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It's nearly impossible to tune out the Denver Broncos buzz, especially when "PFM," as Broncos fans and covering media have appointed Peyton Manning, is leading the team to the playoffs. And I suspect many Colorado Rapids fans are also Broncos fans, or least enjoy the local sports teams' successes, and are also optimistic for the Broncos' playoff hopes.
But for many Rapids fans, "PFM" was already in town quite a few years before the future hall-of-fame quarterback came to the Rocky Mountains. That's our own Pablo 'Freaking' Mastroeni.
As I thought more about the two local pros and their impact on their respective teams, I came across a few more similarities than the PFM acronyms, their 36-years of age (Peyton is five months older than Pablo), or that both of their team's missed the playoffs in the same year the respective superstar was forced to sit out with head / neck injuries.
Here are some I came across...post in the comments if you think of others.
Mastroeni began his professional career in 1998.
Manning began his professional career in 1998.
Mastroeni has one League championship - the 2010 MLS Cup.
Manning has one League championsip - the 2007 NFL Superbowl
Mastroeni was the first overall pick in the 2001 MLS Allocation Draft
Manning was the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft.
Mastroeni was named an MLS All-Star in 9 consecutive years
Manning was named an NFL Pro Bowler (all-star) in 9 consecutive years
Mastroeni's last Final appearance was in 2010 (Nov)
Manning's last Final appearance was in 2010 (Feb)
Mastroeni was the 2012 Team Humanitarian of the Year, nominated for MLS award
Manning won the 2005 NFL Humanitarian Award
Mastroeni has played in at least 14 games for his team in 14 different seasons
Manning will play at least his 14th game for his team in his 14th different seasons (Dec. 16, 2012)
Mastroeni has 65 international caps and played in two FIFA World Cups
Manning has won four NFL MVP honors
Mastroeni missed nearly all of 2012 with concussion symptoms before announcing he's coming back for Major League Soccer's 18th season in 2013...
Manning, who brought back the retired #18, missed all of 2011 with a neck injury before returning this year to lead the Broncos back to the NFL playoffs...(and TBD)
Next month, Broncos fans will be pulling for Peyton to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the 5th time in his career. When Pablo advance past the first round for his fifth time, in 2010, he advanced all the way to the Cup...
Nicknames are fairly common among soccer players.
We've heard of Lionel 'la Pulga' Messi, Carlos 'el Pescado' Ruiz, and even our own Jeff "the Ginger Ninja" Larentowicz and Luis "el Morumbi" Zapata.
And today I heard a nickname that I think will stick with Colorado Rapids fans.
During Wednesday morning's training session I heard Stew Ceus call for the ball by raising his arm and shouting "Patrón, Patrón." That's the spanish word for "Boss," or a figure of that nature.
Hendry Thomas looked up, saw Ceus, and delivered the ball.
And there he was: The Boss, El Patrón!
Afterwards I asked Hendry how that name came about. He explained that in Honduras he was often called "El Doctór," because of his use of glasses. But this time, he said it was the Colombian duo of Zapata and Jaime Castrillon that started calling him that, and then many of the English speaking players and even some of coaching staff followed.
"I thought it was funny," Hendry told me, laughing about it. "It was funny but I still had to ask them why they gave me that name and why it has stuck."
Zapata clarified.
"We named him that because whenever he talks, everybody listens. He's is el patrón, the boss."
I'm thinking his dominating play may also have something to do with this name...
It's one of the most timely give-aways a Colorado Rapids partner has had.
When the Colorado Rapids host the Western Conference-leading San Jose Earthquakes Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, the forecast is calling for a potential of snow flurries and temperatures ranging from the mid-30's to low 40's. Enter Cricket Wireless.
The club's wireless partner will be giving away these burgundy and onyx (grey) striped scarves to the first 4,000 fans entering the stadium Saturday evening. The gates will open at 6 pm with kickoff set for 7 pm MT. Get there early, and dress warm.
Ever seen that show Storage Wars on A&E? It's about modern-day treasure hunters who bid on abandoned storage units without knowing their contents.
Enter Colorado Rapids forward Tony Cascio. He's a big fan of the show, so much so that he decided to buy a storage unit of his own and is spending his Friday and Saturday off selling its contents in a yard sale.
"I basically love buying and selling things and my favorite TV shows right now are Pawn Stars and Storage Wars. So I figured I would buy a storage unit and have a yard sale," said Cascio.
The unit that he ousted other bidders for, he says, is approximately 8 feet wide, 8 feet high, by 30 feet long.
"In Storage Wars you kind of know what you're getting and you kind of dont', so it's sort of an adrenaline rush."
Cascio says in his unit he's found a bunch of framed baseball cards, golf clubs, some DVD players and other electronics, dressers, and other random items. Although he won't know until the end of the day tomorrow how much it was all worth.
"There's so much stuff here it's unreal. Some people just look and leave. Others ask for antiques and a couple actually buy things. So we'll see how it goes."
If you're interested in checking out Cascio's loot, you can find him on S. Lincoln St, between E. Virginia Ave and E. Dakota Ave. He says he'll be there until around 3 p.m. today, and will be at it again early tomorrow.
Last night I had a chance to not only see an Olympic gold and bronze medal in person for the first time, but to also touch one and feels its weight. Janay DeLoach, who won the bronze medal in London in the long jump, allowed me to hold her medal - and then even took a photo of me with it. In those few second I tried to envision what it must have been like to not only compete among the most elite athletes in the world, but to also have a medal hanging from your neck. It was pretty cool!
The Rapids hosted seven Colorado athletes that competed at the 2012 London Olympics on Wednesday night during the match against Portland. And while we applauded loudly as their names were announced and they waived to the crowd, it was also neat to see how appreciative they were at being recognized and honored by fans from a different sport. One Olympian even came with a Denver Bronco player. Here are some tweets from the Olympians in attendance:
With my best friends and my new jersey at the Colorado Rapids game!! instagr.am/p/PNukSBQyap/
— Missy Franklin (@FranklinMissy) September 6, 2012
Headed to the Colorado Rapids vs Portland Timbers match to be an honored Olympian for the "Colorado Heroes Night" at half time! #SoAmped
— Janay DeLoach (@JanayDeLoach) September 5, 2012
Red, white n blue-in it at the Colorado Rapids game w @franklinmissy n @janaydeloach #usaalltheway instagr.am/p/POMHZ7Ef8Z/
— Kelsey Campbell (@worldchanger55) September 6, 2012
Colorado's own 2012 BMX Olympian @zhermanator... Also dabbled in wrestling #waybackwhen? instagr.am/p/POM0oOkf8u/
— Kelsey Campbell (@worldchanger55) September 6, 2012
Had a lot of fun at the game tonight. Thanks @coloradorapids! twitter.com/zHermanator/st…
— David Herman (@zHermanator) September 6, 2012
Looking forward to the @coloradorapids game tonight. Excited to be apart of the @colorado Heroes celebration tonight. #GoRapids
— David Herman (@zHermanator) September 5, 2012
On the field for the hometown heroes ceremony at the @coloradorapids game, thanks for a fun night!
— Corey Cogdell (@CoreyCogdell) September 6, 2012
Headed to the @coloradorapids game tonight with @mitchelljunrein If you are in the stands look for me on the field during the half time show
— Corey Cogdell (@CoreyCogdell) September 6, 2012
.@olympicctrlife Got to be honored at a #Rapids game with fellow #CSOTC #Olympians @worldchanger55 & @coreycogdell twitter.com/DennisBowsher/…
— Dennis Bowsher (@DennisBowsher) September 6, 2012
...and the @coloradorapids gave me a sweet Jersey. Thanks to the staff for having us. twitter.com/DennisBowsher/…
— Dennis Bowsher (@DennisBowsher) September 6, 2012
(L-R: Judo Olympic team manager Chris Skelly, Marti Malloy, Kyle Vashkulat, Kayla Harrison, Travis Stevens, Judo Olympic Coach Jimmy Pedro)
The 2012 London Summer Olympics got underway this week with men and women's soccer. The 'official' Opening Ceremonies take place on Friday.
The athletes have been preparing for years, and we recently received word the the U.S. Judo team has been preparing for Gold, in Burgundy.
Colorado Rapids chiropracter Dr. Joseph Arvay and Maximize Living are also the chiropractors of the judo team (as well as many other teams). Dr. Avay shared these photos of the judo team donning our gear while they prepared for the Games in Colorado Springs.
Kayla Harrison (above left) is currently among the top five in the world at the 78-kilo division and consider a medal contender when she begins her first Olympics on August 2. Travis Stevens (above right), also ranked in the top 10, begins his quest on July 31 in the 81 kg division. Marti Malloy will compete at the 57 kg and Kyle Vashkula at 100 kg. The other team member not pictured is Nick Delpopolo, who will challenge at 73 kg.
From everyone at the Colorado Rapids, Good Luck in London!
(Below: Skelly, Dr. Arvay, Pedro)
Tonight's match is the club's first international friendly in a few years, as they take on English Premier League side Swansea City. Scarf collectors won't want to pass this one up. A limited number of these Rapids-Swansea scarves - without today's date - will be on sale at the Dick's Sporting Goods Park team store for only $20. Get there early to get one!
On Sunday morning, members of the Colorado Rapids front office staff participated in the Evergreen Sprint Triathlon, where the Rapids also had a tent and street team present at the finish line village. The Rapids formed four relay teams of three people each to participate in the Sprint Triathlon, which consisted of a 750 meter swim in the Evergreen Lake, a 12 mile bike ride that ran alongside Bear Creek, and a three mile run through a mix of dirt roads and trails around the lake.
Rapids 1, made up of President Tim Hinchey (swim), Director of Media Relations David Lindholm (bike) and Marketing Manager Wayne Brant (run), finished first among the relay teams with an overall time of 1:21:06. Hinchey’s swim time of 10:06 was just a under minute shy of the triathlon champion, who finished the leg in 9:15.
Surrounded by beautiful scenery and perfect weather, the Rapids teams demonstrated their best ONECLUB spirit and cheered on the rest of the finishers before celebrating with lunch at a nearby restaurant. Looking forward to the next challenge!
The Rapids relay teams finished in the following order:
Rapids 1 – 1:21:06
Tim Hinchey (swim), David Lindholm (bike) and Wayne Brant (run)
Rapids 2 - 1:43:24
Chelsea Hedrick (swim), Kristen Sonsma (bike) and Emily Kilcoyne (run)
Rapids 3 – 1:43:24
Ryan Truxel (swim), Gordon Smith (bike) and Christa Dellebovi (run)
Rapids 4 – 1:55:54
Owain Hickey (swim), Rachel Sweeney (bike) and Makenzie Crow (run)
For all the success Brian Mullan has achieved in Major League Soccer, he's never sought - nor liked - the spotlight. And fortunately for him, he's always had teammates that garnered a lot of attention, be it Cobi Jones in LA, Landon Donovan in San Jose, or Dwayne De Rosario in Houston.
However Altitude TV was able to sit down with Mullan for this exclusive feature. As you can see, family is THE most important thing for the Littleton native, and Highland Ranch resident:
They may have started off quietly, but the first function of the newly formed Sidekicks was a huge success.
The Sidekicks, launched last week by Brian Mullen's wife, Kersten, brings together the significant others of the Rapids players and coaching staff to provide unique opportunities to fans, as well as support the community through fundraising efforts.
To get started, the Sidekicks on Saturday gave 100 fans an opportunity to come to field level following the 3-0 win over Portland for a special autograph session. It should be noted that the players are also 100 % behind these efforts, with all of them coming out to meet the winning guests.
Keep ears and eyes open at future matches for other special opportunities. For the Portland game, the Sidekicks made in-game announcements explaining to fans how to get the autograph alley wristbands.