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.

The life and times of former Negro Leagues baseball player Byron "Mex" Johnson will be remembered this week in Cooperstown, New York.

On Saturday, Denver resident Jan Sumner will present his biography of Johnson titled "Legacy of a Monarch: An American Journey", at baseball's Hall of Fame's Bullpen Theater. Johnson, who resided in Denver, played infield for the Kansas City Monarchs and also played with Satchel Paige's traveling team. He died last year at age 94.

Johnson's family is expected to attend the presentation, which is part of the Hall of Fame's 'Baseball Author Series.' Former President Bill Clinton penned the book's foreword, and former Colorado Rockies manager Don Baylor wrote the introduction. Both have been invited to the presentation.

"What an amazing tribute to Byron -- I'm just the messenger," Sumner said. "Here was a man who played at a time when of course (African-Americans) couldn't have a hope of playing in white Major League Baseball. Now his book and story is going to be (in Cooperstown)."

The Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture also is being held during the week.

Johnson's biography is available locally at Tattered Cover, Borders and Barnes and Noble book stores, or on the Web site www.jadanpublishingcompanyllc.com.

NOTEWORTHY

Quote, unquote: "That sounds like if you had three wishes, you know that one would be if you got an out every time you threw a great pitch." -- Atlanta Braves announcer Chip Caray to his partner, Don Sutton, who replied: "Well, if that was your wish, you would not have to ask for a pot of gold on your second wish -- your agent would."

Last season the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates shot a lot of BB's, as in walks. The two teams combined allowed 1,216 walks in 2005.

The first "You Glow Girl" glow-ball tournament, a benefit for the American Heart Association, will be held June 10 on the par-3 course at John F. Kennedy Golf Course, with an 8:45 p.m. shotgun start. For more information call 303-755-0105.