Go CSU Rams

For a few months now, I have been thinking of the need to have or the value of having an online community for the Colorado State University (CSU) alumni.  Maybe we will call it something like Rams for Life.   In any case, I want to know YOUR thoughts on this.

The idea is essentially to allow for people to post jobs, find jobs, share ideas, and create a medium to for alumni of CSU to connect and to encourage each other.  I think there are many different platforms out there, but I don’t think there is one that REALLY DOES THIS to the full extent.

Below is a copy of an email that I sent to some of my friends who studied at CSU.  Please take a look and share your ideas with us.

Friends,

Do you see a value in having an online RAMS community on the web?

A few other people in the past pointed out that it would be great to have a site with news and information regarding CSU and CSU alumni, but more importantly connecting all of the RAM alumni online where we could post jobs, create groups with each other, and maybe also have profiles.

I know there are resources out there that do this to some level – CSU website, CSU alumni website, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc, but I don’t know if there is any single one site that encourage and foster stronger community where ideas can be shared and encouraged and where maybe businesses and folks can help each other succeed.

What are your thoughts on something like this?  Traci, does CSU already have plans to do something like this in-house?  I just think that, in this day and age, success really comes from people coming together for a common purpose and that having a platform where we can encourage CSU alumni to come together might be something REALLY useful in helping the alumni be even more successful.

As an entrepreneur, I am realizing more and more that I really cannot do everything.  For me to be successful, I need to reach more people (help more people, connect/share with more people) to have better chance to succeed.  Even ideas are better honed through discussions.  Personally, I am in the process of creating a mastermind group in Mongolia with other entrepreneurs with similar mindset where we can help each other succeed.

I think something like this should be encouraged and made available as much as possible for others as well.  I am thinking that my fellow CSU alumni could benefit from this as each of have needs – whether it is finding a new job, hiring the right person, growing our businesses, creating better proposals, improving scientific research, and more.

What does everyone think?  Let’s get the discussions rolling.

What are your thoughts on creating such an online community for the CSU alumni?

7. The Emergence of J.R. Smith

Sharpshooter JR Smith (AP Photo/David Zalubowski/ESPN.com)

After a loss at the hands of JR Smith’s hot shooting and the Denver Nuggets, Deron Williams of Utah Jazz said it best, “Once he gets going offensively, he is one of the best players in the league.  He has unlimited range.”  In that game, JR Smith torched anyone trying to guard him.  On one play, he had a sweet turnaround and a three-point shot with taller Kyle Korver trying to guard him.  There was not a chance Korver could do anything but watch him hit the three right on him.  Watching JR Smith gets on a hot streak, it is a blast watching him make it rain or dunk on a fast break.

6. The Better Overall Play of Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets (AP Photo/Bill Haber/ESPN.com)

This has not been talked by the media too much, but both Carmelo Anthony himself and Coach Karl are saying he is playing better overall basketball game this year.  I will go with what the Coach says.  It’s great to have this incredible talent finally start to mature.  There is only one LeBron James, and we cannot expect everyone to be like him.  However, Carmelo has the talent to be a top 5 player in the league in both scoring and defense.  Yes, he is that talented.  Once he puts his game together, he can be an MVP candidate for years to come.  As much as I have been frustrated with his lazy play at times, I hope the Nuggets don’t pull a McDaniels and trade him.

5. Improved Coaching with Greater Focus on Defense

Coach George Karl of the Denver Nuggets (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey/ESPN.com)

In the years past the run and gun offense was good in the regular season, but Nuggets always faced problems when it met a team that can execute on offense and force bad shots on defense.  This year, the Nuggets defense has been incredible at times.   I hope the Nuggets can play defense to their best ALL THE TIME.  We already have a great post defender in Kenyon Martin.  Adding Dahntay Jones and couple of glue guys did the trick.  Now, everyone at least focuses on defense.

4. Healthy Kenyon “Kmart” Martin

Kenyon "Kmart" Martin of Denver Nuggets (AP Photo/Bill Haber/ESPN.com)

Kenyon Martin is overpaid.  I don’t dispute that, but the guy can play some defense with the best.  He can face some of the best power forwards and take them out of their game… with exception to a very few guys like Tim Duncan of two years ago.

3. Healthy Nene

Ever since Nene went through that diet and training program with Steve Hess a few years ago, this guy has been a beast.  He’s been dunking on everybody.  Have you seen him against Amare Stoudemire?  Nene typically just toys with that guy even a year or two ago when everyone was talking about how good Amare was.  I love watching Nene dunk on other teams’ bigs.

2. The Emergence of Chris “The Birdman” Anderson

Chris "the Birdman" Anderson of the Denver Nuggets (AP Photo/Bill Haber/ESPN.com)

How cool is this guy?  I know Chuck Norris is pretty cool, but in Denver, he would have a hard time being embraced and loved as much as this guy.  A year ago, he wasn’t even playing basketball.  This year, he is THE REASON why some fans come to the games.  He even has his hair spiked up like a bird!  Simply cool!

I will add this though: when the Nuggets were winning only 17 games and at the bottom of the league in standings, I loved going to the games.  The Nuggets under Bickerstaff fought hard.  They didn’t have much talent.  They didn’t have anyone to go to on offense, but they hustled and played their hearts out every game.  Nothing bugs me more than a big hunking 200-250 lbs and 6-7ft tall meat of talent just standing there.  Basically, in short, what I am saying is that I love guys who hustle and play hard.  Like those fans above, I love hustle guys.  I love the Birdman’s play.

1. Chauncey Billups’ floor leadership

Chauncey Billups, The Floor General of Denver Nuggets (AP Photo/Bill Haber/ESPN.com)

The difference between Chauncey Billups and Allen Iverson is ocean’s apart.  We’re glad to be on the long end of the stick.  Even when he is not scoring or making assists, the Nuggets play is smoother.  Their focus is better.  I can’t really say too much since everybody and their mothers are talking about how great move this has been for the Nuggets.  I even heard a Pistons fan wanting to give back AI plus Tayshaun Prince plus some other players to have Chayncey back.  I don’t blame him.  The Pistons are a poor resemblence of what they “used to be”.  We are just glad to have Chauncey on our side.  Man, he is great.

Denver Nuggets' Dikembe Mutombo Shoots a Jumphook Over Sonics' Sam Perkins

This was just an unbelievable series to watch and a miraculous win.  I have been a die-hard Denver Nuggets fan ever since the day that we beat the Seattle Supersonics in the first round of the 1994 NBA Playoffs as an 8th seed beating the 1st seed.

This was the first time ever in the history of NBA when the 8th seed knocked off the 1st seed.

Maybe similar to the 4 minute mile barrier that once broken, showing that it can be done… allowing teams such as the Knicks and the Golden State Warriors to upset the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.  Coincidentally, the 1994 Sonics were coached by George Karl.  Who knew he would end with the Nuggets?

The Nuggets win over Seattle will forever be etched in my memory

I remember the sweet joys of watching the Nuggets win game 5 in Seattle.  Of course, there was that famous image of Mutombo on the basketball floor with the basketball clutched in his hands with absolute joy and happiness after winning in overtime in Seattle.   Who could forget that?

I remember watching the game by myself.  Because the game was played so late and in Pacific time, everyone else had gone to sleep.  I was only about 14 years old then.  I remember just yelling and screaming that THE NUGGETS WON!  It was just unbelievable.  I think I woke everyone, but they couldn’t be mad. 

It was a lot of fun watching the Nuggets just hang in there… playing their hearts out in Seattle… this young, athletic, and competitive bunch led by the likes of Dikembe Mutombo, LaPhonso Ellis, Robert Pack, Reggie Williams, Brian Williams, and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

After losing the first two games, the Nuggets won the next three

This was back when the NBA only had 5 games in the first round. The Nuggets lost the first two badly, but at home, they won handily in Game 3 and in overtime in game 4.  Then, they went on to win Game 5 in Seattle in overtime.

For all the NBA, Nuggets, and basketball fans out there, I found this video on YouTube.  It really reminds me of the good times.  Check it out:

Man, we had a sweet team, then.  With Dikembe Mutombo, Laphonso Ellis, Reggie Williams, Robert Pack, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Brian Williams, Bryant Stith, and Rodney Rogers, the Nuggets were loaded.

As if it wasn’t already cool to have a really long name, Mutombo also had the infamous finger wags after blocked shots to say “not in my house”.  I remember everybody always tried to dunk on Mutombo to try to measure up.  He would just block vast majority of them and wag his fingers.  hehe.  The league eventually outlawed it saying it was taunting and that he would get technicals for those.  To me, they added additional fun and fire into the game.  For example, is there anyone who played basketball never participated in a little bit of trash talking or jabbing about how I am better than you, etc etc just for fun?  By the way, Mutombo’s real name is Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo.

By the way, Mutombo had a NBA playoff record 31 blocked shots in a 5 games series, which was against the Sonics.  He was just blocking everyone’s shots left and right.  I mean, scoring in the paint was never this difficult.  hehe

Laphonso Ellis of Denver Nuggets. He was heart and soul of the team.

LaPhonso Ellis was the heart and soul of the Denver Nuggets.  He played with fire and intensity.  I watched the pre-season game in which he hurt his knee.  I was there.  It would turn out to be one of the saddest events in my Nuggets memory.  It happened in Moby Arena in Fort Collins, CO.  I remember the game being stopped and him leaving the arena, but I never thought it would change the Nuggets fate forever.

After beating the Sonics in 5, then advancing to play the Utah Jazz and taking the Jazz to seven games and an overtime loss in Game 7, the Nuggets had high expectations for the next year.  With injury to LaPhonso Ellis, Nuggets were off to a slow start that never met the expectations for the team.  Over the years, the 1994 Nuggets team was slowly disassembled.

Sharpshooter Reggie Williams never quite became the shooter.  His shooting and his overall game did not improve much after 1994.  Robert Pack was an explosive guard off the bench.  He had some nice dunks, with one right over Shawn Kemp.  He was athletic and just good.  Brian Williams was a leftie power forward/center off the bench.  He was big and strong; he had some breakout games in terms of rebounds and dunks.

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf had a sweet game and played with the Nuggets for years.  He had his twitching issue but he had the best headfake in the game.  When he did a fake jumpshot, he got on his toes and swang the ball high above as if to shoot.  Defenders almost always fell for it.  He had such a quick jumpshot that people had to respect his headfake.

We also had Bryant Stith and Rodney Rogers.  Both were also in their early years in the league.  In fact, our entire roster was young.  We had one of the youngest but most talented and deepest teams in the league.  Bryant Stith was  a solid two-guard who could defend, post, and take his man off the dribble.  He loved posting up though.  Rodney Rogers was with the Nuggets before he got fat.  He was built but he had major hops.  He had this one put-back dunk that was just insane.  I don’t think it was during this playoffs, but he basically went up after a missed shot and when he caught the ball with his left hand before he dunked it, his head was the same level as the rim.  It was an incredible play.  WOW.

Another sweet play – this one by Laphonso Ellis

I remember one breakaway dunk by Ellis that I still remember.  On a fast break, he came from the right side with the ball palmed high above his head with his right arm.  He had one Sonics player run in front of him to strip but could reach since he had the ball palmed high.  I think the player was Gary Payton.  He also had Kendal Gill or another player try to block him from the behind but couldn’t reach the ball.  He looked sort of like MJ logo without the legs spread to the sides.  Ellis had two guys run by him in the front and in the back.  He dunked the ball.  That was a freaking sweet play.  I remember talking about it with the guys on the court the next day… with all of us trying to replicate his move.

Denver Nuggets Logo in 1994

Seattle Sonics Old Logo