Elvis has entered the building

Congratulations to Elvis Dumervil! News of his 6-year contract extension with the Denver Broncos was the best thing to happen since Shanahan single-handedly won our 2007 home-opener vs the Oakland Raiders by calling a timeout right before Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski kicked a field goal- allowing him to choke after the timeout. It’s nice to see the Broncos keep one of our best players instead of trading him for more unproven draft picks like we did with Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, and Tony Scheffler.
“Doom” deserved everything he got with his extension. Since 2006 he’s tied for 4th most sacks in the NFL [1st DeMarcus Ware (49.5), Jared Allen (45), Aaron Kampman (39.5), Trent Cole, Elvis Dumervil, and Julius Peppers (36)]. In 2007 he had 12.5 sacks and he led the NFL with 17 sacks in the 2009 campaign. Knowing he was deserving of a contract extension, he still had a great attitude prior to his extension. He didn’t hold out or cause distractions, trying to force an extension like other players do. He simply came to work and did his job.
I’m excited to see what Doom will do this season. He’s talked about punishing all teams that passed up on him in the draft, making them pay for not selecting him. Considering he was drafted in the 4th round of the 2006 draft makes 31 teams that will have to brace for devastation, much like a major city prepares for a hurricane. His recent success opens up a huge opportunity for fellow DL/LB Robert Ayers to make an impact, since teams will be focusing on containing him. If his sack total goes down and other players get the credit for making big plays, he is okay with that- as long as the Broncos win. That attitude alone speaks to what a great player he is.

Reeling Rockies

Despite the Rockies’ recent slide, all hope is not lost. The Rockies still sit at 51-48 this season. Looking back at this point in the 2009 campaign in which we captured the wild card we were 54-45. It’s not like this is September and the Rockies have 10 games left being 8 games behind the NL West lead. We actually have 63 games left in the 2010 regular season, 34 of those being home games, our home winning percentage for the season is .659, and we are 2.5 games behind the wild card lead. In fact, I am so confident the Rockies will make the playoffs I am more concerned about the Rockies’ winning percentage when I attend their games. My overall record is 3-4 this season while the Rockies are 1-5 when my poor friend and I go together (she is one of my only friends who is a baseball fan). The best fix to this problem is to attend games vs the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs (both teams are the epitome of futility). All jokes aside, the Rockies weathered the storm without Troy Tulowitzski, going 17-16 while he was gone, overcame injuries to Huston Street and Jorge de la Rosa earlier in the season, and despite Manny Corpas’ recent choke-jobs. If the Rockies sweep Pittsburgh and Chicago I will make no apologies. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see the Rockies win a laugher on Sunday along with a classic Lou Piniella ejection! That would get me back into the baseball spirit for now.

The decision

I feel sorry for Cleveland fans. Lebron James did them dirty! It wasn't just the fact he deserted his hometown, it was also the spectacle he created that was all about one thing; himself. His decision. It was a nice thought Lebron used his "Decision" aired by ESPN to donate money to charity, but Lebron will never be bigger than one team or the NBA for that matter. Sure, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's public letter to Cavs fans blasting Lebron made Gilbert out to be a psycho ex-girlfriend scratching and clawing! I don't blame him- he found out about Lebron's departure on ESPN just as the public found out. Lebron wasn't man enough to approach Gilbert in person to inform him of his decision to leave the Cavs. Gilbert had to stick up for Cavs fans and reassure them they were going to rebuild. I appreciated his passion. When I saw Cavs fans on TV rioting in the streets and burning his jersey, it gave me flashbacks to when Jay Cutler left Denver and all #6 jerseys of mine were drenched in gasoline and lit on fire as if we were Palestinian protesters.

People ask, "why be mad at Lebron's decision to play for the Heat?" Lebron is simply running away from the challenge of bringing a championship to his hometown and ending Cleveland's drought. If Lebron truly was serious about winning in Cleveland he would've taken less money in an extension, thus leaving room to sign other free agents in his hometown considering the fact he is financially set by his endorsement deals. Lebron is to the Heat as Scottie Pippen was to the Bulls; a sidekick. Lebron couldn't get it done with himself being the leader in Cleveland so his best chance to win now is as a sidekick to Wade in Miami. Lebron's name will never be used in the same breath as Jordan.