Easy, Baby T.O.
“Brandon Stokley should get a game ball for saving the victory in Cleveland by preventing teammate Brandon Marshall’s black-and-white glove display in honor of Barack Obama. Marshall is truly the Baby T.O. Physical ability: A+. Emotional maturity and stability: F-. When you put your team at risk, you’re an idiot.”
Don, Pueblo West
Kiz: Marshall’s heart was in the right place, but the closing seconds of a four-point game is definitely the wrong time for a political demonstration whose lone impact would be a penalty that could put a must-win in danger. Obama? As far as making statements, I would say Marshall has more in common with Sarah Palin. Big on fashion, small on substance. Can you say diva?
Need for conservatism.
“Was it not Marshall who, after thousands fled Invesco Field last year when the Broncos stunk up the place against San Diego, accused those who left early of not being good fans? This young man should be told to shut up and play the game. So Miami linebacker Joey Porter got inside Marshall’s head. Porter is known to be one of the better trash-talkers in the NFL. He was doing his job. The best way to quiet trash-talkers is to make plays over, around and through them. Marshall still has that to learn.”
Larry, Genesee
Kiz: What Marshall needs to learn is he works for Mike Shana- han, who has a progressive football mind but is a conservative at heart. As I recall, when Clinton Portis started wearing pink shoes and a matching fuzzy hat in the locker room, it was about the time he started moving toward the door of no return at Dove Valley. There are Pro Bowls in Marshall’s future. I’m not sure all of ’em will be as a member of the Broncos.
Consider Royal treatment.
“You are an idiot, Kiz. If you call out Marshall for poor sportsmanship, what do you call trash talk from Porter? He had far less to do with Marshall having an average day than a blind ref in that Miami game.”
Terry, Phoenix
Kiz: Know who makes Marshall appear silly? It’s not Porter or a ref. It’s teammate Eddie Royal, who not only has become the team’s most productive receiver, but also acts like a pro.
Still one and done.
“In Detroit, Allen Iverson won’t have much to do except score and let the other Pistons do the rest. On the other hand, I think Chauncey Billups will need to do more for the Nuggets than he did for Detroit, which will add pressure on him.”
Tom, Detroit
Kiz: The King of Park Hill is back in town, and I love it. But Iverson makes the Pistons a more serious contender for the NBA title, while Billups will make Denver feel better about losing in the first round of the playoffs.
Bugel call? Not quite yet.
“Wow, without Elway at quarterback, the Mastermind looks more like Joe Bugel. When will Broncos owner Pat Bowlen put aside his friendship with Shanahan and try to make the team competitive again? In a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately profession, Shanahan should be out of credit for the two Super Bowl wins.”
Dave, Jefferson County
Kiz: Bugel? Wow, talk about harsh. Of course, it could have been worse. You could have compared Shanny to Rich Kotite. Remember him? Looked like George Costanza in a Jets cap. Nevertheless, Bowlen isn’t firing Shanahan this year, even if the Broncos finish 5-11, no matter how persuasively you or anybody else calls for his head. The Nuggets? Now that’s a different subject. . . .
Parting shot
Poor reception?
And today’s parting shot takes aim at the next place Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke must look if all the personnel changes on the floor fail to produce victories in the playoffs.
“George Karl has to go. As an NBA coach, Karl has alienated star players everywhere he goes, from Ray Allen to Gary Payton, and now Marcus Camby, Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony. The players will tune him out, and you can’t coach players if they don’t believe.”
Steve, Thornton
