Scenic drive

A morning of no warming up, just quick hitters on the college and pro front, from Fort Collins to Boulder and down in the big city.

The backyard

Have to give new Colorado State basketball coach Tim Miles credit -- he has an amped-up personality, which should work with players and fans. Take a look at him here, courtesy of Tony Phifer of the Coloradoan. Just wondering about the credibility of anyone who would equate CSU with Duke, North Carolina or even Minnesota.

And how many coaches are more concerned about hockey than football taking away from their program?

The Nuggets are obviously having one of those seasons, this time having Rasheed Wallace, yes, Rasheed Wallace hitting a 60-footer at the end of regulation to send the game with Detroit into overtime, where -- Denver lost. And if that wasn't bad enough, former Nuggets Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess chewed up their former team and spit them out with Billups scoring 34 and handing out 10 assists and McDyess totaled 20 points and 11 rebounds. Can't we just pack up this toy and put it away until next season?

That said, Nene is playing like a man again, Marcus Camby showed up healthy and dominant and J.R. Smith looked like he did earlier in the season. This team doesn't lack talent, just chemistry, which means the difference between mediocre and good.

Call me crazy, and I am, that's o.k., but a great hire (and it ain't gonna happen) for CU would be soon-to-be-fired Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics -- intelligent, strong communicator, and successful before hitting the daycare he's in charge of now. Hey, maybe Jeff Bzdelik throws the Buffs a curve and says "you talking to me?" Maybe he doesn't end up with the job. A longshot development but crazier things have happened.

Baseball America, like Dayn Perry of FoxSports.com, loves the Rockies young talent. Most of it is volatile stock but just having names on the list means the franchise is doing good things. Here's some insight to pack away for you, from the names mentioned in BA, a gift from your resident baseball analyst, the BGT. Blue chips -- Troy Tulowitzki, Chris Iannetta and if he works like Matt Holliday, Ian Stewart too. High risk -- Greg Reynolds, Jason Hirsch, Ubaldo Jimenez, Franklin Morales and Dexter Fowler.

Early draft thoughts -- Denver better realize that, despite it's glaring need for a pass rusher, this is Jay Cutler's team now and you better surround him with talent at tackle (Matt Lepsis is coming off of injury and the other end is no sure thing either) and wide receiver (Rod Smith is cooked) while also adding running back depth behind Travis Henry and Mike Bell. With Dan Reeves no longer at Broncos' HQ, at least there won't be any more mandatory urinalysis required decisions like the selection of Tommy Maddox.

Big 12

Want some notes? Here's one for you -- remember the name Bobby Reid, quarterback, Oklahoma State. Had a breakout season a year ago and has Kordell Stewart written all over him. The Cowboys are coming on strong, loaded with offensive firepower.

Oh, you want Buff notes. O.K., let me dig around for one here. How 'bout this -- try it on and see what you think. Demetrius Sumler is your frontrunner to start at running back for CU, not Hugh Charles nor anyone else. Charles will split time and get incorporated in other ways, as he's a big play waiting to happen but coach Dan Hawkins needs a durable, powerful, productive mule and Sumler is likely that guy. Thomas Perez helped make this a bigger reality but sidelining himself with academics this spring.

Need more?

Would you believe that Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Keller, now at Nebraska, is not going to step in and become All-Big 12? Would you consider the possibility his head is BIG and he will be good, sometimes better than good, rarely great and the Huskers will suffer because of it? Yeah, Nebraska is going to be right there contending for the top spot in the North division of the Big 12 but despite their ever-expanding wealth of talent, the chemistry hasn't been proven and the coaching staff, while solid, doesn't have the impeccable resume, yet.

On the streets

With John Calipari signing an extension with Memphis and Billy Donovan not leaving Florida for Kentucky (it's a lock not to happen), the Wildcats are going to have re-sight the hunt for a coach to replace world class sprinter Tubby Smith, who raced out of Lexington in record time, for Minnesota.

UK will get an outstanding coach but that guy better be careful what he wishes for as that job is no beautiful-girl, sunny-weather, sweet-kisses picnic.

Please, not again. The west coast the home of yet another diva? That could be a possibility, writes the San Francisco Chronicle, which thinks Alex Rodriguez could one day become a Giant. How intolerable would that be, A-Rod following Barry Bonds, one of the most insufferable athletes ever.