Nuggets. Nuggets! NUGGETS!
“I have to apologize to George Karl and the Denver Nuggets because I did not realize they were that good. I didn’t realize they had turned that defensive corner…They are the best basketball team in the West right now. They are playing the best basketball in the West.”
Finally a little bit of respect from a national commentator for a Denver sports team. So I don’t think anyone outside the realm of Denver sports fans realizes how Colorado becomes a flyover state for all sports. It’s easy for sportscasters to not only forget about the Mile High City, but also to completely dismiss our athletes and coaches as a high altitude anomaly that will bound to disappoint. To their credit, we hardcore Denver sports fans have been disappointed a number of times by teams we have poured our hearts into (4 Super Bowl losses before a win…getting swept in the World Series…etc.) But we don’t touch Philly who up until last year’s World Series owned the title of Disappointment Town, USA.
But, in reality, Denver should rank as one of the best sports cities in the US for a number of reasons, and sportscasters fail to recognize this. The fans are exceptionally dedicated (even though we have a number of band wagon jumpers), and they will still be a fan despite years of shame. As a by product of being raised on all Denver sports, but particularly the Broncos, I will always enter football season with as much optimism as I can muster. And that’s typically a lot. (Side note: this may explain why the fall/winter is an extreme roller coaster of emotions for me). Even though it may appear that Josh McDaniels is actually still working for Bill Belechick and attempting to sabotage the Broncos’ season (a newly evolved plot to top his previous video scheme?), I still have a little pocket of hope that this fall can turn around 3 seasons of no playoffs for my favorite Broncos (I will NEVER call them the Donkeys, no matter how poorly they play).
Ultimately, I am THRILLED beyond reason to see the Nuggets do so well, particularly with Chauncey. I remember when he went to GW and then again when he went to CU (thanks Madre for the constant Buffs updates). The last time the Nuggets were in the 2nd round of the playoffs I was in 4th grade, and I remember having nearly everyone we knew over to watch the games at the house on Madison. And I welcome all the band wagoners who joined up with the Rox in 2007 as they hustle to catch the ride. The more the merrier.
