The Year in Pictures 2017: Faces & Places

This story originally appeared in Mile High Sports Magazine. Read the full digital edition.

Although wins and losses are how we typically measure the success of a season, the great sportswriter Grantland Rice reminds us:

“For when the One Great Scorer comes
To mark against your name,
He writes – not that you won or lost –
But how you played the Game.”

For Colorado sports fans in 2017, it wasn’t just the what and how that mattered, but also the who and where. Beyond the victories and the defeats, these are the people and places that made this year one to remember.

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After two vastly different seasons in Denver – one that resulted in winning Super Bowl 50 and another that resulted in the Broncos missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010 – Gary Kubiak stepped down as head coach, citing his health as the primary reason. Kubiak rejoined the team as a scout prior to the 2017 season.

Despite a nasty winter storm that put the annual Stock Show Parade down 17^th Street on ice, the cowboys and cowgirls of the National Western Stock Show kept things toasty inside the Denver Coliseum. The cold temperatures did little to slow down the 111th NWSS, which saw an impressive attendance of 684,580, including a record-setting final day of 42,661.

On Jan. 11, Vance Joseph was introduced as the Denver Broncos’ 16th head coach. Less than halfway through the season, the local media was suggesting there should be a 17th.

Not only did the CSU Rams uplift fans (and one another) with a big win over Oregon State, they did so in a brand-new stadium. Under the guidance of athletic director Joe Parker, the university successfully completed construction on a beautiful new on-campus facility. CSU Stadium holds 41,000 fans and cost a reported $220 million.

Rockies centerfielder Charlie Blackmon and his untamed beard became a cult hero of sorts in 2017. But it wasn’t just his wacky sense of humor or distinct look that fans loved. Blackmon won a batting title, a Silver Slugger award, finished fifth in NL MVP voting and drove in 104 RBI, setting a new MLB record for a leadoff hitter.

Following an offseason and training camp filled with rumors and rumblings, Avalanche forward Matt Duchene was, to the surprise of some, introduced on opening night at Pepsi Center. But his presence wasn’t permanent. After playing just 1:59 in the first period against the Islanders on Nov. 5, Duchene was removed and notified that he’d been traded to Ottawa.

Denver greeted some new faces when Mexico and Jamaica squared off for the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Mile High Stadium, including Mexican forward Elias Hernandez.

Jeff Hoffman, who appeared on the mound 23 times and started 16 games, was one of four Rockies rookie hurlers who shined at 20^th and Blake.

Not long after the Broncos selected left tackle Garett Bolles with the 20^th pick in the draft, the young man from Utah proudly raised up his son, going “all ‘Lion King’ on everyone.”

When Jeff Bridich dealt for catcher Jonathan Lucroy at the trade deadline, some asked, “Why not a starting pitcher?” Then Lucroy guided the Rockies pitching staff to the playoffs.

Running back Izzy Mathews flexed his muscles after a touchdown scamper in Colorado State’s stadium-opening beatdown of Oregon State.

After seemingly striking out at the NBA Draft and with various free agent flirtations, the Denver Nuggets finally got their man when they inked four-time All-Star Paul Millsap to a three-year, $90 million contract. Millsap was as advertised until a wrist injury suffered on Nov. 20 placed him on the shelf.

This season marked the 25th anniversary of the famed Denver Broncos Cheerleaders. Highlighting the celebration was a halftime performance at the Raiders game in which 170 alumni cheerleaders gave the home crowd a new reason to cheer.

Though it was his first year managing the Colorado Rockies, Bud Black, who went on to finish as a NL Manager of the Year finalist, was no stranger to the job. But it was strange that the old pitcher was handed a staff full of young ones. Nonetheless, Black deftly handled his rookie pitchers, including Jeff Hoffman (23 games, 6-6, 5.89 ERA), German Marquez (29 starts, 11-7, 4.39 ERA), Antonio Senzatela (36 games, 10-5, 4.68 ERA) and Kyle Freeland (28 starts, 11-11, 4.10 ERA).

In what could only be classified as a roller-coaster season – one that resulted in more lows than highs – first-year head coach Vance Joseph showed a wide array of expressions and emotions.