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For the first time in the thirty-year history of Westword‘s Best of Denver, we’ve split the Best of Denver Readers’ Poll into two rounds, giving you the chance to look at the leading vote-getters and then vote again for your favorite people and places in metro Denver. And the results of the first round are in! Keep reading to uncover the five finalists that you, the readers, have selected for the Sports & Recreation categories on this year’s Readers’ Poll. And know this: You still have the chance to change the results. Just get out the vote!
The finalists listed below are by no means shoe-ins — meaning that in the next (and final) round of voting, you can either vote for your favorite finalist or start over with a completely different entry. The final deadline for online voting is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, at which point we’ll close the poll and calculate the results one last time. You’ll be able to read both the Westword and Readers’ Poll winners when our annual Best of Denver issue hits stands on March 28.
In the meantime, let us know what you think of the first-round finalists in the comments section below. And don’t forget to vote!
Best Bronco:
Peyton Manning
Von Miller
John Elway
Eric Decker
Champ Bailey
Best Rockie:
Todd Helton
Carlos Gonzales
Troy Tulowitzki
Jason Giambi
Dexter Fowler
Best Nugget:
Kenneth Faried
Ty Lawson
George Karl
Danilo Gallinari
JaVale McGee
Best Av:
Cody McLeod
Matt Duchene
Milan Hejduk
Ryan O’Reilly
Gabriel Landeskog
Best Mammoth:
John Grant Jr.
Jamie Lincoln
Gavin Prout
Gary Gate
John Gallant
Best Rapid:
Andre Akpan
Davy Armstrong
Tony Cascio
Clint Irwin
Chris Klute
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 Readers’ Poll finalists.
Best Outlaw:
Matt Bocklet
Jeremy Botlus
Ken Clausen
Curtis Dickson
Greg Downing
Best sports team — college:
DU Hockey
CU Buffs
CSU Rams
Metro State
CSU Pueblo
Best coach — professional:
George Karl
John Fox
Walt Weiss
Óscar Pareja
Joe Sacco
Best coach — college:
Tad Boyle
George Gwozdecky
Larry Eustachy
Jim McElwain
Mike MacIntyre
Best sports team — professional:
Broncos
Rockies
Avalanche
Nuggets
Mammoth
Best sports announcer:
Dave Logan
Drew Goodman
Drew Soicher
Marc Moser
Mike Haynes
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 Readers’ Poll finalists.
Best TV sportscaster:
Susie Wargin
Vic Lombardi
Lionel Bienvenu
Drew Soicher
Scott Hastings
Best radio sports show:
The Drive
850 KOA
Clough Talk with Sandy Clough
Irv & Joe
Les Shapiro & Tom Nalen
Best mascot:
Ralphie
Rocky
Dinger
Wooly
Denver Boone
Best dog park:
Berkeley Park
Westminster Hills
Riverfront Park
Chatfield
Stapleton
Best skate park:
Arvada Skate Park
Roxborough Skate Park
Sandstone Ranch
Brian Aragon Skate Park
Denver Skate Park
Best mountain park:
Red Rocks
Lair o’ the Bear
Golden Gate Canyon
Chautauqua
Mount Falcon
Best terrain park:
Vail
Red Rocks
Loveland
Winter Park
Keystone
Best park for a picnic:
Cheesman Park
City Park
Wash Park
Chautauqua
Riverfront Park
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 Readers’ Poll finalists.
Best park for running:
Wash Park
Cheesman Park
City Park
Riverfront Park
Red Rocks
Best park for cycling:
Wash Park
Cheesman Park
City Park
Sloan’s Lake
Riverfront Park
Best park for fishing:
Cherry Creek
Chatfield
O’Fallon Park
City Park
Boyd Park
Best park for sledding:
Ruby Hill
Willis Case Golf Course
Chautauqua
Chatfield
Riverfront
Best place to snowshoe:
Rocky Mountain National Park
Indian Peaks
Aspen
City Park
Devil’s Thumb Ranch
It’s your turn to weigh in! Vote for one of these finalists — or any other favorite — in the second (and final) round of the Best of Denver 2013 Readers’ Poll.
More from our Best of Denver archive: “Best of Denver 2013 Readers’ Poll: The first round of Shopping & Services finalists.”