A simple question for Monday.

If you had $22.5 million riding on your job, do you think you could hold down that job?

For most of us, the answer seems to be yes. That is, unless your name happens to be Travis Henry.

Another question.

Say you had some problems and the reality of that $22.5 million deal was becoming more remote by the moment.

Instead, you "only" were going to have to settle for $1 million and more in workout money. Think you could somehow "survive"?

Once more, if your name happens to be Travis Henry, the answer is well, hard to imagine, not enough.

Well, it seems hard to imagine how much things have changed for Henry in the last year. Let us count the ways.

He signed with the Broncos on March 5, 2007. Great day for him, his representation, and his bank account.

At first, it looked like Henry was going to be worth the considerable cash.

He led the NFL in rushing after four games. Then, it all went downhill in a hurry and he wasn't even a downhill runner. Henry is a bruising back and he was about to get roughed up.

He was embroiled in a drug case during the season, a situation which he eventually had his good name restored. That is, until, you may recall, it was determined he had fathered nine children with nine women. Well, so much for the good name. The team continually said Henry was not a distraction.

They admitted as much today that it pretty much was as he was released by the team. He was given a chance to fight through injury and drama, by a coach who has never been afraid to sign anybody that has been injured or has been involved in drama.

Mike Shanahan gave him a chance, once at $22.5 million, the other at $1 million, neither was enough and safe to say they have had enough of Henry.

Take care, hope to have you check back in soon.

-"z"

One good piece of news about the Rockies road trip? It's almost over.

They were set to play ten games away from Coors Field as they made their way from Philadelphia to Chicago to Los Angeles. They left the City Of Brotherly Love with no love and were pushed out of the Windy City with gael force winds. Now, in Hollywood, the same script is being written. The team has lost eight in a row after Monday night's loss to the Dodgers.

They have yet to win on this current road trip. What is going on? Does anybody know?

The way this team finished the 2007 regular season, the notion is to never count them out, though many seem to have done just that.

Here is a sampling of those thoughts.

Troy E. Renck has four issues the Rockies need to correct if they want to save their season.

Thomas Harding says Clint Hurdle's focus is on the team, not the standings in the National League West.

What is going right for this team? According to Bill Evans, not very much so far.

Shawn Clarke says the Rockies look like a Triple-A Team. Ouch, that hurts.

Woody Paige has a little advice for team ownership himself.

The Rockies are keeping some bad company in the National League West

The American League version of the Rockies? Pretty obvious choice, at least
to Bleacher Report, that is.

Bernie Lincicome says this season has not been a surprise to him so far.

Jon Heyman says Holliday, Atkins, Fuentes, And Tavares could all be available if this play keeps up much longer.

On Monday, Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan announced that Travis Henry had been released.

Upon dispatching Henry, he proclaimed that the troubled star back had to go because among other factors, you can't win Championships without character. The two Super Bowl trophies that Shanahan has brought to town are evidence enough that when it comes to Championships, his is a voice worth listening to.

Although, on the issue of character, I'm not so sure.

Henry had issues even before he signed with the Broncos on March 5th of last year. However, as Bernie Lincicome pointed out today, character seems to matter more when your performance on the field is poor. If you perform at a high level on the field, the issues you have off of it, can become nothing more than minor inconveniences to the organization that is paying you to run and pass, nothing less and more often than not, really expecting even less.

If character counts, then explain the following people to me that have been here.

Henry?

Javon Walker?

Todd Sauerbrun?

Maurice Clarrett?

If character counts, why were those guys here?

Put in another way, if character counts, why isn't Jason Elam here?

Hope to see you on Thursday, so until then enjoy Wednesday.

-"z"

Smith. A pretty common last name, right?

Rick Smith, the General Manager,of the Houston Texans, has that surname, I imagine, one of many people that do. A common name that has produced uncommon results. Not only that, he learned his craft in Denver.

That said, how tough is to stomach that Smith is flourishing in drafting and finding players in Houston, while the team he left behind is struggling in those particular areas?

On Wednesday, he received a contract extension from the organization partly due to his accomplishments. He is the youngest General Manager in the NFL at 38 and with the new deal will be around until he is at least 42 years old.

He spent six years as an defensive assistant with the Broncos then joined the front office. The decisions on players were made by head coach Mike Shanahan and then General Manager Ted Sundquist. Smith was in the room when he was in Denver, now he runs the room in Houston.

He has drafted well. He traded for Matt Schaub, who has been injured, but a big improvement over his predecessor, David Carr.

The bottom line. In 2007, his current team defeated his old team. That was one night. As for one season, the Broncos were 7-9 and the Texans were 8-8 overall last year. Denver has only been worse once under Shanahan (A 6-10 record in 1999) while the Texans have never been better with Smith.

Gary Kubiak might have a little to do with that as well, but at least for a day, Smith gets his due, something that may be slightly overdue.

-"z"

A man named Dan O' Dowd, again a respected figure in these parts, after a long bout of skepticism nearly sideswiped his credibility, has more or less always been accepted in his own club. That would be he and the 31 other people who sign, trade, and draft baseball players. The Rockies did some signing, they may do some trading, and they did draft on Thursday.

The main part of our blog today is to discuss the trade situation facing the team. They have won two in a row and got back to back solid outings from Aaron Cook and Jeff Francis. Though, it still remains a legitimate question to ask how much of their early struggles have put them in a position where trading away a player or players becomes the best option for the future. The team is looking for some immediate production following their run from a year ago. That said, this is a team that has to look long term as well. They have said they feel like handing out deals for more than five years is not something they are not comfortable wth. A mistake with a lengthy contract (see Mike Hampton) can hinder the team's financial plan and flexibility for many years to come. That is a valid point but it all comes down to who you offer that money to. Hampton was not worth the contract he got. The Rockies have spent wisely on Troy Tulowitzki, Jeff Francis, as well as Aaron Cook, who I will admit, I didn't think was going to be a major factor. However, the success of those players goes to show what team ownership means. Tulowitzki, Francis, and Cook combined make less than what the Rockies had to pay Hampton.

I still think it is far too soon to be talking trade, although, any good front office type, such as O' Dowd, most likely has put forth some ideas out in the public domain to see what kind of trade value might be out there. He hopes he does not have to do so, though, if he does, it's .
always better to be ready, just in case. Though, give it a little bit, I mean, last year, they didn't hit their stride until the final two months of the season. We all remember how magical that turned out to be for all of us. See you on Monday, I hope.

-"z"

If you have been watching the NBA Finals, you may not have noticed, but you are in the presence of more expensive footwear than Manolo Blahniks. At least, I think.

The Celtics are halfway to their 17th NBA Championship and while there is plenty of green in Boston these days, you might want to have a lot of greenbacks on hand if you want run like Kevin Garnett.

As the stage shined on Boston, the attention was on the knee of Paul Pierce, though perhaps the feet of Garnett would be more appropriate. The shoe company, Adidas, has made a Garnett sneaker, called the Air Team Commander, that he is wearing during each game of the NBA Finals and you may want to spot them quickly because the way this series is heading, you may not get many more chances to see them (More on that soon).

The sneakers will cost you a bargain basement price of only, get this, $1,017. What? Yes, that's right. The "17" signifies the team's run at a 17th title. The $1,000 part, I'm not sure about the origin of that, though if you have any ideas, send me an e-mail. The company is making eight pairs per game to not "overflood" (their word and not mine) the shoe market. I have to think there is some humor there. After all, at that price, only other NBA players could afford the shoes of a fellow NBA player. The proceeds do go charities so that is great.

The Celtics are in nice shape, though I still think this is not going to be easy. The Lakers have the next three at home, a place they have been 8-0 this NBA postseason. The Celtics have won on the road, but you have to think that there will be a natural letdown (There almost was in Game Two) and Los Angeles will be pumped up. They feel they can win all three at home, while the Celtics think they can take Game Three and in the words of Los Angeles kid turned Celtics legend, Paul Pierce, wrap this whole deal up in Los Angeles. Just cannot see that happening.

Some other factors I think might help the Lakers include free throw shooting and change of venue. The Celtics took 38 free throws on Sunday and the Lakers attempted just ten. You get the feeling that is about to switch. The Lakers felt they could have won Game One and the Game Two deep rally showed heart. If they can win Games Three, Four, and Five-difficult, though possible- I think it all comes down to Game Six for them. Boston will be desperate for a win to force a Game Seven-at home-a spot the Lakers do not want to be in. Winning a Game Six on the road with momentum is their best chance. Anything can happen in a Game Seven, though I am pretty certain they would rather take my word for it than find out themselves in person. Eight wins in eight tries at home is tremendous and three more would be phenomenal, though it may not mean much if Game Seven isn't at The Staples Center. After all, there is a reason the Celtics worked so hard for possibly 100 games to be at this point (if this goes seven). Of course, that reason is called home court advantage for Game 101. That's a place the Lakers would love to be in, though winning even one game in this series would be a nice start.

Celtics in Seven.

See you on Tuesday.

-"z"

A few months ago, the owner wanted to get rid of the head coach. However, instead of firing him and having to pay him, the owner wanted the coach to resign. The coach more or less acted as if he never thought his job was in danger. Welcome to the world of the Oakland Raiders, where the only thing ordinary is well, nothing. Although, maybe those kick-the-Raiders while they're down cracks (Boy, have they been down) is about to partially subside.

They have spent a lot of money in the offseason. That is not a guaranteed quick fix model in the NFL but with a roster so depleted of talent, any upgrade, even moderately, perhaps with even an eyebrow-raising amount of cash, will help.

The contract given to Javon Walker (Six Years, $55 million) says it all. This is a guy who when healthy can be a force, however, when hurt, is not only a hindrance on the field but a nuisance in the locker room. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, over the years a quiter voice than usual, even came out and while not naming Walker, indicated, attitudes inside had to change. Is Walker worth the deal? He was for one year in Green Bay and for one full season in Denver. In Oakland, he might be able to emerge again partly due to of all things, a running game. A wide receiver aided by running backs? Sure. If Oakland's backfield-Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas, and Michael Bush produce- it will put less of a burden on quarterback JaMarcus Russell, putting less pressure on the pass game that will be led by a second year player. Keep in mind, even if the Raiders are winning, there is no guarantee it will make Walker happy. He wants passes coming his way, wins are complimetary, it seems.

Oakland also came to terms with Gibril Wilson on a $39 million contract. From the Super Bowl Champions to the Raiders? I guess you have to pay more if you are Oakland in order to compete and the way their defense struggled last season after a soild 2006 season, they had to do it. They also wanted to make a splash and just like with Walker, they did. However, much like Walker, this is a guy who has been great, though not consistently. A team like Oakland just can't make mistakes of this magnitude because they are so behind the NFL curve to begin with, they have to hope Wilson delivers in a really big way. Really, to me, anything less, will be a big problem.

Also, Tommy Kelly, a member of that defense last year got a $55 million deal. A move that seemed a bit odd considering many do not consider him one of the best at his spot. Then again, if they did it the normal way, they would not be the Oakland Raiders.

A second year quarterback with issues concerning his weight. A second year head coach. An owner that plays second fiddle to nobody. Will it lead to another second fiddle year in Oakland. We will have to wait to see.

-"z"

Today, the U.S. Open begins at Torrey Pines in San Diego. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Adam Scott will play together in what should be a very interesting and well-followed group among the gallery today. However, our blog focuses not on the stars of today in California, but instead the icons of yesterday right here in Colorado, as showcased by HBO last night.

On Wednesday, the premium cable channel aired "Back Nine At Cherry Hills: The Legends of The 1960 U.S. Open". The New York Times has a preview here.

The U.S. Open has been played at Cherry Hills three times, most recently in 1978 when Andy North won with a score of +1 (285). The 20th anniversary of that U.S. Open appearance is still the state's last brush with major golf melodrama, but what happened on the Course 38 years ago may have been one of the best finishes ever, especially considering the star power on display that Sunday. The names involved were big then and went on to become legendary. Your winner, Arnold Palmer, was 30 years old. The runner up, a guy who would go onto win 18 Major Tournaments, the most ever, Jack Nicklaus, was 20 years old.

There is a question of if the U.S. Open will ever return here. Our PGA Tour event, The International, has been removed from the Tour schedule due partly to the lack of corporate sponsorship. However, that does not mean a visit to Cherry Hills in June one of these years is totally out of the question. You put a Golf Major anywhere and galleries will form. We do one know one thing, if you are a Colorado golf fan, you will have to wait until the Year 2016. All venues through 2015 have been chosen and Cherry Hills is not among the host courses. However, in the event our run is done in Colorado, we'll always have 1960, a year that may faded in memory, but at least in golf circles, will live forever.

Hope to see you on Friday, everybody.

-"z"

On Monday at 7:19 A.M. police in Las Vegas found former Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker unconscious on Winnick and Koval, near the Summer bay Resorts, just off the strip in the desert.

Was I surprised to hear this latest round of trouble engulfing Walker? Yes.

Was I shocked to hear this latest round of trouble engulfing Walker? Not really.

You do not want to think that way but with his track record, you can't help but think that way.

The report is that the player who signed a $55 million contract with the Raiders was the victim of a robbery attempt that left his orbital bone broken. He is at Sunrise Hospital and is listed in fair condition.

The question remains, what exactly happened? If he was the victim of a robbery attempt, was it a random attack? Was the alleged hit made knowing robbing an athlete would yield money for the possible assailants?

Is it either of those? Maybe it was a reaction to Walker's behavior this weekend. According to a report, Walker was buying champagne and spraying it on patrons at one nightclub and then spent thousands more on champagne at another club. Being an athlete makes Walker a prominent person in any room, but perhaps his actions made him that much more noticeable and........arrogant? Showy? Envious to others? Really, any combination of those could be possible and could possibly be the reason for this situation.

To think the idea that an athlete isn't going to enjoy himself in the off-season is far-fetched, though, considering what has happened to Walker in the past, you would think he would be a bit more reserved.

Walker, as you recall, was seated next to Darrent Williams in a limosuine on New Year's day in 2007 when Williams was shot and killed in a drive by shooting in Denver. The image of Walker stepping out of his car later that day with a blood stained white shirt is seared into many of our minds. Other than an interview with Andrea Kremer of "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel" on HBO, he has rarely talked about that incident. Has he finally rectified that incident in his mind? Can you possibly ever really rectify an incident with that much emotional angst? Is it fair to really expect him to do so? You have to respect Walker's feelings on this, if he doesn't want to open up, it may delay his personal healing. Then again, maybe it doesn't. The bottom line is that we do not know. We all feel like we have to know, though we don't, until Walker to, if he ever does.

Either way, this is a very serious incident and since Walker has been an enigmatic player pretty much every place he has been, inluding here in Denver for two years, finding answers to any of these queries may be hard to find out.

-"z"

The one often cited took place on March 5, 1770. The newest came on June 17, 2008. Just ask the Lakers. Actually, to them, "Massacre" could be an understatement.

It is not just the Celtics winning in such profound fashion to secure their 17th NBA Championship that seems to mesmerize, it is also equal parts confusing how the Lakers could play so badly in a game they needed so badly.

The final score of 131-92, as crazy as this sounds, was not nearly as good as it sounds.

Los Angeles led 4-0, great start, then gave way to the great reclamation project known as the Celtics. A year ago at this time, they were staring at the fifth pick in the NBA Draft. The team was internally rocked after not winning the Draft Lottery.

Looking at it in hindsight, it was the best thing that ever happened. As a result of not winning, they could not draft Greg Oden, who ended up missing the season with a knee injury. That forced them to make a bold move to provide an immediate spark to the franchise because Danny Ainge's long-term plan was becoming longer and more frustrating by the day. The former Celtics player turned General Manager was under tremendous heat, though today, is not on the hot seat but instead, just hot. He brought in Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Those two helped to reinvograte Paul Pierce.

His foresight with Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, and Leon Powe (a Nuggets draft choice) was rewarded. If there was anyone who knew the the pressure Ainge was feeling, it was head coach Doc Rivers. Criticized all season long, Rivers, a playful sort of guy, got the last laugh and why not? The critics said he couldn't coach yet he led the Celtics to a monumental turnaround and won 66 regular season games and obtained the top seed in the Eastern Conference as well as home court advantage in the postseason. Still not enough. Well, today, I think he has earned the right to scoff at his detractors.

The talk has very little surrounded the Lakers and rightfully so. The story of the NBA Finals was how a franchise with that had won more any NBA Finals than any other team and a year ago looked as far away from one as any other team, did what they did on Tuesday night.

Hope you have a great Wednesday, everyone.

-"z"

On Tuesday, the Celtics won their first NBA title in 22 years.

It was their 17th Championship.

The Nuggets still are looking for their first. Although, they now have some hope and look no further than Boston's win to validate what could allow the Nuggets to dream.

It has almost nothing to do with Boston going from 24 regular season wins to 66 this season. It has very little to do with the Celtics losing 18 straight games last season and winning it all this past season. Those factors give hope to every team, not just Denver. With that said, the one specific factor that works in the favor of the Nuggets simply boils down to one word: Matchups.

Here is what I mean. The Celtics were stretched to seven games by the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavs. The Hawks did not let the Celtics, the best road team in the NBA during the course of the regular season, win a road game in the series. The Cavs pulled that feat off too and gave Boston almost everything it could handle in a Game Seven. Taking nothing away from Atlanta and Cleveland, wouldn't you agree that the Lakers were better than those two teams this season? So, if that is the case, how could Boston lose a combined six road games against those two teams and be stetched to a seventh game twice yet easily handle the Lakers? The answer, at least, I think is matchups.

The Celtics were probably more talented than any team they faced and their defense was smothering. However, the Hawks were athletic enough to get out on the break and in transition and as a result could effectively neutralize the lockdown defense that the Celtics had crafted. The Cavs just had LeBron James, over the course of their series with the Celtics, do what Kobe Bryant couldn't, that is, get on track. James struggled in Games One and Two, though was nearly unstoppable the rest of the way. He had 45 points in the seventh game of that series. Bryant never got going against the Celtics. Still, the Lakers are more talented than two teams that stretched the Celtics a lot further than they could. How can that be the case? All about the matchup that was presented. The Hawks were able to take advantage of the their athletic players and a fragile Celtics road pysche (at that moment). The Cavs just had their best player get hot right whe they needed it the most. That was not enough, though it was to at least make Doc Rivers and his team sweat.

To me, this gives the Nuggets hope. They need to get a Playoff matchup that favors them. You could argue that they have among the most talent laden rosters in all the NBA but some teams just seem to find a way to take it to them. The Spurs and the Lakers are the two ballcubs the Nuggets do not want to see. Anybody else and I think the Nuggets can hang with them in the postseason. You know, maybe playing a little defense would help too.

See you on Friday, everyone.

-"z"

So which surprises you more from a numbers perspective? That the Nuggets won 50 games in the regular season or that the Rockies are only eight games out of first place in the National League West? That seems easy.

Our basketball team hadn't won that many regular season games in 20 years. That achievement alone deserves considerable merit. Then, take into account, they did in a year in which the Western Conference was maybe as strong as it has ever been and it bolsters their case even further to be the choice between the two options.

Although, as we have come to see, accomplishments are for the regular season and leagcies are made in the postseason. Therefore, to me the answer is the Rockies. Alright, so on the surface, being in third place in a division that has one team with a winning record isn't marvelous but the Rockies have one element that the Nuggets do not: Potential.

The Nuggets were swept by the Lakers. The Rockies have just swept the Indians. The Nuggets knew their season was about to come to a rather screeching halt once they saw their Playoff opponent. Simply put, the Nuggets and Lakers met eight times combined in the regular season and postseason. The Lakers won all eight games. On the other hand, the Rockies, unlike the Nuggets, do not seem to be overmatched by any opponent they may face.

Their offense has struggled and the pitching, outside of Aaron Cook (yeah, I was wrong) has been medicore. Their young stars are either injured or have injured egos that are being nursed in the minor leagues. However, as they showed last year, no deficit seems too large for them to overcome. They are only eight games back of Arizona and we are only in June. Last year, they did not even get going until late August/early September, all culminating in "Rocktober." Of course, you never want to wait that long, but if you haven't reached your standards offensively, defensively, or in terms of pitching------ and you have the feeling nothing has gone right for you this season----- and you are still right in it well before the All-Star break, you have to take some positives out of that.

Put another way, they will start hitting (they are too proficient not to eventually) and once they do, that offensive output may be able to help to withstand any leaky pitching issues. The Rockies will give us some hope, the Nuggets will give us only a tease. Take the Rockies.

Have a nice weekend.

-"z"

The term "Vote Of Confidence" means exactly how it sounds if you are a politician receiving one.

In sports, a "Vote Of Confidence" is usually the kiss of death and you may want to start cleaning out your desk at the team facility.

In other professions the term "no comment" pretty much means, "look we have nothing to say." In sports, "no comment" means, "you got us on that one but you know we cannot say anything.' The latter is the predicament the Nuggets find themselves in as it regards to Carmelo Anthony-and he is not happy about it at all.

The seemingly never ending speculation about trading Anthony didn't come to an end until yesterday-and that apparently was too late for Anthony's liking. The rumors surrounded sending Carmelo to the Nets and the Pistons, though even slight discussion of a trade to the Lakers was discussed. Throughout this entire process, the Nuggets front office never commented on the situation. In other words, by not shooting down the rumors, in Anthony's mind, the organization was leaving the possibility open that Carmelo could be moved. That did not make him happy.

What is really going to nake him unhappy is that the Nuggets were doing that for a reason: They were looking to trade Anthony. It has been reported that Detroit and Denver had traded proposals, however, there was never an agreement reached.

In Anthony's mind, the team kept him and his career up in the air. Not a great move in a public relations sense, since the fans tend to side with players over management in situations like this one. Although, the Nuggets, as a franchise, have to do what they think is correct. Really, what is their other choice? Can they come out and say they are not thinking about trading Anthony and all that while be talking to interested parties in an attempt to try and do just that? Carmelo needs to understand that when you have the types of skills he has and in the eyes of many has underachieved, there is going to be, most likely,the talk of movement at some juncture.

Also, keep in mind that Anthony, to this point, has never struggled with basketball. A high school star, a college sensation, and an NBA favorite. This is his first brush with criticism---on the court. He has to get used to it. I mean, just look around, even one of his own teammates and greatest players in the NBA, Allen Iverson, became one of his collegaues through a trade himself.

Have a nice day. Hope to see you back on Tuesday, everyone.

-"z"

Monday should have been a great day for Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony.

It was the day, he was named to the USA Olympic Basketball team for the second time. He is a two-time all star, a bonafide fan favorite, and now multiple time Olympian, all at the age of 24 years old. Not too shabby, Carmelo.

However, as the announcement was being made in Chicago, where Anthony sat with fellow Olympians LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and head coach Mike Kryzewski, there was another announcement that was also a topic of discussion. The day before this, the Nuggets had finally confirmed they were not looking to trade Anthony this offseason.

This statement by the Nuggets seemed to sit well with Anthony and he said the situation more or less did not bother him. He pointed to the man sitting next to him at the press conference-Wade-as proof of that. Every year, Anthony says, players go through trade rumors and Wade, much like Anthony himself, has been part of that rampant and unyielding speculation.

To me, however, there is a big difference. I cannot imagine the Heat were ever seriously looking at trading Wade. He is the only bargainning chip they have and it would be foolish to let go of a guy who just two years ago was an integral part of your franchise winning the NBA Finals. That is a far different spot than Anthony finds himself in. He has proven to be a great scorer and at times, a clutch performer. Although, the term clutch takes on a far different meaning in the Playoffs. In that regard, Wade is an NBA Champion, Anthony has yet to get out of the first round. Therefore, seriously considering trading a player that is great---though has not helped you take the next step forward----is not out of the question. The Nets started the Anthony trade speculation, the Pistons were the most serious candidate, and the Lakers came in at the end. The Nuggets had to listen, to do anything but would be a detriment to a franchise trying to take it to the next level. In most lines of work, the Nuggets did what any business in their place would---they exhausted every possibility---including possibly trading the face of the franchise if it would help them grow as a team.

The idea that this speculative narrative did not bother Anthony seems a bit of a reach. If Anthony was not bothered by trade rumors, then why did he originally ask for him and/or his representation to meet with Nuggets officials on Monday? The discussion, according to a recent report, was planned and initiated by Anthony's side to figure out exactly the Nuggets were planning on doing with him. If he was not bothered by the recent discussions, then why call a meeting? That is a question that we will not answer because after the team said they were keeping Anthony, the meeting between both sides was called off.

This whole drama, at least to me, has blame to go around. Team management was extremely tight lipped during this situation, though, credit must be given to head coach George Karl for his candid comments. The team has the right to comment when they want and if they chose to keep these conversations private, it is their prerogative to do so. However, not telling the public is one thing, to not keep Anthony informed is another. The mere idea that he was hearing about his future possibly through media reports is unfair . They should have been more forthright with him at the start of this whole process.

Carmelo also needs to come to grips with the reality that every NBA player, even ones with extrordinary talents like him, can end up on the trade block. Kobe Bryant was, Kevin Garnett was, Allen Iverson was, and now so was he. His skills are tremendous, though, if the NBA is all about winning titles, than his star isn't nearly as bright. Sure, he is only 24 yaers old, but not winning an NBA Championship is one thing, not getting out of the first round is another. Someone has to pay the price for that lack of progress. For now, that somebody will not be Anthony, news that couldn't make him happier.

-"z"

Safe to say, it can't be fun to be a member of the Oakland Raiders front office today.

Then again, the way it has gone the last few years, being in the Raiders front office yesterday or tomorrow, isn't going to be much better. Their biggest free agent acquisition of the offseason-----not to mention their highest priced one-----is in the news and for all the wrong reasons. Unfortunately, this has been become way too common for Javon Walker. Let us count the steps.....make that missteps from Denver to Oakland to Las Vegas.

December 31, 2007: The day after the Broncos finish the regular season, Walker addresses reporters and in a rambling discourse tells them he doesn't see a future for himself in Denver.

January 8, 2008: Walker goes on a local radio show in Denver for 20 minutes and while he won't totally retract his comments, he attributed them to frustration. He said he wasn't sure what his future was with the Broncos. Something tells me the Broncos were pretty sure about his future with them. He even attempted to portray himself as a team player by insinuating that he helped Brandon Marshall catch 102 passes. Huh?

March 4, 2008: Walker, who played his way out of Green Bay and Denver, in the opinion of many, signs a $55 million contract with the Raiders. Nothing like getting rewarded for being a good team guy, right?

June 5, 2008: After signing that deal, his new head coach in Oakland, Lane Kiffin, says Walker looked a "little heavy." No better way to prove to your critics that this tenure in Oakland will be different than his tour of duty with the Packers and the Broncos.

June 8, 2008: Walker tells Bill Williamson of ESPN.com and formerly of The Denver Post that he will refer to the Broncos as "that team." Hard feelings, anybody?

June 16, 2008: Walker is found unconscious outside of the Summer Bay Resorts in Las Vegas. He was apparently the victim of a robbery. He suffered an orbital eye fracture. He was robbed of $3,000 in cash and $100,000 in jewelry.

June 17, 2008: Walker tells the website thedirty.com, this version of events of the robbery. "I was just back at my room and at about 5:30 in the morning I got a knock at the door. I opened it and three guys with guns were there. They cracked me in the head a few times, knocking me unconscious. Then they robbed me of everything I had; my watch, my money, my clothes, everything. Somehow they got me in a car and dropped me off in the street. That's what happened."

June 24, 2008: Does any of that sound difficult to fathom? You are apparently not alone and the Las Vegas Police Department says it has the evidence to prove it. They say Walker voluntarily got into the vehicle of a 30-year old man, Arfat Fadel, that he did not know.

Why would he do that?

Why would he do any of the stuff he does?

-"z"

If you thought Brandon Marshall had an eventful regular season, you know what I mean, with those 102 catches and all, he has nearly duplicated the feat with 102 (or so) incidents off the field. Alright, it's slightly less than that, but with the volume and tenacity of which his trangressions are being reported, any hope the Broncos were going to have a quiet offseason was dismissed quicker than Travis Henry frolm the roster.

The issue of Marshall and his issues, is rather clear. He has anger problems and a lying problem and I'm not even referring to his McDonald's bag incident, a story which some seem to think is skeptical. Even the attorney for Marshall's long time girlfrriend, whose accusations have caused much of this story to develop, outright laughed at the notion he severed a tendon on a Golden Arches bag. He is losing the public relations war because while many believe on the field he is great, believing his claim that he is a good guy----which may or may not be true---is a stretch even for a guy who plays on a team that is loved around here.

At this stage, Marshall has much bigger issues than trying to verbally spar with an attorney, you would think. He constantly says he needs to try and surround himself with those that have a positive influence. The problem here is that Marshall, in front of the camera, always says the right thing, but rarely actually does the right thing, especially with matters requiring any level of seriousness. He has said he is friendly to any fan that would come up to him at a grocery store. Alright, that means what? Plenty of guys can be great one moment and totally different the next moment. Trying to reinvent his image by pointing to fleeting moments of fan interaction is not really a logical rationale in this case.

We know that if this was anyone else, not a star player, only 25 years old, and a big part of the team's potential success in the 2008 season, there is little reason to think he would still be here in a Denver uniform. Though, I am not going to go there yet. These are charges. If it comes to light that they are true, then we will all see if Mike Shanahan's vow of "character" on this team meaning something is true or just an excuse to get rid of players that can't produce the way they to used to. Just my thoughts.

Enjoy your weekend.

Right before we all dismiss Javon Walker for how his tenure ended in Denver and began in Oakland, let's stop and consider a few things first.

It was not widely publicized, though on Friday nights two years ago, Walker would show up at high school football games in low area incomes of town.

He donated $30,000 to the Darrent Williams Teen Center. In almost every instance, when Walker is brought up these days, the connection to Williams, whom Walker had die in his arms on New Year's Day in 2007, is not very far behind. The champagne sprayed at the Shelter nightclub that night to the champagne (Said to be $15,000 worth according to a report) that Walker was photographed spraying in Las Vegas just hours before he was found lying unconscious on a street, the victim of an apparent robbery, is just one example noted.

Of course, there are other more positive comparisons. Both Walker and Williams were gregraious in dealing with the press. The assumption is that unlike the personable Williams, out of the range of the cameras, Walker, was more of a loner in team circles. This seems to be substantiated by the lack of friends Walker seemed to have on the squad. Also, teammates during OTA sessions, never referred to him by name, though insinuated, the departure of Walker was a positive step for the develoment of the team.

The city of Las Vegas is not an unfamiliar place for Walker. He spent time there when almost every member of the organization was at the Wiliams funeral. Rosalind Williams, Darrent's mother, said it was Javon's way of coping and said it did not make her angry that he did not attend. The word is that Walker may have finally decided to seek assistance in trying to get over the traumatic mental burden the Willaims incident had on him. He had told Andrea Kremer of HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel", that he did not need to seek out help. If that has changed, it could be the first step in the changing of a man many of us, maybe wrongly, have seen as never changing.

See you soon.

-"z"