Million-dollar contracts, TV broadcast rights, shoe deals, court dates, two-hour ESPN “Look at Me!” specials. These things aren’t sports. These are circus rings, frivolity, distractions, empty calories.
But all is not lost. The Rocky Mountain State Games — more than 7,000 athletes competing in 35 sports this weekend in Colorado Springs — brings true sport back to the fore.
This is sport in its purest form.
Take, for example, two-time U.S. Olympian Katie Uhlaender of Breckenridge. Her discipline, honed with years of hard work, is skeleton, a slim sled race over ice in winter. She competed at Turin and Vancouver and has won two world titles.
But the drive to compete has Uhlaender pursuing a gold medal in weightlifting this weekend at the State Games. Why not? If the idea is to test yourself against the limits, the event means less than the competition. Skeleton, weightlifting, table tennis. Bring it on.
Look too for Morgan Griffin. Last year’s Class 4A high school pole vaulting champ — who will compete for Colorado State’s track team in the fall — will test her will this weekend not only in the pole vault, but also in the high jump, long jump and 200 meters.
Jeremy Rankin, a former Overland High School star who flew through a prep career before taking his speed to the University of Florida, will return to race the 100 and 200. Shot putter Mason Finley, formerly of Buena Vista and now the Big 12 champion at Kansas, is back to throw some more.
The list of notable names is long. And, for higher stakes, 44 athletes competing in the pentathlon at the State Games will also be going for an American title. USA Pentathlon’s national championships will decided a winner in this, their 98th year.
The grassroots, Olympic-style competitions, with athletes from all corners, will be pure sport.
The Games
* Where: Olympic Training Center, Memorial Park, Colorado Springs; Air Force Academy; Fort Carson.
* When: Today through Sunday.
* Disciplines: Athletes will compete in 35 sports.
* Opening ceremony: “American Idol” star Kimberly Caldwell highlights the show, which starts tonight at 7 at the World Arena. U.S. bobsled gold medalist Steven Holcomb will light the caldron to start the Games at the conclusion of the opening ceremony. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and youth, or 719-576-2626.
* Admission: Free for all sports except basketball, gymnastics and track and field. One-day car/family pass ($10) and individual day passes (adults: $5, youth 13-18: $3, seniors 55 and older: $3, children 12 and younger admitted free).
AROUND TOWN
Battle for supremacy.
Everything is coming up Outlaws of late. Denver’s Major League Lacrosse side is riding a three-game winning streak, tied for the league lead with two games remaining, and one of its own just starred on the world stage.
Brendan Mundorf, one of three Outlaws attackers playing for the U.S. last weekend, scored two goals to help beat Canada in the title game of the World Lacrosse Championships in England.
But the Outlaws moved on. When they face the Boston Cannons on Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High, the MLL regular-season title will be on the line.
The teams are tied with 7-3 records, and each has clinched a playoff berth. But a top seed and bragging rights will be on the line. Boston’s Matt Poskay is the runaway leader in points this season in the MLL, with 39 goals and 46 points. Mundorf is Denver’s leader with 18 goals and 33 points. The game starts at 7 p.m.
STAY ON THE COUCH
X marks the spot.
Shaun White will make what he hopes is a triumphant return to wheeled boards today in Los Angeles when the flashy redhead takes the spotlight at the 16th edition of the X Games.
White, who has shot to fame in recent years in snowboarding — at both the Winter X Games and in the Winter Olympics — let his skate cred lapse. He hasn’t competed in the skateboard vert and skate vert best trick events in nearly two years.
But he will tonight, when ESPN broadcasts its prime-time coverage of the games starting at 5 p.m. Earlier events will be shown at noon.
Canadian Pierre-Luc Gagnon is favored for a third gold in vert, but White could shine in best trick. Skate-or-die punks everywhere are waiting for him to finally knock a 1080 — what would be the biggest trick since Tony Hawk’s 900 in 1999. ESPN’s coverage runs to Sunday.
GET OFF THE COUCH
The hills are alive with activities.
Head for the hills this weekend for runs short and rides long through the mountains.
The Granby Gut Buster 5K on Saturday (9 a.m.) will run from the Town Hall through the streets of the city in what hopes to be a calm and cool day, perfect for a run. If all holds nicely, you might not even be bothered by the hill that gives the “Gut Buster” its name. Check for information.
Farther south, in Pagosa Springs on Saturday, try the Wolf Creek Ride and Reggae 100K. The 7 a.m. noncompetitive ride will summit and descend 10,857-foot high Wolf Creek Pass, a road never fun to drive in winter but a grand time to ride in summer. Check .
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Time to let ’em buck.
People go for the concerts and the fairs and hats, but the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo is, lest we forget, a rodeo. And a good one at that.
Known to insiders as “The Dad,” the CFD rodeo brings in about 1,300 riders, ropers and wranglers. The rodeo runs through Sunday’s final round, which starts at 12:45 p.m.
It’s four months until the National Finals, but for big midseason rodeos, Cheyenne brings in the best. Check for schedules and standings.
