Kickin' It With Kiz

Bill Hanzlik's coolest contribution to Denver is the Gold Crown Foundation, which recently joined in the fight against COVID-19 by lending a big hand to neighborhood food banks.

So you're saying there's a chance? Although the deadly coronavirus has wreaked havoc with all aspects of American life, there are people who optimistically believe there can be baseball in 2020, if all major-league teams play in a bubble down in Arizona. Far-fetched? Perhaps. But in this edition of the Kickin' It podcast, Dr. Rand McClain, who practices sports medicine in Los Angeles, sells Mark Kiszla on the idea that bubble baseball could indeed work. Plus in "The Just One More Thing" segment, ESPN's new sports documentary on the last championship run by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls has sparked a debate: Was Scottie Pippen indispensable as a sidekick to Jordan, or was Pippen over-rated?

We all know the Broncos signed offensive lineman Graham Glasgow as a free agent to allow quarterback Drew Lock to sleep easier at night. But know what gives Glasgow and his wife peace of mind during the age of coronavirus? A dog named Gordy. "He's basically our son. I even call him that," Glasgow told Mark Kiszla in this edition of the Kickin' It Podcast. Plus in "The Just One More Thing" segment, Kiz idly wonders how much life would be better for the Broncos, if only John Elway had traded up to draft running back Christian McCaffrey in 2017. A harmless pipe dream? Not if you ask one irked Broncos fan.

Edwin Moses, among the greatest U.S. Olympians of all time, never stumbled while winning 122 straight races in the 400-meter hurdles from 1977-87. But when the coronavirus recently came knocking at his family's door, Moses was shaken to his core. "It's no joke," Moses told says in this edition of the Kickin' It pod. Plus in the "Just One More Thing" segment, a Broncos fan bristles at any suggestion a 9-7 record and playoff berth would be considered a success for the team in 2020.

With COVID-19 ravaging the health of American citizens and the U.S. economy, Rockies first baseman Daniel Murphy and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright have pledged a combined $350,000 to assist financially struggling ballplayers. In this edition of the Kickin' It pod, Mark Kiszla talks to Jeremy Wolf, the executive director of More Than Baseball, about the very real challenges faced by poorly compensated minor-leaguers who often live below the poverty line. Plus in "The Just One More Thing" segment, a fan gives Kiz grief for trying to stir up trouble between running back Phillip Lindsay and the Broncos.

Colorado's favorite son couldn't get anybody out. During a rough 2019 season on the mound, Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland admits, "I'd be lying to say that my mind never went there to think: 'This (stinks) in general. And I (stink).' " Freeland shares how he bounced off the bottom with Mark Kiszla in this edition of the Kickin' It pod. Plus, in the "Just One More Thing" segment, Kiz stands up to cheer the Olympics for postponing the Summer Games until 2021.

What's wrong with this picture? While the NFL conducts the big business of NFL free agency, shuttered sports bars in Denver do zero business. "Our income is 0.0; we're talking Bluto's grade-point average," said Jim Armstrong, owner of Bender's in Westminster and The Kentucky Inn in Denver. For years, Mark Kiszla worked with Armstrong at The Denver Post. In the latest Kickin' It pod, two old friends talk about the impact of coronavirus in the sports world where hard-working, everyday people live. Plus, in the "Just One More Thing" segment, a sports fan asks: In a time of national crisis, is the NFL tone deaf?

"Be mad. I understand you're mad," said Altitude broadcaster Vic Lombardi, who shares fans' frustration with the TV dispute that has blacked out Avalanche and Nuggets games all season long for much of the Denver audience. In this edition of the Kickin' It pod, Mark Kiszla and Lombardi sat in his mother's kitchen, sharing a dinner of lasagna, chicken and sausage, as well as reasons why this could be a prolonged fight between Comcast and Altitude. Plus, in the "Just One More Thing" segment, a fan wonders if pro sports franchises have the real concern about coronavirus all wrong.

The question has dogged pro wrestling champs from Gorgeous George in the 1950s to Ric Flair in the 1980s and Jon Moxley to this very day. Is this stuff real sport? "Pro wrestling is blood and guts," Moxley told Mark Kiszla in the new Kickin' It podcast. "You're always hurt in this business." And Moxley has the stitches in his face to prove it, as he prepares to climb in the ring Wednesday for All Elite Wrestling's "Dynamite" show at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield. Plus, in the "Just One More Thing" segment: How much havoc could the coronavirus wreak on the sports world?

After nearly 10 years of service to the Avalanche and surviving the tough times, Erik Johnson is no longer the team's No. 1 defenseman, but his desire to bring the Stanley Cup back to Colorado has never been greater. In this edition of the Kickin' It Pod, Johnson explains how he became happier living inside the glass of NHL rinks by learning the subtle art of not giving a (bleep) about what his critics think. Plus: In the "Just One More Thing" segment, Kiz asks fans about general manager Joe Sakic's moves at the trade deadline ... and hears two widely varying opinions.

Happy anniversary, Miracle on Ice. A bunch of American college boys staged one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history on Feb. 22, 1980, when Mike Eruzione scored the game-winning goal to beat the mighty Soviet Union hockey team. Forty years later, the Miracle might still be the best thing on ice since Scotch. Mike Moran, who served as the official voice of the U.S. Olympic Committee from 1979-2003, shared behind-the-scenes stories of the Miracle in this edition of the Kickin' It Podcast. Plus: In the "Just One More Thing" segment, a Colorado football fan tells Mark Kiszla the program is better off without coach Mel Tucker, who shocked the Buffs by leaving for Michigan State.

After more than 40 years of covering sports for a living, Denver Post sports columnist Mark Kiszla still gets questioned on his dubious choice of a profession by his mother. "I thought you wanted to be a lawyer," said Bonnie Kiszla, who recently celebrated her 88th birthday by sitting down with her son to remind him where he got his writing ability and scold him for being a bad influence on his two younger brothers. Plus: In the "Just One More Thing" segment, a Chiefs fan serves Kiz a little crow after Kansas City's first Super Bowl victory in 50 years.

Tad Boyle might well have his best team in 10 seasons as CU basketball coach. But if cheaters prosper in the college game, why does Boyle insist on playing it clean in recruiting? Listen to this edition of the Kickin' It Pod to find out. Plus: In the "Just One More Thing" segment, Mark Kiszla worries the Pro Football Hall of Fame might come up with a new excuse to snub Broncos safety Steve Atwater from the Class of 2020.

Jack Mills, based in Boulder, is a sports agent who has represented big football stars for 50 years, from Randy Gradishar to Eric Dickerson to Baker Mayfield. He has seen salaries explode and free agency change the landscape. In this edition of the Kickin' It Pod, Mills not only offers an inside look at the business of the NFL, he gives advice the Rockies would be wise to heed in dealing with disgruntled third baseman Nolan Arenado. The solution "doesn't have to be about more money," Mills said. "It could be about a little bit of appreciation." Plus: In the "Just One More Thing" segment, Mark Kiszla offers his own idea for a resolution to the tiff between Arenado and Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich.

What's one thing captain Gabe Landeskog tries to pack on every road trip with the Avalanche? A book. An old-school, hardback novel. In this edition of the Kickin' It Podcast, Mark Kiszla talks with Landy about literature rather than pucks, and why reading helps make him a better team leader. Plus, in the "Just One More Thing" segment, Kiz asks: The Broncos are getting another new offensive coordinator? Again? Where's the continuity John Elway insisted was so important to improving the Denver offense?

With all due respect to Terrell Davis, the real MVP of the Broncos' victory in Super Bowl XXXII was safety Steve Atwater. He's got a ring. Now, Atwater needs a gold jacket. He talks about his wait for that knock from the Pro Football Hall of Fame with Mark Kiszla in this edition of the Kickin' It Pod. And in the "Just One More Thing" segment, Kiz contemplates how handsome Tom Brady would look wearing a powder blue uniform as quarterback of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Broncos president Joe Ellis is at the center of the Bowlen family feud for control of the team. He talks with Mark Kiszla about the looming ownership battle in this edition of the Kickin' It Podcast. And in the "Just One More Thing" segment, this big, bold question is posed: Quarterback Drew Lock for NFL most valuable player in 2020?

Ask John Hessler what he wants for Christmas, and the former CU quarterback replies: "I don't need everything; I've got everything." He nearly died in a 2003 car accident. But look at "Hess" now. He's married. He's the father of two two beautiful children. He's eating barbecue with Mark Kiszla in this holiday edition of the Kickin' It Pod. (OK, two out of three ain't bad.) And in the "Just One More Thing" segment, we offer Broncomaniacs a reason to give the Raiders a hug instead of grief.

While emerging as the Broncos' No. 1 receiver, Courtland Sutton has made a name for himself with catches that cause us to wonder: "Wait ... what? How did he do that?" Sutton explains the art and science of a one-handed grab for a touchdown in this edition of the Kickin' It Podcast. And in the "Just One More Thing" segment, Mark Kiszla suggests a trade destination for linebacker Von Miller.

How does a coach handle a teaching moment for a struggling hockey team with championship aspirations? Although the Pioneers are ranked eighth in the country, they have won only one of their last eight games, with an emotional series against bitter rival Colorado College looming. "If you went super negative, things could spiral out of control," DU coach David Carle tells Mark Kiszla in this edition of the Kickin' It Podcast. And in the "Just One More Thing Segment," there's already loose talk of rookie quarterback Drew Lock being enshrined in Canton? Yes .. and we're not kidding. That's why they call it Broncomania.

"My bags were in my car about to go to Miami," said linebacker Alexander Johnson, explaining how his NFL career with the Broncos nearly ended before it began. In this edition of the Kickin' It Podcast, Johnson teaches Mark Kiszla how to screech like a big, mean dinosaur. (You've gotta hear it to believe it.) And in the "Just One More Thing" segment, a Broncos fan wonders if it's time to trade Von Miller.

"I remember everything," CU star McKinley Wright IV says. "I remember how he went to prison. I remember that exact day." This edition of the Kickin' It Pod is a Thanksgiving story of love and basketball, as Wright explains why the Roman Numerals at the end of his name mean everything to him. And in the "Just One More Thing Segment," Mark Kiszla listens to fan angst about Brittany Bowlen filling her father's big shoes at Broncos headquarters.

Colorado School of Mines coach Gregg Brandon leads an undefeated Orediggers football team into the NCAA Division II playoffs. In this edition of the Kickin' It Pod, find out how words from his father's deathbed shaped Brandon's no-excuses attitude throughout a long career, with coaching gigs everywhere from tiny Ellicott, Colorado, to the Las Vegas Locomotives of the now-defunct UFL. Plus: In the "Just One More Thing" segment, Kiz asks whether the Broncos should have taken quarterback Josh Allen instead of linebacker Bradley Chubb in the 2018 NFL draft.

You need a sledgehammer to break the glass ceiling in the old-boy network of sports administration. "Yeah, I ruffle feathers," says Rhonda Blanford-Green. She's the first female commissioner in the history of the Colorado High School Activities Association. She talks about her journey with Mark Kiszla in this edition of the Kickin' It Podcast. And in the "Just One More Thing" segment, Kiz identifies the biggest error John Elway has committed in the NFL draft.

His father made the biggest trade in Nuggets history. He threw the winning touchdown pass at the Pro Bowl in 1976. He walked away from the sport at age 28. Now, decades later, Mike Boryla takes center stage in a one-man play to explain his abrupt divorce from football. He joins this edition of the Kickin' It Pod to unravel the mystery with Mark Kiszla. And one more thing: We swap tall tales about his dad, Vince.

Steve Bartalo, a 5-foot-9 walk-on from Colorado Springs who rushed for 4,813 yards from 1983-86, made us believe anything is possible for CSU football. But can sustained football success ever return to Fort Fun? "There's no doubt in my mind," Bartalo says in this edition of the Kickin' It Pod. The legendary running back, however, adds this caveat: "We've got to do something different ... because what we're doing is not working."  And in the "Just One More Thing" segment, Kiz responds to a Broncomaniac who believes quarterback Joe Flacco's neck injury is far from the worst ailment plaguing team headquarters.

What two recent developments in Derek Wolfe's life have made the 29-year-old Broncos defensive lineman begin to formulate an exit strategy from the NFL? And just how close is Wolfe to retiring from the game he loves? Wolfe reveals his thoughts, dreams and fears in the latest edition of The Kickin' It podcast. Plus: In the "Just One More Thing" segment, Kiz listens to Broncos fans react to the trade of veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders, then tells president of football operations John Elway to not stop there. The Broncos need to move cornerback Chris Harris Jr., as well.

Pro Football Hall of Fame president David Baker drops by the Kickin' It Pod to offer Denver fans hope that their man Randy Gradishar, who hasn't made a tackle since 1983, might finally get rewarded next year with a bronze bust in Canton, Ohio. "It's not the Hall of really, really good ... so it should be hard to make it," Baker says. And in the "Just One More Thing Segment," an e-mailer prompts Kiz to wonder if what's best for the Broncos would be for the Bowlen family to sell the team.

In the new edition of the Kickin' It with Kiz Podcast, Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla tackles a serious issue that high-profile coaches sometimes joke about: stress.

In the latest edition of the Kickin' it with Kiz Podcast, Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla makes a plea for Broncomaniacs' mental health before sitting down for a conversation with CU Buffs football coach Mel Tucker. The two talk about Tucker's motivational catchphrase "So what, now what?", why Colorado was an enticing opportunity for him, and what the title of Tucker's book might be after the Buffs win their second national championship. And, lastly, a listener wonders if Nikola Jokic could stand to lose a few pounds.

In the first Kickin' it with Kiz Podcast, Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla examines who's really to blame for the Broncos' 0-3 start before sitting down for a conversation with Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado. The two talk about the frustration of Colorado's losing season, the pressure of Arenado living up to his big contract, sharing an infield with his cousin and why he admires the rapper Post Malone. And, lastly, a reader vastly underrates Kiz's trade value in "One more thing."