Sam Adams Sam Adams joined the Rocky Mountain News in 1996, first as the Denver Broncos beat reporter before taking his current role as sports notes columnist. The Colorado Association of Black Journalists voted Adams the Print Journalist of the Year award in 2003.

Marlin Briscoe' s story of becoming the first black starting quarterback in pro football could be headed for the silver screen.

West Omaha Films is negotiating to produce a movie on the life of Briscoe, who started at quarterback for the Denver Broncos in 1968. Briscoe threw 14 touchdowns -- which still stands as a franchise record for rookie quarterbacks.

Briscoe, who was raised in Omaha, Neb., played nine seasons in pro football -- a career that included two Super Bowl wins as a member of the Miami Dolphins (1972-74). However, his private life outside of football was clouded by drug use. Today Briscoe resides in California, where he owns a storage business and serves as a youth mentor and volunteer high school football coach.

Actor John Beasley, who played college football with Briscoe at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, is working along with West Omaha Films on the movie project, which will be titled, "Third and Long." In 2002 Briscoe co-authored a book titled, "The First Black Quarterback."

"We're thinking that it will be completed within a couple of years," said Terry Hanna of West Omaha Films. "One thing we're trying to do is tie it in with Marlin's 40th anniversary of his first start."

NOTEWORTHY

ESPN Zone restaurant in Tabor Center will have extended hours to accomodate World Cup soccer fans - including a 7:30 a.m. opening on June 22 for the U.S.-Ghana match. For more information call 303-595-3776.

“It angered me. But when we talked about him coming back as a coach, I didn’t need an explanation . . . He believed we could win a championship together. That’s all I needed to know.” -- Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, on reuniting with coach Phil Jackson after being a target of criticism in Jackson’s book.