The Fabulous Colorado Rockies

SO I get 4 free tickets to see the Rockies vs. Cardinals on Wednesday. I'm pretty excited about it. Great seats (thirdbase side, 9th row), 2006 World Series Champs... Puljos, Ekstein, Rolen, Encarnacion.... Sure. It'll be fun. Rockies are on a seven game winning streak, I'm pumped.

No, not while I'm there. Rockies lose a sad effort to the Cardinals... who by the was are way under .500 entering June. But we are talking about the Rockies here and Ekstein's on the DL.

So the next day, my roommate gets 2 more tickets, this time on the firstbase side, row 2. I'm pumped. I've never really had a back-to-back Rockies experience. Plus, who knows, maybe Puljos will make some diving play into our laps. One can dream right?

Wrong. No Puljos, no Ekstein, instead I'm stuck with staring at Speizio's ass all game. And then the one semi-close catch (about 3-4 seats over) Encarnacion can't even make the catch and the ball bounces into the stands and some lame guy gets it and thinks twice about giving it to some kid. Bummer. Rockies lost both games I went to. It was sad.

But, I refuse to give up hope for the Rockies. Granted 80% of the fans at any given time are rooting against the Rockies and ticket sales are up because of the Yankees in June. WOW.

People don't understand how great Coors Field is. The Colorado Rockies have built an outstanding organization. They just need to win, a lot of games. They just need an outstanding pitching staff, a reliable bullpen and some more dominant hitting.

One day.... mark my words... one day, The Colorado Rockies WILL make the play-offs. They WILL win a penant and they WILL advance to a World Series. They may not win it, but that's when the coat-tale/fair weather fans will emerge. I just think it's lame they have to wait until then.

Bottom line, I'm a baseball fan. This is where I live, this is where I grew up. I saw Coors Field being built. I saw the Rockies make their first and only play-off wild-card berth. I saw them flop after that. But I will continue to see them play, whether it's against the Cardinals, the Yankees or even the Royals. I'm will go to watch baseball.

LIVE from the mtn.

I'd like to introduce you to the mtn.- The Mountain West Sports Network. This is where I currently work. We cover all sports in the Mountain West College Conference: Air Force, BYU, CSU, UNLV, UNM, Utah, San Diego State, TCU and Wyoming. This Network was created for a multitude of reasons, but regardless, it is the only network to cover one specific college conference. Others are thinking about it, one is trying to launch in Fall '07 (BIG10 Network), but it doesn't matter. It's already been done. So the bar has been set and if you are a student, fan, alumni, or affiliate of the Mountain West Conference, you need to be watching the mtn. And if you're not any of the above, check it out anyway. You may not personally care about Men's Tennis or Women's Water Polo, but people do. and that's why we cover it. Join us tomorrow, live from

Join the NPPL: National Professional Paintball League

Paintball is the third most popular extreme sport. In the last 15 years it has gained popularity in over 40 countries and is reportedly the most searched sport for supplies on eBay, spending over $225 million a year.

Paintball combines the childhood game of capture the flag with hide and seek, but with a paintball gun and strategery. There are only 7 people per team per game who combine to capture the flag and take sacrafice for their teammates. The object of the game is to capture the opposing team's flag, while protecting your own. But it's not all about the flag. It's about the singled assassination (with paint) of each player. Who is shot first, which players sacrafice themselves for the cause, who is the most aggressive player and which barriers to overcome first.

ESPN2 recently picked up the NPPL World Series, using graphic aids to assist the viewer in figuring out the game. Each game is played with 7 minutes maximum, and the winner is determined after the best of 3 games. It is a sport where males and females can compete equally, where youth is not the dominant factor. Although it requires some physical ability, it is strategic.


Scoring is determined on a 100 point scale. You can still win, even if you don't caputre your opponents flag first.

32 points for grabbing the opponent’s flag first
40 points for hanging the opponent’s flag first
21 points for shooting out all of the 7 opponents (3 points per player)
7 points for keeping all your players alive at the end of the game ( 1 point per player)

For example, 100 points is awarded to your team if you grab and hang your opponent's flag first, you kill all your opponents and all of you team is in.

If teams have the same points at the end of a game, it is considered a draw. But, if the teams are tied at one game each, and they draw on the third game, there is a sudden death, one-on-one shoot-out.

For more information visit www.nppl.tv or www.nationalpaintball.com

Beware of Avalanche

Do you remember when hockey wasn't around. It was like getting your pinky toe chopped off...you can walk without it, but it's a lot harder than you think.

Well, the NHL is back and so are the Avs. It'd been awhile since they won two Stanley Cups in a row. So after a nice break, they are back in the play-offs. The best part... they're up 3-0 in the series over the number 2 Dallas Stars. But Dallas denies this being a problem, because they can come back, they can win this game. Sure. But can you win four in a row?

Only two NHL teams have come back in a 3-0 playoff deficit: the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs rallied to beat Detroit and the 1975 New York Islanders to defeat Pittsburgh. The Stars can't even get out of a 2-0 hole, the last time in the '68 quarterfinals as the Minnesota North Stars defeating LA 4-3.

But, they are correct in saying it's not over until it's over. You never know because those two teams made amazing come-backs, why can't the stars? Because they're playing the Avs.

Alex Tanguay's game winner last night in overtime (Avs 4-3) was the second time in two days the Avs beat the Stars after tying the score in the third period.

"The goal at the end gave us some energy, and we got a fortunate break around the net," Avs coach Joel Quenneville said. "The games have been really close, two games in a row could have gone either way." (ESPN.com)

But Stars goalie Marty Turco says, "We're going to expect to win. Nothing has been handed to them yet." (ESPN.com)

Okay, fair enough. But we'll see you tomorrow in Denver for game 4.

Officiating

I'm going to give you this disclaimer, right off the bat: I am an official, a ref and an umpire.

Many officials base their knowledge of a sport on how they used to play it. Many officials take classes and go through extensive training. Some have known to be biased. Some have known to let things go. Others are extremely strict and follow the rules by the book, regardless of who you are. Some are intense and hard core. Others are push-overs and easy to argue with. But however officials officiate; they are the official, which is why they are called officials.

My interest in officiating began as an athlete, umpiring baseball and softball in the summers as a teenager. In college, I began working at the Intramural Office at the University of Colorado. Officials were needed. I became a broomball supervisor, inner-tube water polo official and most exciting, a dodgeball official.

Dodgeball at CU can be the most competitive sport at CU (even comparable to DI football), it just depends on the teams that are playing. Some teams yell at their opponent, curse and attempt to intimidate the weaker players. Some teams react with comments like, "dude, it's just dodgeball...chill out." Others respond with yo momma comments or even worse profanity than they received.

The thing about dodgeball is that it is fun. It is competitive. A game can look like you will lose, but all of a sudden a basket is made and your whole team is back in the game. It can change at any instance. That's why people like it. It's not over 'til its over.

But many times the officials pay. We call rules like crossing the center line and the guy who threw it yells in my face. I give him a warning. Fair enough. The next time, I call him out because he's trying to cheat, saying he blocked it with the ball, when it clearly hit him in the shoulder. He argues. I say sit down. The third time he reaches over the line as a sub to retrieve a ball, I make him give it to the other team. He complains with insulting comments toward my character. I throw him out of the game. He wonders why.

Don't mess with the refs. Treat them with respect and they will treat you with respect. I pride myself on being a skilled, fair, unbiased official and when people say I think the guy on the other team is cute and that's why I didn't call him out, it's wrong. When they say I don't like that guy because he pissed me off last game, it's wrong. Each game is new, each game I'll give you a chance. But I remember the times you spit on my face while you were yelling at me, or the times you called me a bitch under your breath. I'm not afraid to throw you out...

But my officiating isn't just in organized sports. I am an unofficial rule interpreter for the card game CANASTA, I hosted an oil wrestling competition, where I was the ref, solely to entertain the audience. I've also officiated a Beirut Tournament, to ensure the alcohol-impaired contestants weren't cheating. People keep asking me to officiate because of my technique and reputation as an official. It's fun, so I keep doing it.

Just keep in mind though, that refs, umpires and officials are people too. Not just someone to piss you off or change the pace of a game. I can't be bribed. I can't be bought. So don't try.

The Denver Nuggets in the 2006 NBA play-offs

Ten years ago, the statement "the Nuggets are in the play-offs" would have been followed by a chuckle or two. But after the 2006 play-off standings were set today, the Nuggets are the third seed in the West and will face off against the LA Clippers on Saturday at 10:30pm.

Many not sure how the Nuggs will do, including Charles Barkley who says, "this is the most wide-open I've ever seen the NBA playoffs. If the Clippers make it to the Western Conference finals, I wouldn't be shocked, and if Denver makes it to the Western Conference finals I wouldn't be shocked. " (ESPN.com). Chris Sheridan, ESPN writer, predicts the Clippers will take the Nuggets in 7 games, even though they haven't made it to the second round in 30 seasons.

In the West, 2005 defending champions the San Antonio Spurs face the Kings, 2005 MVP Steve Nash and the Suns face Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, the Grizzlies try to match up against Dirk Nowitzki and his Dallas Mavericks and of course the Clippers and the Nuggets.

In the East, the Bucks play Chauncey Billups and his Pistons, Good 'ole Shaq will bring his Heat against the Bulls, Pacers and Nets and the Wizards face LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Denver Nuggets have been quite successful since its make-over a few years ago and of course since they signed Carmello Anthony from Syracuse. But George Karl and Mr. Kroenke obviously expect a little more and hope to bring home a Championship.

The Great Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds is a part of the 700 Homerun Club with just two other players: Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755). He needs only 7 more homeruns to surpass the Great Bambino. He surpassed his godfather, Willie Mays who is the sole member of the 600 Homerun Club. Bonds is the current single season homerun leader, with 73 in 2001.

After being on the DL for all but 14 games of the 2005 season, Bonds has started the 2006 season by not starting. He has played in 11 games and sat 3. He has no homeruns yet. It could be due to knee and elbow injuries, as Giants' Manager Felipe Alou says. Or it could be the never ending steroids issue. Or it could be that his new TV series on ESPN, Bonds on Bonds is taking up too much of his time.

Regardless, Bonds is around for his 20th season for one reason: to become #2 on the career homeruns list. Why stop when you're only 7 homeruns away from being the second greatest hitter of all time? Bonds is not expected to reach Hank Aaron’s 755 mark, at least not this season.

But what most want to know is what's up with the steroid deal. It's comparable to Pete Rose's continual denial of gambling, up until last year when he finally revealed the truth we all knew. Steroid use could potentially take Bond's credibility away, never allowing him into the Hall of Fame, despite his countless records.

Yet many insist that he passed every drug test he's taken and that should be enough to drop the subject. Maybe that’s why Bonds on Bonds is being made—to enhance Bonds’ public image, which is known for not being so great. The reality show or ‘documentary’ as ESPN is calling it, is a way for people to see what it’s like to be one of the greatest, or depending on your position, worst athletes alive today. Regardless, if the stats show, and they’re legitimate, let the man play.

Beirut-The Most Popular College Sport

Beirut, or Beer Pong is known as a competitive collegiate sport of drinking. It is similar to ping pong, except without the paddles and with beer.

Two teams face off against each other at the opposite end of a table. Ten cups are lined up in a triangle.

Teams have 2 ping-pong balls and alternate turns throwing the balls in the opposite team's cup. Each time it lands inside your cup, you or your teammate have to drink it.

The object: to get the other team drunk by making it in their cups.

Extra or 'house' rules depends on which house uses which rules. Sometimes bouncing it in constitutes two cups and when both players make a shot, they get the balls back and another turn as a reward.

Other variations include, as soon as a ball hits the table (such as a bounce) the opposing team is able to block the ball with their hands or with their mouths by blowing it. People use beirut as a form of entertainment at a party, as a way to socialize. But regardless, it is still competitive, it involves drinking and is therefore one of the most popular sports in college.

Golf Plays: Tennis Pays

CU Men's Golf Team was suspended last week. When the team was in California on a tournament, the coach took players to a strip club to celebrate a recent victory. All players attended but one Mormon player, who refused to go out of respect for his religion. Many players were underage and alcohol was involved. They were caught by NCAA and University officials. The sole remaining player attended the next tournament alone.

However, due to recent budget issues, CU has cut the best Tennis Team the Buffs have ever had. This season it is the first time in CU history the men's team has reached the Top-25, with a current record of 17-6. Many officials say the team was the right choice and they couldn't cut a woman's team due to Title IX and other reasons.

The options for players on scholarship include allowing players to transfer to any school and still keep their scholarship. But many players, including juniors entering the last season, say they just want to stay a Buff.

sunny colorado

The grass is green. The sun is shining. The birds are singing. Lately, there have been some beautiful days.

For those of you walking to class, you may have noticed the 'beach bums' laying out on their bath towels on Farrand Field or in their front lawn. More dogs are walking their owners and people are playing frisbee in between class.

What else can you do? The question is what can't you do? Pick up softball games, hiking, Intramural outdoor sports, football, catch, slip and slide, soccer, hackey-sack, jogging and more.

Just because you may not be involved in an organized team sport, the weather is still a great excuse to get out, exercise, me involved and fuel your competitive fire. Whatever your flavor may be, there is something in the sun for you to do.

Dodgeball: a way of LIFE

It's not just on the playground anymore...dodgeball has reached the collegiate level and it's collegiately competitive.

CU's Intramural program 2 sessions a year of dodgeball at many levels of ability (open is the most competitive, then A, B and C levels). But dodgeball has peaked the popularity of Intramurals at CU with over 80 teams.

People dress up, make uniforms, or even wear traffic jackets or a blow-up water duck-anything to distract their opponent.

Rules are fairly universal: you get hit you're out. You catch a ball, the thrower's out and a teammate comes in. If you make a basket, your entire team comes in. More competitive or CU specific rules include: not crossing the center line, dodging out of bounds and 2 people being hit by the same ball...all of which get you called out.

In general, IM goes by the honestly policy-you have to call yourself out. But because we don't live in a perfect world, refs are there to confirm/deny arguments and put cheaters in their place.

My very own team "Throws Like A Girl" is at the highest competitive level. But we are an unconventional team. Dodgeball is co-ed and most teams have the minimum number of girls-2. But my team is made up of 5 softball girls and 4 football guys. We use the strength of our ladies to throw off the other team. They don't expect us to throw harder than they do.

We are 1-1-1 and play tomorrow night for our final game before the play-offs. You can support us next Thursday at 8pm for our first tournament game.

Click Here to catch an opportunity to play IM sports or for a complete copy of Dodgeball rules.

Title IX: good or bad?

Many people believe Title IX was helpful. Many blame Title IX for programs being cut.

Title IX states, "No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex be exclude from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal aid."

Title IX is a part of the 1972 anti-discrimination laws. It has a three-prong requirement in reference to intercollegiate athletics.
1-Financial Aid
2- Accommodation of Interests and Abilities
3-Other Areas

Financial assistance is based on the number of male/female athletes. It must be financially proportional between the genders. In other words, a school must give as much money to male athletics as they do to female athletics.

The sports and competitive level must accommodate the interests and abilities of the students. A school may not offer women's archery if there are no athletes willing to participate, just to fulfill the gender requirement.

Finally, other areas include benefits, treatment, opportunities including equipment and supplies, game/practice scheduling, travel, housing, publicity, recruitment, etc. and must be equivalent.

Title IX forced Universities and high schools that receive federal aid to re-evaluate their athletic distribution. At the time, in order to accommodate to female athletes, schools did not have enough money to just create these programs for women, and were forced to cut male programs. For example, at the University of Colorado, there used to be Division I Men's Wrestling and Men's Baseball. But when Title IX came into effect, those programs were dropped.

However, recently the Department of Education issued a 'clarification' policy within Title IX that threatens to reverse the past 34 years of women/girls in sports. This policy asks schools to show they are providing information and opportunities to their female students by sending out an email survey asking interest/ability to play. If the student does not reply the school interprets this as a lack of interest and schools can use the emails as a justification of meeting their obligation to female athletes.

You can send an email to Secretary Spelling and ask the new Clarification policy be withdrawn.

Whether the government absolutely needed to step in, women in sports were bound to happen. But Title IX has put women ahead and given them an opportunity, that is yet to equal men's athletics, but it is a start (if it will ever happen). It is unfortunate that at the time Title IX was initiated many programs were cut. But what Title IX does not do, is prevent schools from bringing back those programs. In fact, here at the University of Colorado many believe baseball should be brought back. But if baseball is a Division I sport, CU will implement softball. It is beneficial for all, but it's all about the money.

CU Softball

March 12, 2006
CU Softball was in Hastings, Nebraksa this weekend in the Icebreaker Tournament. They played Division II and Junior College Teams which is unusual for the club program.

Junior, Captain and Shortstop, Miranda Mesloh says, "It’s tough. You just feel like it’s such a disadvantage against junior colleges and community colleges because people are on scholarship, people that are looking for more than just school. They’re using softball as a tool in their life right now. We’re playing for fun. Not just for fun… we’re competitive, but we have more going on in our lives than just softball…everyday.

Despite the losses, the team stayed competitive with these delveloped programs. Freshman Brittany Joseph thinks playing harder teams will help in the post season.

"It’s early. I think we have a lot of chemistry. We can match up to really solid teams when we’re solid, but it’s early. We’ll get better with time," says Joseph.

By playing Divison II teams, CU is able to prepare for the toughest competition they will face in the Club National Tournament in April.

It takes a lot of work on and off the field to be a part of a club team. Practices, tournaments, fundraising, scheduling—it’s a self-run program. But softball is more than just a game.

Mesloh says, "all my family is in Nebraska. I’m out in Colorado… softball is my family."

It's also about fun.

"My experience with CU Softball has been nothing but wonderful. Maybe not so much that I love softball and stuff, but the girls on it," says Joseph.

Winning and playing well may not be the best part; it's the friend you make and the fun you have that keeps you coming back.

"I love the team and I love playing softball, "says Mesloh. "When we’re down on the field I always think to myself how much I love to play this game."

Powerlifting... now there's a sport

Unlike most weightlifters in the gym who worry about the beach body look or getting in shape, powerlifting is about strength. It's about low reps at high weight. Its lifts consists of military press, dead lift, clean and jerk, squats, snatch and bench press.

Powerlifting is used to prepare for competitions such as World's Strongest Man Competition, the Olympics, local Strongman Competitions, Strongest Man Alive . For each individual lift, there are different competitions

Most of the competitors don't have the beach-body/muscle look. They are thick, mostly uncut, bulky people. Some have associated steroid use with this sport, which only the Olympics regulates. The Bulgarians and East Germans have been known to cheat in the Olympics by using steroids.

2002, 2003, 2005 World's Strongest Man Marius Pudzianowski is not only the World's Strongest Man, but third in the World's Strongest Bench Press. He can bench press over 600 pounds, which is comparable to a small car (like the Geo Metro). He's 6'1" and 291 pounds and is from Poland, where he is considered a superstar.

Such competitions involve intense training and discipline. For example, dieting is very rigorous. Mass amounts of calories must be taken in each day to have enough energy to power his muscles for such strenuous lifts. A protein shake is usually added to supplement high protein and complex carbohydrate intake.

There are many other supplements a powerlifter can choose from, especially those considered “unnatural” but are still allowed in most competitions. One is creatine.
Creatine helps muscle-water retention. Oxygen is used to help build the muscle after it is worked out. Having mass amounts of water storage assists in the process. However, this can add water-weight to the athlete.

Many people confuse powerlifting and body building. Body Building is not about strength, but rather continuous repetition and body shape. Body builders are more concerned with a cut, sculpted look and watch their body fat. Again, powerlifters are concerned with strength.

Look for Mariusz Pudzianowski in the 2006 World's Strongest Man Competition.

Lacrosse

In the past 10 years the sport of lacrosse has grown in popularity. More famous on the east coast, lacrosse has spread to the midwest and across the country like a plague. Many young athletes are choosing lacrosse over traditional or major spring sports including baseball, tennis and track.

It is similar to hockey and to soccer, but it has it's own unique characteristics, including off-sides. There are 10 people on the field, 3 offensive, 3 midfield, 3 defense and a goalie. The field is divided into 3 parts. When team A is in scoring position (at Team B's goal) they cannot have more than 6 people in that third of the field. Likewise, Team B cannot have more than 6 people (no including the goalie) to defend those 6 offenders. If an extra person crosses the midfield line, they are considered offsides.

Similar to hockey, there are penalties by the minute and a penalty box. In addition, players can go behind the goal.

The University of Colorado has it's own lacrosse team; at the club level. The team faced off against Missouri Saturday winning 10-3. CU started off early with 2 goals by #5 Jon Atwood, who had two more by the end of the game, making 15 goals in 5 games.

CU managed to hold the eleventh leading scorer, Chris Wolf, to one goal against freshman goalie Kevin Moriarty, who entered in the last five minutes of the game. The team is now 5-0 and will trael to California over spring break. You can get any and all lacrosse info online at www.colorado.edu/studentgroups/coloradomenslacrosse.

A nice crowd gathered to support the team before the snow. The game was also broadcast via CUTV on Channel 63.