The Red Sox have the Yankees, Duke has North Carolina, Michigan has Ohio State, Alabama has Auburn and the Dodgers have the Giants.
Sports fans in Colorado have … nobody.
Think about it. If you’re honest, you’ll reach the conclusion that we don’t have any teeth-gnashing, gut-churning, emotionally draining, rabid rivalries anymore.
Broncos-Raiders? Please. It used to be one of the best rivalries in pro sports. But the Broncos are — supposedly — rebuilding, and the Raiders are a joke. The boys in black and silver have posted a 29-112 record over the past seven seasons. They just cut quarterback JaMarcus Russell after shelling out $39 million to a player who might be the biggest draft bust in NFL history. When it comes to the Raiders, pity has replaced hatred.
The Rockies? When they beat the Diamondbacks to win the National League pennant in 2007, we in the media tried to create a rivalry out of thin air. It seemed like a natural fit, but it didn’t take. Now the D-Backs are way down, and besides, few in Arizona really care.
The Avalanche? They used to have the Red Wings, but that rivalry is contrived and forced now. Those chants of “Red Wings ****!” ring hollow. Someday, maybe, the passion will heat up the ice again.
The Nuggets? Last spring, during the physical, emotional playoff series with the Lakers, a real rivalry was blooming. But the Nuggets’ took a major step back this year and are no longer in the same class with the Lakers.
Colorado-Nebraska? CU coach Bill McCartney did a great job of conjuring up that hate-fest, but I always thought it was a bit contrived. Now, the Buffs are bad, the Huskers only average and there’s not much juice left to squeeze out of that so-called rivalry.
CU-CSU? The football game has turned into a heated, one-day event. It might be the best rivalry we have going, but for a lot of folks, Buffs vs. Rams remains a minor event.
DU-CC hockey? College hockey doesn’t get much spicier than this. But, realistically, it remains a rivalry limited to those with passions tied to Colorado College and the University of Denver. It’s never going to get much bigger.
OK, so now that I’m done venting, here are three rivalries I would like to see:
Trivia time
Name the Broncos player who used to yell, “Take that, Fat Man!” at former Raiders coach John Madden. (Answer below)
Polling
Wednesday’s “Lunch Special” poll asked readers which of Colorado’s premier “O athletes” — Melo, Tulo, Tebow, Ubaldo, CarGo or Sacco — will have the greatest long-lasting impact on the Colorado sports scene. With nearly 700 votes cast, Broncos rookie quarterback Tim Tebow (33.62 percent) was the clear favorite. The Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony was a distant second (22.32 percent).
I was a bit surprised by the outcome. But then, given the depth and reach of Broncomania and the ridiculous explosion of Tebowmania (note to fans: the guy has yet to throw a regulation NFL pass), I suppose I shouldn’t have been.
Quotable
“JaMarcus Russell turns out to be everything (Lane) Kiffin had warned about. JaMarcus is soft and spongy and lazy and ambivalent about being a leader. More than a year after (Al) Davis fired Kiffin and gave Russell a vote of confidence, JaMarcus was being outplayed by backups Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye.” — Oakland Tribune columnist
Reader’s rant
“Respect is respect, but perhaps it’s time to drop Todd down in the batting order.” — Mark C, posting on this season.
Blog spot
Troy E. Renck blogs that although Helton is unhappy with his performance and disappointed the Rockies aren’t playing better, because “we have reinforcements on the way.”
In case you missed it
Braden told CSN Bay Area that he has not forgotten, or forgiven, the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez for an April 22 incident in Oakland. In that game, A-Rod ran across the mound after making an out in the April 22 game in Oakland. The gesture was seen as disrespectful and bush league.
Braden also called Rodriguez a selfish player.
“He’s an individualistic player,” Braden told CSN Bay Area. “He plays for the name on the back of the jersey, not the front. I don’t know if he’s noticed, but he doesn’t have a name on the back over there so he should play for the name on the front.”
This day in sports
On this day in 1933, legendary Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas was born in Pittsburgh to immigrant parents from Lithuania. He died on Sept. 11, 2002 at age 69.
Trivia answer
Linebacker Tom Jackson, currently an NFL analyst for ESPN.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1720 or psaunders@denverpost.com
