The Identity Crises of the NFL and Fraternity/Sorority Life

All the recent headlines regarding NFL players and their apparent propensity for crime has sparked some really interesting dialogue. As I've listened to the condemnation of the apparent rise in crime associated with these players, and compare that to those vehemently defending and supporting the professional athlete community, the more I see similarities in some of the work I did as a fraternity professional. For those of you who are tapped into the professional fraternity/sorority world, this might be an interesting topic for you to consider.

For fraternity/sorority professionals, one of the most confounding and frustrating issues is that of the "biased media." Our members (students and alumni alike) are always quick to complain how our organizations are unfairly depicted as safe havens for alcoholism, hazing, sexual violence, chauvinism and bigotry. This image is widespread, and it's such an unfair representation of our movement as a whole. The truth is, the percentage of members who actively engage in these devious acts is statistically minuscule. Most fraternity/sorority members are basically good people who strive to live meaningful and purposeful lives. So of course, we're victims of biased and unfair public image, right?

Of course not.

This image exists, because it's the reality of our community. Whether it's one member or one thousand, their actions will be directly correlated to our organizations and our community, whether we like it or not. Our members can increase their community service hours every semester for the next fifty years, but if there are still instances of hazing, sexual assault and substance abuse linked to fraternity membership, those realities will trump any feel-good story submitted to the campus newspaper.

The fact that a select few tragic events get more media coverage than the countless positive fraternity contributions is largely irrelevant, but that’s not something we an easy time swallowing. For us, it’s difficult to understand how something so important and positive in their our lives can be viewed with such disdain by the general public. Who can really blame us? When we work hard to promote something positive, and a select few individuals’ mistakes contradict any progress we’ve made, we’re going to feel victimized and unfairly punished. It’s a legitimate tragedy when a statistically irrelevant portion of a community controls and defines its image, but that’s the world in which we live. We can't allow our emotions to prevent us from addressing the issue head-on.

Enter, Aaron Hernandez and the slew of NFL players lining up for mug shots and court dates. If you’re a football fan, you’ve certainly noticed what seems to be a rise in off-the-field issues with NFL players. It seems like there’s a new scandal every week involving a DUI, weapons charges, drugs, steroids, domestic violence or sexual assault. It’s gotten so widespread, it’s almost comical. The recent Aaron Hernandez murder case has grown the microscope ten-fold, and it’s hard to imagine how the NFL is going to find a simple fix to what’s become a very serious image problem. With media outlets giving round-the-clock coverage to the felonious actions of NFL players, these indiscretions have taken center-stage.

So with such an obvious increase in these stories, NFL players must have astronomical arrest rates, right? Wrong. I read an article on Deadspin recently that cites statistics that blew me away. As of December 2012, the arrest rate for NFL players was 2.9%. Compare that to the 10.9% of American males between the ages of 22 and 34, and it’s statistically proven that the NFL is comprised of a disproportionate number of law-abiding citizens. Given current public opinion, this is absolutely counter-intuitive, and many NFL apologists are defending the league and its members with these statistics. Surely, holding the opinion that professional athletes are mostly thugs is simply wrong if the statistics say otherwise, right? To me, it’s not that simple. The fact that these incidents occur in such a small portion of the population doesn't mean that there isn't a problem, and the principles of the issue are identical to the identity crisis of the fraternity/sorority community. 

Like college fraternities, the NFL is experiencing unprecedented growth and popularity. Both are known to be exclusive, and membership in either of these gives its members a sense of prestige. When a fraternity is “attacked” in the media, the thousands upon thousands of members who had positive experiences feel compelled to defend their organization and shout about the inequity of media coverage that tarnishes public opinion. NFL fans, by and large, have very similar affinities to their teams, and their actions mirror those of the fraternity apologists.

When the public starts to question the quality of men on our professional football teams, fans quickly scour Google (or Bing, if you’re into that kind of thing) for feel-good stories of their favorite NFL players. Charitable foundations, community service involvement and various forms of advocacy are constantly used to counter the indiscretions of the select few players who rape, assault, steal, cheat, smoke, snort and murder.

“Why aren’t these stories making the front page of ESPN.com?”

“Why isn’t Jeremy Schaap reporting outside of the inner-city schools where NFL players are working with at-risk youth?”

“The media won’t talk about the good things NFL players do because it isn’t as good for their ratings. It’s their fault so many people think athletes are criminals.”

My fraternity/sorority life friends will read those statements with an intense feeling of déjà-vu, and I think it’s important that this compartmentalized conversation is elevated to a bigger stage. As long as NFL players are being arrested for DUI manslaughter. Or dog fighting. Or steroids. Or street racing. Or rape. Or murder. As long as these issues persist, the NFL’s reputation as a league of criminals, thugs and misfits will perpetuate. Peyton Manning can donate all the money he has to Pat Summitt’s Alzheimer’s foundation, but it won’t bring Odin Lloyd back to life. It won’t save Chad Johnson’s wife from the years of therapy she’ll need from the abuse she suffered. It won’t console the victims of these crimes any more than a successful fraternity philanthropy event will console the families of Blake Hammontree or Gordie Bailey. Attempting to bury tragedy with feel-good stories won't change the fact that the tragedies occurred in the first place.

To me, it's changed the way I look at these situations. Is it unfortunate that a select few misfits define the communities they comprise? Absolutely, but that doesn't diminish the fact that they reside within these communities. We need to stop trying to bury the bad news with the good. The NFL is going to have to tackle this issue head-on (without leading with their helmet, of course), just as the fraternity/sorority community is doing its best to change the fundamental behaviors of the outlying members who commit these atrocities. It's not OK that these things happen. The good doesn't outweigh the bad. The mere existence of the "bad" is cause enough for outrage.

-Sam

Bring Back DU Football

I'm a proud DU graduate, no question.  I loved every day I spent at the University of Denver, and having a Frozen Four contender year after year made it easy to follow college hockey. Truth is, the Pioneers have put together one of the best athletic programs in the nation.  28 National Championships is no easy feat (even if they're only in Hockey and Skiing), and watching the resurgence of Men's hoops and Lacrosse has be unreal. We even got an opportunity this year to play in a conference that fields teams in our own time-zone.

With this kind of momentum, what better time to bring back DU football? Let's look first at the objections, and through the magic of my words, you'll see that they're really irrelevant:

1:  A football program costs too much money to maintain


The University of Denver left the gridiron in 1961 for "financial reasons," hoping to pour more resources into academics, but those were very different days.  The lifeblood of a Division I athletic program is the revenue generated by the football team. If fans are willing to camp out all night for Hockey season tickets, you better believe you'd be selling out games for a new football team.


Denver won't need to build a stadium; between the facilities at Dick's Sporting Goods Park (capacity: 18,000) and Denver Coliseum (capacity: 10,200), you've got two perfectly suitable short-term solutions, and I don't think you'd be hard-pressed to find a few donors who would be willing to beef up Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium's capacity to somewhere near 10,000.

2. DU couldn't be competitive with established D-I teams.

Why not?  A Lacrosse powerhouse west of the Mississippi was laughable ten years ago, but coaching legend Bill Tierney saw the coaching position as an opportunity to blaze a trail. There are plenty of great coordinators out there who would jump at the idea of kick-starting a brand new program.


Start in the FCS for the first 2-3 years. We'd get our bell rung by perennial contenders like Montana or North Dakota State, but after a few away games at schools like Oregon, USC, or Texas, we'd be bringing in hefty bags filled with hundred-dollar bills earmarked for improvements to the team's facilities. Why do you think mid-majors schedule those games?  They're easy money, and they get the team experience playing against the nation's best.  Schedule one or two a year, and DU could be playing in the WAC (competitively) in five years.

3.  When the superconferences form, the mid-majors will be irrelevant in five years.

Where most people see a problem, I see an opportunity.  Mid-major conferences are going to need to get creative to stay relevant.  They're going to lose teams like Boise State, TCU, and Utah, but others will step up and take their place.


Emulation is the most sincere form of flattery, and I'd bet money that the mid-major conferences (WAC, Mountain West, MAC, C-USA, even the lowly Sun Belt) will start to merge and trade teams to keep up with the PAC-16's and Big 20's of the world.  DU would fit perfectly into the long-term vision of D-I football, providing a large television market for the seemingly small-time conference.

4.  Outside of DU grads, who gives a rat's ass about DU? CU and CSU already have the Colorado market on lock-down.

My counter: "Outside of Boise State grads, who gives a rat's ass about Boise State?  Idaho already has that state on lockdown." 15 years ago, the BCS-busting Broncos were a D-II program overshadowed by the larger and more well-established University of Idaho.  Add a great coach and some blue turf, and you have one of the most infamous programs in the nation less than two decades later.  Hell, that same coach is probably dying to get back to Colorado (Dan Hawkins)...actually, let's not open that Pandora's box.  But you get my point.  There's plenty of room to share in Colorado.

5. DU is too small to support a D-I football program.

I am, and always will be, a true believer in the term, "size doesn't matter." (insert double-entendre reference here).  Denver can't claim to be a big school, but that hasn't stopped other programs from being successful.  Marshall (enrollment: 9,692), Tulsa (enrollment: 2,987), and SMU (enrollment: 7,000) all have respectable programs, and Northwestern (enrollment: 8,425) and Wake Forest (enrollment: 4,412) hold their own in supposed power conferences. At 5,455 students, DU has no reason to use size as a deterrent to get in the game.

The University of Denver is very proud of it's heritage.  From the first day of freshman orientation, students are taught to have pride in their school, to support their athletes, and to represent the greatest state in the nation with dignity and passion.  Bringing football back to DU can only add to the pride we, as graduates, feel for our university.  I'll even throw in five or ten bucks if it helps get the ball rolling.

D-rah, E-rah, N-rah V-E-R Boom.

-Sam

You Heard it Here First: 2011 NFL Predictions

Alright, let's try this again.  Football's back, and so is my blog.  So to the four people following me, if you're still out there, prepare for a cataclysmic dropping of knowledge that'll rattle your ancestors.

With the NFL labor issues dragging through the summer, I was starting to stockpile nonperishable goods and ammunition in preparations for the impending apocalypse.  Thankfully, everything was resolved in time for Sunday Funday season, and I've dialed back the fatalistic attitude. As long as we have the NFL, I don't see any reason to give credence to the Mayan 2012 end-of-days rumors.

To kick off this season, I want to go on the record early with my predictions.  You heard it here first. Here's what we can look forward to in the coming months:

Offensive Rookie of the Year:
A.J. Green (WR), Cincinnati Bengals
This guy is a complete manimal.  He's a huge target at 6'4'', and rookie QB Andy Dalton is going to be looking for a favorite receiver.  Combine Green's skills with a comparably weak receiving corps around him, and you can look for game-changing plays and big numbers from A.J. Green this season.  Cam Newton could offer up some competition for the title, and I'm expecting Daniel Thomas, RB for Miami, to prove that he's an adequate replacement for the Dolphins' new look backfield, but this will be Green's year.

Defensive Rookie of the Year:
Von Miller (LB), Denver Broncos
Call it a fan bias all you want, but the #2 overall pick had a monster preseason, and he flat out flies to the ball.  He hustles, he finishes plays, and he plays smart.  He also brings a devastating pass rush that's sure to grab some attention this season.  He's simply a cut above anyone else in this rookie class, and the Broncos are in a much better position on defense than they were last year.  Nick Fairley should make a big impact in his first season alongside Ndamukong Suh (speaking of monsters), but that pairing will hurt his numbers as much as it helps his team (Think Saving Private and The Thin Red Line splitting Oscar votes.)


Comeback Player of the Year:
Plaxico Burress (WR), New York Jets
I'm tempted to pick Elvis Dumervil here, and Matthew Stafford intrigues me (although he's never really achieved anything to "come back" to), but I think Burress hit the jackpot when he signed with the Jets.  He'll have no problems getting familiar with a new city, and he's arguably a bigger name than any of the other receivers playing for New York.  I have premier status on the Mark Sanchez hate-train, but I foresee a solid football relationship between these two.

I don't like the idea of using America's penitentiaries as recruiting grounds for NFL free agency, and my hope is that we get a better "feel-good story" next season, but Burress should get the nod for comeback player this year unless he...err..shoots himself in the foot (Yep. I said it.  I'm sorry I'm not sorry).


Defensive Player of the Year:
Clay Matthews (LB), Green Bay Packers
If the Geico caveman and Conan the Barbarian had offspring, he'd look like Clay Matthews.  If Lawrence Taylor and Dick Butkus had offspring, he'd play like Clay Matthews.  He's vicious, ruthless, savage, terrifying, and electrifying to watch, and he's one of the biggest reasons Green Bay has a shot at repeating this year.  I'm expecting big years out of Darrelle Revis, Cameron Wake, and Troy Polamalu, but Matthews will get the nod when all is said and done.

Offensive Player of the Year:
Michael Vick (QB), Philadelphia Eagles
It's taken Vick ten years and a prison sentence to live up to the hype, but last year was one hell of a coming-out party.  There isn't much to be said that hasn't been said a thousand times by more credible writers, but Michael Vick has changed the way people view the quarterback position.  He's the best athlete on the field at any given moment, capable of beating you with his feet or his arm, and he's much more intelligent than people realize.  This year, he'll be able to rely on DeSean Jackson's speed, and Jeremy Maclin fills in nicely for tough yardage and red zone situations.  LeSean McCoy is a great back, but he's as big a threat catching as he is running the ball, which will pad Vick's stats even more.  Bottom line: if Vick stays healthy, he beats out Tom Brady by a few votes.  If Vick goes down, look for Brady to repeat.


Superbowl 2012:
Baltimore Ravens 35, Philadelphia Eagles 31
You can't knock Green Bay's chances for a repeat, but the Eagles' offseason moves position them as the favorite out of the NFC. Their division is typically pretty stout, but I'm not buying into any talk of a revived Cowboys squad, and the Giants and Redskins don't have the talent to match up with Philly.

The Ravens have been on the cusp for so long, but I see this year as a breakout year for Joe Flacco.  He's got great support in the backfield with Ray Rice, and his receiving corps has been upgraded over the past two years with Anquan Boldin and Lee Evans. Combine an underrated offense with their perennially dominant defense, and you get what looks to me like a championship-caliber team.

I envision a close game, and Philly can score against anyone, but in this game, Flacco and company prove the doubters that they can put up points when it matters and hoist the Lombardi trophy when the confetti starts to fly.

If Ray Lewis murders someone this season, however, I might have to rethink my prediction... But what are the odds that that could happen twice in one career?

-Sam

February Couch QB Countdown - Top Fight Songs

The first installment of the Couch QB Countdown chronicles the top fight songs in college sports.  Arguments and criticisms are always welcome.  Without further ado, here are the lucky winners:

10.  "Aggie War Hymn" - Texas A&M University:  A fight song in every sense of the word, the Aggie War Hymn sounds like everything a fight song should sound like.  It's militaristic, patriotic, and the lyrics describe the emasculation of their rival's mascot.  When you include a line that reads, "saw varsity's horns off", you earn a spot on this countdown.

9.  "Fight CU" - University of Colorado:  Sure, I'm biased.  Of course I'll admit it, but this is still one of the most underrated fight songs out there.  It embodies everything a fight song should be.  The lyrics leave out the accouterments that make most school anthems cheesy, and it strips everything down to one simple message:  the Buffaloes are here to win.  The words "fight", "win", and "victory" make up more than 25% of the entire song, and the "shoulder to shoulder" mantra paints a three-word picture of the gridiron that sends chills down my spine.

8.  "Fight On" - University of Southern California:  A lot of college football fanatics can't stand this tune, but any song will drive you nuts when you hear it played on repeat every Saturday.  I'm no Trojan fan, but like "Fight CU", the Trojan fight song dispenses with the frivolous descriptive lyrics and offers up a simple, catchy tune about winning football games.  In the case of "Fight On", it looks like it might be working.

7.  "Rocky Top" - University of Tennessee:  Although "Rocky Top" isn't the official fight song of the University of Tennessee, its influence on the school's football program is undeniable.  This Appalachian anthem conjures up a sense of pride in its fans that puts it on any countdown of the greatest fight songs.

6.  "Boomer Sooner" - University of Oklahoma:  The whole damn song's comprised of 5 words stuck on repeat, but good lord this song is catchy.  "Boomer Sooner" earns its place at number six by offering up the most addictive tune in college sports.  I'd have an easier time quitting heroin cold turkey than I do getting this song out of my head.

5.  "War Chant" - Florida State University:  The War Chant isn't technically the fight song for the Seminoles, but there's no denying it's widespread popularity.  The melody is simple, ominous, and intimidating.  For years, the War Chant has made rival schools feel like Custer at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.  The accompanying tomahawk chop is synonymous with Florida State football, and it's simple enough to teach to toddlers.  So even if you can't read, write, or memorize two stanzas of a simple song, you can still cheer for the FSU Seminoles.

4.  "Texas Fight" - University of Texas:  We've already established that teams get bonus points for including the word "fight" in their fight songs.  "Texas Fight" uses the word six times in its first five lines, bashes its rival school, and puts the lyrics to a tune that is recognizable by even the most casual football fans.  When ESPN uses your fight song in its College Gameday commercials, you've got an historic and relevant song, worthy of a spot on this countdown.

3.  "Notre Dame Victory March" - University of Notre Dame:  Arguably the most recognizable fight song in the nation, you can make a strong case for the "Notre Dame Victory March" at number one.  The 3-spot is no knock on this classic, just a statement about the top two.  Regardless, the Fighting Irish have been the most important college football team for decades, and their fight song mirrors that historical importance.  The "Notre Dame Victory March", Rudy, and Touchdown Jesus mean more to college football than anything else we've discussed on this countdown thus far.

2.  "The Victors" - University of Michigan:  It's only fitting that one of the most storied football teams of all time has one of the most influential fight songs in history.  "The Victors" dates back to 1898, and it's powerful lyrics depict a time when college football was played by larger-than-life heroes, long before the Reggie Bushes and Cam Newtons of the world left their stain of dishonor on the game we love so much.  John Philip Souza, the godfather of the American march, has been quoted as claiming "The Victors" to be the greatest college fight song ever written, and his credentials are a little more impressive than mine.

1.  "Anchors Aweigh" - United States Naval Academy:  "Anchors Aweigh" isn't just a college football fight song.  This tune embodies the pride of the United States Navy, and its patriotic verse finds reverent use in musicals, cartoons, commercials, and countless other forms of American media.  A true fight song should evoke emotion, and there isn't a single song on this countdown that inspires as much pride as "Anchors Aweigh".  Not to sound cheesy, but this song isn't just about fighting for gridiron victory, it's about fighting to protect our way of life, and that puts it at the top of the list.

Honorable Mention:

• "Buckeye Battle Cry" - Ohio State University
• "Tiger Rag" - Clemson University
• "War Eagle" - Auburn University
• "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" - Chicago Bears (NFL)
• "When the Saints Go Marching In" - New Orleans Saints (NFL)

The Bottom Five:

• "Fairest of Colleges" - University of Denver (my alma mater, unfortunately)
• "Skol, Vikings" - Minnesota Vikings (NFL)
• "Miami Dolphins #1" - Miami Dolphins (NFL)
• "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" - University of Wyoming
• "Hail to the Spirit of Miami U" - University of Miami

-Sam

At this point, I just feel bad for the Florida Marlins

A friend recommended this video to me... Asking Creed frontman Scott Stapp to write a song for your baseball team is about as low as it gets.  It's no wonder they can't draw more than 20,000 fans to home games.

-Sam

Denver is only a second-rate market for second-rate people - 'Melo is gone, but Champ returns

The city of Denver has seen its name sullied over the past few months during the never-ending controversy surrounding Carmelo Anthony.  That sad chapter in Denver sports history has closed with a blockbuster trade sending the now-despised Anthony to the New York Knicks, along with home-town favorite Chauncey Billups.  I won't claim to be any kind of expert on the NBA, but I know these two things to be certain.  I hated Carmelo Anthony before it was trendy to, and I've always loved Chauncey Billups.  That being said, I hate to see a CU Buffalo and former NBA champion leave Denver, especially after hearing him voice his desires to stay in town, but dealing 'Melo was crucial for the future of the Nuggets and the sanity of its fan base.

What bothered me the most about the controversy was the implication that Denver is a second-rate market, incapable of keeping high-profile athletes as franchise players.  It was no secret that Carmelo wanted out of Denver, and the storm that grew over our city sent the message to the sporting world that Denver was on par with Cleveland; a statement that induces nausea, headache, and a general sense of helplessness.

My biggest take-away from this whole scenario is that Carmelo doesn't deserve our city.  One spoiled, lazy, and overhyped diva doesn't make or break the repuation of any one city.  The fact is, there is more evidence disproving the second-rate market implication than there is supporting it.

The Rockies have set a surprising precedent this year by signing their two biggest stars to long-term contracts.  Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, two players that would have likely earned more by leaving for a "top-tier" market (Chicago, New York, or LA), decided to commit to spending the prime years of their careers in the Mile High City.

That tells me two things:

1. Both Tulo and CarGo exhibited a rare quality that has all-but vanished from professional sports.  The word is "fidelity", but I'd be willing to guess that Carmelo Anthony would have a hard time spelling the word, let alone defining it.  One year of college at Syracuse doesn't give me reason to believe that he's any more intelligent than he comes off in interviews.

2:  Denver is a city where legitimate superstars can feel comfortable spending the duration of their professional careers.  Given the possibility of earning more money elsewhere, they chose to stay put.  By doing so, they've earned the respect and admiration of hundreds of thousands of fans, and they can enjoy those benefits for the rest of their career in a city that has a mix of city living, scenic beauty, and a family-friendly quality that New York or LA couldn't touch with a 400 foot pole.

Today was a disappointing day for Denver fans for many reasons.  Exchanging Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups for three player's I've never heard of doesn't give me much hope for the Nuggets' immediate future, but after the black eye suffered by this embarassing fiasco, Champ Bailey and the Denver Broncos alleviated a lot of that pain for a city that needed a break.

John Elway announced via twitter that Champ Bailey has signed a four-year extension with the Denver Broncos, news that seemed unlikely at best a week prior.  Bailey has been a shining star in a dismal Bronco defense for several years, and his leadership is irreplaceable on the Denver roster.  Bailey, still one of the best shut-down cornerbacks in the NFL, has been very vocal about his desires to play for a championship team, and that has led to a lot of speculation that his Denver days were done. Denver fans have been dreading the announcement that Champ had been shipped off to the New England Patriots, or some other team poised for a Super Bowl run in 2011-2012.  Thankfully, we managed to hold on this time.  You think Champ would have stayed if he were playing for the Cleveland Browns?  What about the Detroit Lions?

The truth is, Denver is a great market for players that value the important things in life.  Champ, Tulo, CarGo, Sakic and Elway seem to enjoy it...

'Melo, on the other hand, is going to love New York.  It's overrated, arrogant, and classless: he should fit right in.

-Sam

Peter the Great's Farewell Tour

Something's wrong in Denver.  It feels like yesterday that the Avalanche were battling the Red Wings for Western Conference supremacy every year, and the Broncos were fresh off back-to-back Super Bowls.  Recent mile-high headlines remind me of the ongoing "melo"-drama and radio personalities are busy wallowing in self-pity over the Broncos' struggles.  Despite some preseason hype, the Avs are amassing one of the longest losing streaks in NHL history.  If they can manage to lose their next 8, they'll tie the all-time record.  There haven't been many bright spots in the Denver sports scene of late, but many had a brief glimmer of hope when the news broke that Peter Forsberg was returning to the Avalanche after two years in Sweden.

Unfortunately, the euphoria was short-lived, and after just two games (both on the road), Forsberg announced that he was hanging up his pads for good.  What saddens me is that his comeback has become a punchline to many fans.  Peter the Great is one of the most influential figures in Denver sports history, and I'm glad we got an opportunity to see him finish his storied career in an Avalanche jersey.

For years, I had an unhealthy obsession with the Florida Panthers.  Our family pet was named "Beezer", after the all-star goalie, and I honestly think that I spent two years in a row without ever taking off my Panthers jersey.  When I moved to Colorado Springs, the Avalanche were in their first year in Denver, having moved from Quebec, and I desperately tried to hate them.  Throughout the year, I watched as both teams put together impressive runs, culminating in one of the single greatest games I've ever seen.  In game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, both teams battled to a 0-0 stalemate into the third overtime period. In all likelihood, that is the highest my blood pressure has ever been (at ten years old, no less), and when Uwe Krupp squeaked the game's only goal by John Vanbiesbrouck, I cried like a baby, threw my remote at the television, and vowed to hate the Avalanche until the day I died.

Time can change just about anything.

As the seasons went by, I watched players like Claude Lemieux, Mike Ricci, Adam Foote, Patrick Roy, Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg, and I couldn't help but love the team.  Looking back, I had never seen a leader like Joe Sakic, and I had never seen a hockey player like Peter Forsberg.

To say that Forsberg played a physical game would be a gross injustice.  He took beatings that made Cops look like Rainbow Brite, but he always answered with earth-shattering hits that would rattle our ancestors. Every time I looked up, he was threading crazy passes to every player on the team, and he truly elevated those around him.  Even in his brief return, I saw glimpses of that same touch.  He always seemed to be three steps ahead of everyone else.

Forsberg was a classy, electrifying, tough-as-nails competitor, and Denver was lucky to bear witness to such greatness.  The failed comeback stings, especially considering the current state of the Colorado Avalanche, but I think it's important to remember what he's given to our city.  His farewell tour reminded me that some athletes transcend the games they play, and Peter Forsberg will be greatly missed.  His number belongs in the rafters along-side Sakic, Roy, and Bourque, and I'm glad I got to see him finish his career in the best city in the United States.

-Sam