Whywas the late Irv Browna rich man?

A great one. I never met a person that ever had anything but great comments about the late Irv Brown. He will be missed. Joe, in the hunt

Kiz: “Hey, kid,” Brown once told me, “if that job at the newspaper doesn’t work out, I’ll send you to school to become a basketball referee.” Irv offered those kind words decades ago, hoping to lift the spirits of a struggling young sportswriter. And years later, Irv almost always greeted me with those exact same words, as a happy reminder things usually turn out all right. I loved Brown for it. Everyone’s favorite ref, coach and radio host really knew how to keep score: Every day, Irv Brown tried to break his personal record for making people he met feel like a million bucks.

A Bowlen truce? Hey, Kiz! Do you think maybe Brittany and Beth Bowlen might show the rest of the country how to work together instead of forcing a winlose scenario with ownership of the Broncos? With a big difference in their ages, maybe Beth and Brittany could construct a succession plan that includes both of them. Wouldn’t that be a fitting tribute to their father? Mark, Fort Collins

Kiz: Here’s betting Beth Bowlen would approve your plan. But I tend to doubt the three trustees who run the Broncos would be keen on the idea.

Poor relations. Hidden among the NFL’S layers of serious problems is the yawning, national disinterest in Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, despite their historic success in the Super Bowl. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are true pros at public relations. Mean Joe Greene’s Coke commercial helped develop a national fan base for the Steelers. While New England fans might not see it or care, the team is not entertaining to the rest of the country because the Patriots are profoundly poor at relating to the public. Mark, rings not the only thing

Kiz: You might be on to something. Belichick and Alabama’s Nick Saban are two of the greatest football coaches who ever lived. But they often are sourpusses in public. We don’t begrudge them winning. Maybe we’re just tired of looking at their grumpy faces.

Super Joe? I love Joe Sakic. But if he thinks the Avalanche has good goalies, he’s drunk. And coach Jared Bednar? He looks like a mannequin on the bench. Pathetic! Why did Sakic pick this loser? Keep the pressure on the Avs. We need you, Kiz, to keep these guys honest. Steven, (hockey) fighting mad

Kiz: The Avs haven’t won a playoff series since drafting Nathan Mackinnon No. 1 overall in 2013. It doesn’t matter if I’m impatient with the team’s endless rebuilding process. But I’m afraid Mackinnon might grow weary of it.

Cross check. And today’s parting shot takes issue with any knucklehead (me) who might question Sakic’s ability to build a winning hockey team.

Yes, I do trust Sakic, and we all know what Joe has done. He was the best player on championship teams, a great leader and teacher. You are a commentator, Kiz. There is a huge disparity between the two, and you drew the short straw. So back off. Barbara, keeping the faith