thedenverpost--2020-06-14--Post Premium: Our best stories for the week of June 8-14

The sudden end to in-person learning across Colorado in March , as the novel coronavirus reared its head , was only the beginning of the tremendous uncertainty surrounding the education of the state ’ s children .
Students in Colorado ’ s K-12 schools finished the school year with online lessons and varying degrees of help from parents struggling to meet the newfound demands of home schooling and their own employment obligations .
Now summer break , usually a time of calm and regrouping , is here .
But so much is still in the air , as school districts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to physical classrooms for the next school year , some completely , others in a hybrid of in-person and online learning .
They ’ re doing this while keeping an eye on state health guidelines that can shift at any moment , working to ensure proper distancing within classrooms and even considering whether students should wear masks .
All of this comes as health experts warn of a second COVID-19 wave in the fall that could further disrupt schools after they ’ ve just started to regain their footing — and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although optimistic , has not decided whether schools can open their doors come late August .
In today ’ s Denver Post , reporter Tiney Ricciardi explores this compounding uncertainty , and what it means for anxious parents and kids who have been ripped away from their formative learning environments .
Uncertainty surrounds nearly everything about Colorado schools ’ plans to reopen classrooms this fall Five of our best stories from the past week Colorado among first in U.S. to adopt historic police reforms after protests ; Polis has said he will sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comprehensive police reform packages in the country Saturday , and Gov .
Jared Polis has said he will sign the historic bill into law once it reaches his desk , Saja Hindi reports .
“ This is , in my estimation , the largest single advancement of individual civil rights and liberties for Coloradans in a generation , ” said Denver civil rights attorney Qusair Mohamedbhai .
RELATED : What the “ defund the police ” movement means for Denver and who supports it “ People are going to end up homeless ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extend Colorado ’ s eviction moratorium In the closing hours of Colorado ’ s 2020 legislative session and with a statewide eviction moratorium set to expire , Senate Democrats worked feverishly on a last-minute plan to protect hundreds of thousands of Coloradans who may be at risk of eviction in the coming months .
But the talks collapsed , and as the Senate adjourned just before 11 Thursday night , it seemed unlikely that any extension of the eviction moratorium would materialize before the legislature adjourns , Alex Burness reports .
RELATED : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out a modified session “ No transparency , no communication ” : Inside Colorado ’ s wild fight for PPE in the pandemic ’ s early months As global supply chains froze in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic , inundated by demand that suppliers and manufacturers could never meet , Colorado was forced to rely on methods of procurement state officials never could have dreamed up , Sam Tabachnik reports .
Emails obtained by The Denver Post show the state ’ s top emergency officials expressing exasperation at the lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , some Colorado hospitals and nursing homes say they paid premiums of up to 1,500 % for their needed supplies .
RELATED : Gov .
Jared Polis asks federal officials for help with vaccines , PPE during Colorado ’ s flu season John Hickenlooper ’ s ethics imbroglio this month has brought him plenty of political embarrassment , Jon Murray writes .
But Colorado political watchers say a key question remains unanswered in the U.S. Senate race : In an election year painted by such stark dividing lines , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RELATED : Here ’ s how Colorado ’ s Democratic U.S. Senate candidates differ on the issues as primary ballots drop “ High-risk ” retailers and virus concerns : How Colorado malls are rebounding from pandemic shutdown Even before the virus hit , malls were beset by challenges that have analysts and consumers predicting the end is nigh for the concept .
But , regardless of those naysayers , malls are looking to fight their way back , Joe Rubino reports .
More on the economic impact of the pandemic : Denver ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but industry still struggling + Coloradans will vote on Gallagher Amendment repeal in November + In the middle of a pandemic , half a million Coloradans are expected to join Medicaid , other insurance plans because of booming unemployment + Colorado ’ s smaller ag operations — farms , ranches , farmers markets — can tap grants to get through the summer + As some Colorado hot spots start seeing an uptick in visits , tourism office launches COVID-conscious campaign + Majority of outdoor recreation businesses report layoffs , drops in revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What Colorado fans can expect from their new “ normal ” + As Colorado ’ s minor league cities face “ economic and cultural void , ” Grand Junction and Colorado Springs stakeholders hold out hope + Eight things we ’ ll miss about dining out at Colorado bars and restaurants this summer — The Know See more great photos like this on The Denver Post ’ s Instagram account .

The sudden end to in-person learning across Colorado in March, as the novel coronavirus reared its head, was only the beginning of the tremendous uncertainty surrounding the education of the state’s children.
Students in Colorado’s K-12 schools finished the school year with online lessons and varying degrees of help from parents struggling to meet the newfound demands of home schooling and their own employment obligations.
Now summer break, usually a time of calm and regrouping, is here. But so much is still in the air, as school districts across Colorado work to draft plans to return to physical classrooms for the next school year, some completely, others in a hybrid of in-person and online learning.
They’re doing this while keeping an eye on state health guidelines that can shift at any moment, working to ensure proper distancing within classrooms and even considering whether students should wear masks.
All of this comes as health experts warn of a second COVID-19 wave in the fall that could further disrupt schools after they’ve just started to regain their footing — and the fact that Gov. Jared Polis, although optimistic, has not decided whether schools can open their doors come late August.
In today’s Denver Post, reporter Tiney Ricciardi explores this compounding uncertainty, and what it means for anxious parents and kids who have been ripped away from their formative learning environments.
— Matt Sebastian, senior editor/enterprise
Five of our best stories from the past week
Colorado passed one of the most comprehensive police reform packages in the country Saturday, and Gov. Jared Polis has said he will sign the historic bill into law once it reaches his desk, Saja Hindi reports.
“This is, in my estimation, the largest single advancement of individual civil rights and liberties for Coloradans in a generation,” said Denver civil rights attorney Qusair Mohamedbhai.
RELATED: What the “defund the police” movement means for Denver and who supports it
In the closing hours of Colorado’s 2020 legislative session and with a statewide eviction moratorium set to expire, Senate Democrats worked feverishly on a last-minute plan to protect hundreds of thousands of Coloradans who may be at risk of eviction in the coming months.
But the talks collapsed, and as the Senate adjourned just before 11 Thursday night, it seemed unlikely that any extension of the eviction moratorium would materialize before the legislature adjourns, Alex Burness reports.
RELATED: More statehouse coverage as the legislature closes out a modified session
As global supply chains froze in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, inundated by demand that suppliers and manufacturers could never meet, Colorado was forced to rely on methods of procurement state officials never could have dreamed up, Sam Tabachnik reports.
Emails obtained by The Denver Post show the state’s top emergency officials expressing exasperation at the lack of transparency from their federal partners. At the same time, some Colorado hospitals and nursing homes say they paid premiums of up to 1,500% for their needed supplies.
RELATED: Gov. Jared Polis asks federal officials for help with vaccines, PPE during Colorado’s flu season
John Hickenlooper’s ethics imbroglio this month has brought him plenty of political embarrassment, Jon Murray writes. But Colorado political watchers say a key question remains unanswered in the U.S. Senate race: In an election year painted by such stark dividing lines, will voters much care about the issue?
RELATED: Here’s how Colorado’s Democratic U.S. Senate candidates differ on the issues as primary ballots drop
Even before the virus hit, malls were beset by challenges that have analysts and consumers predicting the end is nigh for the concept. But, regardless of those naysayers, malls are looking to fight their way back, Joe Rubino reports.
More on the economic impact of the pandemic: Denver’s historic Brown Palace hotel reopened Wednesday, but industry still struggling
A few more important stories
+ Coloradans will vote on Gallagher Amendment repeal in November
+ In the middle of a pandemic, half a million Coloradans are expected to join Medicaid, other insurance plans because of booming unemployment
+ Colorado’s smaller ag operations — farms, ranches, farmers markets — can tap grants to get through the summer
+ As some Colorado hot spots start seeing an uptick in visits, tourism office launches COVID-conscious campaign
+ Majority of outdoor recreation businesses report layoffs, drops in revenue during pandemic
+ Coronavirus and sports: What Colorado fans can expect from their new “normal”
+ As Colorado’s minor league cities face “economic and cultural void,” Grand Junction and Colorado Springs stakeholders hold out hope
+ Eight things we’ll miss about dining out at Colorado bars and restaurants this summer — The Know
Photo of the week
See more great photos like this on The Denver Post’s Instagram account.


thedenverpost--2020-06-14--As Colorado’s minor league cities face “economic and cultural void,” Grand Junction and Colorado Spr

As Colorado’s minor league cities face “economic and cultural void,” Grand Junction and Colorado Springs stakeholders hold out hope

As MLB ’ s farm system braces for a major overhaul , the state ’ s two minor league teams , the Grand Junction Rockies and the Rocky Mountain Vibes , are on the precipice .
Grand Junction ( the Rockies ’ rookie-league affiliate ) and Rocky Mountain ( the Brewers ’ rookie-league affiliate ) are dealing with the likelihood of the 2020 minor league season being canceled due to COVID-19 .
Plus , both are members of the Pioneer League , which is part of MLB ’ s proposed 42-team contraction for 2021 .
Those invested long-term in both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the diehard fans , can see the depressing writing on the outfield fall : Colorado may have seen the last of minor league baseball .
“ I ’ m still trying to stay hopeful , but the reality is what it is , ” said Jerry Wilds , 79 , a Grand Junction season-ticket holder since the team came to town in 2012 .
“ If the Rockies and the Vibes do leave , it ’ d be an economic and cultural void .
It ’ d be a step back for baseball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re taking away two ball teams and you have to consider the amount of people it will hurt and how it will affect the economy in both cities .
The reach of minor league baseball is large because it ’ s something enjoyable to do all summer — nice , clean , affordable family entertainment .
“ That reach and that intimacy will be lost in Colorado going forward , on both sides.
” The proposed contraction , which has been accompanied by a public back-and-forth between MLB and MiLB , would come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( PBA ) .
The PBA , which binds the separate entities together , expires Sept. 15 , 2020 .
MLB wants to use the negotiations with MiLB to trim down a farm system owners argue has become too large , too costly and too inefficient .
But with coronavirus having put the MLB season in peril , all of baseball ’ s powers-that-be have been focused solely on a return to big-league play over the past few months .
“ Before , the negotiations were ramping up and there was a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side getting congressional support and things like that , which all came to a screeching halt , ” said Chris Phillips , the Vibes general manager .
“ Major League Baseball is such a mess ( with contentious negotiations ) , so until they can get their situation figured out , we ’ re on the back burner.
” Despite all ominous indications , the Vibes are staying positive and creative amid the pandemic .
The team set up meal takeout services , and in coordination with guidelines from the county health department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive-in movies , high school graduations and fireworks shows .
There is also a chance UCHealth Park could be used as a Colorado Rockies practice field , should the MLB season occur .
“ We ’ ve said internally as it ’ s become more and more evident there isn ’ t going to be a season that we have to transition this year from Vibes baseball to Vibes entertainment , ” Phillips said .
“ We had to start thinking way outside the box , with no restrictions of a strict game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have to keep the field as pristine as we do during the regular season.
” Over in Grand Junction , Wilds is disappointed that the Rockies “ are not doing a thing as far as information or promoting right now amid what ’ s been going on.
” But he , like his daughter Shannon Sneddon , isn ’ t mad at Dick Monfort , the majority owner of the Colorado Rockies and Grand Junction Rockies , or any particular individual over the prospect of losing the team .
Sneddon is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host families for the team .
In the past , she ’ s housed current Colorado big leaguers Raimel Tapia , Brendan Rodgers and Sam Hilliard .
“ Do I have any ill-will towards anyone ?
No .
Would we love for the team to stay ?
Yes , ” Sneddon said .
“ But also , yes , we all also understand this is ultimately a business decision by Major League Baseball.
” While MLB has painted the need for contraction as partly driven by the economic infeasibility and poor facilities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case in Grand Junction or Colorado Springs .
Both Sam Suplizio Field and UC Health Park are above-grade stadiums for rookie league franchises .
That fact is no doubt bolstered by Grand Junction ’ s status as the home of the JuCo World Series since 1958 and Colorado Springs having hosted a Triple-A team from 1988 to 2018 .
“ ( The Rockies ) are one of the successful franchises , as opposed to many ( lower-level ) teams that have poor facilities and they ’ re in much smaller markets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership .
“ Financially , it probably doesn ’ t make sense for MLB to keep some of those open , but ours stands out differently in that regard.
” From an economic standpoint , both teams are drivers .
In Grand Junction ( pop .
63,374 ) , Area Chamber of Commerce president Diane Schwenke estimates the Rockies have an economic impact of $ 7 million to $ 10 million annually .
Phillips put the same figure in Colorado Springs ( pop .
472,688 ) at around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sport desperate for new , young fans , Grand Junction season-ticket holder Greg Olson says contraction is a big mistake .
“ Baseball is a big economic driver for these communities , ” said Olson , 51 .
“ The MLB should be part of supporting this .
If they used this to their advantage and connected their story to the success of these rural communities ( like Grand Junction ) , their fan base would grow… I feel that the MLB is really cutting into a growing base of fans.
” • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rockies ’ loss to Pirates in MLB The Show 20 simulation • Saunders : New Rockies catcher Drew Romo should heed some sage advice from Chris Iannetta • MLB draft affected by significant financial jockeying , with most players selected in rounds three and beyond agreeing to bonuses under slot value • Rockies ’ pick Chris McMahon motivated by slide into draft ’ s second round • Raimel Tapia ’ s home run lifts Rockies over Pirates in MLB The Show 20 simulation The future of both clubs will remain murky for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season-ticket holder Pat Drake lamented how “ the prospect of no team here really crushes me , ” she , Phillips and others also believe communities with strong baseball roots still somehow have a chance to retain their team .
“ I know they ’ re saying the same thing in Grand Junction that we are here — we ’ ve got a great ballpark , we ’ ve got a great city , ” Phillips said .
“ We have to figure out a way to keep professional baseball here .
”

As MLB’s farm system braces for a major overhaul, the state’s two minor league teams, the Grand Junction Rockies and the Rocky Mountain Vibes, are on the precipice.
Grand Junction (the Rockies’ rookie-league affiliate) and Rocky Mountain (the Brewers’ rookie-league affiliate) are dealing with the likelihood of the 2020 minor league season being canceled due to COVID-19. Plus, both are members of the Pioneer League, which is part of MLB’s proposed 42-team contraction for 2021.
Those invested long-term in both franchises, from the front office to the diehard fans, can see the depressing writing on the outfield wall: Colorado may have seen the last of minor league baseball.
“I’m still trying to stay hopeful, but the reality is what it is,” said Jerry Wilds, 79, a Grand Junction season-ticket holder since the team came to town in 2012.
“If the Rockies and the Vibes do leave, it’d be an economic and cultural void. It’d be a step back for baseball (in Colorado). You’re taking away two ball teams and you have to consider the amount of people it will hurt and how it will affect the economy in both cities. The reach of minor league baseball is large because it’s something enjoyable to do all summer — nice, clean, affordable family entertainment.
“That reach and that intimacy will be lost in Colorado going forward, on both sides.”
The proposed contraction, which has been accompanied by a public back-and-forth between MLB and MiLB, would come along with a new Professional Baseball Agreement (PBA).
The PBA, which binds the separate entities together, expires Sept. 15, 2020. MLB wants to use the negotiations with MiLB to trim down a farm system owners argue has become too large, too costly and too inefficient.
But with coronavirus having put the MLB season in peril, all of baseball’s powers-that-be have been focused solely on a return to big-league play over the past few months.
“Before, the negotiations were ramping up and there was a lot of good movement on the minor league side getting congressional support and things like that, which all came to a screeching halt,” said Chris Phillips, the Vibes general manager. “Major League Baseball is such a mess (with contentious negotiations), so until they can get their situation figured out, we’re on the back burner.”
Despite all ominous indications, the Vibes are staying positive and creative amid the pandemic. The team set up meal takeout services, and in coordination with guidelines from the county health department, is also using UCHealth Park for drive-in movies, high school graduations and fireworks shows.
There is also a chance UCHealth Park could be used as a Colorado Rockies practice field, should the MLB season occur.
“We’ve said internally as it’s become more and more evident there isn’t going to be a season that we have to transition this year from Vibes baseball to Vibes entertainment,” Phillips said. “We had to start thinking way outside the box, with no restrictions of a strict game schedule and the fact that we don’t have to keep the field as pristine as we do during the regular season.”
Over in Grand Junction, Wilds is disappointed that the Rockies “are not doing a thing as far as information or promoting right now amid what’s been going on.”
But he, like his daughter Shannon Sneddon, isn’t mad at Dick Monfort, the majority owner of the Colorado Rockies and Grand Junction Rockies, or any particular individual over the prospect of losing the team. Sneddon is also an original season-ticket holder and coordinates host families for the team. In the past, she’s housed current Colorado big leaguers Raimel Tapia, Brendan Rodgers and Sam Hilliard.
“Do I have any ill-will towards anyone? No. Would we love for the team to stay? Yes,” Sneddon said. “But also, yes, we all also understand this is ultimately a business decision by Major League Baseball.”
While MLB has painted the need for contraction as partly driven by the economic infeasibility and poor facilities of certain lower-level franchises, such is not the case in Grand Junction or Colorado Springs. Both Sam Suplizio Field and UC Health Park are above-grade stadiums for rookie league franchises.
That fact is no doubt bolstered by Grand Junction’s status as the home of the JuCo World Series since 1958 and Colorado Springs having hosted a Triple-A team from 1988 to 2018.
“(The Rockies) are one of the successful franchises, as opposed to many (lower-level) teams that have poor facilities and they’re in much smaller markets,” said Robin Brown, executive director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership. “Financially, it probably doesn’t make sense for MLB to keep some of those open, but ours stands out differently in that regard.”
From an economic standpoint, both teams are drivers. In Grand Junction (pop. 63,374), Area Chamber of Commerce president Diane Schwenke estimates the Rockies have an economic impact of $7 million to $10 million annually. Phillips put the same figure in Colorado Springs (pop. 472,688) at around $20 million.
And for a sport desperate for new, young fans, Grand Junction season-ticket holder Greg Olson says contraction is a big mistake.
“Baseball is a big economic driver for these communities,” said Olson, 51. “The MLB should be part of supporting this. If they used this to their advantage and connected their story to the success of these rural communities (like Grand Junction), their fan base would grow… I feel that the MLB is really cutting into a growing base of fans.”
The future of both clubs will remain murky for the time being.
But just as Vibes season-ticket holder Pat Drake lamented how “the prospect of no team here really crushes me,” she, Phillips and others also believe communities with strong baseball roots still somehow have a chance to retain their team.
“I know they’re saying the same thing in Grand Junction that we are here — we’ve got a great ballpark, we’ve got a great city,” Phillips said. “We have to figure out a way to keep professional baseball here.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-14--Without Floyd Little, Colorado’s first NFL great, “there would be no Denver Broncos”

Editor ’ s Note : The first in a five-part series on Colorado football icons .
Two days after he played his 117th and final pro football game , and one day after he announced his retirement , Floyd Little was honored in a letter to the editor appeared in the Dec. 22 , 1975 , Miami Herald .
“ I always dreaded seeing him come out of the backfield on a pass pattern or get the hand off from the quarterback , always wondering how I would ever stop him .
No matter how bruised and battered he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find me in the middle of the field to say hello and ask about my health .
… He is a person which all children can look up to and the parents can honestly say , ‘ I hope my child grows up to be like him.
’ ” The letter was signed “ Nicholas A. Buoniconti , ” the former Dolphins linebacker .
High praise , for sure , but also emblematic of the respect Little earned during his nine years playing for the Broncos and why , 45 years after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person to start The Denver Post ’ s series about Colorado football icons .
It should be , must be , has to be Little .
Before Elway and Davis , before Gradishar and Wright , before Atwater and Bailey , there was Little .
When he was selected for Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in 2010 , Little received a call from Joe Greene .
“ He said , ‘ Floyd , you ’ re the best football player I ’ ve ever played against in my 16 years , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview with reporters .
“ I said , ‘ Joe , are you serious ?
’ And he said , ‘ You ’ re the best football player .
Not running back .
Best football player I played against.
’ ” What did Buoniconti and “ Mean Joe ” see ?
The first great Broncos player .
Period .
Little , 77 , lives in Las Vegas and was recently revealed to be fighting cancer .
One of his former Syracuse teammates , Pat Killorin , started a GoFundMe page to help Little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 81,000 had been raised toward a goal of $ 250,000 .
Several friends and fans recognized Little ’ s No .
44 jersey in the form of donations of $ 44 , $ 444 and $ 4,444 .
“ No doubt it will be the toughest fight of his life , ” Killorin wrote on the “ Friends of Floyd ” page .
“ Although he has lived a full life admired and enjoyed by many , Floyd doesn ’ t believe he has yet written , with his Lord and Savior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his life.
” Playing on struggling teams and with mix-and-match quarterbacks , Little was long the Broncos ’ shining light .
He was the NFL rushing champion in 1971 ( 1,133 yards ) and currently ranks second in team history in rushing attempts ( 1,641 ) , yards ( 6,323 ) and touchdowns ( 43 ) , behind fellow Hall of Famer Terrell Davis in all three categories .
Little never appeared in a playoff game and was a part of only two winning teams ( 7-5-2 in ’ 73 and 7-6-1 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to making pro football in this region a hit should not be forgotten .
Little led the Broncos in rushing seven times .
He was a part of the team ’ s inaugural Ring of Fame in 1984 .
The season-ticket base rose from 24,650 to 49,000 during his career .
His No .
44 is one of only three Broncos retired numbers , joining quarterback Frank Tripucka ( 18 ) and Elway ( 7 ) .
“ Without Floyd Little , there would be no Denver Broncos , ” said Tom Mackie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ autobiography , in a 2010 interview with the Post ’ s Mark Kiszla .
“ Either they don ’ t get picked up by the NFL in the merger or they move to Alabama and become the Birmingham Broncos.
” Think about this : In the first 23 years of Broncos history , Little was the only eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee to play for the franchise .
From 1983-2002 , six eventual Hall of Famers , including Steve Atwater this summer , starred for the Broncos .
Translation : For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Broncos .
Little went against the grain from the moment he was drafted out of Syracuse because he actually signed with the Broncos .
In their first seven years , they were unable to sign their first-round pick ( imagine that happening these days ) .
Little ’ s first six Broncos teams never won more than five games as the AFL West in those days was ruled by Kansas City and Oakland .
But he led the AFL in 1969 in yards per rush ( 5.0 ) and yards per game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Little ’ s final home game , against Philadelphia in December 1975 , he scored on a 66-yard catch and a two-yard rush .
At the time of his retirement , he ranked seventh all-time in rushing and he had nearly 5,000 more yards rushing than the next-closest Broncos player .
Little waited 30 years to get the call to the Hall , joining contemporaries Csonka , O.J .
Simpson and Leroy Kelly .
“ If I were a ( New York ) Jet and had the same career I had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long time ago , ” Little said in 2010 .
Maybe so , but Little has never let his long wait dampen his enthusiasm for having a bust in Canton , Ohio .
If any Hall of Famer likes wearing their gold jacket more than Little , a search may be futile .
A year-and-a-half ago , the Hall of Famers gathered in a second-floor ballroom at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis for the annual Merlin Olsen Luncheon .
Little walked over to the Denver media contingent on hand to cover the next night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cornerback Champ Bailey .
Hey , Floyd , what ’ s it really like to be a Hall of Famer ?
“ I tell the guys , if you ’ re not feeling well , you ’ re sick , you have a little cold , just can ’ t get started — go to your closet and put this baby on , ” Little said of his gold jacket .
“ You will feel so much better .
Wearing one of these is one of the great experiences in my life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It makes me feel different .
”

Editor’s Note: The first in a five-part series on Colorado football icons.
Two days after he played his 117th and final pro football game, and one day after he announced his retirement, Floyd Little was honored in a letter to the editor appeared in the Dec. 22, 1975, Miami Herald.
“I always dreaded seeing him come out of the backfield on a pass pattern or get the hand off from the quarterback, always wondering how I would ever stop him. No matter how bruised and battered he was after the game, he always managed to find me in the middle of the field to say hello and ask about my health. … He is a person which all children can look up to and the parents can honestly say, ‘I hope my child grows up to be like him.’”
The letter was signed “Nicholas A. Buoniconti,” the former Dolphins linebacker.
High praise, for sure, but also emblematic of the respect Little earned during his nine years playing for the Broncos and why, 45 years after his retirement, there is no better person to start The Denver Post’s series about Colorado football icons.
It should be, must be, has to be Little. Before Elway and Davis, before Gradishar and Wright, before Atwater and Bailey, there was Little.
When he was selected for Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in 2010, Little received a call from Joe Greene.
“He said, ‘Floyd, you’re the best football player I’ve ever played against in my 16 years,’” Little said in a February 2019 interview with reporters. “I said, ‘Joe, are you serious?’ And he said, ‘You’re the best football player. Not running back. Best football player I played against.’”
What did Buoniconti and “Mean Joe” see? The first great Broncos player. Period.
Little, 77, lives in Las Vegas and was recently revealed to be fighting cancer. One of his former Syracuse teammates, Pat Killorin, started a GoFundMe page to help Little with the medical costs. More than $81,000 had been raised toward a goal of $250,000.
Several friends and fans recognized Little’s No. 44 jersey in the form of donations of $44, $444 and $4,444.
“No doubt it will be the toughest fight of his life,” Killorin wrote on the “Friends of Floyd” page. “Although he has lived a full life admired and enjoyed by many, Floyd doesn’t believe he has yet written, with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the final play of his life.”
Playing on struggling teams and with mix-and-match quarterbacks, Little was long the Broncos’ shining light. He was the NFL rushing champion in 1971 (1,133 yards) and currently ranks second in team history in rushing attempts (1,641), yards (6,323) and touchdowns (43), behind fellow Hall of Famer Terrell Davis in all three categories.
Little never appeared in a playoff game and was a part of only two winning teams (7-5-2 in ’73 and 7-6-1 in ’74), but his contributions to making pro football in this region a hit should not be forgotten.
Little led the Broncos in rushing seven times. He was a part of the team’s inaugural Ring of Fame in 1984. The season-ticket base rose from 24,650 to 49,000 during his career. His No. 44 is one of only three Broncos retired numbers, joining quarterback Frank Tripucka (18) and Elway (7).
“Without Floyd Little, there would be no Denver Broncos,” said Tom Mackie, who co-authored Little’s 2006 autobiography, in a 2010 interview with the Post’s Mark Kiszla. “Either they don’t get picked up by the NFL in the merger or they move to Alabama and become the Birmingham Broncos.”
Think about this: In the first 23 years of Broncos history, Little was the only eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee to play for the franchise. From 1983-2002, six eventual Hall of Famers, including Steve Atwater this summer, starred for the Broncos.
Translation: For many years, Little was It for the Broncos.
Little went against the grain from the moment he was drafted out of Syracuse because he actually signed with the Broncos. In their first seven years, they were unable to sign their first-round pick (imagine that happening these days).
His signing bonus was $10,000.
Little’s first six Broncos teams never won more than five games as the AFL West in those days was ruled by Kansas City and Oakland. But he led the AFL in 1969 in yards per rush (5.0) and yards per game (81.0) and earned All-Pro honors.
In Little’s final home game, against Philadelphia in December 1975, he scored on a 66-yard catch and a two-yard rush.
At the time of his retirement, he ranked seventh all-time in rushing and he had nearly 5,000 more yards rushing than the next-closest Broncos player.
Little waited 30 years to get the call to the Hall, joining contemporaries Csonka, O.J. Simpson and Leroy Kelly.
“If I were a (New York) Jet and had the same career I had, I would have been in a long time ago,” Little said in 2010.
Maybe so, but Little has never let his long wait dampen his enthusiasm for having a bust in Canton, Ohio. If any Hall of Famer likes wearing their gold jacket more than Little, a search may be futile.
A year-and-a-half ago, the Hall of Famers gathered in a second-floor ballroom at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis for the annual Merlin Olsen Luncheon. Little walked over to the Denver media contingent on hand to cover the next night’s selection of owner Pat Bowlen and cornerback Champ Bailey.
Hey, Floyd, what’s it really like to be a Hall of Famer?
“I tell the guys, if you’re not feeling well, you’re sick, you have a little cold, just can’t get started — go to your closet and put this baby on,” Little said of his gold jacket. “You will feel so much better. Wearing one of these is one of the great experiences in my life.
“I love wearing it. It makes me feel different.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-14--Brauchler: There’s so much more we can do to improve our police and judicial system

This week , a bill rightly hailed as a historic and sweeping effort to codify law enforcement reform in Colorado in the wake of the Minneapolis murder of George Floyd passed with remarkable and needed bipartisan support .
I commend legislators Rhonda Fields , Leslie Herod , John Cooke , Leroy Garcia , Bob Gardner , and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez for their work on Senate Bill 217 .
Coloradans should know two important things .
First , our law enforcement agencies — although far from perfect and in need of further reform — are not those portrayed in media stories with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado is not the Wild West of public safety .
Our state can boast of some of the most progressive ( small “ p ” ) law enforcement agencies in the country .
Many of the most heralded reforms passed this week have existed in law enforcement policies throughout our great state for years .
Now , they are law .
Second , and most importantly , our communities should not view this bill as an end , but only a beginning .
It does much , but not nearly enough .
Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s major provisions .
Qualified immunity is going good-bye at the state level : Good riddance .
However , it is a federal court-invented doctrine that protects officers from a wide array of alleged civil rights violations .
Congress needs to either reform or abolish it as soon as possible .
Leaving it to the appellate courts is an abdication of their role .
Chokeholds are gone : Good news .
They have been prohibited from use — except in life or death situations — by sheriffs ’ offices in Arapahoe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado agencies for years .
It is good that it is now the law everywhere .
Duty for officers to intervene to stop the use of excessive force : A must .
Although this requirement currently exists in use-of-force policies almost everywhere , codifying it and creating legal penalties for failing to intervene , is an important upgrade .
The legislature should consider providing some measure of civil immunity for those officers who , in good faith , intervene to stop the use of excessive force .
Mandated use of body-worn cameras statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are an undeniably important tool for mutual accountability between law enforcement and the community .
They have been in wide use across our state , from large agencies like Denver , Aurora , Arapahoe , Jeffco and Douglas , to smaller counties like Custer , Moffat , and Rio Blanco .
Such agencies already have policies that impose discipline for failing to activate cameras when required .
Making body cameras universal and increasing the penalty for failing to activate them are good , but expensive steps .
The greatest expense related to cameras @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endless hours of captured video from the new “ any contact ” standard imposed by the bill .
The cost is prohibitive for agencies with funding challenges .
Congress or the state should provide grants for this new , unfunded mandate to local governments .
A centralized database of officers who have lied or engaged in misconduct : Touchdown .
It has long been too difficult to track officers who bounced around jurisdictions .
No prosecutor or law enforcement agency wants proven liars on the witness stand or on the streets .
Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interstate bouncing .
Increased data capture : Boom .
Readily available data in criminal justice is a necessary component of transparency and an indispensable tool for identifying potential problems , patterns , and practices .
Data mitigates against making significant policy decisions on emotion and anecdote alone .
We want facts .
The bill makes improvements , but we should demand much more .
We need easy access to information about the taxpayer-funded major players in our justice system .
Did you know that as recently as October 2019 , Colorado had zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) judges ?
Now , we have three .
For the entire state .
What is the demographic make-up of our public defenders , prosecutors , and attorneys general ?
We deserve to know .
We need publicly accessible cameras in criminal courtrooms .
It matters little that we vote for DAs and judges , if we can not scrutinize how and what they do in our taxpayer-funded courthouses on a daily basis .
The legislature and judiciary should quickly make this a priority .
Our office is the first — perhaps the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarterly post the demographics and case information for every person sentenced to prison in our jurisdiction .
With sufficient resources , all DAs offices and the court system could regularly publish such information for prison , probation , and almost any other meaningful metric , not just by jurisdiction , but by courtroom .
With a focus on reforming civil liability , the bill exposes both good and bad cops to the risks of costly litigation .
We should encourage deterrence and accountability for bad officers by creating a sentencing aggravator targeted at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We already have increased penalties for parents , teachers , and others who occupy a “ position of trust ” when they victimize the most vulnerable among us .
Law enforcement officers are placed in a position of trust in our neighborhoods and they should be exposed to a more significant punishment if they abuse that position .
Kudos to the legislature for this needed bipartisan effort at reform , but there is no time for a victory lap .
Press on .
There is more that can be done and done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district attorney for the 18th Judicial District , which includes Arapahoe , Douglas , Elbert and Lincoln counties .
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 .

This week, a bill rightly hailed as a historic and sweeping effort to codify law enforcement reform in Colorado in the wake of the Minneapolis murder of George Floyd passed with remarkable and needed bipartisan support. I commend legislators Rhonda Fields, Leslie Herod, John Cooke, Leroy Garcia, Bob Gardner, and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez for their work on Senate Bill 217.
Coloradans should know two important things.
First, our law enforcement agencies — although far from perfect and in need of further reform — are not those portrayed in media stories with anecdotes from other parts of the U.S. Colorado is not the Wild West of public safety. Our state can boast of some of the most progressive (small “p”) law enforcement agencies in the country. Many of the most heralded reforms passed this week have existed in law enforcement policies throughout our great state for years. Now, they are law. Second, and most importantly, our communities should not view this bill as an end, but only a beginning. It does much, but not nearly enough.
Let’s review some of the bill’s major provisions.
Qualified immunity is going good-bye at the state level: Good riddance. However, it is a federal court-invented doctrine that protects officers from a wide array of alleged civil rights violations. Congress needs to either reform or abolish it as soon as possible. Leaving it to the appellate courts is an abdication of their role.
Chokeholds are gone: Good news. They have been prohibited from use — except in life or death situations — by sheriffs’ offices in Arapahoe, Douglas, Larimer, and many other Colorado agencies for years. It is good that it is now the law everywhere.
Duty for officers to intervene to stop the use of excessive force: A must. Although this requirement currently exists in use-of-force policies almost everywhere, codifying it and creating legal penalties for failing to intervene, is an important upgrade. The legislature should consider providing some measure of civil immunity for those officers who, in good faith, intervene to stop the use of excessive force.
Mandated use of body-worn cameras statewide by 2023: Absolutely. Body-worn cameras are an undeniably important tool for mutual accountability between law enforcement and the community. They have been in wide use across our state, from large agencies like Denver, Aurora, Arapahoe, Jeffco and Douglas, to smaller counties like Custer, Moffat, and Rio Blanco. Such agencies already have policies that impose discipline for failing to activate cameras when required. Making body cameras universal and increasing the penalty for failing to activate them are good, but expensive steps. The greatest expense related to cameras is storage of the voluminous amounts of endless hours of captured video from the new “any contact” standard imposed by the bill. The cost is prohibitive for agencies with funding challenges. Congress or the state should provide grants for this new, unfunded mandate to local governments.
A centralized database of officers who have lied or engaged in misconduct: Touchdown. It has long been too difficult to track officers who bounced around jurisdictions. No prosecutor or law enforcement agency wants proven liars on the witness stand or on the streets. Congress should consider a national database to prevent interstate bouncing.
Increased data capture: Boom. Readily available data in criminal justice is a necessary component of transparency and an indispensable tool for identifying potential problems, patterns, and practices. Data mitigates against making significant policy decisions on emotion and anecdote alone. We want facts. The bill makes improvements, but we should demand much more.
We need easy access to information about the taxpayer-funded major players in our justice system. Did you know that as recently as October 2019, Colorado had zero African American district court (trial level) judges? Now, we have three. For the entire state. What is the demographic make-up of our public defenders, prosecutors, and attorneys general? We deserve to know.
We need publicly accessible cameras in criminal courtrooms. It matters little that we vote for DAs and judges, if we cannot scrutinize how and what they do in our taxpayer-funded courthouses on a daily basis. The legislature and judiciary should quickly make this a priority.
Our office is the first — perhaps the only — district attorneys’ office to quarterly post the demographics and case information for every person sentenced to prison in our jurisdiction. With sufficient resources, all DAs offices and the court system could regularly publish such information for prison, probation, and almost any other meaningful metric, not just by jurisdiction, but by courtroom.
With a focus on reforming civil liability, the bill exposes both good and bad cops to the risks of costly litigation. We should encourage deterrence and accountability for bad officers by creating a sentencing aggravator targeted at those officers who commit crimes against people. We already have increased penalties for parents, teachers, and others who occupy a “position of trust” when they victimize the most vulnerable among us. Law enforcement officers are placed in a position of trust in our neighborhoods and they should be exposed to a more significant punishment if they abuse that position.
Kudos to the legislature for this needed bipartisan effort at reform, but there is no time for a victory lap. Press on. There is more that can be done and done now.
George H. Brauchler is the district attorney for the 18th Judicial District, which includes Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties.
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--2020-06-14--Daniel Berger wins Colonial playoff in PGA Tour’s return

FORT WORTH , Texas — Daniel Berger was playing some of the best golf that no one noticed .
Three months away because of the COVID-19 pandemic didn ’ t slow his momentum , and he made it pay off Sunday with a victory at Colonial .
The PGA Tour made a healthy return to golf at the Charles Schwab Challenge with a somewhat sickly finish .
Berger saved par from behind the 17th green on the first playoff hole and won when Collin Morikawa missed a 3-foot par putt .
Berger closed with a 4-under 66 , his 28th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Oct. 11 at the Houston Open .
Even over the final hour , a half-dozen players were still in the mix .
All that was missing was the sound and energy of a gallery , with the PGA Tour not allowing spectators for the opening five events in its return .
Berger won for the third time — all victories during this week on the calendar , just not in circumstances like this .
It was the first PGA Tour event since March 12 when the spread of the new coronavirus shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took a share of the lead with a 50-foot putt on the 14th hole .
It was the short ones that hurt .
Morikawa also missed a birdie putt from 6 feet on the 18th hole in a 67 .
Berger was the only one who delivered , making a 10-foot birdie on the final hole that put him at 15-under 265 .
Xander Schauffele gave new meaning to the phrase “ Horrible Horseshoe ” at Colonial .
He hit into the water on the 15th from a fairway bunker , hit a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then made a 30-footer to escape with a bogey .
He followed with a 25-foot birdie to regain a share of the lead .
And then his 3-foot par putt on the 17th hole dipped in one side of the hole and spun out of the other .
His 25-foot birdie putt to join the playoff came up just short and he shot 69 .
Bryson DeChambeau cringed when his 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th narrowly missed , giving him a 66 and leaving him one shot out of the playoff .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ birdie on the last hole was a turn short .
He also had 66 .
Jason Kokrak finished well ahead of everyone else .
he also missed a birdie on the last hole in his round of 64 .
Spieth , trying to end three years without a victory , left with a consolation prize of progress .
He missed a 2-foot par putt on the sixth hole — part of three bogeys in a four-hole stretch — but was still in the mix until a tee shot out of bounds on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 35-foot putt to save bogey .
He wound up with a 71 and tied for 10th .
PONTE VEDRA BEACH , Fla. — Luke List birdied three of the first four holes and strung together pars at the end for a 3-under 67 to win the Korn Ferry Challenge in the first tournament back for the PGA Tour ’ s developmental circuit .
List won by one shot over Shad Tuten ( 67 ) and Joseph Bramlett ( 68 ) .
Kristoffer Ventura ( 67 ) and Nicholas Lindheim ( 66 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading five players , all but Tuten has PGA Tour status who did not get into the PGA Tour event at Colonial .
• Brooks Koepka raises notion of not playing a Ryder Cup without fans • PGA Tour to hold minute of silence at 8:46 to honor George Floyd • Golf makes a conservative return with an eye on the long run List won for the first time since he was on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2012 .
Will Zalatoris , who had the 54-hole lead , made 17 pars and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Dye ’ s Valley Course at the TPC Sawgrass , adjacent to the Stadium Course that hosts The Players Championship .
That dropped him into a tie for sixth , three shots behind List .
The Korn Ferry Tour stays in the area next week for another one-time event on The King & The Bear at the World Golf Village to make up for events lost to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown .
JEJU ISLAND , South Korea — Rain washed out the final two rounds of the Korean LPGA ’ s S-Oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event at Elysian Jeju .
Defending champion Choi Hye-jin was the first-round leader at 8-under 64 .

FORT WORTH, Texas — Daniel Berger was playing some of the best golf that no one noticed. Three months away because of the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t slow his momentum, and he made it pay off Sunday with a victory at Colonial.
The PGA Tour made a healthy return to golf at the Charles Schwab Challenge with a somewhat sickly finish. Berger saved par from behind the 17th green on the first playoff hole and won when Collin Morikawa missed a 3-foot par putt.
Berger closed with a 4-under 66, his 28th consecutive round at par or better dating to Oct. 11 at the Houston Open.
Even over the final hour, a half-dozen players were still in the mix. All that was missing was the sound and energy of a gallery, with the PGA Tour not allowing spectators for the opening five events in its return.
Berger won for the third time — all victories during this week on the calendar, just not in circumstances like this. It was the first PGA Tour event since March 12 when the spread of the new coronavirus shut down golf and other sports.
Morikawa took a share of the lead with a 50-foot putt on the 14th hole. It was the short ones that hurt. Morikawa also missed a birdie putt from 6 feet on the 18th hole in a 67.
Berger was the only one who delivered, making a 10-foot birdie on the final hole that put him at 15-under 265.
Xander Schauffele gave new meaning to the phrase “Horrible Horseshoe” at Colonial.
He hit into the water on the 15th from a fairway bunker, hit a poor chip after the penalty shot and then made a 30-footer to escape with a bogey. He followed with a 25-foot birdie to regain a share of the lead. And then his 3-foot par putt on the 17th hole dipped in one side of the hole and spun out of the other.
His 25-foot birdie putt to join the playoff came up just short and he shot 69.
Bryson DeChambeau cringed when his 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th narrowly missed, giving him a 66 and leaving him one shot out of the playoff. Ditto for Justin Rose, whose 18-foot birdie on the last hole was a turn short. He also had 66. Jason Kokrak finished well ahead of everyone else. he also missed a birdie on the last hole in his round of 64.
Spieth, trying to end three years without a victory, left with a consolation prize of progress. He missed a 2-foot par putt on the sixth hole — part of three bogeys in a four-hole stretch — but was still in the mix until a tee shot out of bounds on the 14th. Even then, he made a 35-foot putt to save bogey. He wound up with a 71 and tied for 10th.
KORN FERRY TOUR
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Luke List birdied three of the first four holes and strung together pars at the end for a 3-under 67 to win the Korn Ferry Challenge in the first tournament back for the PGA Tour’s developmental circuit.
List won by one shot over Shad Tuten (67) and Joseph Bramlett (68). Kristoffer Ventura (67) and Nicholas Lindheim (66) were another shot behind. Of the leading five players, all but Tuten has PGA Tour status who did not get into the PGA Tour event at Colonial.
List won for the first time since he was on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2012.
Will Zalatoris, who had the 54-hole lead, made 17 pars and one bogey in his round of 71 on Dye’s Valley Course at the TPC Sawgrass, adjacent to the Stadium Course that hosts The Players Championship. That dropped him into a tie for sixth, three shots behind List.
The Korn Ferry Tour stays in the area next week for another one-time event on The King & The Bear at the World Golf Village to make up for events lost to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
KOREAN LPGA
JEJU ISLAND, South Korea — Rain washed out the final two rounds of the Korean LPGA’s S-Oil Championship, forcing organizers to abandon the event at Elysian Jeju.
Defending champion Choi Hye-jin was the first-round leader at 8-under 64.


thedenverpost--2020-06-14--Playing for free, salary drop, 2022 lockout possible for MLB

NEW YORK — Jeremy Jeffress , Jordan Montgomery , Kevin Plawecki could be playing for free this season , earning salaries lower than what they already received as advances .
Mookie Betts , George Springer , J.T .
Realmuto , James Paxton and Marcus Stroman are likely to find fewer bidders , dollars and contract years as the free-agent market lurches into a free fall next offseason .
And all of baseball could be bracing for a spring training lockout and shortened 2022 season after the coronavirus pandemic heightened the likelihood of the sport ’ s first work stoppage since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Machado , Christian Yelich , all these guys are lucky that they signed , ” former Miami Marlins president David Samson said Sunday .
“ The biggest people you should watch this offseason are Mookie Betts and J.T .
Realmuto because J.T .
thought that he would surpass Joe Mauer and Buster Posey , and there is likely no chance .
And Mookie Betts thought that he would be above Bryce Harper and I would view that as much less likely now.
” The pathogen highlighted each side ’ s economic interest : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when they accrue the entirety of their salaries ; owners worry about the postseason , when $ 787 million in broadcast revenue is due .
Major League Baseball owners are left with the decision of how long a regular season to schedule after players ’ union head Tony Clark said Saturday night that “ unfortunately it appears that further dialogue with the league would be futile.
” Bruce Meyer , the union ’ s chief negotiator , sent Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem a letter that “ we demand that you inform us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday.
” A March 26 agreement called for players to receive prorated salaries and bound the sides to “ complete the fullest 2020 championship season and postseason that is economically feasible , ” consistent with a series of provisions : no government restrictions on mass gatherings , no travel restrictions and no health or safety risk “ to stage games in front of fans in each of the 30 clubs ’ home ballparks.
” It also called for MLB and the union to “ discuss in good faith the economic feasibility of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or at appropriate substitute neutral sites.
” Commissioner Rob Manfred has threatened a regular-season of about 50 games , which would lead to players receiving about 31 % of their salaries , about $ 1.23 billion .
That is less than the $ 1.27 billion they were guaranteed in the offer they turned down , a deal worth $ 1.45 billion if the postseason is completed .
MLB appears likely to announce a decision after Manfred confers with the 30 controlling owners .
Barring a move toward a deal , both sides probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim MLB failed to schedule the longest season possible and ask for money damages .
The union would say to make an evaluation it needs documents detailing the equity relationships between baseball owners and regional sports networks , and between owners and real estate ventures adjacent to ballparks .
MLB would claim the union did not bargain in good faith .
Players say they have no obligation to help clubs reduce expenses caused by playing in empty ballparks .
Agent Scott Boras says the MLB stance is akin to saying : “ When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runners no race until you fix my track.
” Arbitrator Mark Irvings , who ruled against Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant in the service time manipulation grievance filed by the union , would likely spent months ruling on document demands before the sides even start to present the merits of the case .
Players have received $ 170 million in salary advances , up to $ 286,500 each .
That means a player with a salary of about $ 925,000 or less whose contract did not include a lower rate of pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Montgomery and Plawecki , among them — already has received more money that he would be owed under the proration formula .
Those players wouldn ’ t have to return any money ; instead , the money would be paid back to MLB by the union from taxes collected from teams for exceeding international signing bonus pool thresholds .
All players will lose chances to accumulate statistics for games lost that are never made up .
While they argue and file briefs , Betts , Realmuto and the rest are unlikely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Mike Trout , Harper , Giancarlo Stanton , Gerrit Cole and Machado .
The average salary , stagnated around $ 4.4 million since 2016 , is likely to fall sharply this winter .
• WATCH : Rockies vs. Pirates simulation in MLB The Show 20 , June 14 , 2020 • As Colorado ’ s minor league cities face “ economic and cultural void , ” Grand Junction and Colorado Springs stakeholders hold out hope • Baseball players say talks futile , tell MLB to order return • Bryan Shaw gives up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pirates in MLB The Show 20 simulation And if the coronavirus lingers into 2021 , another season could be impacted .
Unless the sides reach an agreement , the sides would argue whether MLB has the right to suspend the Uniform Player Contract during a national emergency , as Manfred threatened before the March agreement .
Teams also will probably push for a pandemic provision in the guarantee language of new guaranteed contracts .
Bargaining during a major grievance will be even more difficult than usual heading into the labor contract ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Given the experience of 1994 and the union ’ s threat to strike in 2002 , teams would rather have a confrontation during spring training than in summer .
And if Joe Biden defeats Donald Trump in the presidential election and Democrats win control of both houses of Congress , player take-home could go down no matter what .
“ If the Democrats win , I think they recognize that tax rates are going to go through the roof , ” former Commissioner Fay Vincent said .
” $ 40 million is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax on that is going to be extraordinary .
”

NEW YORK — Jeremy Jeffress, Jordan Montgomery, Kevin Plawecki could be playing for free this season, earning salaries lower than what they already received as advances.
Mookie Betts, George Springer, J.T. Realmuto, James Paxton and Marcus Stroman are likely to find fewer bidders, dollars and contract years as the free-agent market lurches into a free fall next offseason.
And all of baseball could be bracing for a spring training lockout and shortened 2022 season after the coronavirus pandemic heightened the likelihood of the sport’s first work stoppage since 1994-95.
“Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Christian Yelich, all these guys are lucky that they signed,” former Miami Marlins president David Samson said Sunday. “The biggest people you should watch this offseason are Mookie Betts and J.T. Realmuto because J.T. thought that he would surpass Joe Mauer and Buster Posey, and there is likely no chance. And Mookie Betts thought that he would be above Bryce Harper and I would view that as much less likely now.”
The pathogen highlighted each side’s economic interest: players care most about the regular season, when they accrue the entirety of their salaries; owners worry about the postseason, when $787 million in broadcast revenue is due.
Major League Baseball owners are left with the decision of how long a regular season to schedule after players’ union head Tony Clark said Saturday night that “unfortunately it appears that further dialogue with the league would be futile.”
Bruce Meyer, the union’s chief negotiator, sent Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem a letter that “we demand that you inform us of your plans by close of business on Monday.”
A March 26 agreement called for players to receive prorated salaries and bound the sides to “complete the fullest 2020 championship season and postseason that is economically feasible,” consistent with a series of provisions: no government restrictions on mass gatherings, no travel restrictions and no health or safety risk “to stage games in front of fans in each of the 30 clubs’ home ballparks.”
It also called for MLB and the union to “discuss in good faith the economic feasibility of playing games in the absence of spectators or at appropriate substitute neutral sites.”
Commissioner Rob Manfred has threatened a regular-season of about 50 games, which would lead to players receiving about 31% of their salaries, about $1.23 billion. That is less than the $1.27 billion they were guaranteed in the offer they turned down, a deal worth $1.45 billion if the postseason is completed.
MLB appears likely to announce a decision after Manfred confers with the 30 controlling owners.
Barring a move toward a deal, both sides probably will file grievances. The union would claim MLB failed to schedule the longest season possible and ask for money damages.
The union would say to make an evaluation it needs documents detailing the equity relationships between baseball owners and regional sports networks, and between owners and real estate ventures adjacent to ballparks. MLB would claim the union did not bargain in good faith.
Players say they have no obligation to help clubs reduce expenses caused by playing in empty ballparks. Agent Scott Boras says the MLB stance is akin to saying: “When lighting strikes you, you tell the runners no race until you fix my track.”
Arbitrator Mark Irvings, who ruled against Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant in the service time manipulation grievance filed by the union, would likely spent months ruling on document demands before the sides even start to present the merits of the case.
Players have received $170 million in salary advances, up to $286,500 each. That means a player with a salary of about $925,000 or less whose contract did not include a lower rate of pay while in the major leagues — Jeffress, Montgomery and Plawecki, among them — already has received more money that he would be owed under the proration formula.
Those players wouldn’t have to return any money; instead, the money would be paid back to MLB by the union from taxes collected from teams for exceeding international signing bonus pool thresholds.
All players will lose chances to accumulate statistics for games lost that are never made up.
While they argue and file briefs, Betts, Realmuto and the rest are unlikely to reach the $300 million-and-more deals given to Mike Trout, Harper, Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole and Machado. The average salary, stagnated around $4.4 million since 2016, is likely to fall sharply this winter.
And if the coronavirus lingers into 2021, another season could be impacted. Unless the sides reach an agreement, the sides would argue whether MLB has the right to suspend the Uniform Player Contract during a national emergency, as Manfred threatened before the March agreement. Teams also will probably push for a pandemic provision in the guarantee language of new guaranteed contracts.
Bargaining during a major grievance will be even more difficult than usual heading into the labor contract’s expiration on Dec. 1, 2021. Given the experience of 1994 and the union’s threat to strike in 2002, teams would rather have a confrontation during spring training than in summer.
And if Joe Biden defeats Donald Trump in the presidential election and Democrats win control of both houses of Congress, player take-home could go down no matter what.
“If the Democrats win, I think they recognize that tax rates are going to go through the roof,” former Commissioner Fay Vincent said. ”$40 million is an awful lot of money, but the tax on that is going to be extraordinary.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-14--Greeley-based Pilgrim’s Pride CEO takes leave to focus on legal defense

Pilgrim ’ s Pride Corp. said Sunday that Jayson Penn , its president and CEO , is taking a leave @ @ @ @ @ his defense in a price fixing indictment .
Penn is one of four current and @ @ @ @ @ who were indicted earlier this month on charges of price fixing .
A federal grand @ @ @ @ @ executives from Greeley-based Pilgrim ’ s Pride and Claxton , Ga.-based Claxton Poultry Farms conspired @ @ @ @ @ bids for broiler chickens from at least 2012 to 2017 .
Penn has pleaded not @ @ @ @ @ Sunday that his leave will begin immediately and that Fabio Sandri , Pilgrim ’ s @ @ @ @ @ as interim president and CEO .
The charges come amid questions about the high price @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. said Sunday that Jayson Penn, its president and CEO, is taking a leave of absence to focus on his defense in a price fixing indictment.
Penn is one of four current and former executives at chicken companies who were indicted earlier this month on charges of price fixing.
A federal grand jury in Colorado found that executives from Greeley-based Pilgrim’s Pride and Claxton, Ga.-based Claxton Poultry Farms conspired to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chickens from at least 2012 to 2017.
Penn has pleaded not guilty. The company said Sunday that his leave will begin immediately and that Fabio Sandri, Pilgrim’s CFO, has been appointed as interim president and CEO.
The charges come amid questions about the high price of meat during the coronavirus pandemic.


thedenverpost--2020-06-14--Broomfield family rescued after getting lost during hike, spending night near Meadow Mountain summit

A family from Broomfield was rescued Sunday morning after getting lost during a hike and spending a night near the @ @ @ @ @ according to the Boulder County Sheriff ’ s Office .
The family of four — @ @ @ @ @ their two children — began their hike around 3 p.m. Saturday , according to a @ @ @ @ @ p.m. , they called 911 after getting lost .
They said they started a fire @ @ @ @ @ what they believed to be the south side of St. Vrain- Mountain .
At daylight @ @ @ @ @ over the ridge to the drainage where they began their hike .
A Med Evac @ @ @ @ @ near the top of the ridge around 9:19 a.m. A rescuer from the helicopter was @ @ @ @ @ The family was able to walk back to their vehicle “ with guidance of rescuers @ @ @ @ @ news release .
There were 48 people from six different agencies who assisted in the @ @ @ @ @ release .

A family from Broomfield was rescued Sunday morning after getting lost during a hike and spending a night near the summit of Meadow Mountain, according to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.
The family of four — a mother and father and their two children — began their hike around 3 p.m. Saturday, according to a news release. At 8:30 p.m., they called 911 after getting lost. They said they started a fire and spent the night in what they believed to be the south side of St. Vrain- Mountain.
At daylight, the family hiked back over the ridge to the drainage where they began their hike. A Med Evac air ambulance found the family near the top of the ridge around 9:19 a.m. A rescuer from the helicopter was dropped off to assist. The family was able to walk back to their vehicle “with guidance of rescuers,” according to the news release.
There were 48 people from six different agencies who assisted in the rescue, according to the release.


thedenverpost--2020-06-14--Colorado coronavirus cases increase by 109, but hospitalizations and positive test rate falling

Colorado ’ s infections as a result of the coronavirus continue to creep up , according to data released Sunday by health officials , while hospitalizations for those fighting COVID-19 dropped slightly .
According to the latest data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Hospital Association , the total of those hospitalized due to the coronavirus dipped late Sunday afternoon to 162 after 166 had been reported Saturday .
April 14 remains the peak point of hospitalizations with 888 statewide .
As testing for COVID-19 , the respiratory disease caused by the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of positive tests has continued to decline , with 2.47 % reported Saturday , down from 2.56 % the day before .
The Colorado Hospital Association reported that those discharged or transferred in the last 24 hours rose to 18 on Sunday from 15 on Saturday .
According to the same data , the number of adult critical care ventilators in use dropped from 270 on Saturday to 267 on Sunday .
State officials reported 29,130 cases on Saturday , up 109 from 29,021 the day before .
The number of deaths reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the same figure as in the previous reporting period .
The total of those who died while battling COVID-19 , even if their deaths were not directly attributed to the virus , was at 1,599 , up one from Friday ’ s tally .
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Colorado’s infections as a result of the coronavirus continue to creep up, according to data released Sunday by health officials, while hospitalizations for those fighting COVID-19 dropped slightly.
According to the latest data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Hospital Association, the total of those hospitalized due to the coronavirus dipped late Sunday afternoon to 162 after 166 had been reported Saturday. April 14 remains the peak point of hospitalizations with 888 statewide.
As testing for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, becomes more widely available, the ratio of positive tests has continued to decline, with 2.47% reported Saturday, down from 2.56% the day before.
The Colorado Hospital Association reported that those discharged or transferred in the last 24 hours rose to 18 on Sunday from 15 on Saturday. According to the same data, the number of adult critical care ventilators in use dropped from 270 on Saturday to 267 on Sunday.
State officials reported 29,130 cases on Saturday, up 109 from 29,021 the day before.
The number of deaths reported from COVID-19 was at 1,348 on Saturday, the same figure as in the previous reporting period. The total of those who died while battling COVID-19, even if their deaths were not directly attributed to the virus, was at 1,599, up one from Friday’s tally.
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thedenverpost--2020-06-14--Colorado wildfire update: Mandatory evacuation order issued for area near Durango

Officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for an area near Durango after a wildfire flared up on the border of Montezuma and La Plata counties Sunday afternoon .
The notice was for all residents in the Elk Springs subdivision south of U.S. 160 and Montezuma County Road 46 .
Additional evacuations were underway on La Plata County Road 105 due to the same fire , Montezuma County spokeswoman Vicki Shaffer said .
Multiple crews are working to contain the blaze after it broke out on Menefee Mountain some time after noon Sunday .
Called the East Canyon fire , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acres but is expected to grow , Shaffer said .
The cause remains unknown .
Smoke could be seen from U.S. 160 as resources responded to the blaze , including two single engine air tankers , one large air tanker , two helicopters and the San Juan Hotshot crew .
“ We ’ ve been under fire warnings for days , ” Shaffer said .
“ It ’ s very dry here and very windy and very hot.
” A second wildfire , called the Loading Pen fire , has burned up approximately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being caused by a lightning strike Saturday , Shaffer said .
It is located on U.S. Highway 145 near mile marker 28 .
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an air quality health advisory due to the wildfire smoke .
Fire danger remained high across the state Sunday , with red flag warnings issued by the National Weather Service for multiple areas .
In addition , a grass fire also broke out at 132nd Avenue and U.S. 85 on Sunday morning , Brighton Fire Rescue tweeted , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damaged .
This story will be updated .

Officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for two subdivisions on the Montezuma and La Plata county line after a wildfire flared up there Sunday afternoon.
The notice was for all residents in the Elk Springs and Elk Stream subdivisions south of U.S. 160 on Montezuma County Road 46, Montezuma County spokeswoman Vicki Shaffer said.
Those orders remained in place late Sunday night as crews worked to contain the blaze west of Durango after it broke out on Menefee Mountain some time after noon Sunday.
Called the East Canyon fire, it was first reported to be burning 40 acres around 1 p.m. but has since grown to 895 acres, Shaffer said. The cause remains unknown. Smoke could be seen from U.S. 160 as resources responded to the blaze, including two single engine air tankers, one large air tanker, two helicopters and the San Juan Hotshot crew.
A Type 3 incident management team is currently managing the fire, but there have been no reports of containment.
“No structures have been damaged at this point, and all of the residents that were affected have been evacuated,” Shaffer said.
A second wildfire, called the Loading Pen fire, has burned up approximately 13 acres in Montezuma County after being caused by a lightning strike Saturday, Shaffer said. It is located on U.S. 145 just northeast of the town of Dolores. A Type 3 team from the forest service took over management of the fire Sunday night.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an air quality health advisory due to the wildfire smoke.
Fire danger remained high across the state Sunday, with red flag warnings issued by the National Weather Service for multiple areas.
In addition, a grass fire also broke out at 132nd Avenue and U.S. 85 on Sunday morning, Brighton Fire Rescue tweeted, but it was put out and no structures were damaged.
On Sunday morning crews responded to a grass fire at 132nd and Hwy 85. Fire is out. No structures were damaged. pic.twitter.com/iYsVX2sjPN — Brighton Fire Rescue (@BrightonFire) June 14, 2020
This story will be updated.


thedenverpost--2020-06-14--Stanko Ranch near Steamboat Springs continues cattle branding tradition

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — The air around the Stanko Ranch just outside of Steamboat Springs is filled with the dust created by moving cattle , the clanking of steel gates and the steady drone of calves calling out for their mothers .
The noises are nothing new for longtime rancher Jim Stanko , who knows first-hand the rich history and traditions of branding .
“ Branding has always been a neighborhood tradition , ” Stanko said .
And while some things about branding have changed over the years , the need for a helping hand from neighbors and friends has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big crew , ” he said .
“ For me , it ’ s more of a gathering.
” This year was no exception as neighbors and family came out to the ranch on Memorial Day weekend to help brand this year ’ s crop of calves in a process that took just over two hours .
“ The brand we are using is Seven Through Seven .
It was registered in 1906 , and my grandfather purchased the brand in 1912 , ” Stanko said as he watched this year ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby calf tables that are used to catch the calf and then tilt the animal on its side where it is vaccinated , tagged and branded .
The bulls are castrated .
On the Stanko Ranch , branding marks the end of a busy spring that includes the final days of feeding and calving seasons .
In Routt County , the longtime traditions stretch from Pleasant Valley to Twentymile Park to Clark , where families and old–timers would get together each spring to put their marks on their cattle before sending them out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is pretty much a family affair , ” Stanko said .
“ Branding is one thing in the cattle industry that ’ s hard to do by yourself , so you need the help of neighbors and friends.
” The branding process is constantly being adjusted and refined .
For the second-straight year , the Stankos have moved away from the electric brands in favor of freeze branding , which is a process that freezes the hair follicles under a shaved patch of a calf ’ s flank .
The hair grows back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the process is less traumatic than the electric brand that has been used in the past .
Patrick and his wife , Jan , introduced the process last spring and have stuck with it this time around .
Patrick returned to the ranch several years ago after working for more than 20 years as an electrical engineer on the Front Range .
“ I guess I knew that I would always come back , ” said Patrick , who graduated from Steamboat Springs High School in 1988 .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give up a 100-year-old ranch.
” Like his dad before him , branding holds a special place .
“ We look forward to it , ” Patrick said .
“ It ’ s the first step , and you get to see the calves you go through , and it ’ s a just tradition .
”

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — The air around the Stanko Ranch just outside of Steamboat Springs is filled with the dust created by moving cattle, the clanking of steel gates and the steady drone of calves calling out for their mothers. The noises are nothing new for longtime rancher Jim Stanko, who knows first-hand the rich history and traditions of branding.
“Branding has always been a neighborhood tradition,” Stanko said.
And while some things about branding have changed over the years, the need for a helping hand from neighbors and friends has not.
“We have always had a big crew,” he said. “For me, it’s more of a gathering.”
This year was no exception as neighbors and family came out to the ranch on Memorial Day weekend to help brand this year’s crop of calves in a process that took just over two hours.
“The brand we are using is Seven Through Seven. It was registered in 1906, and my grandfather purchased the brand in 1912,” Stanko said as he watched this year’s calves being guided through a pair of nearby calf tables that are used to catch the calf and then tilt the animal on its side where it is vaccinated, tagged and branded. The bulls are castrated.
On the Stanko Ranch, branding marks the end of a busy spring that includes the final days of feeding and calving seasons. In Routt County, the longtime traditions stretch from Pleasant Valley to Twentymile Park to Clark, where families and old–timers would get together each spring to put their marks on their cattle before sending them out to the hay meadows.
“It is pretty much a family affair,” Stanko said. “Branding is one thing in the cattle industry that’s hard to do by yourself, so you need the help of neighbors and friends.”
The branding process is constantly being adjusted and refined. For the second-straight year, the Stankos have moved away from the electric brands in favor of freeze branding, which is a process that freezes the hair follicles under a shaved patch of a calf’s flank. The hair grows back white.
Jim’s son Patrick said the process is less traumatic than the electric brand that has been used in the past. Patrick and his wife, Jan, introduced the process last spring and have stuck with it this time around. Patrick returned to the ranch several years ago after working for more than 20 years as an electrical engineer on the Front Range.
“I guess I knew that I would always come back,” said Patrick, who graduated from Steamboat Springs High School in 1988. “It’s hard to say that you are going to give up a 100-year-old ranch.”
Like his dad before him, branding holds a special place.
“We look forward to it,” Patrick said. “It’s the first step, and you get to see the calves you go through, and it’s a just tradition.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-14--CU Buffs’ Danny Langsdorf working to get QBs ready

Given the choice , Danny Langsdorf would rather have a veteran starting quarterback to work with this season at Colorado .
There are positives to having a group with inexperience , however .
“ I think they ’ re hungry , ” said Langsdorf , in his first year as CU ’ s quarterbacks coach .
“ These guys are hungry , they ’ re willing to learn .
“ You ’ ve got a wide open competition and I think that ’ s going to make these guys perform better .
They ’ re going to have to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show us that they ’ re good enough to win the job.
” The COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty about the upcoming season , which for CU is scheduled to open at Colorado State on Sept. 5 .
The Buffs are preparing for that date with the Rams , however , and a top priority is identifying a replacement for three-year starting quarterback Steven Montez , who signed with the NFL ’ s Washington Redskins in April .
Senior Sam Noyer , junior Tyler Lytle and true freshman Brendon Lewis will compete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lytle has been sitting behind Steven for a couple years and so has Sam Noyer , ” offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini said .
“ Then you ’ ve got Brendon Lewis coming in from Texas who is a highly recruited kid and very talented .
I ’ m really excited to see those guys compete and see them execute.
” Together , the group has thrown 47 career passes – 41 by Noyer and six by Lytle – and having spring practices cancelled because of COVID-19 didn ’ t help .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disadvantage , ” Langsdorf said .
“ You ’ d like to be able to go through 15 practices in the spring and have a pretty good idea of your depth .
… We ’ re going to have to , in a short amount of time , figure it out .
We ’ re going to have to stress them , we ’ re going to have to test them and see who can handle it.
” While Langsdorf hasn ’ t had a chance to get on the field with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through virtual meetings .
“ I ’ ve been really impressed with the questions and the interaction that we ’ ve had as a group , ” Langsdorf said .
“ I think we ’ ve had so much time together , kind of going through cut-ups and going through the playbook and talking fundamentals and having an opportunity to show a lot of different stuff .
I think it ’ s really spurred some good conversation , so I ’ ve liked that about the group.
” Physically , the quarterbacks have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is eager to work with them on the field .
He is the fourth quarterbacks coach in four years for Lytle and Noyer , so Langsdorf hopes to take what they know and add to it .
“ There ’ s definitely things that they have gotten from their past coaches that that they can draw from , ” he said .
“ I ’ m going to have some definite things , details that I need and that we want that are specific to the position but I ’ m open to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some pretty strong opinions on footwork and timing , but if they ’ re playing with good effort , I think the fundamentals can always be worked on and there ’ s always a different style with people , fundamentally .
I think that ’ s just a part of teaching and being a good coach is kind of adapting to what they know and then how I can help them be better.
” Langsdorf will adapt to the skill-sets of each player , too .
While CU will have a base system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll play to the strengths of the quarterback on the field .
“ We don ’ t want to get into a situation where we ’ re trying to do something and a guy is really struggling with that , ” he said .
“ That ’ s not really fair to him or our team , so we will definitely tailor it and cater to the starter .
I ’ m not sure how this will play out , but if they ’ re all good enough to play then we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them and see what happens from there and see which is the best , but we will definitely work towards having a system that will be quarterback friendly.
” Which quarterback starts remains to be seen , but Langsdorf will give them all a shot to win the job .
“ It might be a deal where we have to rotate a little bit and just kind of figure out day by day by putting guys in different situations and putting guys as a one and a two and a three and switching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ It ’ ll be very important on our offense to figure out the starter and making sure that he ’ s going to be ready to play in the opener .
”

Given the choice, Danny Langsdorf would rather have a veteran starting quarterback to work with this season at Colorado.
There are positives to having a group with inexperience, however.
“I think they’re hungry,” said Langsdorf, in his first year as CU’s quarterbacks coach. “These guys are hungry, they’re willing to learn.
“You’ve got a wide open competition and I think that’s going to make these guys perform better. They’re going to have to bring their best every day to be able to show us that they’re good enough to win the job.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty about the upcoming season, which for CU is scheduled to open at Colorado State on Sept. 5. The Buffs are preparing for that date with the Rams, however, and a top priority is identifying a replacement for three-year starting quarterback Steven Montez, who signed with the NFL’s Washington Redskins in April.
Senior Sam Noyer, junior Tyler Lytle and true freshman Brendon Lewis will compete for the job.
“Obviously, Lytle has been sitting behind Steven for a couple years and so has Sam Noyer,” offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini said. “Then you’ve got Brendon Lewis coming in from Texas who is a highly recruited kid and very talented. I’m really excited to see those guys compete and see them execute.”
Together, the group has thrown 47 career passes – 41 by Noyer and six by Lytle – and having spring practices cancelled because of COVID-19 didn’t help.
“I would say it’s a big disadvantage,” Langsdorf said. “You’d like to be able to go through 15 practices in the spring and have a pretty good idea of your depth. … We’re going to have to, in a short amount of time, figure it out. We’re going to have to stress them, we’re going to have to test them and see who can handle it.”
While Langsdorf hasn’t had a chance to get on the field with the quarterbacks, he has tested them mentally through virtual meetings.
“I’ve been really impressed with the questions and the interaction that we’ve had as a group,” Langsdorf said. “I think we’ve had so much time together, kind of going through cut-ups and going through the playbook and talking fundamentals and having an opportunity to show a lot of different stuff. I think it’s really spurred some good conversation, so I’ve liked that about the group.”
Physically, the quarterbacks have a long way to go and Langsdorf is eager to work with them on the field. He is the fourth quarterbacks coach in four years for Lytle and Noyer, so Langsdorf hopes to take what they know and add to it.
“There’s definitely things that they have gotten from their past coaches that that they can draw from,” he said. “I’m going to have some definite things, details that I need and that we want that are specific to the position but I’m open to different ideas. I’ve got some pretty strong opinions on footwork and timing, but if they’re playing with good effort, I think the fundamentals can always be worked on and there’s always a different style with people, fundamentally. I think that’s just a part of teaching and being a good coach is kind of adapting to what they know and then how I can help them be better.”
Langsdorf will adapt to the skill-sets of each player, too. While CU will have a base system on offense, Langsdorf said they’ll play to the strengths of the quarterback on the field.
“We don’t want to get into a situation where we’re trying to do something and a guy is really struggling with that,” he said. “That’s not really fair to him or our team, so we will definitely tailor it and cater to the starter. I’m not sure how this will play out, but if they’re all good enough to play then we’ll have a package for each of them and see what happens from there and see which is the best, but we will definitely work towards having a system that will be quarterback friendly.”
Which quarterback starts remains to be seen, but Langsdorf will give them all a shot to win the job.
“It might be a deal where we have to rotate a little bit and just kind of figure out day by day by putting guys in different situations and putting guys as a one and a two and a three and switching it up and see how they respond,” he said. “It’ll be very important on our offense to figure out the starter and making sure that he’s going to be ready to play in the opener.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-14--Saints’ Alvin Kamara lauds Bubba Wallace’s courage after NASCAR’s trying week

HOMESTEAD , Fla. — Bubba Wallace wore a mask in the colors of the American flag , his hand over his heart as he stood for the national anthem .
In troubled and unprecedented times , a bit of normalcy returned to sports Sunday .
Fans — only 1,000 of them , mostly military members and their guests — were at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday , marking the first time people were on that side of the fence at a NASCAR race since the coronavirus pandemic shut down sports worldwide .
Among those fans : New Orleans Saints running back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T-shirt and cap with Wallace ’ s name on them .
Wallace is the only full-time black driver in the Cup Series , and he has essentially become the face of the movement that led to NASCAR ’ s decision last week to ban the Confederate flag from tracks .
“ He ’ s got the weight of the world on his shoulders , being the only African-American driver and with what ’ s going on with the climate of the world right now and taking a stand , ” Kamara said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ corner right now , and it takes a lot of courage to be in the place that he ’ s in and still say , ‘ You know what , I ’ m going to stand up for what ’ s right ’ instead of just being quiet.
” There wasn ’ t a Confederate flag in sight .
The U.S. colors flew in the center of the backstretch , swaying gently in the breeze .
Football legend Tony Boselli , a COVID-19 survivor , offered the invocation , fitting at a race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one of South Florida ’ s music superstars , performed “ The Star-Spangled Banner ” — like Boselli , doing so remotely .
With that , four jets from nearby Homestead Air Force Base roared in the sky over the track .
The applause that followed was just a smattering , a sliver of the normal noise levels inside the enormous outdoor stadium that has hosted racing for more than 20 years .
Still , cheers were back .
Quieter cheers , but cheers nonetheless .
“ I don ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jennifer McClellan , one of the fans in attendance .
“ But I know days like today are going to be talked about for a long time.
” Kamara thinks the same way .
Sunday was his first time at a NASCAR race , but not his first time at a NASCAR track — he caught a touchdown pass in Tennessee ’ s 45-24 win over Virginia Tech at Bristol in 2016 .
He has known Wallace for a few years , though he confessed he didn ’ t know much about auto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he laud Wallace ’ s courage for speaking out , he also had high praise for the white drivers standing with Wallace .
“ I ’ m just going to be honest and say it gives some of these white drivers , who are predominant in the sport , a platform for them to be like , ‘ You know what ?
I know it ’ s been wrong this whole time .
Let me say the right thing now , ’ ” Kamara said .
“ Maybe before they weren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue was key for Kamara — who , when he was in college , lived in a dorm where the Confederate flag was displayed two doors away .
“ For NASCAR to come together and be comfortable with where they are as a brand , as an organization to be like , ‘ You know , it ’ s been wrong this whole time ’ … you can ’ t really be mad at them for that , ” Kamara said .

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Bubba Wallace wore a mask in the colors of the American flag, his hand over his heart as he stood for the national anthem.
This time, fans joined him.
In troubled and unprecedented times, a bit of normalcy returned to sports Sunday. Fans — only 1,000 of them, mostly military members and their guests — were at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, marking the first time people were on that side of the fence at a NASCAR race since the coronavirus pandemic shut down sports worldwide.
Among those fans: New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who was wearing a T-shirt and cap with Wallace’s name on them. Wallace is the only full-time black driver in the Cup Series, and he has essentially become the face of the movement that led to NASCAR’s decision last week to ban the Confederate flag from tracks.
“He’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders, being the only African-American driver and with what’s going on with the climate of the world right now and taking a stand,” Kamara said. “He’s backed into a corner right now, and it takes a lot of courage to be in the place that he’s in and still say, ‘You know what, I’m going to stand up for what’s right’ instead of just being quiet.”
There wasn’t a Confederate flag in sight. The U.S. colors flew in the center of the backstretch, swaying gently in the breeze.
Football legend Tony Boselli, a COVID-19 survivor, offered the invocation, fitting at a race rescheduled by the pandemic. Jon Secada, one of South Florida’s music superstars, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” — like Boselli, doing so remotely.
With that, four jets from nearby Homestead Air Force Base roared in the sky over the track. The applause that followed was just a smattering, a sliver of the normal noise levels inside the enormous outdoor stadium that has hosted racing for more than 20 years.
Still, cheers were back. Quieter cheers, but cheers nonetheless.
“I don’t know a thing about NASCAR,” said Jennifer McClellan, one of the fans in attendance. “But I know days like today are going to be talked about for a long time.”
Kamara thinks the same way.
Sunday was his first time at a NASCAR race, but not his first time at a NASCAR track — he caught a touchdown pass in Tennessee’s 45-24 win over Virginia Tech at Bristol in 2016. He has known Wallace for a few years, though he confessed he didn’t know much about auto racing until now.
Not only did he laud Wallace’s courage for speaking out, he also had high praise for the white drivers standing with Wallace.
“I’m just going to be honest and say it gives some of these white drivers, who are predominant in the sport, a platform for them to be like, ‘You know what? I know it’s been wrong this whole time. Let me say the right thing now,’” Kamara said. “Maybe before they weren’t comfortable to say it.”
The flag issue was key for Kamara — who, when he was in college, lived in a dorm where the Confederate flag was displayed two doors away.
“For NASCAR to come together and be comfortable with where they are as a brand, as an organization to be like, ‘You know, it’s been wrong this whole time’ … you can’t really be mad at them for that,” Kamara said.