Andy Katz's Daily Word: Cancer-free Dave Rose: 'I feel great' - ESPN

It sounds like the Jeff Bzdelik rumor to the Minnesota Timberwolves isn't necessarily dead. It has been a while since we have heard anything about it but Andy Katz of ESPN says if the job is offered, Bzdelik is gone.

Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik still hasn't heard from Minnesota about being the top assistant for the Timberwolves' next coach. If he does get the call, according to multiple sources, then he's likely gone and assistant Steve McClain would be the top choice to replace him.

Bzdelik's Buffs open Maui Invitational vs. Gonzaga - Boulder Daily Camera
The Colorado Buffaloes basketball team will play the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first game of the Maui Invitational this November in what should be a real good look at how strong the 2009 team is. Gonzaga will be replacing a ton of talent off of last year's team including Jeremy Pargo, Austin Daye, Josh Heytvelt and Micah Downs. Still, this will be a very difficult matchup for the Buffs. Gonzaga has recruited well enough to be able to reload and although they will be young, like the Buffs, they have the talent in the wings to once again be a top 25 team. These sorts of matchups get me excited for basketball, it might be a winless tournament but it will be good exposure and a good non-conference test, something that was not there in 2008.

The Buffs will play Gonzaga in the first game of the prestigious tournament Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. MT (ESPN2). The Bulldogs won the West Coast Conference tournament last season to earn their 10th consecutive NCAA Tournament berth.

Orlando Sentinel - Phil Steele's Teams of the Decade (Part 2) by Phil Steele
This is a fun read from Phil Steele. Although it has been a tough run the past few years, the Buffs are still in range to have the best record in the North this decade:

Nebraska has the clear lead in winning % out of the North teams but if Colorado was to finish a couple of games ahead of them in the North standings they would have a shot at being the Big 12 North team of the decade as they would have more conference and division titles this decade so that one is up in the air.

Dave Plati of the CU Sports Information Department has a nice 2009 Colorado Football Outlook

Road Trips I'd Like to See: Washington, Colorado, Maryland - Roll 'Bama Roll
Roll 'Bama Roll, the SBNation Alabama Crimson Tide blog, is doing a cool piece on places they would like to road trip to and watch a game. Boulder comes up #7 on their list:

07: Colorado Buffaloes: Though the two teams have only met three times, the two recent contests have been rather exciting. The 1991 Blockbuster Bowl saw the Tide defeat the defending national champions 30-25 in a bizarre contest that found CU leading 12-10 at the half (with the longest scoring drive for either team being a whopping three yards.) The 2007 Independence Bowl saw the Tide win 30-24 in a game that should never have been close after going up 27-0 five minutes into the second quarter. We've never played them in the regular season though and it seems like it could be a fun match up, though one we should win at this point in both program's development. Anyway, the reason I'd like to see a road trip is the outdoor activities: hiking, mountain biking, climbing, etc. It's an outdoor lover's dream to combine with a weekend of football. Not only that, but it's a mere 28 miles from Denver according to Mapquest. You could make a pretty sweet week long vacation out of that one. Spend half in the city, half in Boulder and see a game. Not too shabby.

High-And-Mighty ESPN Should Take It Down A Notch : NPR
Great look at the control that ESPN exhibits over our North American sports universe.

Birdman drives a semi truck - Denver Stiffs
Head over to SBNation's Denver Nuggets blog and check out the ridiculously awesome vehicle that Birdman is sporting these days.