Show me the notes. . . .
The Broncos’ defense is going to be improved compared to last season. That’s the lead to my notes column and I’m sticking to it.
What’s that? You’re right. If each of the 11 guys out there has a pulse, they have to be improved.
It’s more than that, though. For the Broncos, it’s about having their best player on the field. That wasn’t the case last year when Champ Bailey watched seven games from the sidelines.
This year? It isn’t just about getting the defense back to the land of the living. For Bailey, a prideful man and future Hall of Famer, it’s personal.
“People still give me a lot of credit for what I’ve done,” Bailey said. “I want to get credit for what I’m doing now. The only way to do that is to go out there and prove to myself and everyone else that I’m still elite.” . . .
A rockin’ tune by U2 or an omen for a team picked by most to go nowhere: Josh Mac picked out the music for practice the other day and one of his selections was “Sunday Bloody Sunday”. . . .
Then, of course, there was “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who. In honor of the defense? . . .
The Broncos must have had back-to-back shaky practices this week. How do we know? Because they just dropped to 60-1 from 40-1 in Las Vegas to win the Super Bowl. . . .
From the : “Quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, appears to be turning the corner. (There is a Krispy Kreme around the corner from Oakland’s training facility.) . . .
Sign of the times, spotted outside a Denver liquor store: “Do us all a Favre and retire.” . . .
Speaking of our man Brett, he walked into Vikings camp Tuesday and started Friday night. Kindly remember that the next time a coach claims some holdout player is running hopelessly behind by not being in camp. . . .
Favre is a no-good, low-down, dirty-rotten diva, not to mention a prima donna. But the Vikings this week became the team to beat in the NFC. Excuse me? Can’t have it both ways, people. Sounds to me like the old man can still play. . . .
J-Mac on Favre: “He just finds ways to win and does things that only a few people can do. Minnesota is going to be very fortunate to have him pulling the trigger.” . . .
I wouldn’t discount Favre’s chances of taking the Vikings places. Why? Two words: Adrian Peterson. I seem to recall an aging John Elway facing career unfulfillment until a certain sixth-rounder arrived from Georgia. . . .
Michael Crabtree, the 10th pick in the draft, is considering sitting out the season because he’s insulted by the Niners’ offer. Sitting out the season? Six words, kid: “Thank you for choosing Burger King.” . . .
Ex-Duke hoopster Greg Paulus ought to be a perfect fit as Syracuse’s starting quarterback. Why? Because neither has played any football the past five years. . . .
Somebody has to launch his campaign, so here goes: Tulo for MVP! That’s Most Valuable (Other Than) Pujols. If you were wondering whether the Rockies did the right thing in giving him the money, don’t. . . .
Just got my National League manager of the year ballot in the e-mail bag. Got any candidates, Rox fans? . . .
Good cause, good guy. The Prader-Willi Syndrome Association benefit dinner honoring Clint Hurdle, Sept. 21, 6 p.m. at Coors Field. Sponsorships available by calling Jodi O’Sullivan, 800-926-4797. . . .
A tale of two teams: The Rockies opened the season 0-8 in one-run games. Since then, they’re 14-9. . . .
Some guy named Joe? No, the lefty reliever the Rox recently acquired is a lot better than that. Joe Beimel in 2007-08: one — count it, one — home run allowed in 116 1/3 innings. . . .
They say it’s your birthday: the Big Tuna, Bill Parcells (68); Carl Yastrzemski (70), and Nuggets nemesis Kobe Bryant, 31 on Sunday.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
Five fearless predictions
He’s back. Brett Favre has unretired again, moving him ever so close to Muhammad Ali’s all-time record. Here are five predictions for Favre’s 2009 season:
5. Favre’s No. 4 will become the hottest-selling jersey in America, almost matching sales of those “We’ll Never Forget You Brent” T-shirts that are more popular than thermal undies in Wisconsin.
4. Favre’s surgically repaired shoulder will act up in November, prompting the Vikes to sign promising young QB Joe Kapp.
3. Three CBS executives will be injured in an office dogpile after getting word of the ratings for the Vikings’ Nov. 1 game at Green Bay.
2. Packers GM Ted Thompson will invite Favre to throw out the ceremonial first hand grenade at that game.
1. Favre will boycott his razor until December, when he’ll land a gig moonlighting as Santa at the Mall of America.
Rockie road
Forget Colorado. The Rockies’ resurgence since Jim Tracy became their manager has become one of the most compelling stories in all of Major League Baseball. The Rockies went into Friday night’s game vs. San Francisco 15 games over .500 after falling as many as 12 below early in the season. That’s a feat accomplished by only six other clubs in baseball history. Here’s a look at the six and how they fared:
Season, Team, Result
2005 Houston Astros Lost World Series
2005 Oakland A’s Missed playoffs
1989 Toronto Blue Jays Lost ALCS
1965 Pittsburgh Pirates Missed playoffs
1940 St. Louis Cardinals Missed playoffs
1914 Boston Braves Won World Series
