Broncos, Nuggets and Avs could’ve thrown Denver three parades — we had zero

The Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche had a chance to do something special over the last four months.

And while each team had great regular seasons and some memorable playoff moments, all three came up short of the ultimate goal. Which is, of course, a championship.

Fans across the Rocky Mountain Region had a legitimate shot to gather in downtown Denver for three parades over about a four-month span. None happened.

That makes the heartbreak of the Avs getting swept in the Western Conference Final by the Vegas Golden Knights that much worse. They were our last hope.

Instead it’ll be a year of zero titles because the Rockies are the worst team in MLB and have no shot. Sure, the Broncos could win the Super Bowl this coming season, but that celebration would be in 2027.

Bo Nix’s broken ankle.

Injury struggles for Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson.

Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon getting banged up at the worst possible time.

There’s a theme.

Denver feels snakebitten right now, as all three squads were unable to overcome the losses of some of their best players. The bad luck is stunning.

We had one hour to celebrate the memorable divisional-round win over the Buffalo Bills before Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced Nix was done for the year. Jarrett Stidham was brutal in an AFC Title Game loss to the Patriots.

Gordon needed to stay healthy two months for the Nuggets to win the whole thing. He couldn’t make it two postseason games. It’s not his fault, it’s just AG’s body not cooperating. And of course Watson never made it back for the playoffs and Denver bowed out in six games to Minnesota.

The Avalanche didn’t have Makar for the first two games against Vegas, a massive loss as they dug themselves an 0-2 series hole. MacKinnon was banged up with Game 3 tied 3-3 and only took four shifts in the third period, one Colorado would lose. Everyone knew it was a wrap.

There are excuses for the Broncos, Nuggets and Avalanche. No one is doubting that.

But in what was supposed to be a three (or two or one) parade year in Denver we got zero.

More championship will come to this beautiful city. Nix, Makar and MacKinnon will be back. The Nuggets still have Nikola Jokic, one of the best players on Earth.

However it’s hard not to think this was a missed opportunity. And a (sports) summer of sadness is about to commence until they all start playing once again.

Training camp for the Broncos can’t come soon enough.

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