thedenverpost--2020-08-07--Ex-Angels employee charged in overdose death of Tyler Skaggs

FORT WORTH , Texas — A former Los Angeles Angels employee has been charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in connection with last year ’ s overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs , prosecutors in Texas announced Friday .
Eric Prescott Kay was arrested in Fort Worth , Texas , and made his first appearance Friday in federal court , according to Erin Nealy Cox , the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas .
Kay was the Angels ’ director of communications , and he served as their public relations contact on many road trips .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death , and he never returned to the team .
In a statement issued Friday after news of Kay ’ s court appearance , the Angels said they opened an independent investigation into Skaggs ’ death .
The team reaffirmed its position that management didn ’ t know Skaggs was an opioids user and didn ’ t know any employees were providing drugs to players .
Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in the Dallas area on July 1 , 2019 , before the start of what was supposed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The first game was postponed , and Skaggs ’ death provoked an outpouring of grief across baseball .
Skaggs died after choking on his vomit with a toxic mix of alcohol and the powerful painkillers fentanyl and oxycodone in his system , a coroner ’ s report said .
Prosecutors accused Kay of providing the fentanyl to Skaggs and others , who were not named .
“ Tyler Skaggs ’ s overdose – coming , as it did , in the midst of an ascendant baseball career – should be a wake-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this deadly drug , whether sold as a powder or hidden inside an innocuous-looking tablet , ” Nealy Cox said .
If convicted , Kay faces up to 20 years in prison .
Federal court records do not list an attorney representing him , and an attorney who previously spoke on his behalf did not immediately return a message seeking comment .
The Angels ’ statement said the team has “ fully cooperated with law enforcement and Major League Baseball .
Additionally , in order to comprehensively understand the circumstances that led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation .
“ We learned that there was unacceptable behavior inconsistent with our code of conduct , and we took steps to address it .
Our investigation also confirmed that no one in management was aware , or informed , of any employee providing opioids to any player , nor that Tyler was using opioids.
” Skaggs died 12 days before his 28th birthday .
The Santa Monica native was drafted by the Angels in 2009 and later traded to Arizona , where he played his first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Angels in another trade in late 2013 .
Rusty Hardin , the Texas attorney representing Skaggs ’ family , issued a statement after Kay ’ s arrest and court appearance .
“ The family is deeply heartbroken to learn that Tyler would be alive today were it not for a pill containing fentanyl that was provided by the Director of Communications of the Angels , ” Hardin said .
“ We note that the Angels say they commissioned an independent investigation that concluded no one in management was aware that a team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We encourage the Angels to make that report public .
“ We are relieved that no one else who was supplied drugs by this Angels executive met the same fate as Tyler .
While nothing will replace the loss of Tyler , we are very grateful to federal prosecutors for their diligent and ongoing work .
”

FORT WORTH, Texas — A former Los Angeles Angels employee has been charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in connection with last year’s overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, prosecutors in Texas announced Friday.
Eric Prescott Kay was arrested in Fort Worth, Texas, and made his first appearance Friday in federal court, according to Erin Nealy Cox, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
Kay was the Angels’ director of communications, and he served as their public relations contact on many road trips. He was placed on leave shortly after Skaggs’ death, and he never returned to the team.
In a statement issued Friday after news of Kay’s court appearance, the Angels said they opened an independent investigation into Skaggs’ death. The team reaffirmed its position that management didn’t know Skaggs was an opioids user and didn’t know any employees were providing drugs to players.
Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in the Dallas area on July 1, 2019, before the start of what was supposed to be a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. The first game was postponed, and Skaggs’ death provoked an outpouring of grief across baseball.
Skaggs died after choking on his vomit with a toxic mix of alcohol and the powerful painkillers fentanyl and oxycodone in his system, a coroner’s report said. Prosecutors accused Kay of providing the fentanyl to Skaggs and others, who were not named.
“Tyler Skaggs’s overdose – coming, as it did, in the midst of an ascendant baseball career – should be a wake-up call: No one is immune from this deadly drug, whether sold as a powder or hidden inside an innocuous-looking tablet,” Nealy Cox said.
If convicted, Kay faces up to 20 years in prison. Federal court records do not list an attorney representing him, and an attorney who previously spoke on his behalf did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
The Angels’ statement said the team has “fully cooperated with law enforcement and Major League Baseball. Additionally, in order to comprehensively understand the circumstances that led to his death, we hired a former federal prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation.
“We learned that there was unacceptable behavior inconsistent with our code of conduct, and we took steps to address it. Our investigation also confirmed that no one in management was aware, or informed, of any employee providing opioids to any player, nor that Tyler was using opioids.”
Skaggs died 12 days before his 28th birthday. The Santa Monica native was drafted by the Angels in 2009 and later traded to Arizona, where he played his first two major league seasons before returning to the Angels in another trade in late 2013.
Rusty Hardin, the Texas attorney representing Skaggs’ family, issued a statement after Kay’s arrest and court appearance.
“The family is deeply heartbroken to learn that Tyler would be alive today were it not for a pill containing fentanyl that was provided by the Director of Communications of the Angels,” Hardin said. “We note that the Angels say they commissioned an independent investigation that concluded no one in management was aware that a team employee was supplying illegal drugs to Tyler. We encourage the Angels to make that report public.
“We are relieved that no one else who was supplied drugs by this Angels executive met the same fate as Tyler. While nothing will replace the loss of Tyler, we are very grateful to federal prosecutors for their diligent and ongoing work.”


thedenverpost--2020-08-07--9-month-old girl who died Monday in Denver is identified, homicide investigation ongoing

A infant whose death in Denver is being investigated as a homicide has been identified .
Gianna Rosales was taken to Denver Health Medical Center on Monday where she was later pronounced dead .
The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner identified her on Friday .
An autopsy has been performed and the cause and manner of her death are pending .
Police , who are investigating her death as a homicide , said there has been no arrest in the ongoing case .
The baby ’ s father Anthony Rosales told Denver7 he worried his daughter was in danger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rosales says he remembers jumping out of bed at 6 a.m. on Monday , Aug. 3 , and rushing to Denver Health after his mother told him something was wrong with his daughter .
Rosales says it was the first time he saw his daughter in more than two weeks because her mother , Jolene LaCrue , kept his daughter away .
“ They ( doctors ) told me she was unresponsive and then went into cardiac arrest , ” Rosales said .
Rosales says LaCrue brought Gianna to the hospital on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to take their daughter off life support after talking with doctors .

An infant whose death in Denver is being investigated as a homicide has been identified.
Gianna Rosales was taken to Denver Health Medical Center on Monday where she was later pronounced dead.
The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner identified her on Friday. An autopsy has been performed and the cause and manner of her death are pending.
Police, who are investigating her death as a homicide, said there has been no arrest in the ongoing case.
The baby’s father Anthony Rosales told Denver7 he worried his daughter was in danger and contacted several agencies before her death.
“They failed me,” he said.
Rosales says he remembers jumping out of bed at 6 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, and rushing to Denver Health after his mother told him something was wrong with his daughter. Rosales says it was the first time he saw his daughter in more than two weeks because her mother, Jolene LaCrue, kept his daughter away.
“They (doctors) told me she was unresponsive and then went into cardiac arrest,” Rosales said.
Rosales says LaCrue brought Gianna to the hospital on Monday. On Tuesday, the parents decided to take their daughter off life support after talking with doctors.


thedenverpost--2020-08-07--Bosselman: Denver doesn’t want to know how much housing it needs — and it needs a lot

You may want to start looking for a new place to live .
If you ’ re not rich and you would like to continue living in your neighborhood , you have reason to worry about a recent report that ranked Denver as the second most intensely gentrifying city in the U.S .
Between 2010 and 2017 , more than 100,000 people moved to Denver .
But the city issued just 35,000 permits for new housing units in the same timeframe .
Many new residents arrived with college degrees and good salaries , allowing them to spend their way into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historically Black and Latino communities .
The situation increased prices in some of the city ’ s most affordable neighborhoods and drove thousands of families to leave their longtime homes .
Now , this pattern of gentrification and displacement will likely intensify as the COVID-19 pandemic triggers a financial crisis .
Though the solution is simple — build more housing — Mayor Michael Hancock and members of the City Council can ’ t handle the truth about a critical number that should be at the center of the city ’ s policies : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How many housing units would it take to get market-rate housing prices under control , put an end to displacement and provide enough deeply affordable housing to eliminate homelessness ?
Would 50,000 new housing units in the next five years do the trick ?
100,000 in ten years ?
Maybe even more ?
Don ’ t ask your elected officials .
They have no idea .
In all of the city ’ s thousands of pages of reports and plans for the future , there are no specific goals that layout the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a failure to recognize that the only way out of this problem is to have ample housing supply at all levels of affordability , ” says Phyllis Resnick , executive director and chief economist of the Colorado Futures Center at Colorado State University .
But it ’ s no accident that the city lacks clear and measurable goals .
After all , many of the city ’ s leaders act as if they are intoxicated .
They are under the unfair and disproportionate influence of wealthy , white homeowners — the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can to stop the reform of outdated and racist housing policies .
To anyone with a clear mind , it is obvious that a vast amount of new housing is needed .
But the inebriation of the ruling class keeps the city stammering and stumbling toward a worsening housing crisis .
It ’ s understandable why many elected officials fear a specific housing goal .
If Denver were working toward 100,000 new units under a strict deadline , it would require fast action to tear down the legal and procedural barriers that neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For example , an ambitious housing goal would require Denver to follow Oreinvegon and Minneapolis by eliminating single-family home zoning citywide .
The move would allow backyard cottages , duplexes and apartment buildings in more parts of the city .
Such a goal would also mean following Buffalo and San Francisco in abolishing obsolete parking requirements , which recently halted the development of a 36-unit affordable housing project in Five Points .
Determining the amount of housing needed is crucial now because expansive swaths of the city are vulnerable to displacement , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Community Reinvestment Coalition , the organization that ranked Denver as one of the most intensively gentrifying cities in America .
It highlights parts of Five Points , Capitol Hill , North Denver and West Denver .
And if displacement goes unchecked , we already know the consequences .
Between 2012 and 2017 , in nine mostly Latino neighborhoods of West Denver , the number of people with a college degree increased 66 % , according to a report from the West Denver Renaissance Collective .
Those making more than $ 100,000 increased 97 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 3,900 were displaced between 2015 and 2018 , including 5,800 children .
When displacement happens , many residents move to more impoverished areas or crowd into homes with other families , says Resnick .
These moves are costly , disrupt children ’ s educations , create longer commutes for parents and put people at risk of poor health outcomes , including COVID-19 .
Others become homeless , including families with children .
( Last year , 2,124 homeless children enrolled in Denver Public Schools . )
The problem is likely to accelerate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generates thousands of foreclosures and bankrupts landlords .
“ With COVID , about 40 % of low- to moderate-income renters are not paying their rent , ” says Jason Richardson , director of research at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition .
“ Think about being a landlord in one of those communities .
You ’ re looking at months or years where people won ’ t be able to pay their rent.
” He predicts an imminent “ frenzy of gentrification and displacement.
” Investors are likely to buy up distressed properties now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then they could kick out existing residents , bulldoze the buildings and construct high-end housing .
The city ’ s disturbingly slow pace of change makes some of this frenzy inevitable .
For example , after spending years developing Blueprint Denver , a plan that outlines Denver ’ s future for the next 20 years , the city will spend another seven to 11 years asking residents of each neighborhood to accept a moderate amount of new housing .
But the broken process favors neighborhood defenders who oppose new housing at every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more people in Denver — people who want to continue living here — must wake elected officials from their NIMBY-induced stupor .
“ It has to come from communities , ” says Resnick .
And she sees glints of hope starting to shimmer through the daze of recent events .
“ We have this confluence of COVID and an impending economic crisis combined with the George Floyd protests and a new conversation about racism , ” she says .
“ We are paying attention now .
I hope we don ’ t lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change.
” If you would like the people who run this city to fix the housing crisis before you ’ re priced out , contact the mayor and your City Council member .
Demand one number — the number of housing units Denver needs — and a timeline to achieve it .
Andy Bosselman is a freelance journalist and past editor of Streetsblog Denver .
Follow him on Twitter at @ andybosselman .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how @ @ @ @ @ @ @

You may want to start looking for a new place to live.
If you’re not rich and you would like to continue living in your neighborhood, you have reason to worry about a recent report that ranked Denver as the second most intensely gentrifying city in the U.S.
Between 2010 and 2017, more than 100,000 people moved to Denver. But the city issued just 35,000 permits for new housing units in the same timeframe.
Many new residents arrived with college degrees and good salaries, allowing them to spend their way into existing homes and apartments, often in historically Black and Latino communities. The situation increased prices in some of the city’s most affordable neighborhoods and drove thousands of families to leave their longtime homes. Now, this pattern of gentrification and displacement will likely intensify as the COVID-19 pandemic triggers a financial crisis.
Though the solution is simple — build more housing — Mayor Michael Hancock and members of the City Council can’t handle the truth about a critical number that should be at the center of the city’s policies: How much housing does Denver need?
How many housing units would it take to get market-rate housing prices under control, put an end to displacement and provide enough deeply affordable housing to eliminate homelessness?
Would 50,000 new housing units in the next five years do the trick? 100,000 in ten years? Maybe even more?
Don’t ask your elected officials. They have no idea. In all of the city’s thousands of pages of reports and plans for the future, there are no specific goals that layout the number of housing units needed.
“We have a failure to recognize that the only way out of this problem is to have ample housing supply at all levels of affordability,” says Phyllis Resnick, executive director and chief economist of the Colorado Futures Center at Colorado State University.
But it’s no accident that the city lacks clear and measurable goals. After all, many of the city’s leaders act as if they are intoxicated. They are under the unfair and disproportionate influence of wealthy, white homeowners — the “neighborhood defenders” who do everything they can to stop the reform of outdated and racist housing policies.
To anyone with a clear mind, it is obvious that a vast amount of new housing is needed. But the inebriation of the ruling class keeps the city stammering and stumbling toward a worsening housing crisis.
It’s understandable why many elected officials fear a specific housing goal. If Denver were working toward 100,000 new units under a strict deadline, it would require fast action to tear down the legal and procedural barriers that neighborhood defenders use to stop new housing.
For example, an ambitious housing goal would require Denver to follow Oreinvegon and Minneapolis by eliminating single-family home zoning citywide. The move would allow backyard cottages, duplexes and apartment buildings in more parts of the city. Such a goal would also mean following Buffalo and San Francisco in abolishing obsolete parking requirements, which recently halted the development of a 36-unit affordable housing project in Five Points.
Determining the amount of housing needed is crucial now because expansive swaths of the city are vulnerable to displacement, according to an interactive map from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, the organization that ranked Denver as one of the most intensively gentrifying cities in America. It highlights parts of Five Points, Capitol Hill, North Denver and West Denver. And if displacement goes unchecked, we already know the consequences.
Between 2012 and 2017, in nine mostly Latino neighborhoods of West Denver, the number of people with a college degree increased 66%, according to a report from the West Denver Renaissance Collective. Those making more than $100,000 increased 97%. And out of 24,000 households, 3,900 were displaced between 2015 and 2018, including 5,800 children.
When displacement happens, many residents move to more impoverished areas or crowd into homes with other families, says Resnick. These moves are costly, disrupt children’s educations, create longer commutes for parents and put people at risk of poor health outcomes, including COVID-19. Others become homeless, including families with children. (Last year, 2,124 homeless children enrolled in Denver Public Schools.)
The problem is likely to accelerate as the economic crisis triggered by COVID-19 generates thousands of foreclosures and bankrupts landlords.
“With COVID, about 40% of low- to moderate-income renters are not paying their rent,” says Jason Richardson, director of research at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. “Think about being a landlord in one of those communities. You’re looking at months or years where people won’t be able to pay their rent.”
He predicts an imminent “frenzy of gentrification and displacement.” Investors are likely to buy up distressed properties now and wait for the economy to recover. Then they could kick out existing residents, bulldoze the buildings and construct high-end housing.
The city’s disturbingly slow pace of change makes some of this frenzy inevitable. For example, after spending years developing Blueprint Denver, a plan that outlines Denver’s future for the next 20 years, the city will spend another seven to 11 years asking residents of each neighborhood to accept a moderate amount of new housing. But the broken process favors neighborhood defenders who oppose new housing at every chance.
To overcome their influence, more people in Denver — people who want to continue living here — must wake elected officials from their NIMBY-induced stupor.
“It has to come from communities,” says Resnick. And she sees glints of hope starting to shimmer through the daze of recent events.
“We have this confluence of COVID and an impending economic crisis combined with the George Floyd protests and a new conversation about racism,” she says. “We are paying attention now. I hope we don’t lose the chance to use this opportunity for change.”
If you would like the people who run this city to fix the housing crisis before you’re priced out, contact the mayor and your City Council member. Demand one number — the number of housing units Denver needs — and a timeline to achieve it.
Andy Bosselman is a freelance journalist and past editor of Streetsblog Denver. Follow him on Twitter at @andybosselman.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-08-07--Ryan Castellani to make MLB debut for Rockies in Seattle on Saturday; Chi Chi Gonzalez sent to injur

Ryan Castellani to make MLB debut for Rockies in Seattle on Saturday; Chi Chi Gonzalez sent to injured list

The Rockies ’ rotation , which has posted an impressive 2.78 ERA through its first dozen games , will have its first shakeup .
Colorado sent fifth starter Chi Chi Gonzalez to the injured list Friday with biceps tendonitis , and recalled right-hander Ryan Castellani from its satellite camp .
Castellani will wear No .
60 and make his MLB debut on Saturday in Seattle .
Bone fragments in his elbow limited Castellani to 10 starts in Triple-A in 2019 , but after having the fragments removed , the 24-year-old pitched well in the Arizona Fall League with a 2.16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 4.80 ERA across 126 starts in the minors .
“ He ’ s had ups and downs in his career , but for a high school pitcher ( coming into pro ball ) , a lot of times it takes time to fully get grounded and understand how to get outs , ” Rockies manager Bud Black said .
“ For Ryan , a lot of it was delivery , finding the correct arm slot for him , and his mix of pitches… All those things have started to come together in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the second round in 2014 out of Brophy College Preparatory in Arizona .
The Rockies ’ top-rated starting pitching prospect coming into the season after rookie Peter Lambert made his debut in 2019 , Castellani has a low-to-mid-90s fastball paired with a slurve and a changeup .
He impressed the Colorado coaching staff during both stints of spring training .
“ What we saw in summer camp , and in Scottsdale early on , led us to believe he made great strides from last year to this year , ” Black said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to prove his time was near.
” Meanwhile , Black said Gonzalez stayed in Denver instead of traveling with the team as he gets treatment for his arm .
In his one start this year , the 28-year-old allowed three runs in three innings against San Francisco earlier this week .
“ After ( Gonzalez ’ s ) start the other day , he threw his bullpen session as normal , and he took a little bit to get loose , ” Black said .
“ The next day , he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We kept an eye on it , and it didn ’ t resolve itself , so we took a step back with Chi Chi because it didn ’ t look like he was going to be able to make his start.
” As Castellani makes his MLB debut , the 24-year-old Margevicius makes his first start of 2020 following three prior relief appearances .
The second-year big-leaguer has given up a homer in two of his three outings , and hasn ’ t pitched more than four innings in a single game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made three starts against Colorado in 2019 , and the Rockies ripped him to the tune of a .495 team average , four homers and 19 runs scored .
That included blasting Margevicius for nine runs in one-plus innings in June at Coors Field .
Trending : A fifth of the way through a 60-game sprint , the Rockies have been competitive in every game .
All three of Colorado ’ s losses have come by one run , and the club ’ s plus-24 run differential ranks second in the National League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At issue : Poised to break out heading into this season , Ryan McMahon is slumping early .
He ’ s hitting .237 with one homer but has struck out in 18 of 38 at-bats , at 47 % K rate .
Sunday : Rockies RHP German Marquez ( 2-1 , 1.89 ) at Mariners RHP Justus Sheffield ( 0-2 , 9.23 ) , 2:10 p.m. , ATTRM Monday : Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray ( 1-2 , 9.45 ) at Rockies RHP Jon Gray ( 0-1 , 3.31 ) , 6:40 p.m. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 0-0 , 2.81 ) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland ( 2-0 , 2.41 ) , 6:40 p.m. , ATTRM

The Rockies’ rotation, which has posted an impressive 2.78 ERA through its first dozen games, will have its first shakeup.
Colorado sent fifth starter Chi Chi Gonzalez to the injured list Friday with biceps tendonitis, and recalled right-hander Ryan Castellani from its satellite camp. Castellani will wear No. 60 and make his MLB debut on Saturday in Seattle.
Bone fragments in his elbow limited Castellani to 10 starts in Triple-A in 2019, but after having the fragments removed, the 24-year-old pitched well in the Arizona Fall League with a 2.16 ERA in five starts. He has a 4.80 ERA across 126 starts in the minors.
“He’s had ups and downs in his career, but for a high school pitcher (coming into pro ball), a lot of times it takes time to fully get grounded and understand how to get outs,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “For Ryan, a lot of it was delivery, finding the correct arm slot for him, and his mix of pitches… All those things have started to come together in the last year.”
Castellani was drafted in the second round in 2014 out of Brophy College Preparatory in Arizona. The Rockies’ top-rated starting pitching prospect coming into the season after rookie Peter Lambert made his debut in 2019, Castellani has a low-to-mid-90s fastball paired with a slurve and a changeup. He impressed the Colorado coaching staff during both stints of spring training.
“What we saw in summer camp, and in Scottsdale early on, led us to believe he made great strides from last year to this year,” Black said. “He came to spring training ready to prove his time was near.”
Meanwhile, Black said Gonzalez stayed in Denver instead of traveling with the team as he gets treatment for his arm. In his one start this year, the 28-year-old allowed three runs in three innings against San Francisco earlier this week.
“After (Gonzalez’s) start the other day, he threw his bullpen session as normal, and he took a little bit to get loose,” Black said. “The next day, he was a little bit more sore than usual. We kept an eye on it, and it didn’t resolve itself, so we took a step back with Chi Chi because it didn’t look like he was going to be able to make his start.”
On Deck
Rockies Ryan Castellani at Mariners LHP Nick Margevicius (0-0, 5.40)
7:10 p.m. Saturday, T-Mobile Park
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
As Castellani makes his MLB debut, the 24-year-old Margevicius makes his first start of 2020 following three prior relief appearances. The second-year big-leaguer has given up a homer in two of his three outings, and hasn’t pitched more than four innings in a single game since May of last year. He made three starts against Colorado in 2019, and the Rockies ripped him to the tune of a .495 team average, four homers and 19 runs scored. That included blasting Margevicius for nine runs in one-plus innings in June at Coors Field.
Trending: A fifth of the way through a 60-game sprint, the Rockies have been competitive in every game. All three of Colorado’s losses have come by one run, and the club’s plus-24 run differential ranks second in the National League behind Los Angeles (plus-33).
At issue: Poised to break out heading into this season, Ryan McMahon is slumping early. He’s hitting .237 with one homer but has struck out in 18 of 38 at-bats, at 47% K rate.
Pitching probables
Sunday: Rockies RHP German Marquez (2-1, 1.89) at Mariners RHP Justus Sheffield (0-2, 9.23), 2:10 p.m., ATTRM
Monday: Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (1-2, 9.45) at Rockies RHP Jon Gray (0-1, 3.31), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
Tuesday: Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (0-0, 2.81) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (2-0, 2.41), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM


thedenverpost--2020-08-07--Even in the Edmonton bubble, home-ice advantage matters for Avalanche

Obscure but seemingly important factors surround the Avalanche ’ s third and final round-robin tuneup for the traditional 16-team Stanley Cup playoffs .
With a victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday at Rogers Place in Edmonton , the Avs will be the Western Conference ’ s No .
1 seed and have “ home-ice ” advantage throughout the conference playoffs , beginning against No .
8 Chicago .
If they lose Saturday , Vegas gets the top spot and Colorado will be No .
2 and open against No .
7 Arizona , with “ home-ice ” advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Blackhawks and Coyotes each advanced from the qualifying round Friday , upsetting Edmonton and Nashville , respectively , in four games .
With no fans allowed in Edmonton because of the coronavirus pandemic , the home team ’ s only advantage will be having last change — thus dictating matchups before every faceoff .
But for the Avs , the No .
1 seed is a goal they established in October before the season opener at Pepsi Center .
They thought a lot about that after losing Game 7 of a second-round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s been our goal since the start of the year , ” Avs winger Mikko Rantanen said after practice Friday .
“ So we have a good opportunity .
One more win and we have it .
That ’ s our main goal and we ’ re focused.
” “ It ’ s huge , ” center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare added .
“ I know we ’ re still in the bubble but it ’ s still important .
It ’ s going to be important down the stretch.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the bubble , each defeating St. Louis and Dallas in regulation .
Colorado has outscored its two foes 6-1 , while Vegas has been more run-and-gun , winning 5-3 and 6-4 with third-period comebacks .
The Avalanche blasted the Knights by 6-1 and 7-3 scores during the regular season , with both games at T-Mobile Arena .
“ It ’ s going to be intense , ” Bellemare , a former Knight , said of the rubber match between the teams .
Avs coach Jared Bednar declined to reveal his linuep or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grubauer started against St. Louis and Pavel Francouz got the shutout against Dallas .
Saturday ’ s starter will likely be the guy who starts Game 1 of the first-round series .
Bednar , like his players , said beating Vegas is important for a variety of reasons .
“ That goal kind of helped drive our consistency throughout the year , ” he said of the No .
1 seed .
“ To have one game remaining and that ’ s still a milestone that we can reach , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have our team succeed when we set goals , whether they ’ re short-term or long-term goals .
So whether it ’ s symbolic ( or more ) — I do think there are advantages , for sure , to have the home ice ( with ) last change and being able to pursue some matchups if we want to .
“ So I see some significance there , but for me , it ’ s more just having our team work towards something and make sure that we ’ re playing our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we set out to do .
That ’ s the last one from the regular season so hopefully , it ’ s something we can attain .
”

Obscure but seemingly important factors surround the Avalanche’s third and final round-robin tuneup for the traditional 16-team Stanley Cup playoffs.
With a victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, the Avs will be the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed and have “home-ice” advantage throughout the conference playoffs, beginning against No. 8 Chicago. If they lose Saturday, Vegas gets the top spot and Colorado will be No. 2 and open against No. 7 Arizona, with “home-ice” advantage against every team except the Knights.
The Blackhawks and Coyotes each advanced from the qualifying round Friday, upsetting Edmonton and Nashville, respectively, in four games.
With no fans allowed in Edmonton because of the coronavirus pandemic, the home team’s only advantage will be having last change — thus dictating matchups before every faceoff.
But for the Avs, the No. 1 seed is a goal they established in October before the season opener at Pepsi Center. They thought a lot about that after losing Game 7 of a second-round series at San Jose in 2019.
“It’s been our goal since the start of the year,” Avs winger Mikko Rantanen said after practice Friday. “So we have a good opportunity. One more win and we have it. That’s our main goal and we’re focused.”
“It’s huge,” center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare added. “I know we’re still in the bubble but it’s still important. It’s going to be important down the stretch.”
The Avs and the Knights are both 2-0 in the bubble, each defeating St. Louis and Dallas in regulation. Colorado has outscored its two foes 6-1, while Vegas has been more run-and-gun, winning 5-3 and 6-4 with third-period comebacks.
The Avalanche blasted the Knights by 6-1 and 7-3 scores during the regular season, with both games at T-Mobile Arena.
“It’s going to be intense,” Bellemare, a former Knight, said of the rubber match between the teams.
Avs coach Jared Bednar declined to reveal his linuep or starting goalie against the Knights. Philipp Grubauer started against St. Louis and Pavel Francouz got the shutout against Dallas. Saturday’s starter will likely be the guy who starts Game 1 of the first-round series.
Bednar, like his players, said beating Vegas is important for a variety of reasons.
“That goal kind of helped drive our consistency throughout the year,” he said of the No. 1 seed. “To have one game remaining and that’s still a milestone that we can reach, it’s good — it’s good to have our team succeed when we set goals, whether they’re short-term or long-term goals. So whether it’s symbolic (or more) — I do think there are advantages, for sure, to have the home ice (with) last change and being able to pursue some matchups if we want to.
“So I see some significance there, but for me, it’s more just having our team work towards something and make sure that we’re playing our best to try to achieve the goals we set out to do. That’s the last one from the regular season so hopefully, it’s something we can attain.”


thedenverpost--2020-08-07--Denver offers $14,000 reward for information about house fire that killed Senegalese family

Denver police , the Senegalese community and relatives of the family killed Wednesday morning in a Green Valley Ranch house fire pleaded for the public ’ s help Friday , with the department offering a substantial award for assistance solving one the city ’ s most serious arson cases in years .
Police announced the $ 14,000 award during a Friday afternoon news conference , seeking information into the fire that killed five members of a Senegalese family .
They were identified as Djibril Diol , his wife , Adja Diol , and their 3-year-old daughter , Kadidia Diol along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hassan Diol , and her infant daughter , Hawa Beye .
Firefighters responded around 2:40 a.m. Wednesday to a fire raging at the 5312 N. Truckee St. home .
They were unable to save the family , but three others living in the house jumped from the second floor of the house and survived without life-threatening injuries .
They have not been identified .
Investigators quickly labeled the fire as an arson and on Friday they asked the public for information that could lead to an arrest .
“ Beyond the money , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a heartfelt plea , ” Joe Montoya , a Denver police division chief , said .
“ I want people to look into their hearts … and understand that this was a family that was thriving .
They were heading the right direction.
” Denver fire and police investigators have not said why they think the fire was suspicious or what motive someone might have for targeting the Diol family .
As Muslim advocacy groups this week questioned whether the incident was a hate crime , Montoya said investigators “ don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a potential motive .
The fire devastated Colorado ’ s Senegalese community and dozens gathered outside the burned house Wednesday to mourn and watch investigators pick through the house for clues .
At Friday ’ s news conference , Papa Dia , founder of the African Leadership Group , said the African community “ is not used to seeing something like this take place.
” “ We consider ourselves part of this society , part of this great nation we call home , ” he said .
“ And this is a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel alone.
” The tragedy prompted an outcry of support — from Mayor Michael Hancock to Senegal ’ s president , Macky Sall , who tweeted that he would be following the investigation from West Africa .
Senegal ’ s consul general , Elhadji Ndao , flew in Thursday from New York to pay his respects .
“ People were shocked back in Senegal , ” he said .
“ There ’ s consternation — almost anger .
These were young people who were known to be peaceful.
” A GoFundMe to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other costs has raised more than $ 142,000 in two days .
Moussa Diol , whose brother died in the fire , could barely speak as he stepped behind the podium Friday to ask for justice .

Denver police, the Senegalese community and relatives of the family killed Wednesday morning in a Green Valley Ranch house fire pleaded for the public’s help Friday, with the department offering a substantial award for assistance solving one the city’s most serious arson cases in years.
Police announced the $14,000 award during a Friday afternoon news conference, seeking information into the fire that killed five members of a Senegalese family. They were identified as Djibril Diol, his wife, Adja Diol, and their 3-year-old daughter, Kadidia Diol along with Djibril Diol’s sister, Hassan Diol, and her infant daughter, Hawa Beye.
Firefighters responded around 2:40 a.m. Wednesday to a fire raging at the 5312 N. Truckee St. home. They were unable to save the family, but three others living in the house jumped from the second floor of the house and survived without life-threatening injuries. They have not been identified.
Investigators quickly labeled the fire as an arson and on Friday they asked the public for information that could lead to an arrest.
“Beyond the money, what I’m asking for is a heartfelt plea,” Joe Montoya, a Denver police division chief, said. “I want people to look into their hearts … and understand that this was a family that was thriving. They were heading the right direction.”
Denver fire and police investigators have not said why they think the fire was suspicious or what motive someone might have for targeting the Diol family. As Muslim advocacy groups this week questioned whether the incident was a hate crime, Montoya said investigators “don’t want to get tunnel vision” on a potential motive.
The fire devastated Colorado’s Senegalese community and dozens gathered outside the burned house Wednesday to mourn and watch investigators pick through the house for clues.
At Friday’s news conference, Papa Dia, founder of the African Leadership Group, said the African community “is not used to seeing something like this take place.”
“We consider ourselves part of this society, part of this great nation we call home,” he said. “And this is a time where you don’t want to feel alone.”
The tragedy prompted an outcry of support — from Mayor Michael Hancock to Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, who tweeted that he would be following the investigation from West Africa.
Senegal’s consul general, Elhadji Ndao, flew in Thursday from New York to pay his respects.
“People were shocked back in Senegal,” he said. “There’s consternation — almost anger. These were young people who were known to be peaceful.”
A GoFundMe to help the family pay for funeral expenses and other costs has raised more than $142,000 in two days.
Moussa Diol, whose brother died in the fire, could barely speak as he stepped behind the podium Friday to ask for justice.
“Nobody deserves this,” he said quietly.


thedenverpost--2020-08-09--Nuggets star Jamal Murray shatters minutes restriction, makes triumphant Orlando debut

On tired , hobbled legs , Jamal Murray curled around an overtime screen as if making up for lost time .
For four games , Murray had been relegated to the team ’ s bloated cheering section , watching and waiting as his hamstring heeled .
But on Saturday , given the green light to play , Murray made a triumphant arrival to the Orlando bubble .
Late in the second overtime , after the Nuggets had already coughed up two six-point leads to Utah , Murray barreled around the 6-foot-9 frame of Jerami Grant , cut back and snatched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With two dribbles and a Harden-esque stepback , Murray loaded for one more 3-pointer .
His shot ripped the net to give the Nuggets a 128-123 lead – and one they finally held despite the stubbornness of Jazz star Donovan Mitchell .
As Murray turned back up court , he looked and pointed .
It wasn ’ t at some virtual fan , but instead at Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly , who ’ s one of the few team officials allowed in the bubble .
It was a signature shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had Murray ’ s fingerprints all over it .
Murray finished with 23 points , a career-high 12 rebounds and eight assists in 39 minutes on the court .
It was his first actual NBA game in nearly five months , and he wasn ’ t supposed to play more than 22 minutes .
“ Ended up playing 40 , ” Murray said with a smile .
“ Double overtime , first game back .
It ’ s cool .
I like challenges and it feels better now that we got the win.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stark reminder of how invaluable he is to their playoff chances .
Not only does he want the ball in clutch situations , but his dogged mentality is one the team thrives off of in games like Saturday ’ s .
Before Mitchell sent the game to the first overtime , Murray ’ s gamesmanship was undeniable .
First he hit a driving , swerving layup past two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert to tie the game at 98 .
Next he hit a turnaround fadeaway to give the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what little legs he had left , he seized a defensive rebound , raced down the court , threw the ball behind his back and finished another bucket that should ’ ve buffered Denver ’ s lead .
The point wasn ’ t that Mitchell undid all of Murray ’ s clutch work .
It was simply that it had been done in the first place .
“ That kind of reminds us of the potential of our team and why we ’ ve been able to win so many close games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Murray .
Malone struggled with what to do with Murray , who prior to Saturday , had played 25 minutes in the team ’ s final scrimmage on July 27th but hadn ’ t played since out of concern for his hamstring .
“ You want to win the game , and how do you balance winning the game and not putting guys at risk ?
” Malone said .
“ I kept on talking with Jamal throughout the game , he felt good , he wanted to stay .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his injury.
” At the very end of the game , with the Nuggets up 134-132 , Murray missed back-to-back free throws with 4.2 seconds left that would ’ ve sealed it .
“ You know I ’ m tired when I miss two free throws at the end , ” said Murray , a career 88 % free throw shooter .
“ It felt good ( being back ) .
It felt like it was something I needed.
” The story of the bubble Nuggets will ultimately be written by Murray , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rookie Michael Porter Jr. How those three co-exist will determine what kind of heights they can reach , both this year and beyond .
That his hamstring felt good enough to play and the trio finally got meaningful time to gel , was a far more important development than Saturday ’ s result .
And what to make of the team ’ s three remaining seeding games ?
“ We ’ ll take all the games we can get , ” Murray said .

On tired, hobbled legs, Jamal Murray curled around an overtime screen as if making up for lost time.
For four games, Murray had been relegated to the team’s bloated cheering section, watching and waiting as his hamstring heeled. But on Saturday, given the green light to play, Murray made a triumphant arrival to the Orlando bubble.
Late in the second overtime, after the Nuggets had already coughed up two six-point leads to Utah, Murray barreled around the 6-foot-9 frame of Jerami Grant, cut back and snatched an inbounds pass from Nikola Jokic. With two dribbles and a Harden-esque stepback, Murray loaded for one more 3-pointer.
His shot ripped the net to give the Nuggets a 128-123 lead – and one they finally held despite the stubbornness of Jazz star Donovan Mitchell.
As Murray turned back up court, he looked and pointed. It wasn’t at some virtual fan, but instead at Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, who’s one of the few team officials allowed in the bubble.
Can't stop watching this look. Felt like it was the signature shot of the night. pic.twitter.com/9xR1NOJnYa — Mike Singer (@msinger) August 9, 2020
It was a signature shot from a signature game and one that had Murray’s fingerprints all over it. Murray finished with 23 points, a career-high 12 rebounds and eight assists in 39 minutes on the court. It was his first actual NBA game in nearly five months, and he wasn’t supposed to play more than 22 minutes.
“Ended up playing 40,” Murray said with a smile. “Double overtime, first game back. It’s cool. I like challenges and it feels better now that we got the win.”
Murray’s gutsy game was a stark reminder of how invaluable he is to their playoff chances. Not only does he want the ball in clutch situations, but his dogged mentality is one the team thrives off of in games like Saturday’s.
Before Mitchell sent the game to the first overtime, Murray’s gamesmanship was undeniable. First he hit a driving, swerving layup past two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert to tie the game at 98. Next he hit a turnaround fadeaway to give the Nuggets a small cushion.
Finally, on what little legs he had left, he seized a defensive rebound, raced down the court, threw the ball behind his back and finished another bucket that should’ve buffered Denver’s lead. The point wasn’t that Mitchell undid all of Murray’s clutch work. It was simply that it had been done in the first place.
“That kind of reminds us of the potential of our team and why we’ve been able to win so many close games,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said of Murray.
Malone struggled with what to do with Murray, who prior to Saturday, had played 25 minutes in the team’s final scrimmage on July 27 but hadn’t played since out of concern for his hamstring.
“You want to win the game, and how do you balance winning the game and not putting guys at risk?” Malone said. “I kept on talking with Jamal throughout the game, he felt good, he wanted to stay. He was communicating that there were no issues with his injury.”
At the very end of the game, with the Nuggets up 134-132, Murray missed back-to-back free throws with 4.2 seconds left that would’ve sealed it.
“You know I’m tired when I miss two free throws at the end,” said Murray, a career 88% free-throw shooter. “It felt good (being back). It felt like it was something I needed.”
The story of the bubble Nuggets will ultimately be written by Murray, Nikola Jokic and the tantalizing emergence of rookie Michael Porter Jr. How those three co-exist will determine what kind of heights they can reach, both this year and beyond. That his hamstring felt good enough to play and the trio finally got meaningful time to gel was a far more important development than Saturday’s result.
And what to make of the team’s three remaining seeding games?
“We’ll take all the games we can get,” Murray said.


thedenverpost--2020-08-09--Former CSU coach speaks out against Rams AD Joe Parker, football coach Steve Addazio: “I’m not lying

Former CSU coach speaks out against Rams AD Joe Parker, football coach Steve Addazio: “I’m not lying”

Anthoney Hill gets it .
The former CSU Rams quarterback understands current players sticking up for their coaches and staff .
He was in their shoes once .
He ’ d have done the same .
“ People can try to pretend like they ’ re OK with what ’ s going on over there , but where there ’ s smoke , there ’ s fire , ” Hill , the ex-Rams quarterback , assistant coach and staffer , told The Post on Saturday .
“ I ’ m not the only guy that had something to say .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not lying .
“ People on the inside know .
And I get it .
I understand the players ’ position on this because they want to play.
” Hill responded to a CSU players ’ statement released Saturday that indirectly accused him of “ having an ax to grind ” after correspondence between himself and athletic director Joe Parker were revealed in an ESPN report Friday .
The report included passages of a letter from earlier this year in which Hill , CSU ’ s starting quarterback from 1992-94 , alleged a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steve Addazio ’ s program and “ racially insensitive comments ( made ) to black players on your watch.
” Concerns over culture and of Parker ’ s handling of department personalities , most notably former CSU men ’ s basketball coach Larry Eustachy , were also raised by Rams mental health counselor Jimmy Stewart in a report published Saturday by the Fort Collins Coloradoan .
While that report ’ s accusations of racist comments by Bobo were refuted by at least one former CSU football player , the player said of Stewart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal .
Jimmy sees it all.
” Hill , who was CSU ’ s director of player development and community/alumni relations until being let go in January , said Saturday that his concerns are shared by current CSU staffers and former players , especially those of African American descent .
And that Parker is the root of those cultural faults .
“ It ’ s all cultural , ” Hill said .
“ And if the culture is not in a good place , then your results are going be spotty , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the day , I ’ m going to be heard .
I ’ m not doing anything that I didn ’ t tell Joe Parker I was going to do .
And most importantly , he did all this .
He set it all in motion.
” Hill said he ’ s been taken aback by a number of Parker ’ s decisions , including the fact that he had been notified of his termination by CSU ’ s athletic director initially , and not by Addazio , who was hired to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s weird .
That doesn ’ t happen , ” Hill recalled .
“ ( Parker ) said , ‘ I ’ m not a fit at CSU , ’ which floored me .
Because if I ’ m not a fit at CSU , I don ’ t know who is.
” The former Rams quarterback said he was offered an athletic academic advisor position by Parker for less money .
A correspondence provided to The Post by CSU athletics confirms an offer Jan. 17 with an initial salary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 53,300 .
Hill said he found the position and the salary insulting , and preferred an on-field role , a reaction that is reflected in correspondences from Parker to Hill earlier this year .
In a March 2 letter from Parker to Hill , the athletic director wrote that his “ intention was to make sure you were retained in a position at CSU .
The suggestion that I was trying to ‘ sabotage ’ you ( is ) simply not true.
” Hill said Parker was attempting to cast him as overly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ trying to make it feel like I was out of control , or basically that he didn ’ t know what I would do , so he went that route .
He knew what it was .
And so here we are.
” Adding to the confusion and frustration for Rams alums in recent days is the fact that some — but not all — CSU football players vehemently deny accusations that have brought national media attention to the program .
The current Rams released a collective statement Saturday morning denouncing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff , describing charges of racism and verbal abuse as “ patently untrue.
” “ To the contrary , ” it continued , “ our experience since Coach Addazio ’ s first day has been positive , welcoming and focused on our development as student athletes .
To be absolutely clear , we have not experienced any racially insensitive comments to our teammates from the athletic department or coaching staff.
” The statement was released in response to two independent investigations launched against the Rams football program by the university .
The first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joyce McConnell , was in response to charges by anonymous student-athletes and athletic staffers that Addazio and his assistants were not following COVID-19 protocols .
The allegations were levied by those sources in a story published Tuesday by the Fort Collins Coloradoan .
The spotlight on the program intensified Friday , when Parker announced that he was pausing all football activities immediately in response to allegations of “ racism and verbal abuse from CSU ’ s athletic administration generally and in the football program specifically.
” Seniors on the CSU football program refuted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and again during a team-wide meeting Saturday morning .
Players were provided copies of a prepared statement of support for the coaching staff and encouraged to share it , and to have others share it , via social media channels with the hashtag “ # CSUUnited.
” Saturday ’ s statement describes a spate of allegations against Addazio and the program on everything from COVID-19 protocol to race as “ unfounded ” from “ individuals who are not associated with our current football team .
“ The unfounded allegations from a disgruntled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , unjust and creates the exact demeaning and painful wounds that can be caused by racism.
” “ I ’ ve been doing this long enough to know who people are , ” Hill said .
“ They show you who they are .
And Coach Addazio did immediately .
And that ’ s not something I wanted to be around , if it ’ s going to be that way .
I just don ’ t think there ’ s very good leadership over at my alma mater right now .
And @ @ @ @ @

CSU Rams football players can stick by their coach. Anthoney Hill says he’s sticking by his story.
“People can try to pretend like they’re OK with what’s going on over there, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” Hill, the ex-Rams quarterback, assistant coach and staffer, told The Post on Saturday. “People on the inside know. And I get it. I understand the players’ position on this because they want to play.”
Hill was responding to a CSU players’ statement released Saturday that indirectly accused him of “having an ax to grind” after correspondence between himself and athletic director Joe Parker was revealed in an ESPN report Friday.
Saturday’s he-said/they-said exchange was the latest salvo in what’s turned into one of the most tumultuous weeks in recent CSU athletics history.
Since last Tuesday, first-year football coach Steve Addazio and Parker have been under suspicion of fostering an environment rampant in verbal abuse and of violating COVID-19 protocols, due to complaints made by players and others inside the program, anonymously, to the Fort Collins Coloradoan.
The end result has CSU’s football program put on pause pending an independent investigation. It’s also cast a critical eye on Parker, Addazio and university president Joyce McConnell while dividing a fan base that was already struggling to unite under its new football coach.
“I’m not the only guy that had something to say,” said Hill, who was let go as CSU’s director of player development and community/alumni relations in January. “And, most importantly, I’m not lying.”
Concerns over the culture and of Parker’s handling of department personalities, most notably former CSU men’s basketball coach Larry Eustachy, were also raised by Rams’ mental health counselor Jimmy Stewart in a story published Saturday by the Coloradoan.
While that report’s accusations of racist comments by former CSU football coach Mike Bobo were refuted by at least one former Rams football player, that player also said of Stewart, “Jimmy’s the real deal. Jimmy sees it all.”
Hill, CSU’s starting quarterback from 1992-94, said Saturday that Parker has turned a blind eye to student-athlete concerns, including reports of racially insensitive comments by Bobo and his assistants, most of whom are no longer with the department. Hill said his concerns are shared by current CSU staffers and former players, especially those of African American descent. And he said Parker is the root of those cultural faults.
“It’s all cultural,” Hill said. “And if the culture is not in a good place, then your results are going be spotty, in my opinion.
“At the end of the day, I’m going to be heard. I’m not doing anything that I didn’t tell Joe Parker I was going to do. And most importantly, he did all this. He set it all in motion.”
Hill said he’s been taken aback by a number of Parker’s decisions, including the fact that he’d been notified of his termination by CSU’s athletic director initially rather than by Addazio, who was hired to replace Bobo last December.
“That’s weird. That doesn’t happen,” Hill recalled. “(Parker) said, ‘(You’re) not a fit at CSU,’ which floored me. Because if I’m not a fit at CSU, I don’t know who is.”
Hill said he was offered an athletic department academic advisor position by Parker for less money than he had been making. A correspondence provided to The Post by CSU athletics confirms an offer on Jan. 17 with an initial salary of $48,000 that was increased to $53,300, his former salary.
Hill said he found the position and the salary insulting, and preferred an on-field role, a reaction that is reflected in correspondences from Parker to Hill earlier this year.
In a March 2 letter from Parker to Hill, the athletic director wrote that his “intention was to make sure you were retained in a position at CSU. The suggestion that I was trying to ‘sabotage’ you (is) simply not true.”
Hill said Parker was attempting to cast him as overly emotional in response to the new role, “trying to make it feel like I was out of control, or basically that he didn’t know what I would do, so he went that route. He knew what it was. And so here we are.”
Adding to the confusion and frustration for Rams faithful in recent days is the fact that some — but not all — CSU football players vehemently deny the accusations that have brought unwanted national media attention to the program.
The current Rams released a collective statement on Saturday morning denouncing recent allegations levied against Addazio and the football staff, describing charges of racism and verbal abuse as “patently untrue.”
“To the contrary,” it continued, “our experience since Coach Addazio’s first day has been positive, welcoming and focused on our development as student-athletes. To be absolutely clear, we have not experienced any racially insensitive comments to our teammates from the athletic department or coaching staff.”
The statement was released in the wake of two independent investigations launched regarding the Rams football program by the university. The first, announced late Tuesday by McConnell, was in response to charges by anonymous student-athletes and athletic staffers that Addazio and his assistants were not following COVID-19 protocols. The allegations were levied by unnamed sources in a story published Tuesday by the Coloradoan.
The spotlight on the program intensified Friday, when Parker announced that he was pausing all football activities immediately in response to allegations of “racism and verbal abuse from CSU’s athletic administration generally and in the football program specifically.”
Seniors on the CSU football program refuted those claims during a meeting late Friday, and again during a team-wide meeting Saturday morning. Players were provided copies of a prepared statement of support for the coaching staff and encouraged to share it via social media channels with the hashtag “#CSUUnited.”
Saturday’s statement describes a spate of allegations against Addazio and the program as “unfounded” from “individuals who are not associated with our current football team … the unfounded allegations from a disgruntled former coach and/or unnamed source is unfair, unjust and creates the exact demeaning and painful wounds that can be caused by racism.”
McConnell announced via an email to student-athletes and department staffers that the investigations would be led by Husch Blackwell, a Kansas City-based legal firm. Husch Blackwell was hired earlier this summer by the University of Iowa to lead an independent investigation into allegations of racial insensitivity and abuse by football coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff.
“I’ve been doing this long enough to know who people are,” Hill said. “They show you who they are. And Coach Addazio did immediately. And that’s not something I wanted to be around, if it’s going to be that way. I just don’t think there’s very good leadership over at my alma mater right now. And it kills me.”


thedenverpost--2020-08-09--Kiszla: The Avs. The Nuggets. Two games. Three overtimes. One afternoon of sweet adrenaline overload

Kiszla: The Avs. The Nuggets. Two games. Three overtimes. One afternoon of sweet adrenaline overload.

Hey , sports : We missed you .
A ton .
From the hockey rink to the basketball court , from Canada to Florida , this was a Saturday of sports so intense it gave the entire 303 area code a case of over-caffeinated jitters , but was as delicious as dark chocolate .
Too much is never enough .
The Avalanche .
The Nuggets .
Two games .
Three overtimes .
All in one crazy afternoon .
The Avs and Nugs created a channel-surfing tsunami for Denver television viewers .
The action left us with the sweaty palms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a loss , a win and nerves frayed .
Don ’ t know about you , but I might have to get back in emotional shape for the sweet agony of postseason hockey and hoops .
With the No .
1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs on the line , Colorado took the ice against Las Vegas .
Nathan MacKinnon , whose feistiness is a deep shade of burgundy , blew a gasket at the refs and scored a spin-o-rama goal fueled by don ’ t-make-Nate-mad intensity .
But in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in overtime .
“ Losing … ” grumped MacKinnon , searching for the right word in his postgame presser .
Losing stinks , Mack decided .
( Although he actually employed a PG-13 word too salty for polite company ) .
Then Nikola Jokic saved the day , transforming from Sleepy the dwarf to Joker the super hero at halftime .
With moves as sweet as Tupelo honey , he scored 28 of his 30 points after his wake-up call at intermission , coming up big in the clutch , as Denver beat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that ’ s easy for him to say .
With the playoffs around the corner for two Denver teams that didn ’ t get their competitive juices flowing for more than four months during an extended timeout forced by the coronavirus pandemic , the Avs and Nuggets have reminded us that to be a bona fide championship contender , it takes more than talent .
Postseason action in both the NHL and NBA is beautiful , but not always pretty .
Winning ugly is a measure of true grit .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be easy , we ’ re in the wrong tournament , ” said Avs coach Jared Bednar .
His skilled and speedy team outshot Vegas 35-26 , but lost because the Knights ultimately delivered more energy-sapping checks , outhitting Colorado 27-18 .
Nothing comes easy .
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray , playing in a real game inside the NBA bubble for the first time after nursing a nagging hamstring injury , was told to expect 22 minutes of court time Saturday afternoon .
Then he gutted out nearly twice that amount of lung-burning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can etch lines of fatigue and tension in the face of even a seasoned pro , evidenced by the furrowed brow Bednar wore when he refused to say whether Philipp Grubauer or Pavel Francouz would start in goal as the Avs begin their Stanley Cup pursuit in a first-round matchup against Arizona .
It ’ s not a question of whether the Avs have the scoring to win a championship , but if they can deal with the pressure of expectations on a club that has had none for more than a decade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We feel like we have another gear , ” MacKinnon vowed .
A Nuggets team hit hard so hard by the trials and tribulations of COVID-19 that it has been difficult for coach Michael Malone to conduct practice with full five-on-five drills for more than a month , has spent considerable time during recent games searching for anything approaching winning basketball .
“ Wake up !
” Malone shouted at his players , as Denver fell behind Utah 57-39 in the second quarter .
Maybe the biggest sports challenge of a strange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the NBA and NHL from mid-March until the middle of summer , is that too much time has passed for any meaningful carryover from the outstanding work done by the Avs and Nuggets before the pandemic hit .
This is a whole new season .
Rather than a reset , every serious contender needs to establish a fresh mindset .
“ I think we ’ ve gotten back to our game pretty well , ” said Bednar .
More than the penalty kill and the power play , his concerns for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We want to win games .
We want to go into the playoffs with some confidence in playing good basketball , ” said Malone , still awaiting the return of injured starters Will Barton and Gary Harris .
“ We didn ’ t want to come down here and lose eight games and say , ‘ It ’ s OK. We ’ re going to be OK for the playoffs.
’ That ’ s not going to happen.
” The playoff cliché is players need to pick up their games at winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is closer to the truth : Teams that make a championship run don ’ t step up , so much as they refuse to let postseason pressure cause them to come unglued .

Hey, sports: We missed you. A ton. From the hockey rink to the basketball court, from Canada to Florida, this was a Saturday of sports so intense it gave the entire 303 area code a case of over-caffeinated jitters, but was as delicious as dark chocolate. Too much is never enough.
The Avalanche. The Nuggets. Two games. Three overtimes. All in one crazy afternoon.
The Avs and Nugs created a channel-surfing tsunami for Denver television viewers. The action left us with the sweaty palms of adrenaline overload. Colorado fans came away with a loss, a win and nerves frayed.
Don’t know about you, but I might have to get back in emotional shape for the sweet agony of postseason hockey and hoops.
With the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs on the line, Colorado took the ice against Las Vegas. Nathan MacKinnon, whose feistiness is a deep shade of burgundy, blew a gasket at the refs and scored a spin-o-rama goal fueled by don’t-make-Nate-mad intensity. But in the end, the Avs lost, 4-3 in overtime.
“Losing …” grumped MacKinnon, searching for the right word in his postgame presser.
Losing stinks, Mack decided. (Although he actually employed a PG-13 word too salty for polite company).
Then Nikola Jokic saved the day, transforming from Sleepy the dwarf to Joker the super hero at halftime. With moves as sweet as Tupelo honey, he scored 28 of his 30 points after his wake-up call at intermission, coming up big in the clutch, as Denver beat Utah 134-132 in double overtime.
“There is no pressure,” Jokic claimed.
Well, that’s easy for him to say.
With the playoffs around the corner for two Denver teams that didn’t get their competitive juices flowing for more than four months during an extended timeout forced by the coronavirus pandemic, the Avs and Nuggets have reminded us that to be a bona fide championship contender, it takes more than talent.
Postseason action in both the NHL and NBA is beautiful, but not always pretty. Winning ugly is a measure of true grit.
“If we’re expecting this thing to be easy, we’re in the wrong tournament,” said Avs coach Jared Bednar. His skilled and speedy team outshot Vegas 35-26, but lost because the Knights ultimately delivered more energy-sapping checks, outhitting Colorado 27-18.
Nothing comes easy. Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, playing in a real game inside the NBA bubble for the first time after nursing a nagging hamstring injury, was told to expect 22 minutes of court time Saturday afternoon. Then he gutted out nearly twice that amount of lung-burning labor to beat Utah.
The playoffs can etch lines of fatigue and tension in the face of even a seasoned pro, evidenced by the furrowed brow Bednar wore when he refused to say whether Philipp Grubauer or Pavel Francouz would start in goal as the Avs begin their Stanley Cup pursuit in a first-round matchup against Arizona.
It’s not a question of whether the Avs have the scoring to win a championship, but if they can deal with the pressure of expectations on a club that has had none for more than a decade. Are they ready for this? “We feel like we have another gear,” MacKinnon vowed.
A Nuggets team hit hard so hard by the trials and tribulations of COVID-19 that it has been difficult for coach Michael Malone to conduct practice with full five-on-five drills for more than a month, has spent considerable time during recent games searching for anything approaching winning basketball.
“Wake up!” Malone shouted at his players, as Denver fell behind Utah 57-39 in the second quarter.
Maybe the biggest sports challenge of a strange year of disruptions, including a shutdown of the NBA and NHL from mid-March until the middle of summer, is that too much time has passed for any meaningful carryover from the outstanding work done by the Avs and Nuggets before the pandemic hit. This is a whole new season. Rather than a reset, every serious contender needs to establish a fresh mindset.
“I think we’ve gotten back to our game pretty well,” said Bednar. More than the penalty kill and the power play, his concerns for the Avalanche now are consistency and focus.
“We want to win games. We want to go into the playoffs with some confidence in playing good basketball,” said Malone, still awaiting the return of injured starters Will Barton and Gary Harris. “We didn’t want to come down here and lose eight games and say, ‘It’s OK. We’re going to be OK for the playoffs.’ That’s not going to happen.”
The playoff cliché is players need to pick up their games at winning time.
But here’s what is closer to the truth: Teams that make a championship run don’t step up, so much as they refuse to let postseason pressure cause them to come unglued.


thedenverpost--2020-08-08--Alliance of Black ministers calling for investigation into Aurora police

An alliance of Black ministers is giving Aurora ’ s leaders an ultimatum on reforming the city ’ s embattled police department , saying it will take steps to remove politicians who don ’ t act and will push for state and federal authorities to get involved .
The Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance , in a news release , said the Aurora Police Department has been plagued by “ longstanding , systemic , intrinsic racism and injustice.
” The calls for change come a week after a video taken by a bystander showed officers forcing four young girls to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wailed for their mothers , while performing what they thought was a stop for a stolen vehicle .
The department ’ s police chief , Vanessa Wilson , admitted later that the officers identified the wrong vehicle and should have used better judgment once they realized they had made a mistake .
Bishop Jerry Demmer , president of the alliance , said he ’ s calling for Wilson to fire all the officers involved in the botched detainment — although after speaking with the chief , he said he knows that will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to talk about sensitivity training , ” he told The Denver Post .
“ We been talking about that for 50 years.
” The alliance is looking at several options , including petitions to recall elected officials , as well as asking Gov .
Jared Polis and Attorney General Phil Weiser to request a federal investigation into the department .
The news release says Mayor Mike Coffman and the City Council have 72 hours to make changes , although Demmer acknowledged that he doesn ’ t expect action in that time frame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours , and it wasn ’ t gon na happen that fast , ” he said .
The recent controversy involving the young Black girls comes as the department faces investigations at the city , state and federal level over its handling of Elijah McClain ’ s violent arrest last year .
His death sparked massive protests in the city over the past two months , as Wilson , just this week named permanent chief , attempts to restore the department ’ s image and reset its culture .
But despite the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be harassed by police when their white counterparts would never be bothered .
“ This is something that has been contagious , ” he said .

An alliance of Black ministers is giving Aurora’s leaders an ultimatum on reforming the city’s embattled police department, saying it will take steps to remove politicians who don’t act and will push for state and federal authorities to get involved.
The Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, in a news release, said the Aurora Police Department has been plagued by “longstanding, systemic, intrinsic racism and injustice.”
The calls for change come a week after a video taken by a bystander showed officers forcing four young girls to lie face-down on the ground as they wailed for their mothers, while performing what they thought was a stop for a stolen vehicle. The department’s police chief, Vanessa Wilson, admitted later that the officers identified the wrong vehicle and should have used better judgment once they realized they had made a mistake.
Bishop Jerry Demmer, president of the alliance, said he’s calling for Wilson to fire all the officers involved in the botched detainment — although after speaking with the chief, he said he knows that will not happen.
“We don’t want to talk about sensitivity training,” he told The Denver Post. “We been talking about that for 50 years.”
The alliance is looking at several options, including petitions to recall elected officials, as well as asking Gov. Jared Polis and Attorney General Phil Weiser to request a federal investigation into the department.
The news release says Mayor Mike Coffman and the City Council have 72 hours to make changes, although Demmer acknowledged that he doesn’t expect action in that time frame.
“We could give them 172 hours, and it wasn’t gonna happen that fast,” he said.
The recent controversy involving the young Black girls comes as the department faces investigations at the city, state and federal level over its handling of Elijah McClain’s violent arrest last year. His death sparked massive protests in the city over the past two months, as Wilson, just this week named permanent chief, attempts to restore the department’s image and reset its culture.
But despite the public statements, Demmer said Black people continue to be harassed by police when their white counterparts would never be bothered.
“This is something that has been contagious,” he said.


thedenverpost--2020-08-08--Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic pace Nuggets’ dramatic double-overtime win over Jazz

If Saturday ’ s dramatic thriller was any indication , absolutely no one could complain about a first-round series between division rivals Utah and Denver .
It took two overtimes and two potentially seismic clock malfunctions , and somehow the Nuggets survived .
Even after blowing separate six-point leads , once near the end of regulation and again in the first overtime session , the Nuggets withstood Jazz star Donovan Mitchell ’ s aerial assault to win 134-132 on Saturday .
The Nuggets improved to 46-24 , still safely in the No .
3 seed behind the Los Angeles Clippers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game in nearly five months , Jamal Murray sealed the victory with multiple clutch baskets , including a devastating 3-pointer late in the second overtime to put the Nuggets up 128-123 .
He was held out for the team ’ s first four seeding games in Orlando due to a hamstring issue , but put together a gutsy line of 23 points , 12 rebounds and eight assists in 39 minutes .
He was supposed to be restricted to 22 minutes .
“ I totally blew through those minutes , and he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
After Mitchell drained a game-tying jumper at the end of the first overtime , Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic appeared to tie it at 119 with a baseline bucket .
However , with 3.4 seconds left , the clock inexplicably didn ’ t start .
It was only after a timed review that the officials deemed Jokic ’ s basket occurred in 3.1 seconds .
Another clock issue , this time with .3 seconds , gave Utah another chance to win it .
“ Down the stretch , I thought Jamal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the better dynamic duos in the entire NBA , ” Malone said .
Jokic finished with 30 points , 11 rebounds and seven assists , anchoring the offense when Murray was laboring .
Twelve of Jokic ’ s points came in the first overtime session as he seized control of the Nuggets ’ fortunes .
Asked why he feels so comfortable in clutch situations , Jokic offered a small window into his mindset .
“ Because there ’ s no pressure , ” he said .
“ It ’ s 3 , 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoot .
I can not think about it.
” Denver ’ s sensational rookie Michael Porter Jr. added 23 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double in the “ bubble.
” Mitchell , whose clutch shooting gave the Jazz life on multiple occasions in the extra sessions , finished with 35 points and eight assists .
The Nuggets were up 104-98 with 19 seconds left in regulation before Murray was called for a foul on Mitchell , which cracked the door open for the Jazz .
Next , Mitchell ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nuggets ’ lead and forced an overtime session that never should ’ ve been needed .
Still , the Nuggets , who once trailed by 18 in the first half , trudged on .
“ Obviously that game was won and lost by both teams , quite a few times , ” Malone said .
For the fifth consecutive game , the Nuggets were without regular starters Gary Harris and Will Barton due to injury .
As the playoffs inch closer , with just three more seeding games until they begin , time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get acclimated after a five-month layoff .
If they can ’ t go once the playoffs arrive , expect their minutes to go to Porter and Torrey Craig .
After a lackluster first half , Jokic and Porter asserted themselves in the third quarter .
Together , they spearheaded an early 19-11 run that momentarily cut the deficit to five .
Jokic connected on two 3-pointers and Porter added one , while paving a consistent path to the free-throw line .
The two combined for four points in the first half .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were up to 29 .
On the other end , the Nuggets finally turned off Utah ’ s 3-point faucet and trailed just 88-79 heading into the fourth .
When Malone was asked recently what factors he thought would be indicative of successful bubble teams , he inevitably came back to defense .
Through four games in the bubble , Denver had the worst defensive rating among every single team .
The crux of that number has been their inability to stop opponents ’ 3-pointers .
Entering Saturday ’ s matchup , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3-point attempts – an absurd rate that would kill any chance of playoff success if it continued in the weeks ahead .
“ I think we have shown some signs of growth , while also continuing to struggle in a couple of key areas , ” Malone said , citing 3-point defense and turnovers .
The Jazz sunk 22 3-pointers Saturday , though Denver ’ s defense was far more connected during the second-half comeback .
Malone also couldn ’ t ignore the context of how his team got to this place .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealt a tougher hand than we have in terms of the number of people that came with us to the bubble , originally on July 7 , ” he said .
In what should ’ ve been a battle between two of the best big men in the NBA , Gobert dominated his matchup with Jokic in the first half .
Gobert looked far more spry and engaged , routinely beating Jokic with his off-ball movement .
One of the lone bright spots in the half came when Jokic found Grant with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Utah ’ s defense .
But outside of Murray , the rest of the Nuggets ’ starters didn ’ t come out with the right energy , either , as the Jazz rolled to an early double-digit lead .

If Saturday’s dramatic thriller was any indication, absolutely no one could complain about a first-round series between division rivals Utah and Denver.
It took two overtimes and two potentially seismic clock malfunctions, and somehow the Nuggets survived. Even after blowing separate six-point leads, once near the end of regulation and again in the first overtime session, the Nuggets withstood Jazz star Donovan Mitchell’s aerial assault to win 134-132 on Saturday.
The Nuggets improved to 46-24, still safely in the No. 3 seed behind the Los Angeles Clippers.
Playing in his first real NBA game in nearly five months, Jamal Murray sealed the victory with multiple clutch baskets, including a devastating 3-pointer late in the second overtime to put the Nuggets up 128-123. He was held out for the team’s first four seeding games in Orlando due to a hamstring issue, but put together a gutsy line of 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in 39 minutes. He was supposed to be restricted to 22 minutes.
“I totally blew through those minutes, and he was phenomenal,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
After Mitchell drained a game-tying jumper at the end of the first overtime, Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic appeared to tie it at 119 with a baseline bucket. However, with 3.4 seconds left, the clock inexplicably didn’t start. It was only after a timed review that the officials deemed Jokic’s basket occurred in 3.1 seconds. Another clock issue, this time with .3 seconds, gave Utah another chance to win it.
“Down the stretch, I thought Jamal and Nikola showed why they are one of the better dynamic duos in the entire NBA,” Malone said.
Jokic finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, anchoring the offense when Murray was laboring. Twelve of Jokic’s points came in the first overtime session as he seized control of the Nuggets’ fortunes.
Asked why he feels so comfortable in clutch situations, Jokic offered a small window into his mindset.
“Because there’s no pressure,” he said. “It’s 3, 2, 1, and you need to shoot. I cannot think about it.”
Denver’s sensational rookie Michael Porter Jr. added 23 points and 11 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double in the “bubble.”
Mitchell, whose clutch shooting gave the Jazz life on multiple occasions in the extra sessions, finished with 35 points and eight assists.
The Nuggets were up 104-98 with 19 seconds left in regulation before Murray was called for a foul on Mitchell, which cracked the door open for the Jazz. Next, Mitchell’s timely 3-pointer and game-tying layup erased the Nuggets’ lead and forced an overtime session that never should’ve been needed.
Still, the Nuggets, who once trailed by 18 in the first half, trudged on.
“Obviously that game was won and lost by both teams, quite a few times,” Malone said.
For the fifth consecutive game, the Nuggets were without regular starters Gary Harris and Will Barton due to injury. As the playoffs inch closer, with just three more seeding games until they begin, time is running out for both wings to get acclimated after a five-month layoff. If they can’t go once the playoffs arrive, expect their minutes to go to Porter and Torrey Craig.
After a lackluster first half, Jokic and Porter asserted themselves in the third quarter. Together, they spearheaded an early 19-11 run that momentarily cut the deficit to five. Jokic connected on two 3-pointers and Porter added one, while paving a consistent path to the free-throw line. The two combined for four points in the first half. By the end of the third quarter, they were up to 29. On the other end, the Nuggets finally turned off Utah’s 3-point faucet and trailed just 88-79 heading into the fourth.
When Malone was asked recently what factors he thought would be indicative of successful bubble teams, he inevitably came back to defense. Through four games in the bubble, Denver had the worst defensive rating among every single team. The crux of that number has been their inability to stop opponents’ 3-pointers.
Entering Saturday’s matchup, opponents had buried 46.3% of their 3-point attempts – an absurd rate that would kill any chance of playoff success if it continued in the weeks ahead.
“I think we have shown some signs of growth, while also continuing to struggle in a couple of key areas,” Malone said, citing 3-point defense and turnovers.
The Jazz sunk 22 3-pointers Saturday, though Denver’s defense was far more connected during the second-half comeback.
Malone also couldn’t ignore the context of how his team got to this place.
“I think no one has been dealt a tougher hand than we have in terms of the number of people that came with us to the bubble, originally on July 7,” he said.
In what should’ve been a battle between two of the best big men in the NBA, Gobert dominated his matchup with Jokic in the first half. Gobert looked far more spry and engaged, routinely beating Jokic with his off-ball movement.
One of the lone bright spots in the half came when Jokic found Grant with an over-the-shoulder circus pass that momentarily cut through Utah’s defense.
But outside of Murray, the rest of the Nuggets’ starters didn’t come out with the right energy, either, as the Jazz rolled to an early double-digit lead.


thedenverpost--2020-08-08--Oregon trooper injured, 24 arrested in Portland protests

PORTLAND , Ore. — Protesters in Portland , Oregon , defied police orders to disperse and threw rocks , frozen or hard-boiled eggs and commercial-grade fireworks at officers as unrest in the Northwest city continued early Saturday .
An Oregon State Police Trooper was struck in the head by a large rock and suffered a head injury , police said in a release .
The trooper ’ s condition was not immediately known .
Some demonstrators filled pool noodles with nails and placed them in the road , causing extensive damage to a patrol vehicle , police said .
Oregon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear the protesters .
“ Officers are having rocks and chunks of concrete thrown at them , ” police said on Twitter .
“ Individuals in the crowd are shining lasers trying to blind officers.
” Since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis , protests over racial injustice and police brutality have occurred nightly for 70 days .
Portland police declared an unlawful assembly Friday night at the Penumbra Kelly public safety building , ordering everyone in the area to leave .
Authorities had previously warned people not to trespass on the property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers began to rush the crowd away from the building using crowd-control munitions early Saturday .
Several people were arrested , police said .
“ As arrests were made , certain crowd members began throwing rocks towards officers , ” police said in a statement .
“ As this criminal activity occurred , the crowd also blocked all lanes of traffic on East Burnside Street , not allowing vehicles to pass by .
Several people in this group wore helmets and gas masks as well as carried shields.
” Police said Saturday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstration .
Most of those arrested were from Portland , while one man was from Oakland , California , and another was Tulsa , Oklahoma .
Most were in their 20s or 30s .
The charges included assault on an officer , interfering with an officer , disorderly conduct and resisting arrest .
Most of the crowd left the area by about 2:30 a.m. Saturday , police said .
Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler said this week the violent protesters are also serving as political “ props ” for President Donald Trump in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hammering on a law-and-order message .
Trump has tried to portray the protesters as “ sick and dangerous anarchists ” running wild in the city ’ s streets .
The chaos that started Thursday night lasted into Friday morning in a residential neighborhood about 6 miles ( 10 kilometers ) from downtown .
The demonstrations this week had been noticeably smaller than the crowds of thousands who turned out nightly for about two weeks in July to protest the presence of U.S. agents sent by the Trump administration to protect a federal courthouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence .
This week ’ s clashes have , however , amped up tensions after an agreement last week between state and federal officials seemed to offer a brief reprieve .
The deal brokered by Democratic Gov .
Kate Brown called for agents from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection , U.S .
Marshals Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to pull back from their defense of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse starting July 30 .
Early Friday , as peaceful demonstrations proceeded elsewhere in the city , a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portland and marched to the local police precinct , where authorities say they spray-painted the building , popped the tires of police cars , splashed paint on the walls , vandalized security cameras and set a fire in a barrel outside the building .
One officer was severely injured by a rock , police said , but no additional details were provided .
Tear gas was used by police on protesters Wednesday for the first time since the U.S. agents pulled back their presence in the city .
But officers did not use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlawful assembly .
Portland police have arrested more than 400 people at protests since late May .
U.S. agents arrested at least an additional 94 people during protests at the federal courthouse in July .

PORTLAND, Ore. — Protesters in Portland, Oregon, defied police orders to disperse and threw rocks, frozen or hard-boiled eggs and commercial-grade fireworks at officers as unrest in the Northwest city continued early Saturday.
An Oregon State Police Trooper was struck in the head by a large rock and suffered a head injury, police said in a release. The trooper’s condition was not immediately known.
Some demonstrators filled pool noodles with nails and placed them in the road, causing extensive damage to a patrol vehicle, police said. Oregon State Police worked with Portland officers to clear the protesters.
“Officers are having rocks and chunks of concrete thrown at them,” police said on Twitter. “Individuals in the crowd are shining lasers trying to blind officers.”
Since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, protests over racial injustice and police brutality have occurred nightly for 70 days.
Portland police declared an unlawful assembly Friday night at the Penumbra Kelly public safety building, ordering everyone in the area to leave. Authorities had previously warned people not to trespass on the property.
Protesters remained for several hours before officers began to rush the crowd away from the building using crowd-control munitions early Saturday. Several people were arrested, police said.
“As arrests were made, certain crowd members began throwing rocks towards officers,” police said in a statement. “As this criminal activity occurred, the crowd also blocked all lanes of traffic on East Burnside Street, not allowing vehicles to pass by. Several people in this group wore helmets and gas masks as well as carried shields.”
Police said Saturday that they arrested 24 people during the overnight demonstration. Most of those arrested were from Portland, while one man was from Oakland, California, and another was Tulsa, Oklahoma. Most were in their 20s or 30s.
The charges included assault on an officer, interfering with an officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Most of the crowd left the area by about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, police said.
Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler said this week the violent protesters are also serving as political “props” for President Donald Trump in a divisive election season where the president is hammering on a law-and-order message. Trump has tried to portray the protesters as “sick and dangerous anarchists” running wild in the city’s streets.
The chaos that started Thursday night lasted into Friday morning in a residential neighborhood about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from downtown. The demonstrations this week had been noticeably smaller than the crowds of thousands who turned out nightly for about two weeks in July to protest the presence of U.S. agents sent by the Trump administration to protect a federal courthouse that had become a target of nightly violence.
This week’s clashes have, however, amped up tensions after an agreement last week between state and federal officials seemed to offer a brief reprieve.
The deal brokered by Democratic Gov. Kate Brown called for agents from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to pull back from their defense of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse starting July 30.
Early Friday, as peaceful demonstrations proceeded elsewhere in the city, a group of people gathered at a park in eastern Portland and marched to the local police precinct, where authorities say they spray-painted the building, popped the tires of police cars, splashed paint on the walls, vandalized security cameras and set a fire in a barrel outside the building. One officer was severely injured by a rock, police said, but no additional details were provided.
Tear gas was used by police on protesters Wednesday for the first time since the U.S. agents pulled back their presence in the city. But officers did not use it Thursday despite declaring the demonstration an unlawful assembly.
Portland police have arrested more than 400 people at protests since late May. U.S. agents arrested at least an additional 94 people during protests at the federal courthouse in July.