Wednesday's Gossip Column

Jared Bednar won’t go very long without thinking about his hockey team or his various outdoor-related passions. It certainly shouldn’t be surprising when he finds a way to tie the two together. The Colorado Avalanche reached the midseason point on a turbulent 2024-25 campaign Tuesday night. His way of describing this season to date isn’t that different from other years.

DEKALB, Ill. — Northern Illinois has accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West for football only in 2026, the school and conference announced Tuesday. The Huskies will go from the Midwest-based MAC to a conference in which the easternmost school is in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They will join Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV, UTEP and Wyoming in the Mountain West. “This move will open new opportunities for our student-athletes, expand the reach and strengthen the national brand of Huskie Football as they represent NIU and compete for championships the hard way, and the right way,” NIU president Lisa C.

The Broncos are back in the playoffs and that means the Broncos roundtable is re-convened, too. Before the Broncos hit the road to Buffalo, let’s get into how Sean Payton’s team got here and what has to happen Sunday on the shores of Lake Erie in order for Denver to pull the upset and get to the divisional round. OK, wise guys, the Broncos outpaced expectations this fall because… Ryan McFadden, Broncos beat reporter: When you have a good coach and quarterback relationship, anything is possible.

The dream is just about realized for the Bassett brothers. After a successful college career with the University of Denver that ended with Sam Bassett leading the Pioneers to their second College Cup as a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, the midfielder signed a one-year Homegrown deal with the Colorado Rapids on Tuesday for the 2025 season. The contract includes three consecutive one-year club options for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Signing the Littleton native seemed a foregone conclusion after his Homegrown status left him ineligible for the 2025 MLS SuperDraft.

Michael Malone doesn’t know where he’ll hang the jersey. As long as it can be replaced by an updated version someday. After the Nuggets wrapped up practice on Monday afternoon, general manager Calvin Booth surprised Malone with a framed custom jersey, commemorating his 433rd win as Denver’s coach this season, which set a new franchise record. The number on the jersey was 433. “Calvin Booth had that made, so obviously really appreciate the gesture.

You’ll thank Russell Wilson one day. Not because he showed up. Oh, no. Because he left. Getting him was a risk. Extending him was screwy. But cutting Big Russ forced the Broncos to go cold turkey in record time, to eat a ton of cap money and go young all over the place.