Denver, CO
Keeler: CU Buffs legend Rashaan Salaam “would love” seeing Travis Hunter win Heisman Trophy, Salaam’s mother says
Rashaan Salaam would want the company.
“He would love that,” Khalada Salaam-Alaji, mother of the late CU Buffs icon told me Tuesday when I asked about Travis Hunter and the 2024 Heisman Trophy. “He would love that.
“These young men, who weren’t even born when he was playing football — he’s old enough to be their father. He would love to be a part of that. I know Rashaan would really love this. I hope it happens. It’s amazing.”
Some 2,700 miles and a coast away from Manhattan, Salaam-Alaji on Saturday will be rooting in San Diego for Hunter to become CU’s second member of the Heisman fraternity. Because nobody would be pulling harder for #HE12MAN, the Buffs’ two-way star, than her late son.
“He’s in Colorado,” Khalada said of Salaam, the ex-CU tailback whose Heisman victory (Dec. 10, 1994) celebrated its 30th anniversary on Tuesday. “His remains are in Boulder. His spirit’s there. He would really want something good to happen in Boulder.”
Khalada continues to honor her son’s legacy, and his memory, as a driver for good. She represented Rashaan when he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022 and into the California High School Hall of Fame at the Rose Bowl last year.
These days, Salaam-Alaji is the wind beneath the wings of The Rashaan Salaam Foundation, a non-profit committed to “help children, adolescents, young adults, and athletes navigate through our complex and mentally challenging society.” The foundation held a fundraiser in Atlanta earlier this month in honor of Rashaan’s 50th birthday (Oct. 4).
“What we’re hoping is we can use all the wonderful recognition in his memory that we’ve received since he’s been gone, and do something with it,” Khalada said. “And we want the foundation to be generational. We want it to be here long after I’m gone.”
Salaam took his own life in Boulder on Dec. 5, 2016. He was 42.
“It’s so difficult this week,” Salaam-Alaji said. “It’s so difficult.”
For most Buffs fans over 35, Salaam still runs to daylight in their hearts. The minute he de-planed in Broomfield, Deion Sanders stuck a giant CU pin on the national map again. If you happened to join Buffs Nation on Dec. 3, 2022, do yourself a favor: Go to YouTube.com, or Google. Then type “Rashaan Salaam, highlights.”
Watch him juke one Miami defender, then drag two more Hurricanes with him into the end zone. Watch him fly like Superman into the end zone at Michigan Stadium. Watch him hurdle Oklahoma defenders. Watch him shatter about 486 Kansas State arm tackles. Watch him rumble for 134 yards at Nebraska. Just for fun.
Peak Salaam was the complete package, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound hammer who ran with Leroy Kelly’s anger and Gene Kelly’s grace.
In 1994, he became just the fourth Football Bowl Subdivision player to rack up at least 2,000 rushing yards before a bowl game. He led the country in rushing, scoring (24 TDs) and all-purpose yardage. His 141 yards at Michigan were the most by any opponent in Ann Arbor since Archie Griffin’s 163 back in 1973. His 11-1 Buffs faced six ranked teams over the season’s first eight weeks. Salaam averaged 173.5 rushing yards against that dirty half-dozen.
And yet the play he was proudest of came on Sept. 24, 1994, at the Big House — the block in the backfield that freed up teammate Kordell Stewart to throw the “Miracle at Michigan” to Michael Westbrook. On a team of superstars, Salaam was a bashful giant, deferential and unselfish to the last.
“I would tell (Hunter’s family) to not be fearful,” Khalada continued. “To enjoy the moment. And to help him with his finances, to make sure that (that’s taken care of) … football’s not going to last forever.
“Just enjoy it. Enjoy it. Try not to ego-trip it too hard, with the Heisman … stay connected to the God within. In the long run, that’s all I would say. Take care of yourself. Enjoy it. But protect your finances if you can.
“I appreciate it now more so than I did when it was happening.”
Her son’s relationship with the Heisman, and the expectations that came with it, became complicated. Over the 22 years after winning the award, the ex-Buffs great returned to the Heisman ceremony, as a member of college football’s most elite fraternity, just five more times. This week, like the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio, is a homecoming weekend for past winners, a chance to share in the spotlight again, to catch up.
Salaam wanted to move on. He sold his Heisman ring for roughly $8,000 in 2011; he sold his statue three years later. In 2016, it fetched $399,608 in an online auction, raising funds to CTE-related medical research in Salaam’s memory.
When the soft-spoken Buffs back attended Heisman festivities as a finalist, one of his running buddies in New York was a gregarious Miami Hurricane defensive lineman named Warren Sapp.
Three decades later, that same Sapp is now a member of the CU football family, having joined Sanders’ coaching staff as a senior quality control analyst.
Sometimes, history can tie things together with wonderful, unexpected bows.
“He would love (Hunter),” Salaam-Alaji said. “There would be no competition. It would be only encouragement. And being proud. That’s who Rashaan was.”
•••
For more information on The Rashaan Salaam Foundation, or to donate, visit rashaansalaamfoundation.org
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On a rainy Friday in late May, Mary Nguyen welcomed about 500 guests to the grand opening of Olive & Finch’s fourth location at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Small bites like vegetarian lumpia and Saigon Sammies (made with plant-based crispy chicken) were passed around.
As one of the busiest destinations in the city, the complex is a major milestone for the brand. It also fills a longstanding gap in the area’s dining options.
“When you go to a show at the Arts Complex, your dining options are limited. Mostly, you’ll find sports bars, greasy spoons, or high-end full-service restaurants, which are often expensive,” Nguyen explained. “It’s exciting to have thousands of people come for a show and be able to get the exposure, but also give them the opportunity to not go to a full-service restaurant if they just want to grab a drink, a snack, come in with their kids, or avoid spending $150 per person.”
The debut followed closely on the heels of Olive & Finch’s Union Station opening in March. More than bold bets on the city’s future, these new downtown locations reflect Nguyen’s personal commitment to Denver’s revitalization.
“There’s a narrative that downtown is dead, that it’s not safe. But I’m here all the time. I see something totally different. There are new restaurants opening, the streets are active, there are interesting people looking for things to do,” Nguyen said.
“I’m a Denver native. If I want to see a vibrant, activated downtown, then I’m going to help make that happen. I’m not waiting for someone else to do it,” she added.
Before the Arts Complex and Union Station locations, Nguyen began working on Little Finch (Olive & Finch’s fast-casual sister concept) on 16th Street back in 2021, long before the area’s multi-year renovation plan broke ground. Rather than viewing the once vibrant corridor as a lost cause, she saw herself as the first to an area ripe with potential.
“If you look at the investment the city is making … no other city in America is spending $600 million to revitalize their downtown. Honestly, I think I’ve done a great job coming in at the beginning, because in 10 years – actually, probably just two years, or even one – Denver’s going to come back,” she said.
These new locations represent the tip of the iceberg for Nguyen. By the end of 2026, Olive & Finch is on track to operate 10 locations, including one outpost in Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood, and two more storefronts at Denver International Airport. These sites will join the four open Olive & Finch locations; Little Finch on 16th Street; and Finch, On the Fly, a grab-and-go kiosk that debuted in Denver International Airport this January.
“Everything that we’ve done has been really intentional. It just happened that now we’re ready, and it’s all happening at the same time,” Nguyen laughed.
Intentionality has been central to Olive & Finch’s growth. From 2013 to 2017, the team focused on refining operations, building a solid infrastructure, and ensuring every expansion would preserve the brand’s commitment to scratch-made, chef-driven food. A major component has been the launch of an in-house production and distribution company, which enables all locations to maintain Olive & Finch’s standards. That same company also services wholesale clients like hospitals, hotels, grocery stores and airport concessions.
“The wholesale side is actually the largest part of our business,” Nguyen said. With demand rising, the wholesale operation is projecting a 25% increase in sales next year.
“I know a lot of restaurants sometimes lose their ‘special sauce’ as they grow. For us it’s different because we’re producing everything…We really wanted to create a sustainable model, but also a company that’s sustainable,” Nguyen continued.
Still, the growth is entirely self-financed and independently owned by Nguyen, who left behind a career in finance to pursue her passion for hospitality.
“We don’t have partners or investors, Olive & Finch is independently owned by me,” Nguyen shared. “What started as a passion project has grown into what it is today. I’ve always known I wanted to build a hospitality company, I just didn’t know it would look like this.”
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“Higher Power” is coming to a higher altitude.
On Tuesday, June 10, Coldplay will headline at Denver, CO’s Empower Field at Mile High as part of their ongoing ‘Music of the Spheres World Tour.’
Willow and Elyanna will serve as the opening acts at the one-off concert.
This gig at the Broncos’ stadium comes after a pair of huge shows at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. Based on our findings at Set List FM, the stadium rockers delivered 20+ songs over four acts both nights.
And, yes, iconic tunes like “The Scientist,” “Viva La Vida,” “Higher Power,” “Clocks,” “Fix You” all worked their way into the show.
“Musically, Coldplay is at the core a groovy little band tightened over a nearly 30-year career,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote about the first of two shows. “This quartet knows how to play big. ‘Higher Power’ opened the show in full overdrive. Pyro powered ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ and ‘Paradise.’ The crowd bounced through ‘God Put a Smile Upon Your Face’ and ‘Yellow.’”
Want to witness this ambitious live show — that’s amazingly powered by renewable energy sources — IRL at Mile High?
As of now, last-minute tickets are available.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find to get in the door was $165 including fees on Vivid Seats.
While that sounds expensive, keep in mind that seats started at $222 including fees, when we last reported on Coldplay ticket prices on May 21.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about Coldplay’s concert in Denver below.
All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.
Coldplay Denver tickets
The band’s Empower Field at Mile High show date, start time and links to what tickets cost now versus what they were going for on May 21 can be found here:
| Coldplay Denver concert dates | Ticket prices start at |
Ticket prices started at on 05/21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, June 10 6 p.m. |
$165 (fees included) |
$222 (fees included) |
(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and, if it isn’t noted, will include additional fees at checkout.)
Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.
They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.
Still curious about Vivid Seats? You can find an article from their team about why the company is legit here.
Coldplay tour schedule 2025-26
A complete calendar including all North American tour dates, venues, and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found here:
| Coldplay 2025 tour dates |
|---|
| June 13 at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, TX |
| June 14 at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, TX |
| July 7 at Rogers Stadium in Toronto, ON, CA |
| July 8 at Rogers Stadium in Toronto, ON, CA |
| July 11 at Rogers Stadium in Toronto, ON, CA |
| July 12 at Rogers Stadium in Toronto, ON, CA |
| July 15 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA |
| July 16 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA |
| July 19 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI |
| July 22 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN |
| July 26 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL |
| July 27 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL |
| Aug. 18 at Craven Park in Hull, GB |
| Aug. 19 at Craven Park in Hull, GB |
| Aug. 22 at Wembley Stadium in London, GB |
| Aug. 23 at Wembley Stadium in London, GB |
| Aug. 26 at Wembley Stadium in London, GB |
| Aug. 27 at Wembley Stadium in London, GB |
| Aug. 30 at Wembley Stadium in London, GB |
| Aug. 31 at Wembley Stadium in London, GB |
| Sept. 3 at Wembley Stadium in London, GB |
| Sept. 4 at Wembley Stadium in London, GB |
| Sept. 7 at Wembley Stadium in London, GB |
| Sept. 8 at Wembley Stadium in London, GB |
| July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ |
Coldplay set list
Coldplay kicked off the North American leg of their yearslong tour at Stanford Stadium. According to Set List FM, here’s what they took to the stage at that June 1 gig:
Act I: Planets
01.) “Higher Power”
02.) “Adventure of a Lifetime”
03.) “Paradise”
04.) “The Scientist”
Act II: Moons
05.) “Viva la Vida”
06.) “Hymn for the Weekend”
07.) “In My Place”
08.) “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face”
09.) “Yellow”
10.) “All My Love”
Act III: Stars
11.) “People of the Pride”
12.) “Clocks”
13.) “WE PRAY”
14.) “Infinity Sign”
15.) “Something Just Like This” (The Chainsmokers cover)
16.) “My Universe”
17.) “A Sky Full of Stars”
Act IV: Home
18.) “Sparks”
19.) “The Jumbotron Song”
20.) “Fix You”
21.) “GOOD FEELiNGS”
22.) “feelslikeimfallinginlove”
Coldplay new music
On Oct. 4, 2024, Coldplay dropped their tenth studio album, “Moon Music.”
The New York Post’s music critic Chuck Arnold reviewed the record. For a closer look at what he had to say, you can find his analysis of their soulful new offering here.
Coldplay special guests
The group will be joined by a pair of opening acts at their Denver show. In order to make sure you’re familiar with their work, here’s each artist’s most-streamed song on Spotify.
Willow: “Wait a Minute!”
Elyanna: “Callin’ U (Tamally Maak)”
Huge stars on tour in 2025
If Coldplay isn’t coming to a venue near you, don’t worry. You’ve got options this year
Here are five huge artists that may be headed to your neck of the woods these next few months.
• Oasis
• Yusuf/Cat Stevens
• Paul Simon
• Benson Boone
• Mumford and Sons
Who else is on the road? Take a look at our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2025 to find the show for you.
A Denver hairstylist who disappeared after leaving her University Hills apartment on April 15 has been found dead, her mother announced Saturday.
“There are no words strong enough for the grief we are feeling,” Jax Gratton’s mother, Cherilynne Gratton-Camis, wrote in a Facebook group dedicated to finding her daughter. “The light she carried, the love she gave so freely and the joy she brought into our lives have been taken from this world far too soon.”
In the nearly two months that Gratton was missing, more than 5,100 people joined the group to share information and try to find the missing 34-year-old hairstylist.
Gratton was last seen at about 10 p.m. April 15 in the 4200 block of East Iliff Avenue, according to the Denver Police Department.
Her body was found a week short of two months later, Gratton-Camis said.
Gratton-Camis started worrying when her daughter didn’t call on Easter, and the hairstylist’s friends realized something was wrong when she missed multiple appointments with her clients. Gratton rented a studio at the Solera Salon Suites’ North Broadway location.
Gratton’s body was found in a Lakewood alley in the 9600 block of West Colfax Avenue at about 5 p.m. Friday, Gratton-Camis told Denver7 on Saturday.
She said a Lakewood detective visually identified the hairstylist by her tattoos and that her daughter was found wearing the same clothes she left in.
“The body was in advanced stages of decomposition and could not be positively identified,” Lakewood Police Department spokesperson John Romero said in an email to The Denver Post. He said a suspicious death investigation was ongoing.
Jefferson County coroner officials said Sunday afternoon that no forensic identification had been made and the cause of death was “pending until further notice.”
No updates in the Lakewood investigation were available Sunday, Romero said.
“This has opened my eyes in ways I can’t ignore. It’s not just about Jax — it’s about all of you in the LGBTQIA+ community who face the world every day with courage, just wanting to live, love and exist safely and equally,” Gratton-Camis wrote on Facebook. “That should never be a fight. And yet it is.”
Gratton’s friends and family plan to gather in front of Denver’s City and County Building at 1437 Bannock St. at 11 a.m. Monday to talk about her death and remember her with the community.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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