This year, Colorado Matters bulked up its sports coverage, talking with some unforgettable Colorado sports personalities. Below are some of our favorite interviews from 2014:
Sports writer Rick Reilly
Rick Reilly retired from sports writing in 2014, after more that 35 years in the business. The Denver resident is best known for his work with Sports Illustrated and ESPN. This year, he published a collection of his essays for ESPN.com, and talked about his start at the Boulder Daily Camera, his relationship with Broncos legend John Elway, and why having an alcoholic father helped push him into sports writing. Hear the entire conversation here.
Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin
Missy Franklin was the story of the 2012 Olympics in London. She competed in seven events, winning four gold medals and a bronze. She also set a world record -- and she did all of it as a teenager. Now Franklin, a Colorado native, is wrapping up her college swimming career and preparing for the 2016 Olympics. This year, a new movie tracked Franklin's journey to international stardom. Hear the entire conversation here.
'Voice of Cycling' Phil Liggett
The man dubbed "the Voice of Cycling" came to Colorado in August for the annual Pro Challenge race, which wound through Crested Butte, Aspen, Denver and more. Phil Liggett has called the Tour de France 42 times, delighting TV viewers with phrases like, "He's dancing on the pedals!" when a rider goes uphill quickly, or "He's wearing the mask of pain!" when a rider grits out the race. Liggett talked about how he comes up with those sayings, and addressed some of the biggest questions facing the sport of cycling. Hear the entire conversation here.
