Broomball and bruises, Fur Traders shutout Weak Team, 5-0

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Weak Team goalie DongHoon Lee maintains high spirits despite a deficit. [photo by Sean Burch]

The University of Denver (DU) is silent on a late Tuesday evening, snow has blanketed the campus, but there is no relief from the cold in Joy Burns Arena, an intense showdown is about to occur pitting Fur Traders versus Weak Team. The fluorescent lights buzz as referees blow whistles and players struggle to stay on their feet, this is broomball.

Intramural Sports at DU have always been semi-popular but broomball proves to be unlike any other team sport on campus. Broomball combines elements of hockey and soccer to make for a very different experience.

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The Ballet Folclório Nacional de Mexico: An extravagant display of culture at DU’s Newman Center

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Two BFNM dancers performing a duet. [Photo by Sadie Abraham]

I went to DU’s Newman center expecting to see a classical ballet. However, the performance was not only an exhibition of dance but a vibrant celebration of Mexican culture. The Ballet Folclório Nacional de Mexico was greeted by a full theatre, despite postponing their show due to weather conditions.

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DU Men’s Tennis holds on to their winning streak with a 6-1 victory over Utah State.

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by Lacey Rifkin

The tennis courts at Denver Tennis Park. [Photo by Lacey Rifkin]

On Saturday February 1st, undefeated DU men’s tennis took center court at the Denver Tennis Park to compete against Utah State who have a 7-2 record on their season thus far. This match was bound to be tense with both teams stacked with talent. For DU, the doubles pair, James Davis and Matt Summers were recently ranked 21stin the nation. 

            By the end of the day, both #1 and #2 doubles for DU secured wins followed by three single wins for the Pioneers. The Pioneers took home a 6-1 victory against Utah State.

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Laughter and angst in downtown Denver

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[Photo Cred- Pinterest]- Phones not allowed in Venue

[Denver]-On a frigid quiet evening in the heart of downtown on 15th and Larimer the only sounds were of cars threading carefully as they make their way through the frozen streets. The walk up into the front door of comedy works provided an ominous scene. Upon entering Comedy Works, the sounds of laughter and drinks hitting tables provided contrast to the scene outside the club.

There were 150-200 excited patrons bursting at the seams with enthusiasm and waiting to be entertained. I showed up at the front and they confiscated my phone and put it in a locked slip. I was ushered in and put in the back with the other people that came alone. I took my seat and began to angst over the comedians.

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Cynthia Cote shows off her skills in her first drum showcase

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Cynthia Cote poses with her sticks after the performance. [Photo by Maddie Gaynor]

Cynthia Cote, a sophomore at the University of Denver, presented an impressive demonstration of her drumming abilities, only half way through her beginners course, Wednesday night. A hushed whisper loomed among the audience as the drums were prepped and the lights began to dim.

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Every DU student should see “Not Your Mama’s Monologues”

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The program for “Not Your Mama’s Monologues.” [Photo by Sam Pacala]

The crowd seemed excited to be sheltered from the cold, snowy evening, as everyone took their seats in the small but beautiful Reiman Theater. The cool smell of the snow falling outside would waft through the door, a slight breeze tickling the necks of everybody in the audience. As the lights began to dim, the small crowd’s attention immediately focused on the stage, waiting to see what was in store.

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Slow Hollows gets the Larimer Lounge grooving at an intimate concert

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Slow Hollow backup singer/trumpeter Daniel Fox faces the excited crowd at the Larimer Lounge. [Photo by Alexandra Welch]

[Denver]- Ten minutes before the concert is set to start, there appears to be only 50 or so people in the backroom concert venue of the Larimer Lounge. The anticipation does not appear to be high as the audience casually chats with each other and sips on beer. 

The place is less crowded than a bar on Monday night, and I worry this might be it for the number of concertgoers. The people in the audience fit a typical earthy, “crunchy” profile, wearing a variety of jean jackets, beanies and nose piercings. 

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Terry Terrorizes: 3-0 against the DeltaSigs in DU Intramural Broomball

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Players dive for the ball halfway through the first period. [Photo by Devon Weigers]

Take hockey and remove the cheering crowd, the ice skates, and the division one athletes. Insert sneakers, sweatpants, and screaming college kids with very little coordination. Lose the puck and replace it with a small orange soccer ball. Instead of three, twenty-minute periods, there are two, eighteen-minute halves. Five people on the ice per team. One sixty second halftime and no timeouts.

This is broomball.  

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Laughter and angst in downtown Denver

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{Denver]- On a frigid quiet evening in the heart of downtown on 15th and Larimer the only sounds were of cars threading carefully as they make their way through the frozen streets. The walk up into the front door of comedy works provided an ominous scene. Upon entering Comedy Works, the sounds of laughter and drinks hitting tables provided contrast to the scene outside the club.

There were 150-200 excited patrons bursting at the seams with enthusiasm and waiting to be entertained. I showed up at the front and they confiscated my phone and put it in a locked slip. I was ushered in and put in the back with the other people that came alone. I took my seat and began to angst over the comedians.

 Owen Floberg a 4th year student at Metro and a member of the audience gave this take on attending a comedy show.

“I mean I live down the street and I don’t know of a more entertaining event you can experience in today’s day and age. This event is 12 bucks with a two drink minimum for 2 hours of serious entertainment. I come here with friends and you feel like you are apart of the event because of intimacy of the show.”

 Tonight, in particular has a different vibe because seasoned comedians will be teamed up with beginners in a fast paced show that will provide over 20 entertainers performing 5 min sets. The host began to set the tone. “We will hear amazing sets and some people will suck and in turn we will boo them off the stage.” I settled in my seat and held my breath.

My angst quickly dissipated when the first comedian did his 5 min set and set the crowd on fire with his quick-witted punch lines and confidence put the uneasy crowd at ease.

The whole set up gave me a lot of respect for anyone that would choose to get up in front of that many people and let us in to their interpretation of how they see the world. There were some awkward moments when comedians maybe told a joke that wasn’t received well by the immense crowd.

Joey Baca a former 2nd grade science teacher gave some interesting anecdote about why he enjoys gracing the stage.

“There is no truer form of entertainment. You want to talk about a rush? Try walking onto a stage with just you and a mic and try making a 100 plus people laugh. I have become addicted.”

The context that Joey gave into the scene helped me understand how and why comedians do what they did. Another comedian whose set fell a little flat had this to say about her first time on a stage.

Margret working in insurance sales seems to enjoy the contrast from the daily monotony on life. “Well tonight was a little rough but I would and will do this again. I think my timing on my jokes were a little off. While I was doing the joke I knew I was rushing the punchline but I let my adrenaline get the better of me.”

Comedy works can be therapeutic and help break up the daily routine of the 9-5 for some. Comedy connects us all and can help bring to light the way in which we view the world. The scene is also helped by the lack of phone use. Forcing people to connect in a way is a rarity in today’s fast moving environment.