Cheers/Jeers: So long Sark, and happy birthday Big Honey
Feb 21, 2020, 6:00 AM
CHEERS | Sark withdraws from consideration at CU
As of Thursday evening, the University of Colorado remains without a permanent head football coach as another candidate — Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian — has reportedly withdrawn his consideration for the job.
And that’s just fine.
Look, Mel Tucker leaving all of Buffs Nation in the wind by leaving for Michigan State has been a shock to the system of CU fans, recruits, alumni and boosters. There is no doubt about this.
But, this is also no time to panic up in Boulder.
First, the probability of success for late-cycle head coaching hires — as argued by the Denver Post — is low. And a knee-jerk hiring of a “big name” coach like Sarkisian or Bret Bielema or Eric Bieniemy likely won’t lead to a triumphant 2020 season and may actually hurt the program in the long-term.
So, CU needs to show some patience. Let interim head coach Darrin Chiaverini lead the Buffaloes through what’s most likely going to be a lost season anyway. If he does well, let him keep the job. If he doesn’t live up to a certain standard, they’ll have had a year to find someone who will.
JEERS | Whatever higher power has a grudge against the Avs
Enough is enough. It’s time to call out whatever hockey god has decided to send his plagues at the Colorado Avalanche this season.
Earlier this week, forward Mikko Rantanen took a nasty slide into the boards, suffering an upper-body injury that will keep him out weeks. And this stint on the bench will be his second due to injury this season.
In fact, Rantanen and captain Gabriel Landeskog have combined to miss 33 games this season (a figure that will continue to grow).
And not to gloss over how badly Colorado’s literally hurting (Grubauer, Calvert, Kadri and Wilson are all still sidelined as well), Avs fans got the fuzzy end of the popsicle that was the Stadium Series debacle last weekend.
Seriously, hockey gods. Who hurt you? And how can we help?
CHEERS | Potentially more NFL regular season and postseason
Among the rumored changes coming with the new collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association is the possible addition of a 17th game along with two playoff teams — one from each conference.
There are definitely gripes to be had here, like how the players will be compensated for an extra game and the elimination of one bye week for two playoff teams.
Who doesn’t want more football? A 17-game season, with the elimination of a preseason game, makes a lot of sense.
As for the extra playoff teams, there’s upside in potentially adding another playoff-caliber team to the mix that otherwise may be eliminated by a division winner with a lesser record. Also, the exclusivity of one first-round bye per conference should keep the final week of the regular season more interesting.
JEERS | Tim Tebow losing No. 15 because of the Astros scandal
This story is annoying all the way around.
So, one of the “victims” of the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal apparently is Tim Tebow, who was stripped of his coveted No. 15 by incoming New York Mets manager Carlos Beltran.
But the number became available again when the Mets and Beltran mutually parted ways in January over his involvement in the Astros scandal, right? Wrong. The number has not been reissued by the organization, leaving Tebow with No. 85.
More cringe-worthy, perhaps, is how Tebow has been afforded the right to wear his favorite number. The dude is a 32-year-old former NFL flameout who hit .163 in Triple-A Syracuse last season.
Timmy will get the number he gets, and he’ll like it!
CHEERS | Happy birthday Nikola Jokic
Speaking of annoying, how is Nikola Jokic only 25 years old? (I feel so old).
But, in all seriousness, happy birthday to Big Honey, who made it another time around the sun on Wednesday and has quickly become a fan favorite in Denver and one of the top stars in the NBA.
And to think, Jokic’s agent nearly pulled his client’s name out of the NBA draft pool and was only persuaded not to do so when the Nuggets guaranteed they would draft him at No. 41 in 2014.
