I’ll be out of town for the next week. I’ll post when I can, but I’m not making any promises. Get ready for full force coverage once training camp starts, however.

In Fields’ latest blog, he talks about various players such as Jay Cutler, Kyle Orton, and Brandon Marshall. He says,

“ Concerning all the changes, I was new to the situation and I walked in to that. As far as the Jay Cutler trade, I just wish he could have worked it out because I know he is good, but we have to make what we got work and keep on pushing.”

 

I really think his blog is going to be fun to follow as training camp starts up. He’s going to give us the in’s on the how this new Broncos team is developing under Josh McDaniels.

- Brandon Marshall assures everyone that he’ll be in great shape no matter what NFL jersey he’s wearing.

- If Marshall leaves the Broncos, who is going to step up. Here’s Plan B.

- Rookie tight end, Richard Quinn, shows us what life is like for a first year player in the offseason.

- Former Broncos QB, Brian Griese, was released by the Tampa Bay Bucs today.

- Kyle Orton, Brandon Stokley, and Rulon Davis met with troops at Peterson AirForce Base.

- Bronco Talk will be getting to know Kyle Orton much better.  

Other links:

- Fan Addict compares great athletes to rappers.

- There’s a lot of grunting in tennis. Serena Williams talked with David Letterman about the issue.

- If I dunked on LeBron James I would wear this T-shirt. Turns out Conan O’Brien found the missing tape.

- Here are the “Top 10 Chicago Sports Moments of the Last Decade.” 

- Looking to get the abs of an athlete in a flash? Try this.

- This is what you can do if you have a pool, basketball hoop, and deck in your backyard.

- I thought he would’ve been able to throw a decent first pitch.

- Speaking of baseball, President Obama will be in the broadcast booth at tonight’s MLB  All-Star game.

“Elway will always be number one. He had the physical skills and the will to win that pushed him to be the legend.” - Bob

“I see where Eddy Mac could be but,I would have to go with John Elway, not because of the two consecutive super bowls, or the bein’ a hall of famer, but for how he stamped the Denver Broncos in the NFL elite those three prime-time years, the two straight super bowls gave Denver as much publicity as the Orange Crush did. That is sayin’ something!” - Jesse

Some other answers included were:

“I think Eddie Mac is a great choice. I’ll go with Rod Smith for the same reason. I always felt like he was one of those rare receivers who very rarely ran out of bounds — and more importantly, I think he brought that attitude to a lot of younger players. I wish B.M. had 10% of Rod’s class.” - Dave

“While Elway was the best Bronco, McCaffrey has always been my favorite. He was the consummate professional, handing the ball back to the official after scoring a touchdown. He sacrificed everything to be the best his talent would allow, with the youth league shoulder pads, to the size-too-small shoes that he cut a toe hole into so he’d be a little faster. When Griese got him hurt in that Giants game it was the saddest Denver sports injury I’ve ever seen. Eddie was class all the way though, knowing he could be done he bowed his head and thanked the fans for their years of appreciation.” - Jimmy Rogers

“The #1 Bronco of all time in my opinion is Randy Gradishar!! Due to the fact he doesn’t get the accolades he should. He was named consensus NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1978 , along with the UPI Defensive Player of the Year award. 2,049 tackles, 7 Pro-Bowls….He should be named the 2nd Hall of Famer in Orange and blue…Retire #53″ - Marty Janeski

“My all time favorite is Rulon Jones. He was an animal on the field and a cool guy off the field. I always remember when he sacked Steve Grogan in the end zone for a safety and almost broke his neck. He was a stud! And he was an unbelievably underrated!” - Postalmoose

“My favorite Bronco of all time is Steve Atwater… Just knowing that anyone dumb enough to venture into the secondary was doomed to annihilation…. That was good Stuff…” - Steve G.

Thank you to all of you who participated, and thank you to everyone reading right now. It’s tough to think about football in the off season when even the players are taking a break. Things will pick up again soon. Stayed tuned for more possible giveaways, player interviews, and sports related link dumps.

10. Laurent Jalabert

While he was never a contender for the yellow jersey, Frenchman Laurent Jalabert earned a reputation as one of the most versatile riders in modern cycling. In unprecedented manner, Jalabert twice won the green points jersey, awarded to the best all-around sprinter and he twice won the polka-dot jersey for best climber. So why did he never win the Tour you ask? No one –not even Jalabert — seems to know.  

Athlete: Carl Yastrzemski (Boston Red Sox)

Yastrzemski did it all for the Red Sox during his 23 year run with the team. Too bad he played for them during their 80+ year Championship draught. Yaz was an 18 time all star, earned 7 Gold Gloves, and is a member of 3,000 hit club. So why didn’t he ever win the Championship? Oh yeah – The Curse.  

9. Frederico Bahamontes

This Spaniard defined the pure climber. And for years he defined Spanish cycling. Erratic and emotional, he could sprint to the top of a climb, simply so he’d have time to stop for an ice cream. Or he could drop out of the race, bored by flat stages. But Bahomontes, who grabbed the best-climber award six times, finally struck it big by winning the Tour outright in 1959.

Athlete: Brett Favre (Packers/Jets/?)

Like Bahomontes, Favre is very emotional and often time erratic on the field. While Favre never physically quit, many have called him out for mentally quitting. It  was not unusual for him to throw 3-4 picks in one game even if he had 4 TDs and no INTs the week before. Even though his play was unpredictable, he finally struck it big by winning Super Bowl XXXI.

8. Erick Zabel

Established in 1953, the green points jersey is sometimes known as the sprinter’s jersey, because to win this jersey riders sprint for points throughout the three-week Tour. But quite often the fastest pure sprinters do not win this coveted prize because they are unable to contest any sprints on the mountain stages. German rider Erik Zabel has proven to be the ideal rider for such a prize. Not the fastest sprinter-that title generally went to Italy’s Mario Cipollini-Zabel nevertheless is the most versatile sprinter, and such qualities won him the green points jersey six times, more than any other rider in the history of the event.  

Athlete: Michael Phelps (U.S. Olympic Swimmer)

Pretty much each race in the sport of swimming is a sprint and there’s no question Phelps is the most versitile sprinter around. He’s won 14 gold medals in races of various distances and swimming styles.

7. Raymond Poulidor

“The Eternal Second” never won the Tour de France, and he never even wore the yellow jersey. But he is remembered as one of its champions –its greatest loser –because he won the heart of French fans. Always a contender, never a winner, Poulidor is remembered as the down home alter ego to city slick Jacques Anquetil. And  even at the end of his career he could be found giving Eddy Merckx a fight. Great champions, it is said, are defined by those they beat. And Poulidor always pushed them to a higher level.

Athlete: John Stockton (Utah Jazz)

Despite going to the NBA Finals twice in his long career, Stockton came up just short of becoming a champion himself. He became known as one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game, and won over the Mormons people of Utah with his work ethic and boyish charm. He was the timeless classic, even wearing thigh high shorts until he retired in 2003. Even towards the end of his career he could be found giving Michael Jordan a fight.

6.  Philippe Tys

 The Belgian would likely have won many more Tours. But he had to wait out World War I before he could return to win his third Tour de France in 1920. Known for his Herculean training routine, Thys defined the new kind of all-around rider, who could do a little of everything from climbing to sprinting to time trialing to rolling out big miles, that would win the Tour now that the high mountains of the Pyrenees and Alpes were a common feature.

Athlete: Derek Jeter (N.Y. Yankees)

This Yankee can likely win many more titles, but he has to wait out the title “draught” that the Yankees are in. Jeter is arguably one of the greatest all around ball players. His fielding is always exciting, and he’s clutch in the batters box. He will win another one soon.

5. Miguel Indurain

Big Mig broke the mold in many ways. In a country known for its great climbers, Indurain showed he could be an even better time trialer. Using a strategy that essentially called for not losing time in the mountains, then crushing everyone in the time trials, he became the first consecutive five-time winner by rarely attacking. His personality was as sedate, and unflappable, as his riding style.

Athlete: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)

Duncan was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In an area known for swimming, Duncan showed that he could be an even better basketball player. Routinely using a strategy that calls for bank shots, Duncan has brought the fundamentals back to the game. He’s not the most physical center in the league and like Indurain, his personality is very sedate.  

4. Bernard Hinault

After Jacques Anquetil and eddy Merckx, Frenchman Hinault became the third five-time winner in the Tour. The volatile rider was a relentless fighter, earning himself the nickname, “The Badger.” But Hinault was also a master time trialer, a master tactician, and a master of the mental game.

Athlete: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts)

Manning is a master of the huddle, a master behind center, and a master of the mental game. Like Hinault, he’s a true winner that isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.

3. Jacques Anquetil

Master Jacques was the first five-time winner in the Tour. Using his stellar time trialing skills, he steamrolled his competition, in particular Raymond Poulidor. Anquetil represented the chic urban style of mod Paris (little matter that he actually lived in Rouen) and he reveled in his playboy image.

Athlete: Sean Avery (New York Rangers)

Avery is a talented hockey player but I draw the comparison to Anquetil for his playboy image. Avery took a summer internship with Vogue magazine because of his interest in fashion. He has been linked to many high profile women, and pretty much defines the term “urban chic” for males.   

2. Eddy Merckx

The Belgian was clearly the greatest champion of his generation. From the moment he entered his first Tour, which he won in dominating fashion, he showed that he would be the man to beat for years to come. He destroyed his competition in 1969 and continued to do so until 1975 — but unlike modern heroes such as Miguel Indurain and Lance Armstrong, the Tour was just one more race Merckx won throughout the entire year; he raced a full calendar, from January to November, and won nearly every major race many times over. They did not call him the Cannibal for nothing.

Athlete: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)

After winning his first NBA title, Jordan showed that he would dominate the league for years. He won 6 titles during his career and is regarded as the greatest player to ever play the game. There’s a reason why his logo is on many Nike products, and there’s a reason why there are Eddy Merckx bikes for sale.  

1. Lance Armstrong

With seven Tour titles, Armstrong is the race’s ultimate champion. The American transcended the Tour with the story first of his heroic comeback from cancer then of his outright refusal to lose until he decided it was time to retire — but he also understood that his career, and his comeback was defined by the Tour de France. Attacking the race with unmatched discipline, he redefined how cyclists prepare for it. Entire training camps were devoted to the Tour and the team built solely to support Armstrong in the chase for yellow. He responded time and again, be it in the mountain or the time trials, by simply being the best, seven time running.

 Athlete: Tiger Woods (Golf)

With 68 PGA Tour wins, Tiger is  behind Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus, respectively, for the most PGA Tour wins, and yet he’s only been playing for 14 years. When it’s all said and done, Tiger will be the best golfer this world has seen just like Armstrong is the best cyclist this world has seen. Tiger’s father, Earl Woods, died after a battle with prostate cancer in 2006. Tiger took 9 weeks off and then returned to win the U.S. Open Championship. Tiger has redefined what preparation is  from a professional golfer’s standpoint. He spends countless hours on the course, studying his swing, working out (ahem, John Daly), and seeking advice.

Kim Constantinesco is Predominantly Orange’s lead blogger. Subscribe to her RSS feed.

- ESPN called the Broncos the least popular sports franchise in Denver. I beg to differ.

- Broncos training camp opens to the public at the end of the month. Here’s the schedule.  

- Could Travis Henry get off light on his drug trafficking chargers? It’s possible if he was just the “money guy.”

- It seems like Robert Ayers was a good pick in the draft. He may be starting this year.

- The host of 850 KOA’s game day coverage, Mike Rice, gives us his thoughts on 2009 Broncos so far.  

- Adam Schefter says on his Twitter page that the Broncos are listening to offers for Brandon Marshall. It’s written on July 1st at 11:12 AM.

- Eddie Royal spoke at the Rookies Symposium. Here’s a video.  

Here are some other links:

- Which athletes are past their prime? Check out “Ice Age Athlete: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs.”

- How about a little Shaq-Gary Coleman history.

- Who is going to win the NBA Championship next year? Odds are with the Lakers and Cavs. Here are the rest of the odds.

- Ever think about being Commissioner for a day? Here are some possible changes to make in the NFL.

- Steve McNair will always be remembered.  

- Check out “NBA Trades: Summer Box Office Style Trades.”

- Lance Armstrong got busted for cheating at the Tour de France, but it’s not what you think.

- Not really sports related, but this is funny.  

- Thinking about traveling with your favorite team? Give this a read.

- The MLB All-Star Roster is set and the game will be played in St. Louis.

“1) The biggest trade in the NFL this offseason, and perhaps the biggest trade in Broncos franchise history, was the trade of QB Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears for Kyle Orton and draft picks. What impact will this trade have on the Broncos plethora of remaining young playmakers, most notably Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Tony Scheffler?

I think a lot of QBs in this league can get big numbers with a great supporting cast. That’s not a knock on Jay Cutler. That’s a compliment to the Broncos receivers, tight ends, and offensive line. With young talent coming back like Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, a solid tight end in Tony Scheffler, and an offensive line that only allowed 12 sacks all season, those guys should have a very good season. They may even have bigger numbers than they had last season since Josh McDaniels is a passers coach. We still got a very talented QB in Kyle Orton who can reportedly learn the playbook quickly. I’m confident the young guys will continue to flourish.”

To read the rest, click here.

Also, don’t forget to enter in our free keychain giveaway. To do so, click here. You have until July 13th!

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