Denver, CO
How Denver Broncos NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Randy Gradishar has family ties to Pueblo
Hall of Fame linebacker Randy Gradishar learned of his Pueblo ties on January 29, 1974 — the same day he was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Gradishar had just capped off his senior season at the Ohio State University with a 42-21 Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans. Denver Broncos coach John Ralston called the consensus All-American linebacker to inform him that he was the Broncos’ choice for the 14th pick in the draft.
“After I hung up with Coach Ralston, I called home and talked to mom and dad,” Gradishar told the Chieftain. “At the end of the conversation… I find out that my father was born in Pueblo.”
Here’s how the Broncos legend stays connected to the Steel City decades after his retirement from football.
‘Orange Crush’ linebacker maintains relationship with city of father’s birth
Gradishar’s father Jim grew up in the Eilers neighborhood near the corner of Mesa and Egan avenues. Jim, his parents and his siblings moved to northeast Ohio during the Great Depression. However, their cousins remained in Pueblo.
Like Pueblo, the northeast Ohio cities of Warren and Youngstown were steel manufacturing cities. While his siblings worked in steel, Jim started a grocery store in Champion Township north of Warren after returning from World War II. Randy was born in 1952 and began working at his father’s grocery store at age 11.
“I just know in my heart that it was all God-directed the way it was going because I didn’t even start playing football until ninth grade,” Gradishar said. “We ended up my senior year with like 25 guys on the football team… My high school football coach sent out films for me and then all of a sudden, I got recruited by a few schools.”
Gradishar tallied 320 total tackles — 155 solo and 165 assisted — at Ohio State between 1971 and 1973, according to a 2022 Ohio State football media guide. He was named to the consensus All-American team twice and finished sixth in the 1973 Heisman Trophy voting.
When Gradishar began playing for the Broncos, his parents — Jim and Ann Gradishar — often flew to Denver to watch their son at Mile High Stadium before driving down to Pueblo and catching up with Jim’s cousins. Randy got the chance to visit the Pueblo Gradishars during the offseason.
Around the time of the 1977 NFL season — the season the Broncos made their first Super Bowl appearance — Gradishar and a few Broncos teammates worked with former University of Southern Colorado Coach Mike Friedman to organize a five-day football camp in Pueblo.
It was at the camp in Pueblo that Gradishar encountered a surname just one letter off from his own — Gradisar. Gradishar didn’t think much of the similar spelling at first but eventually found out that the two families are distantly related.
The names Gradisar and Gradishar both come from the Slovenian name Gradišar with the “š” sounding like an “sh,” according to Ben Gradishar, a Pueblo resident and a second cousin once removed to the Hall of Fame linebacker.
“We’re all ‘Gradisars’ but we inadvertently got an ‘h’ added at Ellis Island in the 1880s… Now there is ‘Gradisars’ and ‘Gradishars,’” Ben Gradishar told the Chieftain.
All ten of Randy Gradishar’s NFL seasons were played with the Denver Broncos. He retired with 2,049 tackles, seven Pro Bowl appearances and the 1978 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. He also grabbed 20 career interceptions and recovered 14 fumbles.
Gradishar is part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024. He will be enshrined with fellow inductees Dwight Freeney, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Steve McMichael, Julius Peppers and Patrick Willis at a ceremony on Aug. 3.
Post-retirement, Gradishar has kept busy working in public relations with Phil Long Dealerships but said he makes visits to Pueblo “relatively often.”
“That was pretty special knowing that there is family here and having the opportunity to know them as cousins,” Gradishar said. “Having that connection, again, goes way back to 1974 knowing that I was coming to Denver, Colorado and that my father was born in Pueblo.”
New PCC President: Chato Hazelbaker selected as next president of Pueblo Community College
Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com
Denver, CO
Former Denver Nuggets NBA Champ’s Future Plans Revealed
Getty
The Denver Nuggets could lose Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in NBA free agency.
After a run with the Denver Nuggets, the two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit the free agency market to sign a lucrative multi-year contract in 2024.
Caldwell-Pope landed a $66 million offer from the Orlando Magic during the summer of 2024. The third season of the deal costs $21.6 million, and it’s up to Caldwell-Pope if he wants to exercise that or become a free agent again.
As the contract is currently on the Memphis Grizzlies‘ books, the team recently landed an update on the veteran’s plans from the NBA insider, Michael Scotto.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s Future Plans Revealed
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 04: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #5 of the Denver Nuggets looks to pass in front of James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers during a 102-100 Clippers win at Crypto.com Arena on April 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
via Michael Scotto, HoopsHype: Memphis Grizzlies guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is expected to exercise his $21.6 million player option for the 2026-27 season, league sources say. It’s the last year of a 3-year, $66 million deal negotiated by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. More on KCP and Ja Morant on @YESNetwork.
The 33-year-old guard spent just one season with the Magic.
In Orlando, Caldwell-Pope appeared in 77 games. He averaged 8.7 points, while shooting 43.9% from the field and hitting on 34.2% of his threes.
Last summer, the Magic cut ties with Caldwell-Pope in the Desmond Bane blockbuster. The veteran’s first season with the Grizzlies included 51 appearances. He averaged 8.4 points while shooting 31.6% from three.
Back in late February, the Grizzlies announced that Caldwell-Pope would undergo season-ending surgery on his pinky finger.
Although Caldwell-Pope plans to pick up his final option, that doesn’t guarantee he is staying with the Grizzlies for the entire 2026-2027 NBA season. Veteran players with a notable resume on expiring deals tend to get moved to contenders when their current team is in the midst of a rebuild.
An NBA Veteran Worth Looking At
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 25: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles as Nikola Jokic #15 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #5 of the Denver Nuggets defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden on January 25, 2024 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Caldwell-Pope has been in the NBA since 2013.
Coming out of Georgia, he was selected eighth overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2013 NBA Draft.
After a four-season run with the Pistons, Caldwell-Pope joined the Los Angeles Lakers. During his four-year run with the Lakers, Caldwell-Pope won his first NBA Championship.
The Nuggets traded for the veteran guard during the 2022 offseason. He was moved for Monte Morris and Will Barton. When the Nuggets picked up Caldwell-Pope, he was rewarded with a $30 million extension over two years.
Before leaving Denver, Caldwell-Pope posted averages of 10.4 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.6 rebounds, while shooting 41.5% from three.
He was a member of the Nuggets’ 2023 NBA Championship squad.
Justin Grasso Justin Grasso is an NBA reporter, covering trending league news, transactions, injuries, and player developments. He is a credentialed journalist with nearly a decade of insider access. More about Justin Grasso
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Denver, CO
Blustery Conditions Forecast for Rockies’ Home Opener – Denver Today
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The Colorado Rockies are set to play their home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, but the weather forecast calls for partly sunny skies and strong winds gusting up to 40 mph. Temperatures will start around 55 degrees at first pitch but steadily drop throughout the game, reaching 52 degrees by the final inning.
Why it matters
The Rockies’ home opener is a highly anticipated event for baseball fans in Denver, and the blustery conditions could impact the game play, fan experience, and overall atmosphere at Coors Field. Strong winds can affect pitching, batting, and fielding, while the dropping temperatures may require fans to bundle up more than expected.
The details
The Pinpoint Weather Alert team forecasts that Friday’s game will see partly sunny skies and gusty winds, with gusts potentially reaching up to 40 mph. At the 2:10 pm first pitch, the temperature will be around 55 degrees, but it will gradually decrease to 54 degrees by the fifth inning and 52 degrees by the end of the game.
- The Rockies’ home opener is scheduled for Friday, April 4, 2026.
- First pitch is set for 2:10 pm.
- Temperatures are expected to start at 55 degrees and drop to 52 degrees by the end of the game.
The players
Colorado Rockies
The professional baseball team based in Denver, Colorado, that plays in the National League West division of Major League Baseball.
Philadelphia Phillies
The professional baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that plays in the National League East division of Major League Baseball.
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What’s next
Fans attending the game should dress in layers and be prepared for the changing weather conditions throughout the afternoon.
The takeaway
The blustery forecast for the Rockies’ home opener highlights the unpredictable nature of springtime weather in Colorado and the importance of being prepared for potential changes in temperature and wind during outdoor sporting events.
Denver, CO
Paint the Town Bright, Local Artists at Bright Space Murals Brings Light to Denver Communities — The Denver VOICE
Story by Ethan Clark
Photos by Giles Clasen
Art is one of the most meaningful parts of Denver’s identity. From the various art districts and museums to the sculptures at the Convention Center, art has defined how people see Denver almost as much as the mountains that serve as the city’s backdrop. While most of Denver’s art scene is confined to specific places that require people to go out of their way to see, one art form breaks the mold and brings color and life to even the most unimportant places: murals.
Murals are a unique medium, as they offer a degree of freedom that other art forms lack. They can be found on the sides of shops to attract customers, in schools to convey a warm, welcoming environment to students, and in businesses, neighborhoods, and communal spaces.
In an interview with Denver VOICE, Denver-based artists Andreas Kremer and Reina Luna, the co-founders of Bright Space Murals, discussed how they use art to bring the community together.
THE ARTISTS BEHIND BRIGHT SPACE MURALS
Andreas Kremer and Reina Luna, who are partners, created Bright Space Murals to bring art to businesses, schools, or anyone else interested in enhancing their surroundings. Kremer, originally from Maryland, moved to Colorado to pursue his love of snowboarding. He spent a winter working at Keystone Resort before moving to Denver to work for Never Summer, a popular snowboard brand. Reina Luna, who was born and raised in Denver, has been a massage therapist for over seven years and has had a passion for art for decades. She and Kremer met through a mutual friend after the COVID lockdowns ended and the world began to reopen.
Kremer became interested in painting murals after watching the YouTube channel Ten Hundred, and his job at Never Summer offered him the opportunity to paint one of his own.
According to Kremer, he was inspired to paint an ugly, rusting shipping container outside the Never Summer factory, wanting to make sure the first thing people entering the factory saw was more visually appealing. He said that he had never made anything like this before, but drafted a design to show the owners — who were impressed — and they gave him the chance to try.
Kremer said the project was difficult, but turned out to be a great success and launched his career as a muralist. Luna, who helped with Kremer’s first mural, was daunted by the challenge this project presented.
“I was way out of my comfort zone, and I had no idea how we were going to do this, but [I told him] if you want to do this, I will help you out,” Luna said. “It turned out really good, and I was really proud of the hard work.”
“These murals are really not for us, they’re for either this space or this community, or the area where we’re leaving it,” Kremer said.
“The murals [are] an extension of us to the community, sharing our own creative effort in a space that’s public for everyone to enjoy and interpret in your own way,” Luna said.
Since creating their first mural, Kremer and Luna have continued painting murals for anyone interested in their art. They also host workshops with local high schools, including George Washington High School and Prep Academy. During these workshops, students design and make the mural with their guidance.
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