By DAVE KRIEGER, Scripps Howard News Service

Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan threw it out there as if it were a foregone conclusion.

"They don't come around very often, and that's why I believe he'll be in the Hall of Fame," he said Monday of John Lynch as the veteran safety retired after 15 NFL seasons.

Baseball players who inspire the imagination don't come along that often. The brawny slugger from Oklahoma did that in Colorado.

That's why it's so hard to see Matt Holliday go. He became an indelible part of our collective memory late on the night of Oct. 1, 2007, bloodying his chin while sliding across home plate (or not) to put the Rockies into the postseason.

Baseball finally figured out the attention deficit generation. By accident, maybe, but hey, that's how some of the greatest discoveries happen.

A three-inning game. One hour, 18 minutes. Barely longer than two episodes of Family Guy.

Denver -- On the streets of northeast Denver, it is hard to celebrate the indictment of Willie Clark for the murder of former Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams because he represents yet another life wasted in a long-running, vicious cycle.

The worse things get for Al Davis, the more fun Mike Shanahan's press conferences become.

Two weeks ago, Shanahan suggested Lane Kiffin was likely to beat his dubious standard of longevity working for the Oakland Raiders' megalomaniacal owner. Shanahan lasted 20 games. At the time, Kiffin had coached 18.

It would be easy enough to chalk this one up as a fluke, a combination of inscrutable Arrowhead Stadium mojo and a sloppy day at the office.

It would also be a mistake.

The Colorado Rockies have just a handful of home games remaining in a lost season. Outfielder Matt Holliday might have that many remaining in his Rockies career.

Holliday says he hasn't given it a lot of thought but acknowledges there will be some emotional detritus if that's how it works out.

If the Denver Broncos end up winning the AFC West by a game or a tiebreaker over the San Diego Chargers, they should vote referee Ed Hochuli a playoff share.

Brandon Marshall better hurry back. Not so much for the Denver Broncos as for Brandon Marshall.

For one week, anyway, QB Jay Cutler has a new favorite receiver.

Opening nights are notoriously unreliable indicators of the long run, but watching rookie Eddie Royal on Monday night, the Broncos debut that came to mind was that of Rick Upchurch 33 years ago.

Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle now suggests "Rocktember."

"He didn't say that," Brian Fuentes said.

Oh, but he did.