Colorado Sports Fan Blog

Today the Denver Broncos have released linebacker Akin Ayodele. In what is being seen as a shocker from the linebacker himself. Ayodele has been the starting linebacker in the Broncos first two pre-season games. In the first two pre-season games he made eight tackles in the Broncos’ two preseason games this season, including six against the Lions on Saturday. Ayodele is one of three starting linebackers in the NFL who has played in every game since 2002. He played for Miami (2008-2009), Dallas (2006-07) and Jacksonville (2002-05) after being drafted by the Jaguars out of Purdue. He was told by the Broncos that he was released this earlier so he has a chance to sign with another team but they did not give him a direct answer to why he was released. Now the Broncos back-up linebackers will have a chance to prove themselves for that open spot.

Despite the collective bargaining agreement expiring soon, it is in Denver’s best interest to re-sign Carmelo Anthony. They always seem to put together a team that can get into the playoffs, but they do not go far. With Nene not getting any better, and Billups getting older, the Nuggets are not even going in the right direction. But to have a superstar locked up long-term would be beneficial to a team that cannot afford to go back to its miserable losing days.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

There have been many suprisingly good starts by pitchers in 2010 that haven’t had good seasons the past few years. Is it a fluke, or are these pitchers for real this season?

1. Ubaldo Jiminez: Jiminez has been by far the biggest suprise starting pitcher of 2010. With a record of 10-1 and a 0.78 ERA Jiminez has been the best pitcher in all of baseball so far this season. I think this guy is for real, he has always had a ton of strikeouts and a career ERA of 3.39. Jiminez’s win percentage has remained around .500 mostly because his team did not score a lot of runs for him in the past. I know it’s early in the season but if Jiminez doesn’t win the Cy Young Award it would be shocking. If the Rockies trade for another strong starter to help Jiminez out their team can be dangerous. The Rockies should build around Jiminez, if they don’t he may want out after the season is over.

Click here to read the full article – By Eric Heyer of Sports Fan Blog Network

This off-season the Jazz, like many other good (but not great) NBA teams face a dilemma. How can they improve when they don’t have the salary cap room to sign an impact player? The Jazz have most of their salary cap room tied up in Deron Williams, the NBA’s top point guard, and an assortment of role players such as Andrei Kirilenko, Paul Millsap and Mehmet Okur. All three of those players are good, but are they the kind of players who can lead a team to an NBA title? Most observers of the NBA would say no. With the likely departure of Carlos Boozer, the Jazz are in a position where they are forced to insert Millsap, previously a bench player, into the starting lineup.

To make matters worse, the Jazz entered this season holding the New York Knicks’ first round draft pick which was projected to be a top-3 pick. Unfortunately, however, the Knicks slightly out-performed their expectations and the Jazz are left holding the 9th pick in the draft. The pick, while useful, will probably not propel the Jazz to the top of the western conference. With that in mind, how can the Jazz elevate their talent level to be able to compete with the Lakers?

In all honesty, the only real way for the Jazz to improve would come from either a lucky draft pick or from a trade. While the Jazz are set at point guard for the foreseeable future, they need to add a scoring threat at shooting guard, along with a shot-blocking presence on defense. Unfotunately, these players do not come cheaply, and it will take either good luck or a skillful trade in order to acquire a player who can raise the Jazz from the level of a perennial 4th or 5th seed, to the kind of team that can consistently challenge the NBA’s elite.

Maybe a couple of years ago, Ubaldo Jimenez’s emotions would have gotten the best of him. But not now. Not after his evolution into the most dominant pitcher in baseball.

“I went to bed at 10 last night and slept great,” Jimenez said. “I was anticipating this game, but I was like, ‘Don’t get too high. Just go out there and try to execute your pitches. Throw your fastball for strikes.’ And that’s what I did.”

It sounds so simple, and for Jimenez, it is. His start Monday versus the San Francisco Giants may have been more hyped than his previous 10, but his MO, his demeanor and the results were largely the same as the others.

Click here to read the full article – By Jim Armstrong of The Denver Post

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Congratulations, Rockies fan. You finally have an ace. Not since the late Darryl Kile has the Rockies had a legitimate #1 starting pitcher. That was supposed to be Mike Hampton, but clearly, that did not work out. Part of it is the fact that pitching at Coors Field is a chore. But even if it is a chore, it can be done. Ubaldo Jimenez looks to be the real deal. After looking impressive last year, Jimenez started off this season with a no-hitter. A no-hitter is a great feat, but it does not prove anything. Bud Smith once got a no hitter. Who? That’s what I thought.

But at 7-1 with a 1.12 ERA, Jimenez looks like the ace that Rockies fans have desired for years. His ERA is even just 1.80 ERA at home. And at this point, anything below a 3.00 ERA at Coors Field would be considered amazing. While Mike Hampton was supposed to have this success, at least it looks like it’s coming almost ten years later.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

George Karl, not long after spending a week in the hospital dealing with complications from his battle with throat and neck cancer, said he’s feeling better and plans to return to the Denver Nuggets as coach next season, The Denver Post reported.

“I’ll be excited to be back on the bench — that’s what I do, that’s the dream,” Karl told the newspaper Thursday.

Karl completed a six-week treatment of chemotherapy and radiation for throat and neck cancer in April. He has also been hospitalized twice for blood clots since starting the regimen.

Karl was discharged last week after spending nearly a week in the hospital for the clots.

“I don’t see that happening,” Karl told The Post when asked if there was a situation where he would not return, “but I am going to put my health first, and come next fall, if the doctors don’t feel it’s a wise thing and I don’t think it’s a wise thing, [then we'll reevaluate]. But my feeling is the exact opposite. We’re in a good place, the steps have been good, the tests have been good and I’ve just got to keep plugging away every day.”

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

The Utah Jazz finally got some good news about an injured player.

Well, “good” might be pushing it. But for the shorthanded Jazz, even the slightest bit of optimism was a welcome change as Utah tried to piece together another lineup to face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.

Forward Andrei Kirilenko said Wednesday that there was a slight chance he could return from a nagging calf injury in time to join the Jazz if the series goes six or seven games — a much bigger possibility after Utah’s 114-111 win at Denver evened the series 1-1 on Monday night.

“It’s probably highly unlikely, but maybe,” said Kirilenko, who received a dose of platelet-rich plasma therapy to his strained left calf Monday. The injury caused him to miss 15 of Utah’s final 17 games in the regular season and flared up each time Kirilenko thought he was close to returning.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor says center Mehmet Okur has a torn left Achilles tendon and is out for the remainder of the playoffs.

Okur needs surgery and will likely miss the world championships this summer in his native Turkey. He flew home to Salt Lake City on Sunday after an MRI revealed the tear.

“It’s horrible, man. We feel bad for Memo,” Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said.

Okur was injured while driving to the basket in the first half of Utah’s Game 1 loss at Denver on Saturday night. Before the game, he had taken a painkilling shot to treat his Achilles tendinitis, which he had been dealing with since April 7.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com