot at the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships and, eventually, the Winter Olympics. Go to for info.
STAY ON THE COUCH
Local teams on TV.
A football simulcast of sorts will air on Altitude on Saturday, when the cable network broadcasts two local football games from around Colorado.
Northern Colorado — maybe the most jinxed team in college football — hosts Idaho State in Greeley at 1:30 p.m. in a Big Sky Conference game airing on Altitude. The Bears have lost three consecutive games on dramatic last-minute plays.
On ALT2 at 1 p.m., Fort Lewis will face Adams State in Alamosa for a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Racing and climbing.
Two outdoors events near the metro area this weekend will provide an opportunity to attack the hills.
The Highlands Ranch Community Association Trail Race 10-mile and 5-mile races takes place Saturday at 8:30 a.m. On a course of mostly dirt and single-track trails, the race starts at Rocky Heights Middle School (highlandsranchrunseries.com).
In Golden today through Sunday, the American Alpine Club will host the Craggin’ Classic, a three-day climbing festival. A slew of climbing boldfaces will be there, along with a concert, movies and slide shows, equipment demos and climbing sessions in Eldorado Canyon (cragginclassic.com).
FACTS ARE FACTS
Things to do in Denver when you’re Fred.
The Broncos’ defense, ranked 25th in the 32-team NFL at stopping the run with 134.0 yards per game, may get a reprieve Sunday against the Jaguars.
Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor has struggled against Denver in his career. In five games against the Broncos, Taylor’s 50.6 yards per game is his lowest average rushing output against an opponent. This despite Taylor being ranked fourth among active players in yards per game overall, at 82.9 yards.
See how the matchup plays out Sunday, when the Broncos host the Jags at Invesco Field at 2:05 p.m. The game airs on CBS (KCNC-4) with Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf on the call.
Struggles vs. the Broncos
Fred Taylor’s lowest rushing yards per game vs. opponents:
… G … Att. … Yds. … Avg. … YPG
1. Denver … 5 … 56 … 253 … 4.5 … 50.6
2. Tenn. … 18 … 246 … 998 … 4.1 … 55.4
3. Kan. City … 5 … 68 … 301 … 4.4 … 60.2
4. Houston … 11 … 162 … 790 … 4.9 … 71.8
5. Buffalo … 5 … 81 … 386 … 4.8 … 77.2
The Denver Broncos
