On Fridays, sports columnist Benjamin Hochman presents his mailbag, which touches on both sports and pop culture. To submit a question for consideration, send an e-mail to Benjamin.
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: where will Peyton rank against Elway in Denver sports lore?
BH: will go down as perhaps the greatest quarterbacking talent the game has ever seen (or at worst, top three) — and this is if he retired today. But that does not matter here in Denver. What only matters in Denver is Lombardi (and by that, of course, I mean the irresistible newscasts of sports anchor ). John Elway won two Super Bowls. Only if Peyton wins two, too, does he even get to be in the same breath in this town as (considering Elway also won three additional AFC titles).
Really, the only caveat I can think of is this: What if the Broncos go undefeated this season and win the Super Bowl? It would be historic and stupendous and, at least in the short term, maybe at least leads to the argument about him ranking higher than Elway. Even so, I would say that one undefeated season with a Super Bowl isn’t better than two regular Super Bowls.
So the only way Peyton could possibly surpass Elway is:
• If he wins two Super Bowls (and one of them is an undefeated season).
• If he wins two Super Bowls and (both are undefeated).
• If he wins two Super Bowls and also goes to a third, within a three-year period.
• If he wins three or more Super Bowls.
As I like to do each week in my mailbag, here are some fascinating Peyton-y stats, courtesy of the :
• Manning has had 13 of his 122 passes dropped, which is the highest amount in the league. That is 10.7 percent of his passes, which is also the highest rate. The league average is 6.1 percent.
• On play action, Manning’s 14.6 yards per attempt (YPA) lead all QBs. Without play action, Manning is tied for 12th in the league with 7.4 YPA.
• Against Oakland, Manning (+6.4), had the highest PFF grades; (tight end) Virgil Green (-2.9) and (running back) Knowshon Moreno (-1.9) graded the lowest.
• The majority of Manning’s attempts on the season has been between zero and nine yards in the middle of the field (36). He’s graded highest (+3.5) on intermediate passes (10-19 yards) to the left.
: Who are the top 10 Denver professional athletes of all time?
BH: Let the debates begin.
I say: 1. John Elway; 2. Joe Sakic; 3. Patrick Roy; 4. Champ Bailey; 5. Todd Helton; 6. Terrell Davis; 7. Carmelo Anthony; 8. Floyd Little; 9. Alex English; 10. Larry Walker.
: When do you think the Rockies will retire Helton’s number? Opening Day? Middle of next season?
BH: Well, if they do it opening day, they don’t have to get rid of the 17 that’s currently in the center-field grass. I say wait until Aug. 20 against the Royals — that’s Helton’s birthday.
In the meantime, they can honor him at every game with this I came up with.
: Why didn’t Todd Helton ride the horse around Coors, (without the royal mountie)?
BH: That’s a fair question, considering the Boggs moment was the second-coolest horse moment in baseball history, besides, of course, .
More horse thoughts:
• I’m totally down with the creative gift. But as suggested — how funny is it that now Helton will have to spend thousands of his own dollars for maintenance of some horse he might not have wanted in the first place?
• Are you allowed to rename horses? Or is it like boats and humans? If so, I suggest Snoopy. Or Prickly Pete.
• As is, the horse is currently named A Tru Bustamove. As for the rap song I had always wondered something. So you have this verse:
“Your best friend Harry has a brother Larry
In five days from now he’s gonna marry
He’s hopin you can make it there if you can
‘Cause in the ceremony you’ll be the best man”
WAIT, who’s getting married, Harry or Larry? If it’s your best friend’s brother Larry, why would you be the best man?
It was explained to me by a friend that:
Yes, those rap lyrics may have confused the object and subject.
It would seem that Larry is getting married. And that you, Larry’s brother’s best friend, will be the best man. If the lyrics were changed to reflect the true intent of the rapper (i.e. that Harry is getting married and that you will be Harry’s best man) then the two opening lines should read as such:
“Your best friend Harry has a brother Larry
In five days from now Harry’s gonna marry”
: Best sports movie that does not involve baseball, basketball, football, hockey, boxing or soccer?
BH: Easiest of my life!
Danny Noonan; Big hitter, the Lama; Judge Smails; Oh, it looks good on you though; Bushwood; SPALDING GET YOUR FOOT OFF THE BOAT!; Ty Webb; Carl Spackler; Cinderella Story; Lacey Underall; You’re not a man, you’re a bishop, for God’s sake!; Al Czervik; Cannonball, cannonball comin’; Pool and a pond; Mitch Cumstein; You’ll get nothing and like it!; So what? So let’s dance!
Benjamin Hochman: bhochman@denverpost.com or
To submit a question for Hochman’s Mailbag, send an e-mail to Benjamin.
Visit each weekday near quittin’ time for a heavy pour of sports commentary from Denver Post columnist Benjamin Hochman. Care for another round? Find previous Happy Hour installments at .
