Sunday Truth

John Mosure continues to make a name for himself in a methodical fashion, positioning his talent for the fall, piling up 49 yards on nine carries to lead the Gold past the Green, 14-9, in CSU's spring game that wrapped up the season's work.

Despite the low score, there was offensive production.

Quarterback Caleb Hanie went 10-for-14 for 126 yards, including a 14-yard strike to George Hill. Hanie has been compared to former Ram Bradlee Van Pelt but truth is Hanie is a step up as a passer and potentially a better player.

Receiver Luke Roberts finished off a strong spring as he had three catches for 56 yards. Wrote it before -- his size and consistency could make him a reliable chain mover.

Gartrell Johnson added 48 yards on the ground in nine carries but Michael Myers, a spring surprise, struggled, earning just 28 yards on 10 totes.

Linebacker Zac Bryson, defensive back Darryl Williams and lineman Blake Smith all stood out on defense, units that bagged 10 sacks.

Now that's an up-and-down day for the offensive lines. Production, surely, but weakness all around. Somebody put in a call to an OL mechanic.

Proving ground

The Nuggets are back in the playoffs again (thank you George Karl) but what will this team do during Money Time and against defensive demons San Antonio?

Carmelo Anthony, he of .362 shooting for his 18.6 points per game playoff averages, has to find the answers to his woeful postseason efforts. Maybe having Allen Iverson as a dynamic scorer riding shotgun will help, as will a healthy Nene bumping and bruising down low.

Denver's offense can not get bogged down in a traffic jam if it is to merely compete in this series. It must flow for longer spurts and score points. Defensively, the Nuggets are in big trouble because they are not all of a sudden going to show up and be jock mates of the Spurs.

David Ramsey of the Colorado Springs Gazette says a seven-game slug-fest should be the expectation but the word here is San Antonio eliminates Denver in 5 games.

But if you listen closely. Shhh...hear it. Listen. Here it is, a bold, but dissenting voice.

Kelly dishes to WSN on Denver playoffs

We've all heard how the Spurs are going to manhandle the Nuggets in the team's playoff series that opens today but I wanted to know how Denver can win the series.

Seems the half-court game execution is going to be critical.

"San Antonio is not going to let them run," Michael Kelly of Longmont's Times-Call said. "They're too disciplined for that. (The Nuggets) have to keep moving the ball, almost like Phoenix does, to get the best shot."

So can Denver be effective enough playing slow-down ball to make the Spurs work to win the series?

"San Antonio is a great team but they are not invulnerable," Kelly said. "They are going to have their moments of weakness but to push it to seven games, it's going to take winning one, if not two games on the road because San Antonio is a pretty good road team (27-14) and they're disciplined."

For the record, Kelly picks...the Spurs in 6.

The WSN has settled on San Antonio in 5. The Nuggets are capable but not mentally on par with the Spurs nor does Denver know how to play playoff defense.

Sleepers

Everyone wants to know which team will surprise so I asked Kelly that question, too.

While he mentioned Miami out of the East due to the champions' low seeding in 2007 he settled on a new, old power.

"I think Chicago is a sleeper because they play good defense and have a good perimeter game," Kelly said. "They also have some experience with Ben Wallace in the middle."

So, what about out West?

"Houston. They won without its' top two scorers (Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming) in the lineup for a lot of games," he said. "They could easily get past Utah."

Smooth strikes

Former George Washington High School and CU star Chauncey Billups poured in 22 points while also being charitable with 11 assists as Detroit beat Orlando, 100-92, in a first-round playoff victory on Saturday.

Doyel on CU basketball

Gregg Doyel of CBSSportsline.com hit me with a one-liner on the new state of CU basketball after the hiring of Jeff Bzdelik.

"Coach Bzzz will win as much as anyone can (legally) win at CU."

Ah, yeah. Interesting way of putting it but you get his point -- the Buffs have issues now but Bzdelik's determination, work ethic and vision has the strong potential of making CU a program linked to success. Throw in the desire at the top to create change and with apologies to Michael Buble, you have the makings of a new dawn, a new day, a new life...for me, and CU is feeling good.

You're on the clock --NFL draft

Me being the solicitor that I am I have asked for you to make the call on the Broncos' draft picks as, well, heaven knows they need help doing so.

Marcus Nash, Paul Toviessi, Willie Middlebrooks, Travis McGriff, Ashley Lelie, Mark Wahlberg, Cuba Gooding, Jr.

So, first in is David, who is on the table, as they say, selling his guys.

"OT: Joe Staley, Central Michigan "Smallish" (310 lbs) and athletic tackle who is ideal for the Broncos' system. With (Matt) Lepsis coming off of injury and the other tackle spot a question mark, they would be wise to snatch him up....he couldn't be worse than George Foster, right?

"S: Eric Weddle, Utah Not a 1st-round pick but if he is available it would be smart to pick up "Mr. Everything" for the Utes and groom him to be (John) Lynch's successor."

WSN: Now, David, that's what I'm talking about. You walk into the house and proclaim it yours and start naming names. Staley is indeed a hot name from a little-known school and Denver needs fortification on the offensive line. And you're right, could the guy have less passion than Foster? That's a rhetorical question, by the way.

Weddle was a collegiate stud but I hear his pro prospects might be limited due to lack of athleticism. If he slips into the later rounds of the draft, then yeah, I'm with you.

By the way, I have copyrighted "Mr. Everything" for myself. Don't be giving it away to Weddle or anyone else or you'll be hearing from my attorney.

Quality contribution, David.

Hotshots

Here are the hottest Rockies' prospects, by performance, which is the only thing worth caring about in the WSN book.

AAA-Colorado Springs

Stud pitching prospect Ubaldo Jimenez has been awful. Is this guy hurt? There has to be some excuse for his 15.09 ERA in 11 and 1/3 innings.

Outfielder Ryan Spilborghs (.340, 3 home runs, 8 RBI) and third baseman Ian Stewart (.327) are the people getting it done with the bats. The time is now for Stewart to show he can hit for average (a must in the Pacific Coast League to prove worth) and improve the charge in his "wood" by cranking a few more balls over the fence.

AA-Tulsa

Power pitchers Franklin Morales and Juan Morillo are struggling but starter Greg Reynolds and reliever Jarrett Grube aren't. Reynolds, while not a power arm, is proving himself to be smart with good command and difficult to dent (1.50 ERA). Grube is improved in that he is not as easy to score upon (1.13 ERA).

Shortstop Jon Herrera (.357) and outfielders Matt Miller (.349) & Joe Gaetti (.326) are bruising the opposition's offerings.

A-Modesto

Starter Brandon Hynick, dominant a season ago, hasn't allowed an earned run in 18 frames. This is someone who is being followed closely by Colorado general manager Dan O'Dowd.

A-Asheville

Starter Keith Weiser and reliever Ethan Katz are off to strong starts. Weiser is hittable (17 hits in 17 innings) but has good control (14 strikeouts and only two walks) and wins. Katz hasn't been scored on in 12 innings. Guess that's good, huh?

First baseman Michael Paulk has shown no power but is a hit machine (.367).

Scoreboard grumblings

Those bumbling Rockies threw batting practice to San Diego on Saturday but no one told Colorado that the Padres and Major League Baseball were secretly keeping score. 7-3, San Diego, I hear. Jeff Francis was as flammable as teammate Josh Fogg was the night before, throwing softballs to the plate which were battered for six runs and 13 hits in six innings. If you're asking me to finally say something nice, well, Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday banked three hits each.

Word on the street

Tomorrow, I talk to Adam Munsterteiger of BuffStampede.com and Air Force football coach Troy Calhoun. If all lines up, those interviews will be published mid-to-late week.

Also out in the street looking for an interview to talk about CSU's spring work on the field.

Because it matters

To the souls of the departed, this is to show you weren't just names in news stories but living, breathing human beings with faces, hearts, minds and potential. Bless your loved ones and rest in peace.

Final say

I really like to have the last word. Can you tell?

Just so respect you letting me have it.

The Virginia Tech murders continue to get the run in the news and like any big news junkie, I watch it all like a ghoul, a rubber necker and I'm ashamed of myself. But my mind is just one that has to know all about I don't understand.

A friend sent me a Wall Street journal article detailing the failings along the way in what became a slaughter on a U.S. college campus, which provoked my spirit, as many injustices do.

Here's the final say -- why all this happened is very simple -- civil liberties. Hey, I want mine but the problem is beyond the general issuing of those rights to all citizens. I truly believe Virginia Tech, for all the heat it is receiving, wanted to do something about the eventual killer but the government wants carnage first in many things before it will act. Whether it be stalking-to-murder or molestation to rape, plane crashes or mass murders, our law is set up to ignore warning signs. Actually, it does more than ignore them, it refuses to look, which makes it guilty.

So, bottom line, and this is unarguable, the government stands in the way of prevention then it shakes its' head and says "ah, such a terrible thing."

The local, state and federal government all have blood on their hands in this case and many others. Virginia Tech's culpability is much less.