CCCP.
Back in the day, it was the acronym for the USSR. Remember? We saw it all the time on the front of those red Soviet Union hockey sweaters.
Today, I’m hijacking CCCP for purposes of my column as I look at the Classy, Classless, Clueless and Perplexing in the sports world.
Classy: Tim Tebow kneeling in prayer before and after Broncos games is a genuine display of his Christian faith. He doesn’t disrespect anyone, and I don’t believe Tebow does it to draw attention to himself. He would do it whether the crowd or TV cameras were there or not. You can argue all you want about Tebow’s skills as an NFL quarterback, but he’s clearly a first-class human being.
Classless: Buffalo Bills receiver Stevie Johnson mocked Jets receiver Plaxico Burress during an end zone celebration last Sunday. Johnson mimicked shooting himself in the thigh after scoring on a 5-yard catch late in the first half. Burress served 20 months in prison for shooting himself in a New York City nightclub in 2008. The NFL, correctly, has fined Johnson $10,000 for his tasteless gesture.
Clueless: Former Nuggets big man by the four-year, $50 million deal the Nuggets offered him just before the NBA lockout took affect. Nene says he likely would have taken the Nuggets’ offer during the season, but was insulted the Nuggets waited so long to come to him. Now he’s a free agent.
“When the season was over they didn’t offer me nothing good,” Nene told Yahoo Sports.
Nothing good? $50 million for a player who average 14.5 points and 7.6 rebounds but disappeared in crunch time? Talk about clueless.
Perplexing: Why do the Rockies seem to be in such a rush to trade catcher Chris Iannetta? Yes, he’s been a major disappointment, never evolving into the franchise catcher many (myself included) predicted he’d be. But if the Rockies are looking for a bridge until prospect Wilin Rosario is ready, why not just keep Iannetta, who’s a solid defensive catcher and a popular guy in the clubhouse?
Classy: Former Broncos safety and current Fox Sports NFL analyst John Lynch continues to amaze me with his big-hearted philanthropy. Tonight, Lynch and his wife, Linda, are throwing the 15th annual Lynch’s Christmas Party at Prima Ristorante. They’re hosting deserving local military families and Boys & Girls Club members. After the party, the Lynches are taking the children to see the “The Lion King” at the Buell Theater. Lynch doesn’t throw money at his charity, he works in the trenches.
Classless: In 27 career games, Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh has been flagged for eight personal fouls — more than any player in the league during that span — and he’s been disciplined five times. He was fined a total of $42,500 for flagrant hits on quarterbacks. Now he’s facing a two-game suspension for shoving Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith’s head into the ground three times, then stomping on Smith’s arm. Of course, Suh things he’s undeserving of the fine and has appealed it.
Clueless: One of my simple joys in the morning is listening to Vic Lombardi and Gary Miller talk sports on The Ticket (FM 102.3). Come the first of the year, the plug will be pulled by the clueless Front Range Sports Network.
Miller and Lombardi are funny, knowledgeable and insightful. They have terrific guests, including weekly segments with Shannon Sharpe and Ed McCaffrey. Easy Ed actually expresses opinions on his show, something he avoided like the plague during his playing days.
Most of all, Miller and Lombardi are local guys talking about local sports.
Now we’ll get ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” talking about all things East Coast sports.
Perplexing: Why is Albert Pujols even contemplating not returning to the Cardinals? In January, the Cardinals presented the slugging first baseman with an extension worth $198 million over the next nine seasons. He didn’t take it.
Pujols has led the Cardinals to two World Series titles. He’ll join Stan Musial and Bob Gibson as one of the most celebrated players in a baseball-crazy city. He could be a Redbird for life. What more could Prince Albert possibly want?
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com or
