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Alan Tapley Colorado Sports & Culture Writer

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years. His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship

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Broncos, Bo, and Barely Betting the Over

According to MGMBet, the Denver Broncos win total has been set at 9.5 for the 2026 NFL season. On the surface, the number seems a little low for a team that went 14-3 last season and would have mad…

According to MGMBet,…

According to MGMBet, the Denver Broncos win total has been set at 9.5 for the 2026 NFL season. On the surface, the number seems a little low for a team that went 14-3 last season and would have made the Super Bowl if Bo Nix hadn’t been nixed for the backward-throwing backup, Jarret Stidham. But after just squeaking by the New York Jets (13-11), New York Giants (33-32), Washington Commanders (27-26 in OT), and others, Vegas is betting that a tough schedule and a quarterback coming off a fractured right ankle have 9.5 wins priced accordingly. I’ll take the over. While the schedul…

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Are NBA GMs Smoking Crack?

I realize that NBA General Managers are relatively handcuffed when it comes to building their franchises. There are cap restrictions, veteran minimums, and large tax ramifications for entering the …

I realize that NBA G…

I realize that NBA General Managers are relatively handcuffed when it comes to building their franchises. There are cap restrictions, veteran minimums, and large tax ramifications for entering the Second Apron. Your team is stuck with players on bad contracts, aging players, injured players, and players looking for an extension. Add to it that there are only a limited number of free agents available each season, and executing trades can be extremely difficult based on matching salaries, agreeing on players, and exchanging draft picks or swaps. But I’m pretty sure today’s GMs ar…

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LeBron’s Next Team – Don’t Sleep on Brooklyn

Michael Jordan ended his career with the Washington Wizards, Tom Brady exited as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, and Willie Mays took his final swing as a New York Met. After 23 seasons in the NBA, includin…

Michael Jordan ended…

Michael Jordan ended his career with the Washington Wizards, Tom Brady exited as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, and Willie Mays took his final swing as a New York Met. After 23 seasons in the NBA, including 11 with Cleveland, 4 with Miami, and 8 with the Lakers, no one will be surprised to see LeBron James in a new uniform. But the question is which uniform? If you’re into the Ring Chasing Theory, the most obvious landing spots for LeBron look to be the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, or Oklahoma City Thunder. LeBron in Madison Square Garden sounds good, but it’s unlikely that …

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NBA Draft, Jaylen Brown Gets the Shaft, and Five Monster Trades (Don’t Laugh)

The NBA Draft is tonight, and there are two things that I am sure of. AJ Dybantsa is going first overall to the Washington Wizards, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to the Miami Heat. The rest i…

The NBA Draft is ton…

The NBA Draft is tonight, and there are two things that I am sure of. AJ Dybantsa is going first overall to the Washington Wizards, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to the Miami Heat. The rest is a bit of a guessing game. For Giannis, his decision had to be tough. Go to the Celtics and play alongside Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and compete for another Championship. Or go to the Miami Heat and live on the beach next to Lionel Messi. As for the rest of the NBA, I do have some predictions about tonight’s NBA Draft, and a few trades that I could see happening soon. 1)…

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World Cup Soccer – They Have Ronaldo, and We Have Ted Lasso

Every four years, the greatest players from across the globe come together to compete for soccer’s biggest prize. The World Cup. Forty-eight teams, from Algeria to Uzbekistan, will bring the…

Every four years, th…

Every four years, the greatest players from across the globe come together to compete for soccer’s biggest prize. The World Cup. Forty-eight teams, from Algeria to Uzbekistan, will bring their country’s best athletes, and millions of their fans will come along for the ride. And then there’s Team USA. If you asked me to name the most famous US soccer player ever, I would probably give you names like Mia Hamm, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, or Dennis Rodman’s daughter. If you asked me to name the most famous US soccer player that doesn’t wear a jogging bra, I’d probably…

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Wemby – C’est Magnifique!

Summer is here, and school is out. But before you plan that next family vacation to Paris, or backpack your way through the Loire Valley, please be advised that the King of France is already here, …

Summer is here, and …

Summer is here, and school is out. But before you plan that next family vacation to Paris, or backpack your way through the Loire Valley, please be advised that the King of France is already here, stateside. And his name is Victor Wembanyama. Rene Descartes, the great French Philosopher, once spoke, “I think, therefore I am.” After scoring 33 points for the San Antonio Spurs in a Game Four win over OKC, it was the great French Superstar, Victor Wembanyama, who spoke, “I sink (buckets), therefore I’m Him.” You’ve heard of the French Foreign Legion. Wemby could soo…

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The NBA Playoffs – Limping to the Title

Let me get this straight. The Denver Nuggets are now down three games to two after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 125-113, at the Pepsi Center last night. But Minnesota was without the in…

Let me get this stra…

Let me get this straight. The Denver Nuggets are now down three games to two after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 125-113, at the Pepsi Center last night. But Minnesota was without the injured Anthony Edwards (knee), the injured Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles), and Naz Reid, who left the game with an injury after just 12 minutes. Meaning, if the injured Aaron Gordon can return for Game Six, the Nuggets can force a Game Seven, allowing the return of the injured Peyton Watson. • The Timberwolves went from a gentleman’s sweep to seeing gentle men weep. • Anthony Edwards ha…

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Not Much Rain – But April is Showering us with Sports

April in Colorado. It’s when the ski resorts close and the snow finally comes. It’s seeing your favorite team at Coors Field and watching the Rockies, too. It’s McIlroy at the Masters…

April in Colorado. …

April in Colorado. It’s when the ski resorts close and the snow finally comes. It’s seeing your favorite team at Coors Field and watching the Rockies, too. It’s McIlroy at the Masters and Deion at the Spring game. It’s playoff hockey, playoff basketball, and the Frozen Four. And it’s the anticipation of possibly the biggest day of the month, Draft Day. • To clarify, I was referring to the NFL Draft (April 23-25), and not the WNBA Draft that apparently happened on Monday. Hopefully, everyone read my WNBA Mock Draft, where I mocked the draft for being on a rand…

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The Colorado Rockies – A Comedy of Errors

You expected to hear about March Madness and the upset? Well, it’s March, and I’m mad and upset. Forget about the Final Four. The baseball season has just begun, and I’m just thankful the…

You expected to hear…

You expected to hear about March Madness and the upset? Well, it’s March, and I’m mad and upset. Forget about the Final Four. The baseball season has just begun, and I’m just thankful the Rockies aren’t 0-4. But after seven straight losing seasons, including the last three in which the team lost over 100 games, I decided to try to put a positive spin on things. Apparently, balls don’t spin as much at high altitude. Welcome to another season of Colorado Rockies baseball. • Where parking costs you $20, a beer costs $18, and tickets go for $6.50 on StubHub. • …

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March Madness – Winners, Losers, and Boozers

It’s Saint Patrick’s Day, it’s March Madness, I have picks for you, I have the luck of the Irish, and today, I’m feeling like a genius! Sorry, I mean that I’m feeling like a Guinness! …

It’s Saint Patrick…

It’s Saint Patrick’s Day, it’s March Madness, I have picks for you, I have the luck of the Irish, and today, I’m feeling like a genius! Sorry, I mean that I’m feeling like a Guinness! So, grab those bracket sheets, a pen with plenty of ink, join me for that beer, and let’s have some fun! To begin with, what’s up with the First Four not quite being part of the Big Dance? The games are listed at the top of my bracket; You can bet on them on DraftKings. These teams are not on “the bubble,” and they are playing meaningful games in March. If you make me see UMBC on …

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A Winter Olympics Recap – Kash, Condoms, and Chaos

Maybe it’s just that it’s hard to watch the Winter Olympics when Colorado doesn’t get snow anymore, but times have changed. I can still remember years ago, sitting around with my family, not …

Maybe it’s just th…

Maybe it’s just that it’s hard to watch the Winter Olympics when Colorado doesn’t get snow anymore, but times have changed. I can still remember years ago, sitting around with my family, not knowing any results, cheering for the USA during a delayed, recorded broadcast. Now, instead of sitting with my family, I’m yelling to my family, “Hey, I found Peacock! Can someone help me with the freaking QR code?!!” The Winter Olympics are just different these days. • First of all, whose idea was it to have the Winter Olympics in Italy? The Italians don’t ski, snowboard, or…

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The NBA is Broken

It would have been nice to see Steph Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), or Giannis Antetokounmpo in the All-Star Game this past weekend, but sadly, all were out with injuries. Team World played …

It would have been n…

It would have been nice to see Steph Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), or Giannis Antetokounmpo in the All-Star Game this past weekend, but sadly, all were out with injuries. Team World played most of the contest without Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and, of course, SGA and Giannis. In other words, Team World was in a World of Hurt. Or did you happen to catch rookie sensation Cooper Flagg in the Rising Stars? Me neither. Plenty of Team Stars and Team Stripes this weekend, but Team Flagg was out with a bad foot. Rising Stars? Or Falling Stars? Lebron James missed his 18th ga…

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Has the Sporting World Gone Crazy?

Okay, let’s see if I have this correct. Jarrett Stidham almost went to the Super Bowl, Bill Belichick failed to make the Hall of Fame, and Shedeur Sanders is a Pro Bowler? New England is back …

Okay, let’s see if…

Okay, let’s see if I have this correct. Jarrett Stidham almost went to the Super Bowl, Bill Belichick failed to make the Hall of Fame, and Shedeur Sanders is a Pro Bowler? New England is back in the Super Bowl again, everyone hates Bad Bunny, and Sam Darnold is the MVP favorite? The Winter Olympics have the USA competing against the world, the NBA All-Star game have the USA competing against the world, and the NFL Pro Bowl have the US competing against each other in dodgeball? What the heck is going on here? • Despite the New England Patriots making it back to the big game, …

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Predicting The NFL Playoffs – The Road to Santa Clara

After Tyler Hoop’s field goal attempt sailed to the right, the NFL playoff matchups were finally ready to go. The Seattle Seahawks (14-3) and Denver Broncos (14-3) secured the number one seeds an…

After Tyler Hoop’s…

After Tyler Hoop’s field goal attempt sailed to the right, the NFL playoff matchups were finally ready to go. The Seattle Seahawks (14-3) and Denver Broncos (14-3) secured the number one seeds and a first-round bye. The Eagles (11-6), Chargers (11-6), and Packers (9-7-1) all rested their starters as they positioned themselves for the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) stole another one. And somebody had to win the NFC South. If defense wins championships, Houston (12-5), Seattle, and Denver are ready. If experience matters, Stafford, Hurts, and Rodgers are your men. …

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‘Tis the Season – An NFL Playoff Poem

So, for Christmas, my Wishlist is clear Bo Nix, in the mix, and a beer With Mahomes’ ACL tore The Ravens, Lamar, nevermore The NFL Playoffs are near! No Burrow, Dan Campbell, no Goff Am I si…

So, for Christmas, m…

So, for Christmas, my Wishlist is clear Bo Nix, in the mix, and a beer With Mahomes’ ACL tore The Ravens, Lamar, nevermore The NFL Playoffs are near! No Burrow, Dan Campbell, no Goff Am I sick? Turn my head? Should I cough? For the Orange and the Blue It’s a dream coming true For the rest of the teams, yeah, they’re soft Let’s start off with Christian McCaffrey Finally healthy, no bad calf or a bad knee No news could be finer For the fans of the Niners But I’m Purdy sure they’re fading fastly New England, their schedule quite shady Opponent’s record like 1…

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Notre Dame, Snoop Dogg, and the College Football Playoffs

After a wild football weekend in which Indiana upset Ohio State, Georgia dominated Alabama, and Duke toppled Virginia, the College Football Playoffs seemed relatively set. The Hoosiers (13-0) were …

After a wild footbal…

After a wild football weekend in which Indiana upset Ohio State, Georgia dominated Alabama, and Duke toppled Virginia, the College Football Playoffs seemed relatively set. The Hoosiers (13-0) were certain to be the number one seed, while Ohio State (12-1), Georgia (12-1), Texas Tech (12-1), Oregon (11-1), Ole Miss (11-1), Texas A&M (11-1), and Oklahoma (10-2) all seemed relatively safe. That’s when things got a little complicated. With just four spots available and confusing rules that allow high-ranked conference champions a spot, 20th-ranked Tulane (11-2) and 24th-ranked James…

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The NBA – More Tanking than an Aquarium

In the Western Conference, it may be premature to crown the Oklahoma City Thunder after just three weeks of the NBA season, but at 17-1 and with all-star Jalen Williams still rehabbing from wrist surg…

In the Western Confe…

In the Western Conference, it may be premature to crown the Oklahoma City Thunder after just three weeks of the NBA season, but at 17-1 and with all-star Jalen Williams still rehabbing from wrist surgery, the Thunder seems to be playing chess while the rest of the league plays checkers. Which is ironic, because it’s Oklahoma City, where I doubt that their local Walmart even carries chessboards. The Denver Nuggets (13-4) and their reloaded roster seem to have struck gold as well, despite injuries to Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon. Luka and the Los Angeles Lakers (12-4) are off to a…

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The Recipe for a Rockies Turnaround – Jonah Hill?

The Colorado Rockies hired Paul DePodesta last week as their new Head of Baseball Operations. DePodesta, most recently the Chief Strategy Officer for the Cleveland Browns, was best known for his wo…

The Colorado Rockies…

The Colorado Rockies hired Paul DePodesta last week as their new Head of Baseball Operations. DePodesta, most recently the Chief Strategy Officer for the Cleveland Browns, was best known for his work with the 2002 Oakland A’s under Billy Beane, where sabermetrics and analytics helped inspire the hit movie “Moneyball” (2011). “Moneyball” is based on a true story in which Beane, played by Brad Pitt, hires a young Yale graduate to help turn a struggling franchise all the way into a champion. But the Monfort family didn’t hire Brad Pitt. Instead, they got the socially awkw…

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A Day on Boulder Creek

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