Sports Scene
Bold opinions, passionate debates, and no holding back on the games that matter.
Bold Takes on the Games That Matter
Welcome to Sports Scene, the sports hub of The Hairy Times. Here, passion meets perspective. We deliver unapologetic coverage of the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and the Colorado teams we live and breathe — the Broncos, Nuggets, Avalanche, and Rockies. Our writers bring sharp debates, fearless opinions, and zero corporate spin. And when sports intersect with politics, culture, or money, we cover the full picture. This is sports without the filter — honest, intense, and always worth the read.
The Guys Behind the Balz
Every hot take on this page comes straight from Harry Balz and Jim Balz — two writers who agree on almost nothing except that sports are always worth arguing about. Harry brings the gut-reaction, no-filter energy. Jim brings the film study and the stats to back it up. Together they’ve turned sports coverage into a running argument nobody wants to end. Meet the rest of the crew on our Meet the Writers page.
What We Cover
Professional Sports
NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL — the leagues that drive the national conversation, covered with genuine passion and zero corporate spin.
Colorado Sports
The Broncos, Nuggets, Avalanche, Rockies — our writers bleed Colorado and won’t pretend otherwise when the team earns it.
Sports & Society
When sports intersects with politics, culture, or money — and it always does — we cover the full picture.
Pro Sports
The big leagues, the big games, the big stories — pro sports coverage with no filter and no mercy.
College Sports
College ball, campus rivalries, and the athletes who are one season away from changing everything.
The Other Sports
Soccer, tennis, golf, motorsports, and every other sport that deserves more than a footnote.
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The League-Wide Truth Serum — What Training Camp Really Tells Us
Training camp is the NFL’s annual festival of delusion. Every team arrives undefeated, every coach has “the best group I’ve ever worked with,” and every fanbase convinces itself that *this* is the year the curse breaks. It’s beautiful, really — like watching your Uncle Larry convince himself he’s going to start that diet on Monday.… Read more
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Suspension Reversal Gives USMNT a Fighting Chance—But Winning Requires More Than Luck
The United States Men's National Team catches a break heading into tonight's Round of 16 clash, and frankly, it's about damn time. The reversal of our key player suspensions—a decision that had the soccer world buzzing for all the wrong reasons—gives us back the firepower we desperately need. But let's not kid ourselves: getting our… Read more
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BALZ KNOWS BASEBALL: The Real World Series Contenders (And The Pretenders Getting Exposed)
Listen up, sports fans — while Jim's probably over there writing about politicians lying (shocker), I'm here to break down what ACTUALLY matters: who's gonna hoist that Commissioner's Trophy come October. And before you ask — yeah, I'm calling this one early. Sue me. That's what you pay Harry Balz to do. THE JUGGERNAUTS (Don't… Read more
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The Season of Underdogs—From Madison Square to Raleigh, and Now to the World Stage
The parade routes were still sticky with confetti when the next wave started forming. Not a literal wave—though there was plenty of that in the stands—but the kind that builds when underdogs remember they've got teeth. Let's start where the noise started: Madison Square Garden, March through May, when the New York Knicks turned grit… Read more
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The Colorado Avalanche Didn’t Just Lose — They Folded Like a Cheap Tent in a Blizzard
Listen up, hockey fans — and especially you, Jim, because I KNOW you’re reading this with your smug little “I told you so” face — the Colorado Avalanche didn’t just exit the playoffs. They performed a spectacular faceplant that’ll be studied in sports psychology classes for years. Let me be crystal clear about something: I… Read more
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Harry’s Right About the Avs — And That Makes Me FURIOUS
Listen, I hate agreeing with my brother more than I hate losing money on sports bets, and brother, I REALLY hate losing money on sports bets. But Harry’s post-mortem on the Avalanche is so brutally accurate that I’m forced to do something that physically pains me: admit he was right. THERE. I SAID IT. Someone… Read more
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Jim’s Dead Wrong—Avs Looked FINE, and Here’s Why Game Two is a LOCK
Avs game two analysis from a fan who actually watched: Listen, I just read my brother Jim’s little panic attack masquerading as sports analysis, and I gotta set the record straight because SOMEBODY has to bring actual hockey intelligence to this conversation. First off—Jim calling the Avs opener “UGLY” like he just discovered disappointment for… Read more
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Avs Got Punched in the Mouth—Now We See What They’re Made Of
Colorado Avalanche playoff hockey revealed its character in game one. Listen up, hockey heads—that Avs-Knights opener was UGLY, and I’m not here to sugarcoat it like some soft-serve sports blog. Colorado came out flat, Vegas came out hungry, and the result was exactly what you’d expect when one team shows up ready to play playoff… Read more