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Top eight Colorado sports stories of 2008
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Looking back on any year can be a mixed bag, a collection of ups and downs, highs and lows. In Colorado sports, that was certainly the case in 2008.
While no championships were won, there were still some great moments, times that set the stage for even better events down the road. On the other hand, there were also those incidents that left fans shaking their heads, wondering how their favorite teams and players could be so foolish.
After combing through 12 months of stories and notes, there were certainly plenty of options for both sides of the ledger. But in the end, here are the eight biggest Colorado sports stories of '08:
8. AFL Sacked -- After 22 seasons of playing football indoors, the Arena Football League announced in early December that the 2009 season would not take place. Led in part by the Colorado Crush's trio of owners -- Pat Bowlen, John Elway and Stan Kroenke -- the league decided to take a year off to reorganize operations. Time will tell if it returns for 2010 and beyond.
7. Sakic Tangles with Snowblower -- Already sidelined due to a bad back, the Avalanche's 39-year-old captain made matters worse in December when he did damage to three fingers in a household accident. Hand surgeons fixed the digits, but Joe Sakic will be sidelined until at least March 2009. It's definitely not the way Super Joe envisioned his final season in burgundy.
6. Tulo's Troubles -- After finishing second in the 2007 National League Rookie of the Year balloting, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was rewarded with a multi-million dollar contract. Feeling the pressure, he got out of the gates in 2008 slowly, batting under .200 through the season's first month. Then, the injury bug bit. First, Tulo was sidelined by a bad quadriceps. Then, he cut his hand when he shattered a bat in frustration. All in all, it was a forgettable sophomore season for the promising young star.
5. Melo's DUI -- Just as the NBA Playoffs were about to begin -- a visit that would once again be a short stint for the Denver Nuggets -- the team received some unwelcome news. Star forward Carmelo Anthony was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, a public relations disaster and locker-room distraction that the team certainly didn't need.
4. Marshall's Big Mac Attack -- If it wasn't so serious it would have been comical; that was the sentiment surrounding the news in March that Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall suffered severe lacerations on his arm when he fell through an entertainment center and was cut by broken glass. What made the incident humorous was the young wide out's explanation that he slipped on a McDonald's wrapper. Even media members who thought they had heard it all were amused.
3. Holliday Sent Packing -- Everyone knew it was coming, but that didn't take any of the sting away when the Colorado Rockies shipped their best player, All-Star left fielder Matt Holliday, to the Oakland A's in November. Arguably the most-prized commodity on the trade market, the Rockies only managed to receive outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, starting pitcher Greg Smith and reliever Huston Street in return. Most observers saw the move as one-sided; time will tell.
2. Cutler's Diagnosis -- At the end of the 2007 NFL season, many wondered why Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler appeared so thin and weak. During the offseason, the team discovered the reason. Cutler was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a disease that caused the signal caller to lose nearly 30 pounds during his second season in Denver. Thanks to insulin shots, better diet and a modified lifestyle, Cutler has been able to maintain his weight and remain healthy in 2008.
1. Billups-Iverson Trade -- Less than two years after he arrived in the Mile High City, future Hall of Fame guard Allen Iverson was traded away. Just four games into the 2008-09 season, the Denver Nuggets sent "The Answer" to Detroit in exchange for hometown hero Chauncey Billups, as well as big man Cheikh Samb and forward Antonio McDyess. Billups' return was the key to the deal, however, and the acquisition has paid immediate dividends for the team. During his first 20 games with the Nuggets, Denver was 16-4. With Billups in the lineup, the Nuggets are a legit contender in the Western Conference.
It was a topsy-turvy year in 2008. Here's hoping 2009 has more high than lows. Happy New Year!
