Alright fans! It’s giveaway time at Predominantly Orange again. A few months ago, I gave away a couple pairs of Broncos Crocs. Well, this time I have some Broncos keychains to give away. There are 9 keychains total (3 different styles) as pictured below.

I’ve got the Bottle Opener Keychain, the Rectangle Keychain, and the  Pewter Keychain. All you have to do is tell me who your favorite Broncos player is of all time and why. Leave your answer in the comment section below, and you will be entered in the random drawing to receive your keychain. Even if you don’t win one, you can still buy your own and I can get you a 10% discount. Just use “porange” in the promotional code section when you make your purchase. You can even engrave a personal message on the back of the keychain.

My favorite Bronco of all time is Ed McCaffrey because he was willing to sacrifice his body on every play. He never gave up, was a role model to the younger guys, and worked his tail off on a daily basis. Let’s hear from you…

Things have been quiet around here. Too quiet. That’s why the news of Brandon Marshall’s outburst during his 2007 DUI arrest hit the headlines at an appropriate time. As Marshall upholds his request to be traded, a police report quotes Marshall saying,

“I hate Denver. I hope I get traded. I hate this f******* city.” (The Denver Channel)

Marshall’s blood alcohol content was above the legal limit with a 0.116 breathalyzer reading. I think people are reading too much into this. The local news had the story at the beginning of their broadcast yesterday evening. People say things when they’re drunk. He was probably more upset with the officers who pulled him over, and projected his anger for them on the city of Denver. I guarantee when he was having his Pro Bowl year last year, he wasn’t saying, “I hate this city.” Now, with Jay Cutler and Mike Shanahan’s departure, he doesn’t see any reason to stay.

We’re going to have to wait and see what happens to Marshall this season, but the release of this report has made some fans very mad. I agree he shouldn’t have said that, but you have to take his words with a grain of salt.

Weekly links right here. Let’s go:

- If you don’t think Daniel Graham is a good guy, just ask these Denver kids.

- The Broncos have about a month off before training camp begins. Here’s what some of the players will be doing during their break.  

- The young guys are at the Rookie Symposium this week, and Knowshon Moreno guides us through a little bit of it.

- A suspect in the Darrent Williams murder case is in court.

-It was sad to see Dominique Foxworth leave the Broncos. He was a class act and even Champ Bailey had respect for him.

- People will question the Bears move to acquire Jay Cutler until the team starts winning.

Now for some random (but great) links:

- Brett Favre needs special accommodations if he buys a house in Minnesota.

- The infomercial poster boy, Billy Mays, passed away last weekend, so who could take his place? Mike Ditka of course!

- Sometimes things happen that you don’t expect to happen at a sporting event. Here are the “Top Ten Times When Animals Attack.”

- The U.S. had an incredible run, but a rough go during the Confederation’s Cup Final. Will soccer ever get the respect it deserves?

- Women get made fun of for crying during movies all the time, but men are guilty too. Here are the “Top 10 Sports Movies That Make Men Cry.”

- Manny can be Manny again in L.A. starting on Friday.

- You have to admit, we’ve had a lot of celebrities die over the past couple of weeks. Inside the Iggles takes a look at “Dead Celebrities and Their NFL Counterparts.” 

- Seriously? A 13 year old football player commits to Tennessee.

- The Oakland Raiders want to be the NFL face of Asia.

Michael Jackson’s music/image undoubtedly played a role in the entertainment value of sports. Who can forget his music video, “Jam” with Michael Jordan or his 1993 Super Bowl performance . His moon walk is done in celebration after goals and touchdowns. (Yes, some do it better than others). There’s the L.A. Gear athletic commercial , and Jackson even made an impact in the lives of many athletes such as Kobe Bryant. 

I’m going to put a different spin on Michael Jackson and sports. Here are some song titles that describes some of today’s athletes/teams:

Lance Armstrong -  “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” : Armstrong begins his quest for an 8th win on July 4th at the Tour de France after battling testicular cancer in 1996. After a brief retirement in 2005, he’s decided to “Keep on with the force don’t stop, Don’t stop ’til you get enough.”

LeBron James - “Beat It”: After LeBron beat the buzzer in game 2 against the Cavs, Cleveland forgot about that other buzzer beater by Michael Jordan that gave their team a loss in 1989. I’m pretty sure this song was going through LeBron’s head.  ”No one wants to be defeated, Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight, It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right, Just beat it, beat it…”

New England Patriots (’07  - ‘08) - “Thriller” : The Pats were perfect in the regular season and had a record of 18 straight wins until that fateful night in February. The team lost to the New York Giants 17-14 in the Super Bowl. “You hear a door slam and realize there’s nowhere left to run, You feel the cold hand and wonder if you’ll ever see the sun, You close your eyes and hope that this is just imagination, But all the while you hear the creature creepin’ up behind, You’re out of time.” Who would’ve thought that creature would be Eli Manning?

John McEnroe - “Human Nature”: We all know that McEnroe can go bat s*%t crazy after a bad call on the tennis court. Forget “Manny Being Manny.” That’s just McEnroe being McEnroe. It’s his nature.  ”If they say - Why, why, tell ‘em that it’s human nature, why, why, does he do me that way…”

Adam ”Pacman” Jones - “Bad”:  This former Dallas Cowboy was suspended for the 2007 season after many incidents with the law. It’s only a matter of time before he’s convicted for something. ”The word is out, You’re doin’ wrong, Gonna lock you up, Before too long, Your lyin’ eyes, Gonna tell you right, So listen up, Don’t make a fight, Your talk is cheap, You’re not a man, You’re throwin’ stones, To hide your hands.”

Stephon Marbury - “Man In The Mirror” While playing for the Knicks, Marbury a.k.a. “Starbury” had public feuds with his coaches, Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas. Because Marbury wasn’t going to get the minutes he wanted, he refused to play in games. Last season, he was traded to the Celtics and did a 180 where he didn’t mind a role coming off the bench. “I’m starting with the man in the mirror,
I’m asking him to change his ways, And no message could have been any clearer, If you wanna make the world a better place, Take a look at yourself, and then make a change…”

Kyle Busch - “Speed Demon”: This NASCAR star won the Nationwide Series yesterday. ”I’ve got to be on time, Look in the view mirror, Is he hot on my tracks, Is he getting nearer, I feel some heat is on my back (Speed demon), Speedin’ on the freeway, Gotta get a leadway…”

O.J. Simpson - “Smooth Criminal”: No explanation needed here. “He came into your apartment, He left the bloodstains on the carpet, Then you ran into the bedroom,You were struck down…”

Tiger Woods - “Black or White”: It really doesn’t matter when you’re that good at golf. “See, it’s not about races, just places, faces, where your blood comes from, Is where your space is…”

Danica Patrick- “Dangerous”: Competing in the mostly male  driven sport of auto racing, Patrick was the first woman to win an Indy car race. “She’s so dangerous, The girl is so dangerous, Take away my money, Throw away my time…”

The Jay Cutler-Josh McDaniels Relationship - “You Are Not Alone” “How could this be, you’re not here with me, You never said goodbye, Someone tell me why, Did you have to go, And leave my world so cold…” Okay maybe they aren’t saying this.

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Pro Football Talk provides yet another angle on the Brandon Marshall situation. Their perspective is very interesting. What is the difference? Hit play and find out for yourself!

In addition to our “Clip of the Week,” we are also going to include an “Image of the Week.” This week, Casey Wiegmann lost his high school football coach in a deadly shooting. This week, we give credit to Ed Thomas for Casey Wiegmann’s tremendous form at center in our Image of the Week. 

 Now for the best thing to come along since sliced bread. You can now make it easier to follow Predominantly Orange. You’ll want to do it as the Broncos season kicks into gear soon with training camp starting next month. We’ll also be holding a contest to give away some free Broncos gear. Don’t sit back on your heels any longer. Click here to subscribe to our free service!

What do you think about the Brandon Marshall hold out? Like it or not Broncos fans may have to go through another painful experience this off-season…perhaps. However, reporter Reggie Rivers of CBS4 shares his thoughts on the situation and provides some relief for those worried that Brandon will be traded…in our Clip of the Week!

For most kids in this country, their last high school game/match is the last time they’ll step on the court/field, etc. The sports you play in high school play an important role in your development as an athlete, student, but most of all, as a person. When I played basketball and tennis in high school, all I thought about was the competition itself. Things like going 4 for 4 from 3-point land , closing out a set, and taking State meant a lot to me. Looking back, it probably meant too much to me. However, without realizing it, I learned valuable life lessons through sports. High school sports undoubtedly emphasize leadership skills, representing yourself and your school in a positive manner, and competing intensely all while upholding your own moral values.

Coaches at this level do not get enough credit for what they are doing. They aren’t paid the big bucks like professional or college coaches (unless you’re a high school football coach in Texas). In fact with all the time they spend at practice, traveling to games, coaching games, watching game tape, and in team meetings, I bet they don’t even make minimum wage. They do it because they love the sport and kids with an insane amount of passion. They are in it for a different reason.  To have a stranger come in and teach your child something that they’re passionate about goes unnoticed too many times.

I bring this up because a well known high school football coach in Iowa was shot and killed yesterday. Ed Thomas produced four NFL players from his school including Broncos center Casey Wiegmann. Wiegmann sums it up nicely speaking about the man who helped him develop into the human being he is today:

“It’s hard to begin to talk about what he’s meant to me…You’re not just learning football stuff from the man, you’re learning about life. My values, the way I run my life and treat my family and take care of people came from him.”

I guarantee that most of the players you see out there on Sunday’s would not be there if it weren’t for the coach they had while they were in high school. I would actually put money on that. While being a parent is all fine and good, it takes a village to raise a child. While a teenager is busy rebelling and testing the limits, there aren’t many people who can reach that child. One person who can is their coach.

So I want to raise a virtual glass to Ed Thomas and every high school coach out there. Without you,  the NFL wouldn’t be the same. More importantly, society would be in bad shape.   

Links, links, and more great links. Check them out:

- Steve Atwater is a huge hit in Denver even after his retirement.

- Can Jay Cutler persuade Brandon Marshall to join him in a different shade of orange and blue?

- Marshall intends to keep quiet on his plans though.

- Michael Lombardi of NFP thinks the Broncos need to get back to basics before their defense will improve.

- Correll Buckhalter’s life in the NFL hasn’t been easy to say the least. However, he’s happy to be splitting carries in a Broncos uniform. 

- Broncos rookies got involved with the local community by visiting the Boys and Girls Club to play with the kids.

- The deal that brought Alphonso Smith to Denver has gotten a lot of heat. He could, however, make an impact on defense.

Now for some random links that you may find entertaining:

- Being a fan can be tough. Here are some photos to prove it.

- Sure steroids and baseball go together like peanut butter and jelly lately. Here’s a look at “The Top Ten Cartoon Characters Who Juiced.”

- A 104 MPH pitch? Get out the way and tell me it ain’t true.

- You know Jared from Subway? Well, he beat Blake Griffin in a game of H.O.R.S.E. I wonder if this will impact the draft.

- Sports aren’t all that great. Sometimes they can be downright annoying.

 Someone once told me that if you do the same thing you’ve always done, then you’ll get the same things you’ve always gotten. That’s why the Broncos changed up their off season work out routine last week. Regular torture can be masochistic when you run (or crawl) blechers under the strong Colorado sun at about 6,200 feet above sea level. 

Many people including myself go to Red Rocks Amphitheater to work out in a venue that seats 10,000 people. I go because I live in right downtown and like to escape to the more peaceful mountains at least twice per week. The scenery is amazing, and the bleachers provide me enough to do to train for the NYC marathon. Surprisingly, at Fan Fair, when new players were asked if they had the chance to explore the surrounding area, most replied that they haven’t had enough time. The coaching staff/trainers planned the Red Rocks “field trip” perfectly. I’m sure it gets boring working out at Dove Valley day after day. Plus, their  bodies get fairly used to lifting weights, sprinting, and doing the standard exercises. I guarantee that there were at least a few players who were sore for a few days after their workout at Red Rocks.  Here are some entertaining pictures from the workout:

http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=340&galleryID=9990