Tuesday Grab Bag: The Return of Optimism

Before I get to the football action from the weekend, it would be completely out of character if I didn't shout from the rooftop that BASKETBALL SEASON IS BACK!!!!!!!

No, it's not November, yet, but the first practices will start to be held around the nation this very week.  In fact, as the Daily Camera's Brian Howell pointed out, the assembled media will cover hardwood action at the CEC before the next football game.  So, yes, this week hoops does come first.

We're still some 32 days from November itself, and over 45 days away from opening night, but the start of practices is an important mile post on the close of the offseason.  We're getting there, BasketBuffs, we're getting there...

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Today in the bag, I'm talking the offensive showcase in Berkeley, CU's Biletnikoff candidate, and the upcoming football schedule.

Click below for the bag...

Friday Beer Post: 2014 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Cal Edition

Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"

A few years ago I decided to tip my cap to one of my favorite Californian breweries which uses the state's history and fondness for all things bear as the impetus behind their name.  It's, of course, Bear Republic Brewing that takes their inspiration from the Bear Republic period of California's past, and, considering CU is facing the Golden Bears tomorrow, I figure it's fitting to dip back into their well of excellent offerings.

Back in 2011 I went with Racer 5, which continues to be one of my favorite IPAs on the market.  As much as I love that beer, I'm not one for repeating (unless it's Utah week), so I'll turn to another one of their styles that sets my heart aflutter.  How about something with a slightly spicy rye kick?  Yeah, that'll do nicely. That beer, Bear Republic Brewing's Hop Rod Rye, is this week's gameday beer-o-the-week.

Hell yeah, rye!  I love it, both in whiskey and beer forms, as it brings a unique sweet/spicy zing to the party, one that is a refreshing change of pace from more straight-laced 100% barley-based malts.  Hop Rod Rye uses the titular ingredient quite well, and the resulting spicy twang offsets the traditional notes nicely.  Bear Republic uses an 18% cut of the grain in the mix, which I hear is quite a lot, and explains the prominence of bitter on the aftertaste.  It's an American IPA, so there's a nice hoppy tilt to the proceedings, as well.  Floral on the nose, bitter on the palate.

All-in-all, a well-crafted beer, one which should strike your tongue as a unique twist on a craft staple.  You will be able to find Hop Rod Rye at most liquor stores with a deep bench, probably in a 6-pack.  Share with friends, however, as it clocks in a 8%.


Happy Friday!  Go Buffs, beat the Golden Bears!

2014 Cal Football Preview

The Buffs head to the Bay Area for their second true road test of the year.  The Cal Golden Bears are a significant upgrade over the UMass Minutemen, however, so it'll take a much stronger effort to claim a second-consecutive road scalp this weekend. 

Kickoff from Strawberry Canyon in Berkeley, CA is set for 2pm MT.  While plenty of our West Coast brethren will be in attendance, those of us back home in Colorado will have to make due with watching the game on Pac-12 Networks.  The radio call, pending late-season Rockies 'baseball,' will be on 850 KOA.

Click below for the preview...

Tuesday Grab Bag: Two! Two wins! Ah, ah ah!

Straight to the action on this Tuesday.

Today in the bag, I'm talking Saturday's win over Hawai'i, the upcoming football schedule, and some basketball recruiting.

Click below for the bag...

Friday Beer Post: 2014 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Hawai'i Edition

Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"
 
I'd be a fool to not pick a regional style this week.  Playing the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors provides a unique opportunity to tap into Hawaiian brewing culture, and discuss some breweries that often get swamped by their mainland brethren.  In the past, however, I had featured Kona Brewing in this series, which was a massive error on my part.  That joint has gone all corporate, joining the InBev-backed Craft Brew Alliance.  Hell, the Kona stuff you find in stores isn't even brewed on the islands; it's from the Pacific Northwest, or even fucking New Hampshire. 

Fuck. That. Shit.


So, I'll have to dig a little deeper this week (not too deep, though).  Let's try one of the other islands, and a smaller, more craft-friendly brewery that actually brews in the 50th state.  Maybe feature a beer that mixes one of my favorite tropical ingredients with a vintage style, and throws it all into a can for your wanton consumption.  Yeah, that'll do. That beer, Maui Brewing's CoCoNut PorTer, is this week's gameday beer-o-the-week.

I love to feature canned beers in this series, because they make for such easy clean up when out and about.  You can even take them more places, as many tailgating and recreation areas frown on glass.

Actually brewed in Maui, CoCoNut PorTer is a lovely canned option for those looking for something on the sweeter side.  Sweet and roasted notes hit the nose before it finishes with a balance between sweet molasses and bitter chocolate on the tongue.  There's also some nice lingering notes of the titular roasted coconut to consider.  Damn fine!

For those interested, you'll be able to find a 4-pack of Maui's finest in most liquor stores with a deeper selection.  It's a hefty 6.0% ABV, so don't go too nuts, but I highly suggest a few of these as you toast the last vestiges of summer this weekend.


Happy Friday!  Go Buffs, beat the Rainbow Warriors!

2014 Hawai'i Football Preview

Short and sweet tonight, week 4 brings a visit from the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors.  Yep, 'Rainbow' once again, as the school brought the name back last year for the first time since 2000.  Legitimately one of the coolest team nicknames in all of sports, I'm glad they brought it back.  

Kickoff from beautiful Folsom Field is scheduled for high noon on Saturday.   Coverage for those out and about can be found on Pac-12 Networks, with the radio call on 850 KOA.

Click below for the preview...

Tuesday Grab Bag: The Rumblinmobile lost a wheel, and the Sun Devils got away.

Were you stuck in a traffic jam coming into Boulder yesterday afternoon around 5pm?  Yeah, that's my bad. You see, the Rumblinmobile suffered a blowout (doubtful for the rest of the week, btw), stranding me on the right lane of west-bound US 36, and backing up traffic for miles.

Haha, the sidewall disappeared. Wait, that's not funny...

On the plus side, no one was hurt, the rest of the truck is fine(ish), and courtesy patrol was relatively quick in getting me out of there.  I guess if you're going to wreck during rush hour on 36, that's the way to do it.

Hopefully, your wait time was kept to a minimum.  If not, I sincerely apologize, and owe you a coke.

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Today in the bag, I'm talking Saturday's performance against the Sun Devils, the upcoming football schedule, and the release of the full men's basketball slate.

Click below for the bag...

Friday Beer Post: 2014 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - ASU Edition

Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"

Apologies for the lateness of this post, but I was stunned into indecision by recent developments.  My original intent was to name The Beast from Avery Brewing's 'Demons of Ale' series as my gameday beer of the week (really good, btw, you should try it).  The CU Athletic department, however, decided to take matters into their own hands.

In the weekly pregame email blast, it was announced that, for the first time in years, gen pop at Folsom Field will be able to buy alcohol inside the gates.  To repeat: YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BUY BEER AT FOLSOM TOMORROW!

Great googly moogly, that is fantastic news.  The suds will only be served at two beer gardens located in the southwest plaza and the fieldhouse, and you won't be able to carry your brew back to your seat, but DAMN has this been a long time coming.  In fact, it's the first time since 1995 that beer and wine will be sold outside of the club level in the football stadium (the CEC, of course, poured up to 2005).

Accordingly, in lieu of an official beer pick, I'm naming CU Athletic Director Rick George my gameday beer champion of the week.

What a big damn hero he is.  In one fell swoop of Rooseveltian greatness, he has ended prohibition and brought joy back to the masses. For a state known for it's brewing industry, it only makes sense that you can once again imbibe some of the bounty at the flagship university.  On gameday, when you finally lift that first glass on hallowed Folsom concrete, think of Rick, and toast his name.  Also, donate, why not, to send the appropriate message of gratitude.


Thank you, Rick!  Happy Friday, go Buffs!

2014 ASU Football Preview

The start of the season has been nice and all, but it doesn't really count until the first fall day in Folsom.  Say what you will about the football program, but that stadium is a special, special place.  Any opportunity to visit the old girl is worthy of celebration, and Saturday night's matchup with Arizona State is no different.

With the season's first date in Boulder also comes BuffNation's first up-close and personal look at Phase I of the improvement project, the first major upgrades to the stadium since my sophomore year.  In case you don't understand my meaning, they're long overdue.

Starting to come together! From: CUBuffs.com

Athletic Director Rick George says the premium seating options at the north end of Folsom will be ready to go by gameday.  While I see plenty of work that needs doing when I peek at the construction cam, I have no reason to doubt his veracity.  Assuming the areas are up to code by kickoff, we'll have honest-to-Tad evidence that this program is headed in the right direction.  I almost don't care what the score ends up being against the Sun Devils, that construction schedule already baring fruit is enough of a win for me.

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Kickoff from beautiful Folsom Field is scheduled for 8pm Saturday.  It's a BLACKOUT game, so those with tickets need to remember to don their darker finery.  Coverage for those out and about can be found on ESPNU, with the radio call on 850 KOA.

Click below for the preview...

Quick Post: On Chauncey Billups' Retirement

It's not a huge surprise, but the great Chauncey Billups made it official yesterday when he announced his retirement from the NBA.  An unrestricted free agent since the Pistons declined to pick up his $2.5 million option in July, Billups had quietly mulled continuing his career with other teams, including the reinvigorated Cleveland Cavaliers, but decided that 'it's just time.'

The 17-year NBA veteran and Colorado basketball immortal leaves the game having accomplished what few can claim.  A five-time All-Star and 2004 NBA Finals MVP, he was legitimately one of the best players of his era, a smooth point guard known across the country for his clutch shooting and measured control of his team.  He won numerous honors, both collective and personal, while being a model citizen and ambassador of the game.  There were few like him.

After successful stints with seven different teams, it's easy to say Billups had national reach, but it's hard for me to think of him as anything other than Mr Colorado.  I'm not just talking about CU, he defined the pinnacle of the game from the high school ranks on up through the professional in the Centennial State. You'd be hard pressed to find of another athlete from a major sport who can claim to be a state's singular icon in the way Chauncey stood for hoops in Colorado. For basketball fans on the Front Range, his exploits were a source of continuing pride. 'Absolutely, we belong - just look at the King of Park Hill!'

But the wear of all those miles as a leading man had begun to show, as the star had only seen action in 61 games over the past three seasons.  With nearly everything possible accomplished in the game he loves, I imagine he retires with a clear mind and few regrets.

I'm sorry to say, but my CU fandom is purely ex post facto Chauncy's tenure in Black and Gold.  I have no direct memory of the Big Shot era in Boulder, no personal connection to the heroics that sent Bobby Knight on a cold, rainy walk home.  To me, Chauncey was always a professional athlete.  But even from my more neophyte view, it would be impossible to discuss the history of basketball at the University of Colorado without devoting volumes to #4.  Accordingly, there is simply no amount of gratitude that I can express that would live up to his contributions to the game in Boulder.  The best I can say is 'thank you Chauncey,' and hope he gets the successfully peaceful retirement that he has earned.

... also, a big damn statue outside of the CEC.

Monday Grab Bag: A win's a win?

Straight to the action today...

In the bag, I'm talking CU's comeback win over the Minutemen, the status of Colorado's next three opponents, and the NFL's opening week.

Click below for the bag...

Friday Beer Post: 2014 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - UMass Edition

Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"

My beer pick today is obvious.  I make no apologies, as it's the flagship style from the dominant craft brand in the Boston region, but it doesn't exactly take a wide swath of beer knowledge to come up with this one.
Of course, given the destination this week, I'm going to talk about Boston Brewing.  Was there ever a doubt? Their ubiquitous macro-micro brew, Sam Adams Boston Lager, is my gameday beer-o-the-week.

'Sam' may not really have been the first craft beer to be widely distributed, but it was the one that unofficially kicked-off the beer-splosion of the last decade and a half.  When the local bar finally started to expand their selection back in the late 90s, it was with Sam.  When your uncle finally went off the Coors train for the first time, it was with Sam.  In many ways, the current market owes a lot to the 'Brewer and Patriot' brand, as the first intrusion of Sam Adams onto shelves made it seem cool and edgy to leave the macros behind.

If you haven't had one of these in a while, let me tell you, it tastes exactly the same as you remember. It's a classic take on a Vienna Style Lager, with a roasted malt taste, and a small dash of hops for bittering. That's not to say that this classic take on craft beer is bad - in fact, I generally like it, and remember it fondly for being the first beer that I took to AFTER TURNING 21 - just that, in a world of seemingly endless beer choice, Sam seems old and tired.  Like a worn shoe that still fits well, but has a little funk to it, and that you'd rather not wear out in public.  That edge and cool is gone, replaced by familiarity and corporate magnitude. Shame, that.

Personally, I find their latest round of commercials hilarious - where 'unsuspecting' customers are given some Boston Lager, and react in surprise when they learn that it's actually that same beer that's been around since 1985 - as if anyone who would participate in that sort of taste test wouldn't immediate know Sam when it hits their tongue. Seriously, if you've been drinking beer for any length of time, I guarantee you that you've had one of these at some point.  Maybe you were too drunk to remember, but you have... which is kind of the problem.

You can find Boston Lager EVERYWHERE.  If you can't find Sam, or one of the other bazillion varietals associated with the brand, you just aren't trying hard enough.  Have some on Saturday, why not, and remember the days before the endless aisles of choice that we now take for granted.


Happy Friday!  Go Buffs, beat the Minutemen!

2014 UMass Football Preview

It would be simplistic of me to post the Dropkick Murphy's obligatory 'I'm Shipping up to Boston' video, what with the Buffs, you know, shipping up to Boston this weekend, but that shit is played out.  Instead, you get the 'Spicy McHaggis Jig.'

You're welcome.

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Kickoff from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA is set for 1pm MT on Saturday.  There's no national broadcast of the action, but those with the appropriate access can watch the game on their computer/phone/gaming console via ESPN3.  Mark Johnson has the radio call on 850 KOA.

Click below for the preview...

Tuesday Grab Bag: So... Punting? *balances hands*

Sit tight, but the revolution's years away
I'm losing faith and I'm running low on things to say
So, I guess I have no choice but to regurgitate
The tired anthem of a loser and a hypocrite

- Streetlight Monifesto, A Moment of Silence

Ugh, that turned ugly quickly.  All the hope and optimism developed over the offseason dissolved into outright panic somewhere in the middle of Friday night's third quarter at Sports Authority Field.  All that's left is a long, hard look in a mirror that shows nothing but reflections of every lost season spent since 2010.

Honestly, what else is there to say?  If CU couldn't put up a fight in the season opener, how do they have a hope in hell of improving against quality Pac-12 competition?  November seems a whole lot farther away then it did Friday morning. *sigh*

Of course, I can't hold any of that against @Phyltopia and @LovelyCorrin, who shared the gameday experience with me on Friday.  Thanks to the incomparable @JennBerg (and a 'deal' struck with @SkyeSnowBuff), the three of us had the best seats in the house Friday night.  A perfect view to an imperfect performance.  While I can't say that I 'enjoyed' the game, Phil and Corrin at least made it palatable. Thanks all!

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Today in the bag, I'm talking Friday night, CU's upcoming opponents, and some soccer and volleyball.

Click below for the bag...