Scooter Chapman
Things to do in Denver when you're a sportswriter
Published on Wed, Jun 23, 2010 by Scooter ChapmanRead More Chapman
Vacations in places you haven't visited are wonderful experiences, but it's good to get back home after even a week away from the Olympic Peninsula.
The Chapmans are back from Denver where we visited our daughter who had to move to a new job from Bremerton. We had a great time, though most of it was spent indoors.
Think we've had wild weather? For four days of our seven, we didn't stray far from the apartment as there were thunder and lightening storms, rain like you would not believe and tornado warnings for three straight days.
When we flew over the Rocky Mountains on June 8 there was no snow but on the return June 15 the mountains were covered with nearly 10 inches of snow in some locations.
We did get to visit a couple of locations. One was Blackhawk, a small town nestled in the mountains in what used to be gold country, with mine shafts and everything. Now Blackhawk (think Winthrop or Leavenworth) is casinos and hotels on both sides of the street for five or six blocks.
As it's the only gambling close to Denver, it's a money maker.
Went to Coors Field to see the Rockies face Toronto and it was just my luck to go when former Mariner Brandon Morrow was pitching for the Jays. Unlike his Mariner days, Morrow went six strong innings and left trailing only 1-0. He walked the pitcher, of all people. A sacrifice, a ground out and a fly ball to right scored the run and that was it.
Coors Field seems way smaller than Safeco and it's really right downtown. Several blocks away are the Pepsi Center where the Nuggets play and right next door is Invesco Field where the Broncos play.
Instead of $20 or more, parking within two blocks of Coors costs only $5 in most lots. But, as I say, good to get back home.
Catching up
• Mariners: When I left town, Seattle was seven games back. When I returned, they were 12 and a-half behind. I tried to follow the progress, or lack thereof.
Lack of hitting continues to be the main reason Seattle is so far behind. As of a week and a half ago, Seattle has 2,031 at bats with just 492 hits and 216 runs. They were last in home runs with 34. At the same time, the L.A. Angels had 41, Oakland 42. Texas had 60 and Toronto had 99.
The Mariner batting average was .242. That was dead last. Interleague play continues with the Cubs tonight and Thursday afternoon, then it's off to Milwaukee, the Yankees and Detroit.
Seattle will not be leading the AL West at the Fourth of July break and they will not win the pennant.
• Soccer: Although the Host Broadcast Services, the company that provides the broadcast feed for the World Cup, said last week they were doubling their audio filters to reduce the constant blaring buzz of vuvuzelas, the horrible noise still is present and makes it tough to watch and listen.
South African tradition or not, ban them.
Early in the Cup, goals were way down, just 23 tallies in 14 matches.
The USA team has two ties and needs a win today to ensure a spot in the next round. Players and fans say they were robbed of a third goal against Slovenia when the referee called an offside on a good kick.
Golf: The U.S. Open was a struggle for most of the pros, but come on, admit it: when you got a chance to watch on television, you were seeking out how Tiger Woods was doing.
• Football: It's finally happening; Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL no longer needs four preseason games. Union officials and league moguls have discussed adding two games to the regular season. Let's hope they do.
Columns by KONP 1450 AM sports announcer Scooter Chapman appear weekly in the Sequim Gazette. He can be reached via e-mail at scooter@olypen.com.
The Chapmans are back from Denver where we visited our daughter who had to move to a new job from Bremerton. We had a great time, though most of it was spent indoors.
Think we've had wild weather? For four days of our seven, we didn't stray far from the apartment as there were thunder and lightening storms, rain like you would not believe and tornado warnings for three straight days.
When we flew over the Rocky Mountains on June 8 there was no snow but on the return June 15 the mountains were covered with nearly 10 inches of snow in some locations.
We did get to visit a couple of locations. One was Blackhawk, a small town nestled in the mountains in what used to be gold country, with mine shafts and everything. Now Blackhawk (think Winthrop or Leavenworth) is casinos and hotels on both sides of the street for five or six blocks.
As it's the only gambling close to Denver, it's a money maker.
Went to Coors Field to see the Rockies face Toronto and it was just my luck to go when former Mariner Brandon Morrow was pitching for the Jays. Unlike his Mariner days, Morrow went six strong innings and left trailing only 1-0. He walked the pitcher, of all people. A sacrifice, a ground out and a fly ball to right scored the run and that was it.
Coors Field seems way smaller than Safeco and it's really right downtown. Several blocks away are the Pepsi Center where the Nuggets play and right next door is Invesco Field where the Broncos play.
Instead of $20 or more, parking within two blocks of Coors costs only $5 in most lots. But, as I say, good to get back home.
Catching up
• Mariners: When I left town, Seattle was seven games back. When I returned, they were 12 and a-half behind. I tried to follow the progress, or lack thereof.
Lack of hitting continues to be the main reason Seattle is so far behind. As of a week and a half ago, Seattle has 2,031 at bats with just 492 hits and 216 runs. They were last in home runs with 34. At the same time, the L.A. Angels had 41, Oakland 42. Texas had 60 and Toronto had 99.
The Mariner batting average was .242. That was dead last. Interleague play continues with the Cubs tonight and Thursday afternoon, then it's off to Milwaukee, the Yankees and Detroit.
Seattle will not be leading the AL West at the Fourth of July break and they will not win the pennant.
• Soccer: Although the Host Broadcast Services, the company that provides the broadcast feed for the World Cup, said last week they were doubling their audio filters to reduce the constant blaring buzz of vuvuzelas, the horrible noise still is present and makes it tough to watch and listen.
South African tradition or not, ban them.
Early in the Cup, goals were way down, just 23 tallies in 14 matches.
The USA team has two ties and needs a win today to ensure a spot in the next round. Players and fans say they were robbed of a third goal against Slovenia when the referee called an offside on a good kick.
Golf: The U.S. Open was a struggle for most of the pros, but come on, admit it: when you got a chance to watch on television, you were seeking out how Tiger Woods was doing.
• Football: It's finally happening; Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL no longer needs four preseason games. Union officials and league moguls have discussed adding two games to the regular season. Let's hope they do.
Columns by KONP 1450 AM sports announcer Scooter Chapman appear weekly in the Sequim Gazette. He can be reached via e-mail at scooter@olypen.com.
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