Sir and Sport Magazine | Spring/Summer 2018

FEEDING VON MILLER WITH CHEF CURTIS BELL FEEDING VON MILLER WITH CHEF CURTIS BELL

BEHIND-THE-SCENES WITH FEEDING VON MILLER COLORADO SPORTS AGENT WITH CHEF CURTIS BELL PETER SCHAFFER BEHIND-THE-SCENES WITH

THE FOR THE COLORADO GGETS GENTLEMAN

TH THE UGGETS

USE

TRAINING DAY WITH THE OUSEDENVER NUGGETS

ANIMAL HOUSE CK STAR TURNS 40

OHL OCK STAR

COLORADO SPORTS AGENT PETER SCHAFFER BEHIND-THE-SCENES WITH

THE LIFE OF A COLORADO SPORTS AGENT HOLLYWOOD PETER SCHAFFER THE LIFE OF A STUNTMAN HOLLYWOOD STUNTMANTHE LIFE OF A

HOLLYWOOD STUNTMAN

ROHL THE LAST ROCK STAR

FASHION FASHION FASHION MEN’S

DAVE GROHL

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SPRING | SUMMER 2018

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[ ON THE ] COVER

40 AIR TIME FASHION TAKES A COLORFUL LEAP THIS SEASON

ON THIS PAGE: Hugo Boss Pirko Trousers, $195; Hugo Boss Hartlay Jacket, $595; Hugo Boss Ronn Shirt, $125 ON THE COVER: Hugo Boss White Jacket, $645; Hugo Boss Navy Jenno Button Down, $165; Hugo Boss Pirko Trousers, $245; Tom Ford Sunglasses, $445; Shinola Watch, $750 Photo by Clayton Jenkins Fashions via Hugo Boss, Cherry Creek Shopping Center, hugoboss.com; Watch by Shinola, shinola.com; Sunglasses via Neiman Marcus Denver, neimanmarcus.com

F E AT U R E S 54

66

79 [48]

DOUBLE OR NOTHING

MEET HOLLYWOOD STUNTMAN ANTAL KALIK

[54]

VON MILLER’S DINNER BELL

CHEF CURTIS BELL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FEEDING THE BRONCOS’ BIGGEST STAR

48

[60]

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM WITH THE NUGGETS’ STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH

[66]

A BIRD OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER

EXPLORING PELICAN HILL RESORT

[72]

SPECIAL AGENT

SITTING DOWN WITH SPORTS AGENT PETER SCHAFFER

[79]

DAVE GROHL: THE LAST ROCK STAR

WHY THE FOO FIGHTERS FRONT MAN IS THE LAST OF HIS KIND SIRANDSP ORT.COM

005

INSIDE

26 16 [12] FROM THE EDITOR

22

[13] THE PROS [14] MAKING A COVER BEHIND THE SCENES WITH SIR AND SPORT

[16] RUNDOWN HAUNTS AND HAPPENINGS FOR THE MAN ABOUT TOWN

[20] CUTTING ROOM FLOOR QUOTABLE NOTIONS THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE CUT

[22] CUTTING BOARD TALKING CUISINE WITH GARRET MEYER OF SARTO’S

[24] CALL ME SIR MEET ZACHARY HANSEN

[26] THE BACK NINE GET TO KNOW PGA PRO DUSTIN MILLER

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14 SIR AND SP ORT • SPRING | SUMMER 2018

D E PA R T M E N T S

[ ON THE ]

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INSIDE

[31] OUT OF OFFICE REPLY EXPLORING LAS VENTANAS IN LOS CABOS, MEXICO

[35] VIEW MASTER THE FILMS, BOOKS AND SITES INSPIRING US NOW

[36] THE BOARDROOM MAKING BUSINESS OUR BUSINESS

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D E PA R T M E N T S

[ ON THE ]

An Exquisite New Cherry Hills Estate

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EDITOR IN CHIEF KEVIN MARR

PUBLISHER BETSY MARR

ART DIRECTOR JILL HODGES

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS CRAIG KORN YAZMIN COVENEY

A S S O C I AT E FA S H I O N E D I T O R CHELSEA MAGNESS

C O N T R I B U T I N G FA S H I O N E D I T O R TOBIAS JENKINS

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS BRIAN ABBEY KEVIN HOLT

PHOTOGRAPHERS KATIE BRADSHAW CLAYTON JENKINS FRANCES MARRON

REIGN MEDIA, LLC 2443 SOUTH UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD, SUITE 171 DENVER, COLORADO 80210 303.997.9749

For advertising inquiries, please contact KEVIN@SIRANDSPORT.COM

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Copyright 2018 by Reign Media, LLC, All rights reserved. Sir and Sport Magazine is published semi-annually. Reproduction without permission of the Publisher is prohibited. Reign Media, LLC and its affiliates, employees, contributors, writers, editor (Publisher) accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies, errors or omissions with information and/or advertisements contained herein. The Publisher has neither investigated nor endorsed companies and/or products that advertise in the publication or that are mentioned editorially. The Publisher assumes no responsibly for the claims made by the Advertisers or the merits of their respective products or services advertised or promoted in Sir and Sport. Publisher neither expressly nor implicitly endorses such Advertiser product, services or claims. Publisher expressly assumes no liability for any damages whatsoever that may be suffered by any purchaser or user for any products or services advertised or mentioned editorially herein. Opinions expressed in the magazine and/or its advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publisher.

SIRANDSP ORT.COM

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[ FROM THE ]

T

his February I became a father for the first time. Those of you who are dads know what I’ve been experiencing for the last few months. Holy shit. Life as you knew it is suddenly in the rearview. To say it’s life changing seems fragmentary and borderline apathetic. Watching a human being that you helped create evolve by the day, has made me wonder how anyone gets through the first few months without questioning everything they’ve always thought they’ve known.

EDITOR

Ultimately, it’s change. And we all know what they say about change.

Our Spring/Summer issue features one example of change after another. Let’s start with our fashion shoot. It was originally conceptualized by our Contributing Fashion Editor, Tobias Jenkins, who’s walked runways from Denver to Milan over the last 15 years.

We love the direction that he and his photographer brother, Clayton, brought to the table. Who are we to shoot something down just because it’s new? It might be the best yet.

Making every moment count with my son, Langdon.

PHOTO BY FRANCES MARRON

Curtis Bell took a flier on a new chapter in life when he signed on as the private chef for the Denver Broncos’ Von Miller, assuming a crash course of sorts in keeping up with a guy who never slows down – and needs the right foods to do it (page 54). Meanwhile, Felipe Eichenberger sought change since he was a boy in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and chased down a dream with the Denver Nuggets that required the utmost patience and ability to adapt to change (page 60).

Sports agent Peter Schaffer switched gears at the beginning of his law career, taking a chance both professionally and financially, and now finds himself 30 years into a fascinating journey, navigating the always unpredictable and ridiculously competitive industries of sports and business (page 72). Antal Kalik always wanted to be a Hollywood stuntman (page 48), and his path into the movies has witnessed the kind of change that only the best body doubles are able to endure, while he fools you into thinking he’s Chris Pine or Channing Tatum in the process.

Our resident car expert, Kevin Holt, takes us in the fast lane in his latest installment of Wheelman (page 82), where four new sets of wheels are ready to introduce all sorts of change in the way we drive, while Brian Abbey authors a brilliant script on whom he terms the last rock star, Dave Grohl (page 79).

Very much like my son, Sir and Sport is still just getting started. Each issue is a new step and, thanks to our readers, there are a lot more eyes on our development. It takes a village.

As always, thank you so much for your support, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have a lead on a good nanny.

Cheers.

Kevin Marr Editor-in-Chief

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[ THE ] PROS

BRIAN ABBEY Brian Abbey is a self-described hack who bangs out short stories and articles on travel, politics, sports, food and drink and sundry other topics. He has spent the last ten years in advertising and is currently the managing partner for a London-based agency. He’s lived and worked in places ranging from San Francisco to Romania, and attributes his itinerant lifestyle to the difficulties of getting by with a degree in Philosophy. He also sometimes describes himself as a ‘bon vivant’ but readily admits this often leads to his getting punched.

Read his work in Dave Grohl: The Last Rock Star (page 79).

Brian Abbey

Kevin Holt

KEVIN HOLT With almost 20 years of consumer marketing agency experience within the auto industry, Kevin Holt has been around every aspect of the industry. From auto shows to retail programs at dealers to test tracks evaluations, he brings a unique perspective to the latest products on the market. His sharp wit and keen eye for beautiful sheet metal make him a perfect match for Sir and Sport’s automobile coverage. Kevin resides in Los Angeles with wife Julia and son, Mako.

GET SOCIAL WITH US

SIRANDSPORT.COM

Katie Bradshaw

KATIE BRADSHAW Katie Bradshaw is the owner of KB Digital Designs where she has specialized in weddings and portraits since 2010. Katie’s work has been seen in a number of local publications and online. Katie was born in Seattle but has called Colorado home since she was three years old. When she’s not working you’ll find her traveling the world...camera in tow, of course! See her work in Special Agent (page 72).

@SIRANDSPORT

SIRANDSPORT

SIRANDSP ORT.COM

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[ THE ] COVER

The Photographer “This cover shot came to be organically. We shot Solomon’s white jacket on some pretty neutral backdrops to begin with. At that point there was nothing we captured that we were excited about. At the last minute before a wardrobe change, we decided to try a few shots with a bright yellow background. All of sudden, BAM, everything came together and looked quite strong. Solomon is an excellent model and I felt privileged to be able to photograph him.”

-Clayton Jenkins

THE FASHION “THERE’S SOMETHING SO CASUALLY CHIC ABOUT A WHITE JACKET IN THE SUMMERTIME. WE FELL IN

THE PRODUCT

THE INSPIRATION

LOVE WITH THIS WAFFLE WEAVE STYLE FROM HUGO BOSS. COUPLED WITH A TAILORED NAVY SLACK AND COTTON BUTTON DOWN, IT WAS THE PERFECT CHOICE. THE BLUE LENS

The right skincare products can make all the difference for men and Solomon was no exception.

We started with local line Pamela Metamorphosis Papaya Scrub for a nice, gentle exfoliation before applying Green Tea Moisturizer which is light and absorbs quickly. We finished with Perfecting Eye Serum with Peptides to soften fine lines.

AVIATOR SUNGLASS WAS Pamela Metamorphosis Papaya Scrub, $20

A FINISHING TOUCH WE COULDN’T PASS UP. WE ARE LOVING THE TREND OF COLORED GLASSES THIS

Pamela Metamorphosis Green Tea Moisturizer, $35 Pamela Metamorphosis Perfecting Eye Serum, $85

SEASON!” pamelametamorphosis.com

-Betsy Marr, Publisher

“I really enjoy studio shoots and it had been a few issues since Sir and Sport had done one.

Especially with Spring/Summer, I wanted the cover to pop with color – so much so that you’ll see it from far away on a newsstand, coffee table or somewhere among other magazines.

By taking the shoot inside, it’s all up to the model and the clothes to speak for the entire magazine. It’s clean and raw and void of any distractions. Solomon Yearby was a part of our premiere issue a few years ago but he shared the camera with another model. I really wanted another chance to feature Solomon exclusively and, thanks to him, this cover and shoot might be my favorite.”

-KEVIN MARR, EDITOR IN CHIEF

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SIR AND SP ORT • SPRING | SUMMER 2018

[ THE ] RUNDOWN

PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ

T

he Ritz-Carlton, Denver is featuring an offer that needs to find its way on to everyone’s weekly calendar. Every Monday through Thursday until the end of the year, the award-winning downtown property is offering a choice of two 25 minute treatments for a 50-minute respite unlike any other for just $99. Spa packages include everything from relief massages, to total body stretch therapy, to a detoxifying foot experience and a conditioning scalp treatment to hand and foot paraffin treatments, a collagen face mask, a full body exfoliation and essential maintenance manicures. Your choice of a local craft brew, sparkling wine and seasonal fruit accompany the pampering experience along with full access to spa relaxation lounges, steam rooms, whirlpools and The Ritz-Carlton Fitness Center. ›› MORE AT RITZCARLTON.COM OR 303.312.3830

DENVER GENTS There is a group of finely dressed gentlemen in Denver who are celebrating style and fashion the likes of which we haven’t previously witnessed here in the Mile High City, and we couldn’t be happier about what we’re seeing. Not only are they sharp with their wardrobe, but the true mission of Denver Gents is even more eye-catching in that it’s all about charity and giving back to the community. With the aim to create impact and inspiration through style, fellowship, and a chance to give back to charitable organizations, the Denver Gents community is made up of a group of committed members who have access to multiple exclusive events and offerings throughout the year.

Members pay annual dues that come in the form of a donation to the Denver Gents organization, a registered 501(c)(3). They are a pass-through charity, partnering with local foundations and non-profits in Denver that serve to impact youth and local community. To date, they have partnered with the PortarBillups Foundation and Step Denver. ›› MORE AT DENVERGENTS.COM

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SIR AND SP ORT • SPRING | SUMMER 2018

M E T R O C L U B AT F I D D L E R ’ S G R E E N It’s a comeback of sorts for a Denver social club. For 20 years, the Metropolitan Club was a Greenwood Village staple, and now METRO CLUB at Fiddler’s Green is slated to return as an elite, exclusive business and social destination.

With both private and corporate memberships as well as a Young Professionals group, the byinvitation-only club’s primary objective is to provide a private and secure atmosphere for business meetings and social gatherings that surround its members with luxurious amenities and services. From fine dining, cocktails and cigars to weddings and celebrations, the club’s only guideline is: Only the best will do. Founders John Madden Jr., Scottie Taylor Iverson and Jan Top have the plans in place for a club unlike any other in the region. ›› MORE AT METRO-CLUB.COM

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NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH Thanks to two timepiece enthusiasts in Denver, a new club has formed in Colorado’s capital that celebrates the culture of all things watches. RedBar Denver, which stems from the original RedBar group based in New York City, is the creation of Dr. Matthew Baker and Geoffrey Schroder. Sensing a growing need for watch lovers and collectors to get together socially in the Denver metropolitan area, the purpose of the club is to promote the enjoyment and appreciation of fine watches, and to expand the collective knowledge of watches and horology (the study of timekeeping). Originally launched in New York City by Adam Craniotes, Craniotes has been extremely supportive of the efforts and has graciously offered to let the club use the name “RedBar,” which has become very well-known across the globe. Dr. Baker explains, “I have always felt that the knowledge and expertise of watch lovers and collectors represent an extremely valuable resource for other enthusiasts. In my mind, the best way to exchange this knowledge and share our passion for watches is in a social meeting like ours.” The inaugural meeting of RedBar Denver took place on April 19th at a well known bar in Cherry Creek. Nearly 40 watch enthusiasts were in attendance, including local collectors, prominent retailers, watch makers, and other folks who share the passion. The event was so popular that RedBar had to wait-list an additional 40 potential attendees due to space limitations. ›› MORE VIA REDBARGROUPDENVER@GMAIL.COM

VA I L’ S N E W M O U N TA I N G E TAW AY Hilton has opened its first hotel in Vail, Colorado – DoubleTree by Hilton Vail. The landmark property features 116 modern guest rooms which boast rustic wood walls and custom-framed prints of ski equipment patents, further adding to the hotel’s “Mountain Modern” design.

Wi-Fi, HDTV and a live-edge wood desk accompany your guest quarters along with bathrooms exhibiting spa-like designs with back-lit mirrors, round tiles and clean lines throughout. Additionally, guests staying in suites can enjoy a spacious, separate living area and kitchen. The property provides convenient access to the slopes with its onsite ski rental and complimentary shuttle to Vail Village and Lionshead, which runs throughout the day. Massage treatment rooms, an outdoor heated pool, hot tub and rustic outdoor fireplace further your sense of relaxation after a long day on the mountain. Partnered with Proximity, guests will be able to work, play and relax in the lounge area, which is the first co-working space in Vail. When it’s time to eat, shareable plates and handcrafted cocktails await from the hotel’s premier restaurant, Pivot62, with a menu centralized around the wood burning oven and meals prepared from locally sourced ingredients to create unforgettable dishes. ›› MORE AT DOUBLETREE3.HILTON.COM

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SIR AND SP ORT • SPRING | SUMMER 2018

Dustin Miller PGA Teaching Instructor

720.982.4714 DustinMiller@pga.com

Black Bear Golf Club | Blackstone Country Club

[CUTTING ROOM] FLOOR

“

“Ask my wife. When we were dating, we didn’t go to Morton’s for dinner and usually the dates were scheduled around my work or my playing lacrosse or something like that. In fact, my first date with Alison was the Jaguars/Broncos Playoff game back during the 1996 season.

After the game, I think that she was thinking that we’d go to dinner or something and I think I blew her off for a men’s league hockey game.”

“You cook a dish a week ahead of time, you think about it for four days and you come back to it. Then you go to some random restaurant and they have something there that you realize is an element that you’re missing in your dish.”

– Peter Schaffer – Special Agent Page 72

– Chef Garret Meyer – Cutting Board Page 22

“If Tom Cruise wasn’t Tom Cruise, he’d be a non-stop

“When you go into a home and you’re cooking a

working stuntman.

meal, by the time it gets to the plate, the kitchen

He’s that good.”

– Antal Kalik – Double or Nothing Page 48

is completely clean and it looks like you didn’t do anything. My goal is to have it look like a magic trick.”

– Chef Curtis Bell - Von Miller’s Dinner Bell Page 54

John Landis had a budget of only 2.5 million dollars, so to cut costs, the movie was shot almost entirely on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, including the student court scene, and scenes in Dean Wormer’s office. The only exceptions were the road trip scene, and the parade, which was filmed in the nearby town of Cottage Grove.

– Memory Lane – Animal House Turns 40 Page 90

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SIR AND SP ORT • SPRING | SUMMER 2018

[ CUTTING ] BOARD

T

he food was absolutely terrible.

The critic, ironically, wasn’t your typical dining connoisseur but rather a college athlete on a full ride to play baseball in Arkansas. Nevertheless, Garret Meyer wasn’t a fan of the free cafeteria grub that his scholarship afforded him so he did something about it.

GARRET MEYER SARTO’S

By Kevin Marr

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SIR AND SP ORT • SPRING | SUMMER 2018

“I started cooking in my dorm,” he says matter-of-factly. “I cooked things like a boneless pork butt that I saw the recipe for on Food Network. I prepared homemade spaghetti, beef, mashed potatoes and a lot of fresh food for all of my baseball teammates and neighbors. My uncle, Peter Stienhert, was a chef and my mentor so, when I stopped playing baseball, I worked for him at his restaurant and found myself learning more under his watch than what I was going to school for in Hospitality and Restaurant Management at the University of Arkansas.”

Fast forward ten years where Meyer now leads the kitchen as head chef of Sarto’s, the Northern Italian eatery that’s playing host to packed houses in the Jefferson Park neighborhood of Denver. His top chef status at Sarto’s is the result of Meyer’s culinary odyssey that has logged kitchen stops all over the map. It’s rooted in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with subsequent stepping stones at a boutique deep sea fishing lodge on

Prince of Wales Island in Alaska, and travels that landed him in the international food hub of Singapore. Meyer would eventually touch down in Colorado where his craft would soon start to expeditiously take shape.

Two years with chef Justin Brunson at Old Major as a junior sous chef and assistant charcuterist coupled with a stint at Frank Bonano’s Mizuna opened Meyer’s eyes to the hard work and passion necessary for a serious run at his dreams. ”Great chefs don’t become great overnight,” he explains. “Cooking is a craft. It’s an art. It’s 30-to-40 years of perfecting and learning.

Seeing the dedication on a day-to-day basis to make their businesses successful from my uncle, Justin and Frank showed me the other side of being a chef. It’s not just cooking and glamour. It’s a business.”

It’s Meyer’s business savvy in his new role that has Sarto’s owner Taylor Swallow appreciative of a true leader in the kitchen.

“Being a successful chef is a lot less about food and cooking than most people imagine,” Swallow explains. “It’s about budgets and inventory control and staff management and reporting and paperwork and then, it can also be about food. It’s not an easy position for most aspiring chefs to balance. Garret understands the demands of the role and approaches it as a professional, not as a lifestyle choice. There are a lot of chefs who can put together great menus, but it’s the rest of it that will make or break them in the role of executive chef.”

With a solid head on his shoulders and the maturity to comprehend what is truly required in being a successful chef, Meyer’s arrival could not have been a better fit. “I want to bring in food that matches what’s been created here. I saw the potential a year ago as a busy, great neighborhood restaurant. The space creates such an enlightened sense of relief as soon as you walk in.

It’s elegant yet simple. It feels like a family here with a tight-knit group of people who are dedicated to this experience.”

Meyer’s take on true Italian food for the Sarto’s menu demands ingredients from Italy, dishes from scratch and making things from hand, including sauces that take hours to cook. It’s about honoring the spirit of Italian cooking and what it offers. Some of the flavors favored by Chef include fatty acids, lemon and vinegar, all of which signal an elevated level of cooking. “Learning to cook with vinegar and balancing flavors is a big step for a chef,” Meyer concedes. “Creating a dish is balance. The color. The shape. The flavor. I don’t want our dishes to seem like a ‘blue plate special’ where everything is segmented. Let’s make it cohesive.”

Sarto’s spring and summer tastings are in keeping with the seasons – vegetables like peas, beets, mushrooms, radishes and lettuces along with turkey, salmon and rabbit and creations that include carrot and spinach pastas. And of course, when the man running the kitchen hails from Arkansas, you’re going to have some meat and potato representation as well. “I am a meat and potatoes cook,” he says with a smile. “But I might not present it in a way that you’d normally think of meat and potatoes.”

That’s the thinking of a chef who’s learned a thing or two along the way to his current post at the corner of Eliot Street and West 25th Avenue. Or is it the intersection of passion and desire? “Chef Bonano taught me the importance of day-to-day dedication of

I AM A MEAT AND POTATOES COOK... BUT I MIGHT NOT PRESENT IT IN A WAY THAT YOU’D NORMALLY THINK OF MEAT AND POTATOES.”

doing things over and over and over until it’s ingrained in your head and you feel confident and good about doing it,” shares Meyer.

And it’s his confidence and excitement that has translated effortlessly with everyone at Sarto’s. “We’re a team-oriented crew with a lot of collaborative cooking. I encourage my cooks to go out and eat and then discuss it as a group. What did you like? What didn’t you like? What would you do different?”

What’s clearly been different under Meyer’s leadership is an undeniable change in everything that transpires from the kitchen to the plate to the customer in the Sarto’s dining room. Swallow shares, “Garret shares Sarto’s vision and has helped refine that vision. He has helped elevate the food experience and make it more consistent, and he has also helped improve the culture at Sarto’s which in turn helps us create a better guest experience.

It’s great to have someone like-minded heading up that role and wanting to be a part of growing the business.”

“We’re now an evolving restaurant,” Meyer adds with a cutting stare. “We’re no longer stumbling over the same things that we were stumbling over. We’re getting better with our dishes, our prep, our day-to-day duties as cooks and chefs. There’s a consistency here.”

And it all began with the baseball player-turned-chef who knew that he could do better for his college meals than the crummy food at the cafeteria.

SIRANDSP ORT.COM

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[ CALL ME ] SIR

What do you do and why do you do it? I am part of a Wealth Management Team at UBS that focuses on partnering with our clients through transitional stages of life. That may be the purchase or sale of a business, retiring, marriage, estate planning and anything else that may be important to a family. I love what I do because we have genuine relationships and get to do thoughtful planning that matches our professional skillset.

Who and what have been your inspirations for success? I love to listen and read about Elon Musk. I believe that he is one of the most influential people of our time and I don’t think he gets enough credit.

The thing I love most about Elon is that there are so many doubters about his work. He just presses forward regardless of what everyone else wants him to do. I like to live a life similar to that. My goal is to reach Forbes’ 40 Under 40. A lot of people think I am ridiculous for even saying this, but it is my goal and I am going to do everything I can to get there!

What are some words of wisdom that you rely on for both business and life? My mother taught me some good lessons as a child and I still live by them today. You must A.S.K to G.E.T! I’ve learned that you have to ask for what you really want. The other lesson learned is that daily habits equal future success. A lot of times people don’t believe what they do in the moment matters. But what you do today defines tomorrow.

ZACHARY HANSEN UBS WEALTH MANAGEMENT ZACHARY HANSEN HAS BEEN ONE OF THE TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS AT DENVER’S UBS WEALTH MANAGEMENT OUTPOST FOR THE BETTER PART OF SIX YEARS NOW. ALWAYS ON THE GO AND ALWAYS STRATEGIZING TO GET THE GREATEST POSSIBLE RETURNS IN BOTH BUSINESS AND IN LIFE, HANSEN EMBODIES THE MODERN GENTLEMAN. WE SAW IT AS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO PICK HIS BRAIN.

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Why have you settled down in Colorado? I was born in Colorado and then moved to Los Angeles for college.

That was the only time I have lived outside of my home state. I have traveled extensively through the world and I always say the same thing once I am done traveling, “There is no better place than Colorado. The people here are so genuinely nice and you cannot beat the weather.”

Three things most people don’t know about your industry? 1. A lot of times, outsiders looking into the financial sector believe that finance people don’t work very hard. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Realistically we work a lot more than everyone else.

There is no clock-in or clock-out for this job. We work all hours and any holiday if necessary. When we leave the office, that typically does not mean that our work day is over. 2. There is no cookie cutter way to run a wealth management practice. Every client is different than the other, so you need to be very attuned to each of them. Once you understand their specific needs and wants, you can build your service model around that client. 3. The amount of regulation in the finance business is not noticed by clients. Our teams have to jump through many hoops with current regulations and the ongoing changes to them. There really isn’t a

regulation body that comes to help you comply with the federal regulations so you need to make sure that your practice and broker/dealer are on top of it.

IT ALL STARTED UNDER ONE

What is your morning ritual? My morning ritual is the same thing every day. I wake up and put on Bloomberg Radio until I leave the house. This gives me a good morning update on what’s going on around global markets and what to expect for the day. I always eat a healthy breakfast to get me going for the day.

Do you “unplug” after a certain hour? Our business is really tough to unplug. A lot of times, clients and friends want to talk about their financial situation after the regular work hours so there are many meetings after hours and unscheduled phone calls. Life changes quickly and we have to be flexible for our folks.

Your favorite business apparel consists of what?

I am very specific about my wardrobe. I got hooked on custom suits in 2008 and have never looked back.

The way that custom suits and shirts fit is a really nice feeling for self-confidence. I wear a suit almost every day of the week.

What kind of watch do you wear? I have been on the Fitbit kick for the last two years. I focus on my diet and exercise to help me maintain the demand of the practice. More often than not, I just need to know the time and how many steps I have taken in a day! If I am behind on steps, I will do something to make sure I am staying active.

Your favorite place for a business lunch? For a business dinner? Del Frisco’s is still the most consistent restaurant used for business lunches. I enjoy it there because you know that you will always get quality service and good food. It’s still the safest bet if you need to make sure a lunch goes smoothly.

For dinner, I really enjoy going to Edge Restaurant in the Four Seasons Denver. They do a great job with service and food and everyone always feels like they are enjoying their dining experience.

Three things you can’t live without on business trips? 1. My cell phone. I still have a hard time imagining how we got business done prior to these.

2. Reading material. I always require having material that I have been needing to get educated on but haven’t had the time to read yet. Traveling is the best time for this because you have so much down time at airports, planes and hotels. 3. Work-out clothes.

I always do my best to get a quick workout in when traveling. It helps me keep my mind clear and also reflect on the situation that is taking place.

R E IG N MA G A Z INE OUR SISTER PUBLICATION { On Colorado’s finest newsstands } Whole Foods • Tattered Cover Barnes & Noble • Peak Concepts at DIA Sprouts • Target Subscribe today at reignmag.com

[ BACK ] NINE Strangest thing you’ve witnessed on a golf course? I was playing in a tournament this year on the day of the eclipse. Not only was there a bear sighting that day, but also watching everyone stop play, put on those glasses, and take in the few minutes of the eclipse was unlike anything I’d seen in a tournament before. And in less than two minutes, it was back to normal.

Course at the top of your bucket list? Just like everyone else, it has to be Augusta National. I grew up watching the Masters, studying every hole like it was my own course. And my foursome - me, my dad, my oldest brother and my brother-in-law.

Favorite golfer growing up? Favorite golfer now? Growing up in the Midwest, I was always pulling for Tom Watson. The relationship he had with his caddie and how he carried himself as a gentleman on the course always stuck out to me. More recently, Tiger has been a favorite. His total domination on the course was unmatched.

DUSTIN MILLER BLACK BEAR GOLF CLUB [ PARKER, CO ]

Dustin Miller’s imprint on the golf community throughout Colorado is as widespread as the 18-hole classroom that he teaches out of at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker. The Iowa native who’s received the Iowa PGA Merchandiser of the Year award in 2009, and was also nominated three times for the Iowa PGA Instructor of the Year award, has focused on growing the game of golf through private lessons, junior golf instruction and group golf clinics. So Sir and Sport took to the fairways with the head golf pro and Titleist Certified club fitter and made him use every club in his bag to answer our questions on The Back Nine.

What PGA golfer should the world keep its eye on in 2018? I’ve got my eye on Tommy Fleetwood and Tiger Woods. Tommy’s one of the best up-and-coming golfers and if Tiger stays healthy, he could have an impressive 2018.

Best dressed golfer past and present? I appreciate anyone who doesn’t wear a white belt with black shoes! Ben Hogan featured an all-time classic look. Currently, Adam Scott has a classic but modern look. Some guys just try too hard. The classics never die.

What’s your favorite major and why? The Masters. The traditions, the familiarity of the course, the memories of watching it with my dad and remembering exactly which shots happened where. It’s also the first major of the spring and the kickoff to the best season in sports.

And once the green jacket is awarded, you can’t wait until it all kicks off again next year.

What’s your favorite golf movie? The Greatest Game Ever Played - any movie based on a true story is worth watching. It teaches that anything can happen with the right amount of hard work and determination.

More at dustinmillergolf.com

What’s the most important club in your bag? They’re all important, but the putter can make the greatest difference in your game. It can keep you alive like no other club in your bag.

What’s your favorite hole at your course? With the mountains as a backdrop, you can’t find a bad hole on the course. But #13 would have to be my favorite.

It’s a long par 5 with trouble down the entire right side. It’s a challenging, risk-reward hole.

Tom Watson

Favorite course you’ve ever played? Cabo del Sol down in Los Cabos. The service and the overall atmosphere of the golf course are amazing and, at every turn, there are the most breathtaking views I’ve ever seen.

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Cabo Del Sol

Tiger Woods

Ben Hogan

Cherrydale Community

KEY FEATURES 6 Bed/8 Bath Finished Square Feet: 6,249 Lot Size: .51 Acres School District: Cherry Creek Recently Remodeled Highline Canal Access Two Master Suites Double Walk In Closets Stunning Kitchen

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This home has quality appointments and style and has been artfully remodeled and updated from top to bottom. Relax in the expansive master suite with double walk-in closets and a five-piece bath upstairs. If the buyer prefers, there is also a spacious master bedroom on the main floor with a private patio and access to the lovely backyard. Four additional bedrooms and five additional baths make this the ideal family home, or a wonderful space to entertain guests. A three car side loading garage with ample space for SUV parking and additional storage is perfect for the Colorado outdoor enthusiast, collector or family.

This gorgeous property is walking distance from the acclaimed Kent Denver School and a short bike ride to Cherry Hills Village Elementary. Enjoy the country-like lifestyle of Cherry Hills Village while being ideally located for an easy commute to the Denver Tech Center as well as downtown. + More at 4245southbellaire.com +

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We’re celebrating over 17 years as a Colorado company. To us, Colorado is home.

But we’ll go to the ends of the earth to bring you the rare and beautiful. So let’s mark our time together with something uniquely special. Stop in and see us — Jim and Ron Cherry Creek North : Denver Pearl Street : Boulder hwhome.com

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Out of Office Reply:

Las Ventanas Al Paraiso – Los Cabos, Mexico

BY KEVIN MARR

I

mmediately ushered out of the tinted Suburban, we‘re greeted with a mango margarita and a vibrant mariachi band and then whisked away for what the property contends is the most pressing issue at hand. “Mr. Marr, you’ve been traveling all day to get here. We feel you could use a massage to relax. Welcome home.”

Welcome home indeed.

This was one hell of a first impression from Las Ventanas Al Paraiso in Los Cabos, Mexico. Starting with our arrival behind the private gates of this seaside Shangri La, this was, to this day, the single greatest reception we’ve ever encountered in our travels.

A 10-minute shoulder, back and neck massage under a giant palapa while serenaded by the soothing, rhythmic accents of splashing fountains has me already declaring the trip a success…and we’re just getting started.

The weather is Mexico-made: sun splashed with a calm and rejuvenating breeze, not a cloud in sight to compromise the gorgeous blue sky that is competing with the ocean waters for the best shade of azul. As far as we’re concerned, it’s a 1st place tie in this beach beauty pageant.

After another chilled margarita, we’re escorted to our suite that looks out over the finely manicured resort with its beautiful pools, green lawns, white sandy beaches and the therapeutic roar of the surf that the Sea of Cortez has on the menu for the day. All of this fantasy scenery from our patio is our playa picture show before realizing the stairwell leads to a private rooftop. Game. Set. Match.

Now a 360-degree aerial view has us contemplating not leaving the suite at all over the next 48 hours.

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But I have a spa appointment.

So I roll the dice and venture off of this rooftop Eden, taking my chances with the rest of what the best resort in Los Cabos has to offer.

Her name is as beautiful as she is – Xiamara. She’s blessed with a smile that makes you immediately forget everything but The Spa at Las Ventanas.

Standing there amongst an entourage of lush, green palms in this Mexican sanctuary, my siren masseuse for the next 90 minutes was an unequivocal sight for sore eyes, as were the pampering amenities and facilities. In addition to this unbelievable setting, the spa is also highlighted with saunas, hot and cold hydrotherapy pools and steam rooms. The treatment cabana featured an outdoor shower and a private terrace and garden. After what was truly a massage for the ages, I asked Xiamara about her training. She explained that every masseuse must be able to complete a treatment blindfolded before being cleared to work with guests. That’s Las Ventanas.

Dinner at El Restaurante that evening still ranks as an all-time dining experience anywhere on the globe. Sunset overlooking the Sea of Cortez and the resort’s sparkling main pool set the scene while Executive Chef Fabrice Guisset, Executive Sous Chef Macia Martinez and their team seduced our taste buds with Baja’s best ingredients and flavors. That means seafood caught that day and seasonal fresh produce for sauces and garnishes – of course all locally sourced. From the sea, it was a ‘Who’s Who’ of crispy soft shell crab, tuna tartare with chili aioli, avocado puree, crispy rice and tomato jelly, and grilled lobster tail to name a few. From terra firma, braised short ribs and Kurobuta pork chop “al pastor” were all-stars in their own rite. But we couldn’t get past the Los Tacos Experience. Who sees “Los Tacos Experience” on a menu and keeps looking? Tuna, shrimp, butter poached lobster, roasted prime aged rib eye and braised short ribs were all in play and it…was…phenomenal.

The Las Ventanas al Paraiso’s award-winning wine program was a no-brainer

Through the

Editor's Eye Las Ventanas Al Paraiso

as well. It draws heavily on the lush Valle de Guadalupe region near Ensenada in northern Baja, famous for producing robust varietals on par with anything found in Napa or Sonoma or Bordeaux. Global offerings include California's top vintage cult wines and distinctive wines from France, Italy and Spain to newly discovered selections from Australia, New Zealand and South America.

Then came the boom. The resort lit up the night with a firework display that we’ll never forget. It’s one gift after another here in paradise.

Perhaps the most cherished sequence of words we can ever hear when vacationing is “adult pool.” Of course, Las Ventanas has one. As it stands, this impeccable swimming hole might be the most perfect plot of land on the Sea of Cortez’s western coast. An infinity pool reigns over private sands that ooze into the surf, with the occasional horseback rider passing through with an accompanying ocean soundtrack. With hours spent at the pool, the adjacent friendly Sea Grill located at the sand’s edge couldn’t be more perfect for lunch, snacks and a premium stocked bar for an ideal afternoon of fun in the sun and zero complaints.

Its reputation as one of the world’s premier destinations is beyond deserved.

Paradise is far from lost with this jaw-dropping respite, but what would you expect from this heavenly wonderland whose translation in English means Windows to Paradise?

And with the weather the way it is down here, it’s best to just leave the windows open for all the more paradise.

More at rosewoodhotels.com/lasventanas Photos by Kevin Marr

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[ VIEW ]

W

We are constantly buried in books, Instagram, TV and movies for our information, inspiration and entertainment. Here’s a look at the sights and sounds that have left a mark or two on us lately.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Loved it. We were ready to get to the theater for it long before the reviews and Oscar nominations if, for no other two reasons, Frances McDormand and Woody Harrelson. I suspected a Fargo-like performance from McDormand and Harrelson can win me over by merely reading the ingredients off a soup can.

And while neither disappointed, a star was born with me from Sam Rockwell and his Oscar-winning performance.

His character in this film is easily one of my favorite movie personalities in years.

Waco Paramount TV (you can find it on On-Demand) has rolled out its version of the infamous cult leader David Koresh and his branch Davidian followers with its 1993 account of the FBI and ATF confrontation with the compound, and has assembled a cast with some serious fire power. Yep. We went there. Michael Shannon delivers another performance worthy of awards as he goes head-tohead with Taylor Kitsch’s Koresh (Riggins in Friday Night Lights) and is flanked by the likes of Paul Sparks (House of Cards) and John Leguizamo.

Chappaquiddick Ted Kennedy wrecks a car in a Cape Cod pond back in 1969, a woman drowns, and a film on the matter is just happening now? There’s nothing like a juicy Kennedy scandal to rubberneck over to forget one’s own problems.

Money. Power. Mystery. Manslaughter? It certainly has the stench of a cover up.

We’re in. Jason Clarke, Kate Mara, Ed Helms and Bruce Dern lead the charge in hashing out the details in yet another example of the curse of the Kennedys.

SOUTHERNREVERIE THEIR TAGLINE IS “GET LOST WITH US DOWN SOUTH.” WHETHER IT’S ARCHITECTURE, NATURE, DESIGN OR INSTANCES OF DISTINCT SOUTHERN CHARM AND CULTURE, IT’S ALWAYS A SOOTHING, DOWN-HOME VISITOR WHEN WE COME ACROSS IT. EVERYWHERE FROM TEXAS, THE CAROLINAS AND TENNESSEE TO LOUISIANA AND ALABAMA, WE’RE BUYING WHAT THEY CONTINUE TO SELL.

THERADICAL80S OUR CHILDHOOD IS CONTINUOUSLY MARKED ON THIS PAGE WITH THE NOSTALGIC STILL FRAMES OF CLASSIC ‘80S MOVIES, TV AND PERSONALITIES. IT’S A DAILY TIME MACHINE TO THE COUNTLESS HOURS THAT WE SPENT ENJOYING THE LIKES OF CLARK GRISWALD, THREE’S COMPANY, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, WEIRD SCIENCE AND THORNTON MELON GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, TO NAME BUT A FEW.

REMOVEBEFORE WE’RE ALWAYS FOLLOWING THE WORLD OF AUTOMOBILES AND THIS STOP PROVIDES VERY THOUGHTFUL AND CREATIVE POSTS THAT FALL IN LINE WITH THEIR SPECIALTIES OF AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN, GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY IN A CLASSIC STYLE. IF YOU’RE PARTICULARLY AN ADMIRER OF PORSCHE, YOU’RE GOING TO APPRECIATE THE SEQUENCE OF THINGS FROM @REMOVEBEFORE. THEY POSTED A RETRO ADVERTISEMENT FOR PORSCHE WITH THE MOST BRILLIANT TAGLINE AND MARKETING CAMPAIGN THAT HAS HAD US WANTING MORE EVER SINCE.

MASTER

BOOKS BLACK CAT 2-1: THE TRUE STORY OF A VIETNAM HELICOPTER PILOT AND HIS CREW In the Vietnam War, Bob Ford flew more than 1,000 missions between 1967 and 1968 and recalls his experiences in his book. In his account, he describes the hardships and trials of war and the camaraderie that formed between members of his crew.

Ultimately, Ford made a promise to God to remain physically fit in return for survival in Vietnam. His book serves as both a tribute to those who died in the war as well as a memoir of the events that shaped him into the man he is today.

AWESOMEPEOPLEDOINGTHINGS “THE SOURCE OF THE BEST AWESOME VIDEOS THE INTERNET HAS TO OFFER.” THERE ARE ZERO HOLES IN THIS CLAIM. FROM WATER SPORTS AND SKIING TO ACTS OF PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND PERSEVERANCE, IT’S A RARITY WHEN WE DON’T WATCH A CLIP MULTIPLE TIMES. IT’S TRULY A PLATFORM THAT NEEDS TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED. ENJOY.

JOIN THE C O N V E R S AT I O N

EL_REY_DEL_CORRIDO TRANSLATED AS “THE KING OF BULLFIGHTING” OR “THE KING OF THE DRAWN,” WE’VE SAVED OUR CURRENT FAVORITE FOR LAST. WHEN WE DITCHED FACEBOOK OVER TWO YEARS AGO, THE HOURS WE GAINED BACK FROM MINDLESS ACTIVITY WENT THROUGH THE ROOF. THIS INSTAGRAM PAGE, HOWEVER, IS SO ENTERTAINING THAT WE’RE INCHING BACK TO, “WHERE DID THE TIME GO?” I FORWARD MORE CLIPS TO FRIENDS FROM THIS SITE THAN ANY OTHER.

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[ THE ] BOARDROOM

PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

WOLF OF WALL STREET COMPANY PAYS $60 MILLION The production company behind the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street will pay the U.S. government $60 million to settle claims that it benefited from a massive Malaysian corruption scandal. The deal between prosecutors and Red Granite Pictures Inc. was part of an effort to recover more than $1 billion prosecutors said was stolen from a Malaysian-owned investment fund. The Department of Justice said the money-laundering scheme was intended to enrich top-level officials of the fund, including some close to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Money was diverted from the fund to buy properties in New York and California, a $35 million jet, art by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet and a $260 million yacht.

Proceeds also went to fund movies by Red Granite Pictures, which was co-founded by the stepson of Razak, including the Martin Scorsese-directed The Wolf of Wall Street, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio.

The case is the largest single action that the Justice Department has taken under efforts to recover foreign bribery proceeds and embezzled funds and several other lawsuits are pending. Other countries including Singapore and Switzerland are conducting probes.

PRIVATE JET BUYERS GOT A BIG BONUS A recent change in the US tax code is stirring up interest in high-end private jets. As part of the Trump Administration’s tax reform package which passed in late 2017, transportation items such as private jets are now subject to 100% bonus depreciation. According to the National Business Aviation Association, this allows a private jet owner to deduct 100% of its cost immediately. However, the NBAA is keen to point out that the new policy doesn’t entitle private jet buyers to more depreciation, just the ability to access those benefits at a quicker rate. In this case, immediately. For some of the world’s wealthiest individuals, this deduction accounts for much, if not all, of their millions in tax liability. Which means, for some, the jet could be essentially free. Will this send the world’s billionaires scrambling to buy a private jet or two?

Teal Group vice president and aviation industry analyst Richard Aboulafia explains, “There’s been no historical linkage between bonus depreciation and market strength, but on the other hand, this is a very generous depreciation offer and the market has been on the cusp of a turnaround for some time.”

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BILLIONAIRE ROBERT BIGELOW’S SPACE STATION HOTEL Robert Bigelow, who made his billions from the hotel chain Budget Suites of America, has officially launched a new spaceflight company called Bigelow Space Operations (BSO).

In 2021, BSO plans to launch two 55-foot-long inflatable modules, called B330-1 and B330-2, that link together to form a private space station. The new company wants to sell time aboard to countries in need of orbital laboratory space, as well as multi-million dollar reservations to tourists seeking the trip of a lifetime. “These single structures that house humans on a permanent basis will be the largest, most complex structures ever known as stations for human use in space,” the company said in a press release. BSO will market its services in low-Earth orbit — a zone about 250 miles above Earth — to nations, corporations and space tourists. “From a human-use perspective, we’re at the very, very early beginnings of this,” explained Bigelow. The B330 space station modules can hold about six people. They would launch in a folded-up state, then be inflated with breathable air once deployed into orbit. Their thick white shields, made of impact-absorbing materials would protect against space debris and radiation. The units are “so diverse and so large,” Bigelow’s release said, “that they can accommodate virtually unlimited use almost anywhere.” Depending on the prices that other companies charge for flights, the per-passenger cost could be in the “low seven figures” though most likely in the “low eight figures,” Bigelow said. (NASA currently pays Russia about $81 million per round-trip to the ISS for its astronauts.)

THE STARS GROUP INC. BUYS SKY BETTING & GAMING FOR $4.7 BILLION The Stars Group Inc. agreed to buy Sky Betting & Gaming in a deal valued at $4.7 billion, the biggest acquisition yet by Chief Executive Officer Rafi Ashkenazi as the owner of PokerStars moves to create what will be the biggest publicly listed online gambling company. Torontobased Stars Group will pay cash and stock to owners CVC Capital Partners and Sky Plc, it said in a statement. The company expects to achieve $70 million in cost synergies. The deal, the biggest since Stars bought PokerStars for $4.9 billion in 2014, opens new streams of revenue for the company and increases its exposure to sports betting -- the fastest-growing online gaming segment. It’s a bold move under Ashkenazi to bolster his firm’s scale after the company previously failed to take control of Sky-rival William Hill Plc in 2016, which would have given Stars access to the core U.K. market. “Sky Gaming & Betting premier sports betting product is the ideal complement to our industryleading poker platform,” Ashkenazi said in the statement. “The ability to offer two low-cost acquisition channels of this magnitude provides The Stars Group with great growth potential.”

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LAFLEUR ’82 MAGNUMS FETCH THOUSANDS Six magnums of rare Chateau Lafleur 1982 wine from the Pomerol region fetched 54,970 pounds ($77,095), or more than $12,000 each, as a selection of historic Bordeaux vintages dating as far back as 1909 went under the hammer at a Sotheby’s auction in London in April.

A lot comprising 34 bottles of all sizes of Chateau Montrose 2010 from Saint Estephe, ranging from 0.375-liter halfbottles to an 18-liter Melchior, sold for 38,240 pounds, while 10 bottles of Petrus 1988 fetched 20,315 pounds and five bottles of the same producer’s 1989 vintage sold for 14,340 pounds, according to an emailed Sotheby’s statement. The sale took place as the attention of collectors is starting to focus on the 2017 Bordeaux vintage being shown to merchants prior to going on sale as en primeur futures for delivery in two years. The arrival of a new vintage on the market can divert attention from older wines, although the auction season follows a cycle of its own.

“Bordeaux dominated the results,” Stephen Mould, Sotheby’s head of wine for Europe, said in the statement. The price for the Lafleur ’82 top lot, which beat its pre-sale estimate, reflected its “impeccable provenance.” Prices for leading Bordeaux wines are rebounding after falling 40 percent from a 2011 peak before leveling out. The Liv-ex Fine Wine 50 Index is now up more than 30 percent from the floor it reached in 2015. The sale included 12 bottles of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2000, which fetched 13,145 pounds, and six bottles of the same estate’s 1982 wine, which sold for 11,711 pounds. Four bottles of Petrus 1982 attracted a bid of 11,950 pounds.

AN 81-STORY SKYSCRAPER PROPOSED FOR DENVER A development team has submitted a site concept with the city to build an 81-story mixed-use skyscraper in downtown Denver. The concept, submitted by New York-based Greenwich Realty Capital, would have a hotel, residential units and retail space. The concept plans for a tower, called Six Fifty 17, that would be 25 stories taller than Denver’s tallest structure, the 56-story Republic Plaza. “A residential lobby, hotel lobby and a proposed restaurant/bar will occupy and engage the first two levels activating the street,” developers wrote. “At the time of this concept submittal there are planned to be 780 parking spaces within the structure.”

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[ THE ] BOARDROOM

GIBSON REPORTEDLY PREPARES FOR BANKRUPTCY Gibson, an iconic American guitarmaker, is nearing bankruptcy, according to a report in the Nashville Post. The Nashville-based company, patronized by legends like B.B. King, Keith Richards, John Lennon and Jimmy Page, is hugely indebted, and a repayment of $237 million in August could push it over the edge. While Gibson has some of the most expensive guitars on the market, sales have been waning, while competitors like Fender have embraced low-cost models to capture a larger market share.

“At the end of the day, someone will take control of this company — be it the debtors or the bondholders,” Debtwire reporter Reshmi Basu told the Post this week. “This has been a long time coming.” Basu said some bondholders have complained about a lack of clarity from Gibson — a situation that has not improved by the arrival of GSO Capital Partners, a unit of private equity giant Blackstone that about a year ago extended Gibson a lifeline via $130 million in loans. Basu told the Post GSO’s arrival on the scene has unsettled some bondholders, who have organized and hired financial and legal advisors to protect their interests.

MICKEY MANTLE CARD SELLS FOR $2.88 MILLION A 1952 Mickey Mantle Topps rookie card in mint condition sold for $2.88 million in April. It’s the second-highest price ever paid for a baseball card, falling short of the $3.12 million a collector paid for a 1909 T206 Honus Wagner card in October 2016.

The card, graded by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) as a 9 on a scale of 10, was being sold by former NFL offensive lineman Evan Mathis and auctioned

by Heritage Auctions. The rise of the Mantle rookie card has been astounding. In 1988, this card in its best condition could be had for $3,300. Ten years later, the record was $121,000. By 2007, the top sale for the card — which was a comparable PSA 9 — was $240,000. “It’s a remarkable price,” said Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage. “It was 10 years ago when we last had a Mantle 9 sell, but this sold for 10 times that. “The Wagner card was made rarer by the company that produced them, Piedmont Cigarettes, when the card was discontinued. The Mantle was the first card in the Topps 1952 high number set, which was the second wave of that year’s product. But Topps, in only its second year of making baseball cards, found that the cards came out too late in the year and there was little to no interest in consumers buying more. So the 1952 high number packs sat in Topps factory for seven years, before Topps’ card pioneer Sy Berger made an attempt to get rid of them.

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AIRTIME

Fashion takes a colorful leap this season.

Bright, bold and ready for anything…style is in the air.

Photos by Clayton Jenkins

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Production by Kevin Marr

SIR AND SP ORT • SPRING | SUMMER 2017

Styling by Betsy Marr

C o n c e p t b y To b i a s J e n k i n s

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PREVIOUS PAGES: Robert Graham Leery Button Down, $198; Ermenegildo Zegna Jacket (part of a two-piece suit), $2,995; Michael Kors Faded Coral Shorts, $79.50 THIS PAGE: Brunello Cucinelli Basic Fit Linen Button Down, $575; AG The Graduate Jeans, $189; Etro Blazer, $1,315

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By Kevin Marr

Antal Kalik is the body double who makes Hollywood’s biggest stars look like the superheroes they’re portraying. Go behind-the-scenes with one of today’s premier stuntmen to experience a job like no other.

“If I have a little bit of advance notice and I know that I’m going to double for Chris Hemsworth then I’m going to be eating a lot more and lift more weights, but right now I’ve been sticking to guys like Chris Pine and Channing Tatum who are a little bit leaner.”

Antal Kalik is the only guy we know who grapples with this type of quandary before going into work. Which handsome Hollywood leading man am I going to be mistaken for on the silver screen when I serve as their body double in the next summer blockbuster?

He stands 6’2”, weighs 200 pounds, he’s in phenomenal shape and, yes, it was all part of Kalik’s master plan to become a modern-day Colt Seavers from The Fall Guy.

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“A

ccording to my mom, I told Santa that I wanted to be a

stuntman when I was 4 or 5-years old,” he says with a laugh.

whose father Terry Leonard is an industry legend. Malosi was

looking for an “ND” (non-descript) stuntman for the upcoming

Santa delivered.

Jack Black film, Year One. Kalik would then go on to meet one of

Growing up in Michigan, Kalik was glued to the television and

the martial arts action movies featuring legendary badasses like Jackie Chan and Jean Claude Van Damme. And when

VHS tapes started to showcase the bonus segments that took viewers behind-the-scenes to witness the stunts and fighting

techniques, Kalik’s life forever changed. “I was like, ‘Wow! This is actually something people do.’ I had no idea if you could

make money at it, but I was just so enamored with what these

guys did. I’ve always been a fan of action. To me it’s ‘violent art.’

It’s something that I’ve always been drawn to.”

Eventually Kalik would pursue higher education for his stuntman aspirations, and what he enrolled in was literally “higher”

education. Stunt school provided the opportunity to become well versed in riding wires, high falls with horses and driving

cars. However, this was just the beginning. “Stunt school was a bunch of fluff,” he says with a laugh. “However, it was something where I could at least learn a thing or two as a kid from Michigan who didn’t know anything. The ultimate goal was to pursue the business in Los Angeles and be able to say, ‘Yes, I’ve done a 40-foot fall, I’ve ridden a wire and I’ve hit an air ram.”

While biding his time and waiting for the big break, Kalik caught

the acting bug in L.A. and began to pursue some roles, landing

a few commercials and small parts to go along with his other three jobs he had to get by.

Present day sees Antal Kalik as one of the most sought after

stuntmen in the industry, with credits in the likes of Captain

America: Civil War, The Dark Knight Rises, 22 Jump Street and

Jupiter Ascending doubling Channing Tatum, Logan doubling

Hugh Jackman, and the Star Trek series and Wonder Woman doubling Chris Pine. But before his breakthrough, it took four years until he was working somewhat consistently.

From the “You’ve Got To Start Somewhere” department, Kalik’s

first stunt was back in 2007 on the soap opera, The Young and the Restless, and it wasn’t jumping off a bridge, flipping over a

car or running out of a building on fire. “They brought me in to double a guy who had to fall over backwards in a wheelchair.

That was it,” Kalik concedes with a giant grin.

050

His break came in 2009 when he met stuntman Malosi Leonard,

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Hollywood’s most respected stuntmen and stunt coordinators,

Tom Elliott who, in turn, referred him to stunt coordinator Jim

Arnett. Arnett was running a reboot of the television series Knight Rider and Kalik ended up coming on board to double for the

lead actor, Justin Bruening. The domino effect of connections for Kalik continued when Brand X Stunts, one of the big stunt

groups in town that was overseeing things for Knight Rider, added Kalik to their roster of stuntmen.

Moving forward, there were no more side jobs necessary for

Antal outside of his desired stunt career. It was now all about being ready to go for the next project which meant that his training and preparation became never ending. “If I show up

to a job and I’m the least bit out of shape, the actor isn’t going to like that and, a lot of times in this business, you don’t have as much prep time as you’d like,” Kalik explains. “I’ll get a call saying, ‘Hey, can you come out next week and do this?”

Health and fitness are not only crucial from an aesthetics standpoint but, just as critical, Kalik’s training is also carefully directed towards injury prevention because if his body isn’t

prepared to hit the ground and hit the ground hard then he’s in trouble. His weekly regimen includes lifting weights almost

every day in order to maintain a certain amount of muscle

and size to absorb impact. Muscle mass and size fluctuate depending on whom he’s preparing to double for and what stunt

he’s getting ready to perform. He does yoga once a week. He does an MMA-style kicking and punching program twice a week and also rides a dirt bike and plays ice hockey once a week. So,

needless to say, this is why Pine, Tatum, Hemsworth, Jackman, Chris Pratt and Josh Duhamel all look flawless when the going gets tough in their movies.

Kalik’s relationships with his world-famous partners embody

a mutual respect and sense of loyalty that show that ego and entitlement aren’t the status quo with this branch of Hollywood.

“Chris Pine is incredibly loyal,” Kalik says with a sense of

appreciation that you know means a lot to him. “The first time I

doubled him was in Star Trek Beyond and we got along great.

While I work for the stunt coordinator, I also approach the project as though I’m working for Chris. Occasionally we’ll hang

out outside of work, dinners and things like that, and I give him

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my very best and try to do what’s in his best interests for the

Today’s technological advances have transformed movie

appreciates. “Channing is awesome and has also been very

sophistication that’s been ushered in over the past decade, the

film. Channing Tatum is another colleague whom Kalik deeply

loyal. After Jupiter Ascending, he asked me if I wanted to do 22 Jump Street. For me, he’s just one of the guys.

That’s just how he carries himself.”

In serving as body doubles for these athletic and healthy looking actors, Kalik isn’t the least

bit surprised that some of these celebrities have some abilities of their own. “Channing is super

talented so, whenever I double for him, I always

worry about my job security because he’s such a good athlete. He can do a standing backflip. You want him to run up a wall? Yep. No problem. You

name it. Unless the stunt is something extremely dangerous where he could get hurt and the

studio won’t let him do it, Channing is doing the

making into a state-of-the-art visual wonderland and, with the stunt coordination has never been more integral. “From when I

started in this business to what I’m seeing now, the entire production is utilizing the stunt department

as a whole a lot more than they used to,” Kalik proudly explains. “You see movies now like

Captain America: Civil War, and the action in it is incredible. It’s all designed around the stunt team

and then the production team uses that for a lot of its shots. They’re coming up with the shots and action sequences together, which is a tremendous

increase in the stunt department’s involvement since I’ve come into the industry.”

Kalik’s point regarding the stunt department’s growing and indispensable role in the way films

stunt. Chris Pine loves to do stunts too. In our latest project

are shot today further dispels past misconceptions that stunt

percent that was too dangerous was the stuff that I did and

down on the ground. In fact, recent hits like John Wick with

together, Outlaw King, he did 95 percent of the action. The 5 that’s because we can’t have him getting hurt. I’m expendable.

Chris Pine is not.”

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people are just crash dummies who merely show up and fall

Keanu Reeves and Atomic Blonde with Charlize Theron are two examples of projects directed by former stuntmen, which

are opening the door for other stunt people to advance into positions of greater authority and opportunity.

seen some shit in his day, and there’s one stunt in particular

“Chris Pine loves to do stunts

“The helicopter scene and the jet boot chase in Jupiter Ascending

too. In our latest project together,

With 119 stunt credits currently on his resume, Antal Kalik has that still has him shaking his head in disbelief.

is still something that I think about quite often because it’s one

of my favorite stunts that I’ve ever had the opportunity to do and it was extremely dangerous,” Kalik explains.

“We did four days in Chicago with me and another double

strung 40 feet below a helicopter,” he begins. “The sequence was that the helicopter would lift off, Channing Tatum climbs all

the way to the top of the Sears Tower and he’s supposed to be tractor beamed up into a spaceship. The spaceship blows up

Outlaw King, he did 95 percent of the action. The 5 percent that was too

dangerous was the stuff that I did

and then Channing and another character go into a free fall.

The way they wanted to shoot this was to have the helicopter go into a dive and circle the Sears Tower while the rest of the sequence has the pilot flying between the skyscrapers in downtown Chicago with me and the other double underneath.

Meanwhile, the Wachowskis (directors Lana and Lilly) were in a camera ship that was following right behind our helicopter

telling us and the pilot what to do. The Wachowskis wanted my

pilot, Cliff Fleming, to perform a big, sweeping, banking turn

and that’s because we can’t have him getting hurt. I’m

expendable.

Chris Pine is not.”

that would whip us out and make it look like we were going

around the corner of the building. On our third take, Cliff loaded

us up in this pendulum that was so high that, when we were

whipped out, I was eye-to-eye with Cliff while 400 feet in the air going around a building in Chicago. It was something else,” Kalik expresses with a gasp.

Always on the move, the next step for Kalik in perfecting his craft is some intense driver’s training – specifically behind the

wheel for stunt driving opportunities. While not yet a part of that privileged position that’s known as “the hot seat,” Antal continues to train, build his skill set, build the trust needed with the appropriate coordinators and learn from those seasoned drivers who are already where he wants to be. “The circle of the

stunt community is tight to begin with, and when you get into

the driving circle within the stunt community, it’s even tighter. A lot of things can go wrong in a moving car, so you need to be a person who can be trusted with that.”

The same kind of person who can be trusted to making us believe in the unbelievable.

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VON MILLER'S DINNER BELL

By Kevin Marr

CHEF CURTIS BELL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FUELING UP ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST ATHLETES. HOW DOES HE DO IT?

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“CAN YOU MAKE GREEN JUICE?” ASKED THE MAN. “I CAN MAKE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT,” ANSWERED THE CHEF. And so it would be – a partnership was born based on the mutual understanding over the utmost importance of cucumber, celery, spinach, kale, lemon, lime, ginger and a little bit of apple to balance it out. The Denver Broncos’ superstar linebacker Von Miller found his new private chef, and Curtis Bell found himself in a whole new world with some serious cooking to do.

Truth be told, it was more than just Bell being able to whip up Miller’s signature drink – 16 ounces every day at breakfast and lunch that’s high in fiber, rich in nutrition and a recurring culinary sidekick on Miller’s Instagram page of 1.4 million followers.

Bell’s cooking tryout at Miller’s Denver home was shrouded in secrecy until the chef arrived. “I didn’t know who it was when I was invited to the house,” Bell explains. “I was just told that he was an athlete, so I should feed him like an athlete. I figured out that it could only be a few people here in town because not many can afford or be looking for a private chef to cook all of their meals.”

Before Bell could expect to be preparing 21 meals a week for the future NFL Hall-of-Famer, he’d need this first meal to knock the Texas-native Miller on his butt to even be considered for the job. Miller stands 6’3 and weighs 250 pounds. Getting knocked down didn’t exist on his stat sheet.

Now it might.

Bell admits, “I told my dad that if I get into the house for the tryout then I’m getting the job.” Bell knows what he’s capable of and what clients are ultimately looking for in a private chef. “They want comfort,” he begins. “They want you to be somebody that they can be around, someone they can work with, somebody they can talk to and trust, and someone who’s skillful and passionate. I feel like I fit that bill with my skills, resume, background, the good food that I can prepare and my good character. It’s knowing who I am and what I am.”

So what was the dish that scored against the Broncos’ toughest defender?

Bell prepared a Chicken Chile Colorado over beans and rice with a few different picos (one with a little pineapple) and a few sauces and garnishes to show Miller and his guests that evening some versatility and skill, but also some flavor, development and nutrition as well. When dinner was served, the dining room chatter became very quiet. “At the table, I didn’t really get any feedback,” Bell reveals. “That’s when I was asked about the green juice. The thing that I was looking for while they were eating was, ‘OK. They’re not talking so that’s a good sign.”

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If Von Miller grew up in DeSoto, Texas, knowing that he wanted to play football for a living, then Curtis Bell felt the same way about becoming a chef while growing up in Denver. When he was 10-years-old, he and his father were downtown at dinner at the former Trinity Grille when Bell realized that one could be a chef for a career. The Trinity Grille chef had attended the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York and, from then on, it was young Curtis’ goal to study cooking at CIA as well. With one of the premier culinary training programs in the world now firmly in Bell’s cooking crosshairs, his high school years were obsessed with making the grade to enroll at the CIA’s main campus in Hyde Park, New York. He even asked his cooking teacher on the first day of high school how he could start working towards scholarship consideration to his dream school.

Bell pursued everything possible through cooking classes, competitions and clubs, including a job at Cook’s Fresh Market in Denver where his first true mentor emerged. “The pastry chef there at the time named Denny was a CIA alum and he taught me things and told me what it’s going to be like to attend CIA. I was absorbing any knowledge that I could from anybody who was willing to give it to me.”

Bell continues, “I just had that young hunger and drive that took me through to getting to CIA.” The ensuing years in New York would serve as perhaps the most impressionable that Bell would encounter anywhere in his career. The experiences off campus would mold him just as much as those that he was learning in the classroom kitchen. “The Wequassett Inn and Resort in Cape Cod shaped me a lot,” Bell contends. “I learned more there than anywhere else in my entire career from catering and banquets and working in homes for private events.” Another experience in Montauk, New York, taught Bell a different lesson about his future career path. “It showed me that I didn’t want to work in a dirty kitchen under chefs who aren’t in it for the right reasons – or at least working at that property for the right reasons.”

After graduation, Bell’s return to Colorado paired him with Denver’s renowned Chef Kevin Taylor, before a position as sous chef took him into the high country to La Tour, one of the region’s best restaurants in Vail. It was here when Bell had an epiphany about cooking, and it wasn’t the realization that you might expect. “My passion was burnt out and I came to the conclusion that this career path wasn’t what I wanted,” he admits.

A stint in the sales world, as far away from the kitchen as possible, eventually gave way to a phone call from an old friend and mentor, Chef Kevin Taylor. Taylor was reaching out about a private chef opportunity for a family that Bell knew, and it was cause for pause for the former chef. “I never pushed myself towards being a private chef, but it was always something that had been developing in the

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background while I was doing other things,” he explains.

So he went for it. And just as CIA had served as an unparalleled training ground, Bell’s foray into the world of a private chef would prove to be equally as eye-opening. “It may sound simple, but it’s the logistics that come into play that can make this job challenging. One element that’s very important to my job is adaptability and flexibility to changing conditions,” Bell concedes.

“Changing conditions” are usually last minute decisions made by the client to move meal locations, and it’s a scenario that Bell has become accustomed to balancing.

“You have to pack things up that are on the stove, prepare it and be ready to go to another house and then figure out a different kitchen, a new setup and have the meal ready to go as soon as possible. It all requires being ready for change and not being afraid of it, while also being able to think on your feet but not overthinking it.”

Von Miller gets paid to think on his feet and not overthink things. Part of the allure for Miller in working with Chef Bell was the dietary and nutritional expertise that Bell brings to the table for an athlete’s regimen and workout schedule.

“While I don’t have a certification to say that I’m a dietician or a nutritionist, I am, without a doubt, a sports nutritionist,” Bell says with a smile. “That’s what I do and that’s what he hired me to do. I was trying to add muscle to my own frame and Von appreciated the way that I tracked my own macro and micro nutrients and my overall caloric intake while paying meticulous attention to what to eat, and at what time of day before and after workouts. If Von can do anything to be healthier and stronger, he’s going to listen. He trusts me and the food that I make because he knows that I’m giving him the right things at the right time.”

“THE KITCHEN IS MY DOMAIN IN MY CLIENTS’ HOMES,” BELL STATES UNABASHEDLY.

What Bell initially gave Miller when the chef arrived full-time was a complete pantry maintenance and kitchen organization overhaul. It’s a vital makeover necessary for both parties for a proper functioning meal program. “The kitchen is my domain in my clients’ homes,” Bell states unabashedly.

“They’re not cooking for themselves very often and they wouldn’t know what’s in their pantry so one of the things that I take upon myself is to come in, evaluate how the whole kitchen is and, within a few months, I’ll have it all completely organized to the way that I see best fit for their space. I go through their pantries and find things that are old and just get rid of them because, if somebody does come over and makes food, then I want everything in the house to be safe and good to eat.”

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Going into it all, Chef Bell wasn’t informed of all that much regarding Miller’s food preferences. Von wasn’t vocal about what he likes and what he doesn’t like other than that he doesn’t eat pork and he loves Mexican food. Bell was given a little insight into what Miller’s typical breakfast is because it’s somewhat consistent, so it’s up to Bell to figure out Miller’s palate better than Miller knows it himself. Bell isn’t told what to make and Von rarely makes requests, so he makes what he thinks Miller will enjoy. It’s all about reading people’s diet and preferences and figuring it out, so if Miller doesn’t eat something on the plate, then Chef makes a note of it and either won’t make it again or will do it differently the next time. Bell plans Miller’s breakfasts, lunches and dinners an entire month in advance, helping not only with flexibility, but also ensuring that he’s varying Miller’s proteins, carbs and vegetables. There’s also the art of balancing all the potent nutrients that Miller should have every day and at the proper times, but also with some foods that taste good.

“THE EASIEST PART OF MY JOB IS COOKING. THE MORE IMPORTANT PART OF MY JOB IS GETTING PEOPLE TO BE COMFORTABLE AND TO TRUST ME. MY JOB REQUIRES ME TO BE PERCEPTIVE TO PEOPLE’S NEEDS MORE THAN IT IS TO JUST COOK FOOD.” So what’s on the menu for a freak of nature athlete who burns more fuel than your average locomotive?

For one, proteins…and lots of them. “Lean proteins like chicken and turkey are a massive part of Von’s diet,” Bell begins. “I try to keep a lot of seafood in his diet as well. For him, the way that his muscles are working, he needs iron in his diet too. He really likes his game meats like venison, lamb and beef. If it’s a complex carbohydrate then I’m going to work with it. I prepare potatoes or sweet potatoes most days for breakfast because they’re quick access for fuel and have a lot of good vitamins and other nutrients that are going to help him start his day. Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa and oats are also part of the picture.”

Miller’s favorite dish of late has been smoked brisket hash and eggs. His father had initially made it when Bell found himself using some leftovers and implementing some new accents to the recipe. It’s no surprise to Chef why a batch disappears immediately when Miller comes into contact with it. “Von gravitates towards bold flavors and this dish is smoky, seasoned well and seasoned from the smoke, the meat and the fat rendered through it,” Bell reveals. “It’s not even necessarily a ‘cheat dish’ for him because there’s so much flavor in that brisket that I’m able to fluff the hash out with sweet potatoes, peppers, onions, arugula or spinach, zucchini and other greens.

It’s a good feeling to see him enjoy it as much as he does.”

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One of the most crucial aspects to Chef Bell’s partnership with Von Miller is from a safety perspective and Bell could not be more aware and cautious of his responsibilities concerning Miller’s health. “The worst thing that a chef can do is get somebody sick,” he says with a look of disbelief. “There is a huge responsibility to what we do as chefs. If you get Von Miller sick and he can’t play in a game, that’s not just a big fuck up. That’s a million-dollar mistake that’s now national news. It’s something that I’ve prided myself in since becoming a private chef seven years ago in how careful I am. It’s also something that I hated about restaurants because there are so many different hands in food. It’s so easy for something to happen.”

Only the highest quality ingredients find their way in front of Von or any of Bell’s clients for that matter. Just as though you wouldn’t fill up a Ferrari with unleaded, the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl MVP and 6-time Pro Bowler isn’t getting through the day on mystery meat and frozen anything. Chef Bell makes sure that Miller is getting organic, or as close to farm fresh as possible, with everything that he eats. Bell wants to know specifically what farm the meats are coming from, so stores like Marczyk Fine Foods and Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe in Denver are regular sources for Miller’s menus.

With a celebrity like Von Miller, his private chef not only needs to be a phenomenal cook and a Jedi master in anticipating needs, balancing schedules and ready at a moment’s notice for a change in plans, but Bell also can’t be a crusty, socially awkward recluse who can’t be trusted to interact with Miller’s guests and family. It’s yet another job requirement that further uncovers how niche this position truly is. “It’s definitely a different mindset cooking in somebody’s house than cooking at a restaurant.

There’s a social aspect to it and you need to be able to mingle. Von has a lot of high profile people around. You can’t be shell shocked when someone famous walks in and you’re going, ‘Holy shit. That’s so-and-so.”

While it might come across as a glamorous and sexy job, the life of a private chef isn’t the easiest of paths, as Bell divulges, “Last year was extremely demanding because I had just joined Von and was trying to figure out a new client and being the most hands-on that I’ve ever been with a single person and their diet. There are also a lot of logistics involved with him every single day that make it a challenge.”

If you follow Von Miller on social media then you know that, just like on the field, he’s all over the place. He maintains a non-stop schedule that’s as dizzy a calendar as you’ll ever come across. As the mechanic who keeps the Von Miller machine running to perfection through the practices, the games, the traveling, the media appearances, the charity events and the countless appointments that are necessary of one of the current stars and faces of the NFL, Curtis Bell is indispensable in the world of Von. Bell’s view of his culinary role not only sheds light on the numerous moving parts of the relationship, but it also might more importantly identify how cognizant he is of the union. “The easiest part of my job is cooking. The more important part of my job is getting people to be comfortable and to trust me. My job requires me to be perceptive to people’s needs more than it is to just cook food.”

Von Miller would agree with all of this, and he’d also remind Curtis Bell to keep the smoked brisket hash and eggs coming and don’t forget the green juice.

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PHOTOS COURTESY GARRETT ELLWOOD, GETTY IMAGES AND ANDREW TEMPERLY, DENVER NUGGETS

IN

NUMBERS

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The remarkable journey of Felipe Eichenberger and a behind-the-scenes look at training the Denver Nuggets

By Kevin Marr

The

inside of Paul Millsap’s sizable locker looks like a Foot Locker store. At least a dozen Nike boxes grace the space of the Denver Nuggets’ power forward, putting any sneaker head in shock and awe over the countless footwear options Millsap has for any given battle with LeBron, Draymond Green and the myriad other NBA beasts that come his way. The only problem is that Millsap hasn’t yet been able to wear any of his customized kicks due to a wrist injury that has kept him sidelined for the first 44 games of the 2017/2018 season.

In fact, Millsap’s primary head-to-head opponent over the last few months has been Felipe Eichenberger, the Nuggets’ Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, whose tireless commitment to getting the 4-time All-Star back on the Pepsi Center hardwood pays off this evening when Millsap suits up for his debut against the visiting Clippers. “It’s been a long process,” Eichenberger begins. “Paul has the reputation as one of the best guys in the league to work with. He’ll do whatever you tell him and he’s been a true professional throughout the entire rehab.”

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In

dealing with injured players, the Nuggets have a full-time staff of six – Eichenberger and his assistant, two athletic trainers and two physical therapists – who are all there to provide the best treatment available for these world class athletes. The staff communicates with the injured player as much as possible, explaining what they believe in with a particular rehabilitation program, why they believe in it and why it will work. “We’re always there when the player needs us and it’s all about staying positive,” Eichenberger explains. “We rotate different medical staff with the rehab to provide various feels and keep things fresh with the player, and the different faces prevent something like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day with the same day over and over.”

In that luxurious locker full of shoes, there was also an 8 x 10 picture of Millsap with the word “UNBREAKABLE” along the bottom. It’s a message and meaning that only Eichenberger and Millsap understand, created by the coach to sustain the confidence and dedication needed when a professional athlete returns from injury. “Paul may not feel the same way returning from his injury,” Eichenberger shares. “I told him that nothing can break him so let’s use one word: UNBREAKABLE. I’m going to be his guide behind the bench and let him know that he’s unbreakable. It’s just between the two of us. It means to be as positive as you can be, help your teammates as much as you can and don’t let anything rattle you. Be stronger.”

“Paul may not feel the same way returning from his injury… I told him that nothing can break him so let’s use one word: UNBREAKABLE.”

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Millsap’s line that night against the Clips was 4-for-10 from the floor with 9 points, 7 boards, 2 assists, 2 blocks and a steal in just 23 minutes. Double those numbers for a full 48 minutes and you’re back in the kind of elite company statistically that the 11-year veteran has become accustomed to.

No one was more instrumental in Millsap’s return than Eichenberger, who carries his own story or two about resilience, drive, patience

and perseverance. The man stands 6’7” and, if you didn’t know the Nuggets’ roster inside and out, you’d easily mistake him for one of the players. The native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, grew up with hoop dreams of the NBA and moved to the U.S. to play college ball and then to hopefully get a shot with the pros.

During his sophomore year at Northwestern Oklahoma State, he realized that a career in the NBA wasn’t likely, but he was still adamant about a life in basketball.

From Brazil to Oklahoma, his journey continued to Las Vegas, where a summer internship at a clinic called Impact Basketball placed him under the same roof as a few NBA players who were there to work out and lift weights.

Included in that group was the legendary Denver native and Nuggets star Chauncey

Billups. Felipe and Chauncey connected, and the Brazilian transplant mentioned his desire to move to Denver and asked Billups if he could help with any connections. What happened next would be what Eichenberger considers Chauncey Biillups’ greatest assist in the guard’s illustrious 17-year career – the phone number to the Nuggets’ head strength coach at the time, Steve Hess. Felipe called Hess every single day, twice a day, offering his services wherever Hess could use them. Hess didn’t have a spot for him with the Nuggets, but he did own Forza Fitness downtown, so he brought Felipe on board to work with some of the athletes there as a personal trainer.

During the NBA lockout of 2011, he found himself training a few of the Nuggets including Nene and J.R. Smith, building that rapport and trust with the team that he so badly wanted

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to be a part of. When Hess’ assistant ended up leaving, the replacement was an obvious choice. Felipe Eichenberger was a Denver Nugget.

Felipe was now responsible for the strength and conditioning of 17 of the best basketball players in the world, while carefully managing a rotating mix of weight lifting and player development that focuses on shooting, dribbling and defense. Morning medical staff meetings review everyone’s duties for the day as well as what conditioning is expected of each player. “Our guys like to lift. They’ve bought into it,” Eichenberger beams with pride. “We’re in the weight room two-to-three times a week and the other days we’re working on their movements and their deficiencies. My responsibility is to put together an individualized program for each player and their needs because, with different body types and mechanics, Jamal Murray isn’t going to be doing the same thing as Nikola Jokic.”

Managing a strength and conditioning program for millionaire athletes wasn’t always a slam dunk for an organization. Staying in NBA shape requires obvious discipline, healthy habits and a true commitment to this internationally beloved game. The list of players from yesteryear who cared more about the fun than the run is well documented, including characters like John “Hot Plate” Williams, Mel “Dinner Bell” Turpin, the twilight years of Shawn Kemp, Glen Davis, Jerome James, Oliver Miller and the late Robert “Tractor” Traylor. Granted, Charles Barkley was the “Round Mound of Rebound,” but Chuck, based on his Hall of Fame numbers and career, was the exception to the rule. Today, you’d be hard pressed to find too many outof-shape players and Eichenberger knows why. “Twenty years ago, people thought that if you lifted weights then you’d be slower, so strength and conditioning were generally disregarded. Then the Michael Jordan video, Mind of a Champion, came out showing his

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For this past season, there were 491 players in the NBA. In comparison, including Eichenberger, there are only 30 head strength and conditioning coaches for the best basketball league on the planet.

workouts and weight training. That changed everybody’s minds. Be like Mike, right? Today, the game is getting faster. Players are getting faster and stronger. You’ve got 7-footers guarding point guards. The mindset of players now is, ‘I have to keep up with everybody if I want to hold on to my spot or even stay in the league.”

With the importance of strength and conditioning at an all-time high, teams are given every opportunity to constantly develop player progress and Eichenberger keeps his finger on the pulse of everything that can give his players an edge. Technology and sports science feature new tools like arena cameras that monitor the players’ highest speeds from various angles. There are also GPSes that are placed on players’ backs during practice to chart acceleration, elevation and changes of directions, helping create data for fatigue and performance for day-to-day, week-to-week and month-to-month analysis.

The competition on the court and behind-thescenes is intensely fierce among these alpha males who live to compete. For this past season, there were 491 players in the NBA. In comparison, including Eichenberger, there are only 30 head strength and conditioning coaches for the best basketball league on the planet. It is such a niche group that maintaining that status requires continuing education, studying different techniques, sharing ideas with the 29 other colleagues in this exclusive fraternity and observing new forms of technology and sports science.

It all could mean the difference between a championship team, a playoff team or a lottery team.

One thing is for certain, whatever comes his way, Felipe Eichenberger will face it head on.

As it turns out, the man has an impressive history of being unbreakable.

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DIFFERENT FEATHER The Resort at Pelican Hill and its stunning hillside property overlooking the Newport coastal corridor possess an elevated address like no other

By Kevin Marr

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he ash gray Aston Martin Vanquish looked to be a worthy dinner date. The cherry red Ferrari 308 was an equally intriguing partner. In fact, there were no less than a dozen brilliant automobile masterpieces in the valet area of Pelican Grill that would have made for remarkable company, if not for the fact that my wife was my dream date that evening and we had a premier table on the terrace with ocean and golf course views.

Leave it to Newport Beach to tempt with so many alluring options. More specifically, leave it to The Resort at Pelican Hill.

Pelican Grill is one of the property’s signature restaurants and, on this night, it was hustling and bustling with patrons throughout the expansive dining room. Chef Marc Johnson features an open kitchen for all to view, with the fare representing an appreciated combination of steaks, seafood, pasta, handcrafted cocktails, an impressive wine collection and the kind of service you’d expect in the Newport Beach zip code. Spicy tortilla soup, bruschetta and oysters on the half shell get the evening going, paving the way for the likes of lobster mac ‘n cheese, braised short ribs and pan-seared Chilean sea bass.

Butcher cuts of lamb, prime filet, ribeye and wood fired pizzas are also available to make your dinner decision even more difficult. The bar scene alone is reason to pop in for a few belts while taking in the eye-candy that is undeniably Newport.

Kobe Bryant lives up the street, so you never know if the future NBA Hall of Famer will run his Ferrari 458 Italia down the hill for a Pelican Grill nightcap.

With dinner over and a bottle of Caymus settling in, it’s back to the resort where our ocean view bungalow awaits. Settled among countless collections of beautifully landscaped olive trees, the Italian-themed architecture gives way to luxury bedding and linens, marble walk-in showers, deep soaking tubs, hand-hewn vaulted wood-beam ceilings and limestone fireplaces. Of course, there are also villas available with two, three and four-bedrooms at your disposal, replete with gourmet kitchens, private terraces, gated entry and garages, 24/7 staff including concierge and butler service and a host of other VIP amenities available on the 5-star luxury property. Regardless of where you lay your head down here, nighty night and sweet dreams.

Breakfast at the Coliseum Grill found us ordering the same dish each morning because it was so flawlessly addicting – a spicy Italian sausage, onion and cheddar cheese omelet with English muffins and a few cups of some of the best coffee anywhere. However, I ogled everyone else’s orders too, and everything from French Toast and Belgian Waffles to fruit smoothies, fresh pastries and Huevos Rancheros looked like game winners to start the day.

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The Coliseum Grill isn’t just about the cuisine. The views are beyond reproach and one could find themselves on the terrace for a few hours entranced in the magnificent pool, pristine golf course, wedding rotunda and outlying Pacific Ocean. The pool, as know-it-all mailman Cliff Claven would love to tell you, is one of the largest circular pools in the world – a perfect circle measuring 136 feet in diameter – with more than a million glass tiles that have been cut and laid by hand.

A day on the greens at Pelican Hill Golf Club will make for a remarkable story over cocktails with your golf buddies who weren’t privy to the blissful event. The two championship Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole courses with over 400 acres of deep canyons and ocean views have developed a stellar reputation in the golf world as one of the phenomenal tee times anywhere on the planet. Professional forecaddies, the Pelican Hill Golf Academy with instruction from PGA Pro Glenn Deck and a clubhouse with separate men’s and women’s lounges and a full-service golf shop all provide an unforgettable experience.

The Spa at Pelican Hill is one of superlatives. Recently voted “#1 Spa in California” by Conde Nast Traveler and recipient of the Forbes Five-Star rating for its ninth consecutive year, the Roman-soaking pool in the men’s lounge is the single most impressive amenity that we’ve seen anywhere in our spa travels. The sauna and steam room are waiting in the wings after your workout at the

adjoining fitness center but, first and foremost, book a treatment at the full-service spa. Just ten minutes into an 80-minute session, I knew that I was going to get another one before the end of the trip. It was that mind-blowing that quickly.

Whether it’s a luxurious spa day, an epic golf session or a few hours hanging out in an ocean-view cabana at the Coliseum Pool, dinner at Andrea, the resort’s signature Italian eatery, is an absolute must. My favorite dish of the entire trip lives here. The spicy sausage and cavatelli pasta took one bite for me to wonder if I could shatter the restaurant record for largest consumption in a single sitting. Then there was the perfectly cooked filet mignon paired with a Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon. Andrea’s menu is one that tasks you with decisions, all of which will be spectacular choices in the end, but the competition to woo your appetite here is fierce. Led by Chef Troy Mendoza and the exceptional service exhibited from his entire team, the non-stop deliciousness only further cemented this culinary experience as some of the finest dining in Orange County or anywhere, for that matter.

And no night in Newport Beach is complete until you hear the occasional roar of a Lamborghini Huracan letting off some steam down below on Pacific Coast Highway.

Just another day in paradise on Pelican Hill. + More at pelicanhill.com // 877.467.2951 SIRANDSP ORT.COM

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AROUND TOWN So, where do you go should you venture off the property?

Balboa Island is a fairytale perched on Newport Harbor and straight out of a classic beach setting that you’d happily encounter on Cape Cod or along the eastern seaboard. Sailboats and yachts on gingerly cruises pepper the water, while Marine Avenue offers shopping, restaurants and its famous Balboa Ice Cream Bars and Frozen Bananas. A walk around the island’s perimeter takes about 45 minutes, displaying a beautiful tour of ocean front homes, architecture, décor and views from across the harbor. The Balboa Island Ferry has been in operation for nearly 100 years, established in 1919, and is a definite bucket list item to experience the short ride across the way to the Newport Peninsula where a Ferris wheel, arcades, and more shopping and restaurants await your arrival on the Pacific.

If the surf is up, a trip to The Wedge on the tip of the peninsula is a chance to see a world-renowned surf spot and the body boarders, body surfers and surfers who take on some of the largest and most dangerous waves on Earth.

Walk to the end of the Balboa Pier to find yourself on top of the Pacific, and hit up the Ruby’s Diner rooftop for a burger and shake while surveying nothing but blue for as far as the eye can see.

For another Newport Beach landmark, visit The Galley Café that’s tucked into a ship yard and marina while gazing out over part of Balboa Island. You never know who you’re going to see there enjoying the signature chili cheese omelet, grilled pastrami sandwich or a banana and peanut butter shake. On one of our visits, Bill Gates was sitting one booth over.

Newport Beach is where John Wayne called home and his former yacht, The Wild Goose, is now part of the collection of Hornblower Cruises and Events. Step on board to Hollywood royalty and see why this floating piece of history was held in such high regard by “The Duke.” But if you want to captain your own boat, our favorite thing to do in town is to rent an electric boat at Duffy Electric Boat Company for a few hours and see the harbor for ourselves. Bring a bottle of wine and something to snack on and thank us later.

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Stay Exquisite Experience The St. Regis Aspen Resort, ideally located at the base of the majestic Aspen Mountain and within steps of this historic town. From the crisp mountain air to sophisticated shopping, hiking, biking & white water rapids – there are endless ways to live exquisitely in Aspen during the summer.

Š2016 Marriott International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, St. Regis and their logos are the trademarks of Marriott International, Inc., or its affiliates.

The St. Regis Aspen Resort 315 East Dean Street Aspen, Colorado t. +1 970 920 3300 stregisaspen.com @stregisaspen

Stay exquisite at more than 40 St. Regis hotels and resorts worldwide. @stregishotels

By Kevin Marr Photos by Katie Bradshaw

Cutthroat competition, getting fired by five clients and why a Roger Goodell hug doesn’t mean squat on draft night.

Peter Schaffer, one of the top sports agents in the business, takes us behind-the-scenes of this fascinating profession.

“In a business where people are overpromising, I’m never going to win the beauty contest. If it’s a bikini contest then I lose every time. There has to be a talent portion to this competition.”

Peter Schaffer knows who he is as a sports agent…and apparently, he’s not thrilled with how he looks in a bikini. But he looks damn good standing next to clients like NFL Hall of Famers Barry Sanders, Jerome Bettis and Willie Roaf, and recently retired Cleveland Brown Joe Thomas, who’s undoubtedly a first ballot inductee in Canton five years from now.

“Back when I started, I had to work extremely hard when I didn’t have a track record or a client list to show players that I’d work zealously and be there 24/7 for them,” Schaffer says while comfortably easing back in his black leather chair in his Denver office. “After 30 years, I still work just as hard and haven’t changed my work ethic. I still feel like it’s 1988.”

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HE DID BOTH.

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Schaffer’s law degree from Franklin & Marshall University was intended to help him become a litigator after being hired at one of the most prestigious law firms in Denver at the time. However, his fascination with sports, its players and statistics prompted him to branch out and take a risk on a venture that his instincts told him to pursue. In doing so, a brand-new world was unveiled to the then 24-year-old, “We used my legal experience and background to generate revenue for the sports management company. I did every type of law necessary to fund the project including DUIs, personal injury cases and insurance defense cases,” he explains.

His first client was David Tate, a defensive back out of the University of Colorado who was taken in the 1988 NFL draft in the eighth round by the Chicago Bears. Tate would go on to play for 10 years, and the work that Schaffer did for his client helped convince other players to come his way.

If you build it, they will come. Schaffer’s field of dreams became a befitting reality over the coming years, attracting some of the NFL’s best talent, including the aforementioned Hall of Famers and Joe Thomas, Steve Atwater, Chad Brown, Bennie Blades, Trevor Price, David Diehl and Lomas Brown, just to name a handful. Schaffer, now president of his own company, Authentic Athletix, currently has 30 years under his belt with his accomplishments running the gamut of having negotiated over $1 billion in contracts, making eight NFL players the highest paid at their positions and being one of Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal’s “Top 10 Agents in the NFL.” To Schaffer, his role feels predetermined due to his lot in life, “Just about every sports team I played on, including college lacrosse and professional lacrosse with the Denver Rifles, I was the captain on the team. I am also a middle child who, traditionally, is a fixer, a negotiator and someone who brings everyone together. I enjoy

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bringing worlds together to make people better,” he concedes.

In order to bring these worlds together, Schaffer puts his head down and never stops working. While Hollywood will have you believe that being a sports agent is all about popping champagne, yacht life, Ferraris and strip clubs, the reality is that the job isn’t nearly as sexy and glamourous as one might imagine. Ninety-five percent of the profession requires constant work in developing relationships with players and their families, while also helping clients through situations with workouts, life issues, career issues, recruiting and negotiations. Another unseen element of the job concerns weighing and balancing a player’s health when injuries occur. When that happens, immediate communication is required with the team and, if possible, the player. “The toughest thing for an agent is that we have to help make medical decisions on behalf of clients anywhere from 500 to 1,500 miles away,” Schaffer explains. “Most teams know that, after 30 years in the league, if you have one of my players then the doctor is going to be on the phone with me and we’re going to work through the issue of what’s best and make the best decision for the player, both for the short term and the long term.”

Perhaps the elements most closely associated with sports business, portrayed through the likes of the Tom Cruise film Jerry Maguire and HBO’s Ballers, are the misleading and questionable tactics that some agents resort to in securing clients. It’s a heightened sense of competition that Schaffer continues to witness. “When I first started back in 1988, the competition was intense, and it’s gotten worse every year,” he says matter-of-factly. “You’ve got 1,000 agents competing for 250 drafted players each season and a total of 2,000 players in the NFL every year. I don’t mind the competition – it’s part of life and it’s the ultimate form of capitalism. It’s our job to educate players and get them to make a decision based on the right criteria, but right now there are a lot of agents who are competing

Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis Cincinnati Bengals Adam James by offering huge inducements to sign like cash, gold, jewelry and promises that they’ll never be able to keep. I can’t represent every player and I’m not right for every player, but I truly believe that the players I do represent get the best agent for their needs.”

Curious as to how Peter Schaffer goes about pitching a prospect to join him at Authentic Athletix, we ask him to pitch us. Without an ounce of hesitation, he engages. “If you’re looking for easy then I’m not your guy because we’re not looking for easy over here. There’s no easy way to succeed in the NFL. If you want to outwork people then you need to be the first one in the building and the last one to leave and we’ll get along well. If you’re going to look for easy then I’ll give you a list of other agents to call.”

In addition to the partners that stay out of trouble, Schaffer manages a few familiar names that have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, which begged the question about the dynamics involved in representing someone who attracts the wrong type of attention.

For instance, Adam “Pacman” Jones.

Chosen number six overall in the 2005 draft, the 11-year NFL veteran has seen his fair share of policemen and squad cars. So, what’s Schaffer’s mindset in working with Jones? “Before I take on a player in situations like that, I want to make sure that they’re good people,” he begins. “I don’t just read the press and pass judgement.

Before Adam signed, we had a lot of discussions as to where he wanted to go with his career and I found him to be a very warm and engaging person. I think that he was relatively misunderstood but, at the same time, he had to make some changes in his life in how he dealt with things. Before I took him on, I told him that it was never going to be ‘Pacman’ and that I’m always going to call him ‘Adam’ and it’s always going to be ‘Adam’ with the media. ‘Pacman’ is not a bad name. His grandmother named him that so I didn’t want to take that away from him, but I did want to let him know that he needs to act like a businessman and an adult.”

Schaffer’s proactive nature with his clients coupled with the level of his involvement in their lives have served him well with teams looking for peace of mind in selecting players for their respective rosters. Most recently, Schaffer found a home for embattled college running back Joe Mixon who was arrested and suspended for assault while playing at Oklahoma. In the same vein as Adam Jones, Schaffer dug deeper into Mixon’s character and concluded

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The whiteboard contract of Carolina Panthers Mike Adams

that he deserved a chance at redemption. In 2017, the Cincinnati Bengals, whom Schaffer has worked with steadily over the years, chose Mixon 48th overall with the 16th pick in the second round.

In the end, for Mixon or any other player to have a truly rewarding career, it takes a village. “In order for these players to succeed in today’s world and today’s leagues, the difference between success and failure is so minute that it takes all hands-on deck and families are integral in the process,” explains Schaffer.

The media is a crucial ally in this cat-and-mouse game of promotion and fame with agents and their players, and Schaffer couldn’t be more dialed in with his respect and rapport with the press. “I’m as honest as I can be with them,” he starts with a smile. “I know that they have a job to do and I try to answer every call that I get from national and local media. I’m very close with a lot of the people at ESPN like Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen. Here in Denver, I represent a lot of the local media.”

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When it comes to his players, their attitude towards the media should be on the up-and-up, according to their agent. “I want my players to be able to handle the media and be direct and honest.

Be a person whom the media can go to and get solid information about their teams because, when used properly, the media can be a fantastic ally.

With the never-ending wave that is social media and the wipeouts that more than a few athletes have experienced, Schaffer’s message for those platforms is simple. “Just think before you hit ‘SEND.’ Make sure that you’re comfortable that this is going to be out there forever,” he says shaking his head with a big grin.

No agent is impervious from seeing a client leave for another agency. The reasons in switching representation run the spectrum, and Schaffer certainly hasn’t been immune to it. In fact, these experiences have served as the hardest lessons that he’s learned

in the business. “Five players have fired me,” he says in an injured tone while slowly shaking his head. “When those five fired me, I was thinking, ‘Wow. I thought we were close enough and had this great friendship and relationship and, yet, they still do that.’ My wife Alison told me that maybe I shouldn’t get so personally invested in my clients and then I wouldn’t be so upset if it happens, but I’m not going to change how I do it and, if I wasn’t enough, then I wish them the best of luck and hope that they have a great career.”

There is a happy ending to the five players that fired Schaffer.

All five of them came back. Schaffer explains, “All five players returning is one of the best testaments that I could ask for. It’s not that the grass was greener because that implies that these players could see the color of the grass. In this case, people were lying as to the color of the grass and these agents were making promises that sound great to young men in their early 20s.”

One player who never thought about leaving Schaffer, but did have eyes for leaving on a fishing trip with his dad rather than showing up on draft night was Joe Thomas. The year was 2007. Thomas, a guaranteed top pick left tackle out of the University of Wisconsin wanted to do something unprecedented by declining an invitation from the NFL to walk out on stage when he was drafted. “Joe told me that he wanted to spend the draft with his dad and I agreed with him,” admits Schaffer. “And then the Commissioner called me up and said, ‘Peter, no one has ever turned the draft down.’ And I said, ‘Well, you’ll never be able to use that sentence again because Joe’s not going to the draft. He wants to be with his father and that’s what he’s going to do.”

Schaffer continues, “A lot of agents like going to New York for the draft because they get three days of ESPN and the agents get wined and dined. They’re on TV, which is great for recruiting, and they’re usually the third person to get hugged by their client after mom and dad. I’ve been to the green room before, but I get more work done here at the office and I’ve never seen a player secure a marketing deal because Roger Goodell hugs him.”

Schaffer admits that he tends to lose out on a lot of players because he puts his current clients ahead of recruiting, but that kind of commitment more than works in his favor. He landed a player recently whose mentor was a player that Schaffer had recruited 13 years ago. The mentor didn’t sign with Peter, chose another agent who didn’t work out and then ended up firing the other agent. The player who signed with Schaffer had told the mentor beforehand that he was looking at Schaffer and three other agents. The mentor told him to sign with Schaffer immediately. “Even though the mentor didn’t sign with me 13 years ago, he still endorsed me. That was a badge of honor for me,” Schaffer says in a humbled tone.

The perfect example of how agents should think on their feet and get the job done when forced with the least bit of adversity is the story of how Schaffer and his client, NFL safety Mike Adams, got a contract completed with the Carolina Panthers. “I was working on a deal with the Panthers on a day when I was coaching my son’s hockey team,” Schaffer begins. “I didn’t have a pen or paper, but I did have the coach’s hockey board so I negotiated Mike Adam’s contract with Carolina on the board that included base salary, incentives, a roster bonus and a Pro Bowl bonus. This is how we finished the deal. I was on the ice coaching.”

From a guy whose mantra is to underpromise and overdeliver, Schaffer’s favorite quote is by Jackie Robinson and it beautifully speaks to what kind of man he is. “A life is only valuable based on the positive impact it has on other lives.’ It’s at the bottom of all of my emails and it’s what I believe in every day,” shares Schaffer.

And every day, his clients are thankful that they signed with the man who dominates the talent portion of this sports business beauty contest.

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BROADWAY

13 S Broadway

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303-715-4673 ° matthewmorrissalon.com

4941 S Newport

By Brian Abbey

There have been five mass extinction events on our planet.

Our polar caps are melting, our seas are rising, our weather has gone Patrick Bateman-crazy, but the one apocalyptic fact that should freeze your vertebrae is this – there is only one rock star left in the world and his name is Dave Grohl.

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Grohl broke his leg onstage in Sweden and finished the damn show.

There are many stars in the rock and roll cosmos but very few rock stars. Where music once churned out more Elvises, Freddys, Janises, Johns, Debbies, Jimmys or Pattis than we deserved, it has, as of late, become disturbingly barren. They are a group of demi-gods touched by a mystical turn of fate who wail, strum and bang their way across the globe. Their mythologies often rival their musical catalogs. Part of that mythology dictates that a rock star may only die in one of four ways: drugs, suicide, plane crashes, or by outliving their greatness and becoming mortal once again. The last is arguably the cruelest, when the lust for life that launched their legend whimpers into soggy greatest hits territory. It’s the difference between the two Micks - one strutting about in a glorious pansexual display of rock godliness and the second walking gently into that good night, retiring after a highfiber dinner with his new-next girlfriend who was born post-Nirvana.

Moreover, these past few years we’ve seen a mass rock exodus from our earthly plane, with everyone from Bowie to Prince to Petty to Scott Weiland booking tour dates in the afterlife. We are left in a wasteland of auto-tune clones, pop princesses who are also models/actresses/ Instagram celebrities, and an indistinguishable blob of boyband types. It’s the rock equivalent of The Walking Dead and just when you’re ready to give up and let some lyrically challenged zombie eat your brain, Rick walks up with a machete and says ‘Don’t worry. I got this.’ Except it’s not Rick. It’s Dave fucking Grohl and he is carrying a guitar, and also possibly a machete.

I was once on a date at Abuelitas, the now-closed landmark restaurant in Topanga Canyon, California. We were sitting on the patio sipping margaritas when the rumbling growl of a motorcycle drowned out our conversation. It parked just beyond eyesight and a few minutes later a leather-clad Dave Grohl walked onto the patio with his helmet in hand. All of us stopped what we were doing and marveled at the rock deity gracing our presence. He smiled, nodded, walked back to his bike and then rumbled off into the canyon. After a long pause, my date turned back to me and matter-of-factly stated “I would have left you here if he had asked me to go with him.” I couldn’t blame her. I would have handed her my keys and left her with the check to ride bitch behind Grohl.

A few years later I saw the Foo Fighters play at The Forum in Inglewood, California. They put on a two-hour set. Some people in the crowd were starting to get restless and head for the doors and that’s when I realized Dave and the boys weren’t really playing for us any more.

Yeah, they are performers but the look on Grohl’s face said at some point during the concert he started playing for himself.

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The pure love of rock is why Dave has outlasted so many of his peers. It helped that he burst into public consciousness with one of the seminal bands of rock music, Nirvana, leading a grunge movement that moved on from the spandex and hairspray of Bon Jovi’s heyday. Speaking of The Jov and his glam rock compatriots, Grohl also benefited from the fact that his brand of rock aged better than the Motley Crue make-up / big hair variety. His focus on the music kept him out of the kinds of petty rock feuds that left Axl and Slash looking less rocker and more colicky baby. Dave’s need to rock the Kasbah also meant he wasn’t done after Cobain exited the stage. He would pick up the guitar and front the Foo Fighters and sell over 12 million albums in the US alone.

The Foo had their second #1 album last year, yet success has never sated the Grohl beast. While Foo is selling out arenas, Dave picks up the sticks once again for Queens of the Stone Age, Mondo Generator, and Them Crooked Vultures. He’s slapping that bass for Teenage Time Killers and forming super groups like Sound City Players. He does it all with the kind of exuberance with which you jump around the house and air guitar jam when you’re absolutely certain you’re alone, but he makes it look good. He lives his life in fully unapologetic, nonchalant rock star chic. Yeah, I was in a little band called Nirvana.

Yeah, Foo Fighters are David Letterman’s favorite band. Yeah, I could steal your date right out from under your margarita-filled face. He is the goddamn walking embodiment of Twisted Sister’s claim to fame – I want to rock.

Wait, you say, Paul McCartney is still around! What about him? Yes, Sir Paul is still with us but he’s more Colonel Mustard than Sergeant Pepper as of late. Last year’s Grammy for Best Rock Performance went to Leonard Cohen of the ‘oh he is dead’ variety. Rock is aging.

In fact, most of the people you might consider a rock star are at risk of breaking a hip these days, but in 2015 Grohl broke his leg onstage in Sweden and finished the damn show. Sure, rock still sports some talented acts like Mastodon, but are they rock stars? While you finish googling ‘Mastodon,’ I will also let you know that their drummer, Brann Dailor, recently referred to Dave as “the face of rock right now.”

I rest my case like Johnnie Cochran, Atticus Finch and Ben Matlock combined.

Rock star is a nuanced term, going beyond the literal and indicating a transcendence of the music, which is why people have so many opinions on who fits the bill. I’ve got another confession to make, I’m a Grohl fan, but such shameless hero-worship may be nearing the end of an era. Fossils litter the strata of rock music and the horizon looks bleak but there’s at least one beating, thrashing heart in this decaying wilderness and it’s pounding out a rhythm in Dave Grohl’s chest Everlong, or at least until he says when.

Yeah, they are performers but the look on Grohl’s face said at some point during the concert he started playing for himself.

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BY KEVIN HOLT

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The road ahead will be heavily stocked with some brilliant automotive creations, featuring a group peppered with groundbreaking SUVs, jaw-dropping supercars and electrical wonders. Sir and Sport’s resident car guru, Kevin Holt, previews four sets of wheels that demand your undivided attention as well as a tip of the cap for their respective design, technology and performance genius.

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Who: McLaren WHAT: Senna WHEN: 2019 HOW: Starting at $837,000

Who: Mercedes-Benz What: G-Class WHEN: 2018 HOW: Starting at $123,600

McLaren had been teasing hypercar fans for quite a while. The US market has fallen in love with their impressive combination of incredible horsepower, unique design and copious amounts of lightweight carbon. Now, they have tossed a gas can on the fire. The launch of McLaren Senna takes it all to a new level, starting with the homage to the F1 world champion, Aryton Senna, right in the name. Take that Ferrari.

The G-Wagen has 40 years of history as a German-grade military vehicle. I remember seeing Arnold Schwarzeneggar driving one in a magazine in the late ’80s and the celebrity attraction to these SUVs has never stopped. Famously known for great looks, poor handling and unspeakable road manners, nothing has stopped the G-Wagen.

Using their twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8, they have worked that into a 789 horsepower with 590 lb-ft of torque for the Senna.

McLaren’s vision of uncompromised performance includes aerodynamics that analyze every square inch of the chassis including lowering the body to place the tires slightly under the wheel well arches. Everything from an adjustable rear wing to two moveable air-intake flaps in the bumper are added to increase downforce and maximize power. The Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires are given the responsibility of keeping this beast glued to the pavement while the motorsports-grade, carbonceramic brakes are used to slow the Senna.

Mercedes-Benz has decided to update the G-Wagen without losing the military-grade luxury that is its signature. If you’re looking for change, you won’t find much in the sheet metal. It retains its rough, square iconic look with upgrades to the headlamps and small trim updates. The real change is on the inside. Outside of the passenger grab handle, not much is left from the previous model including a new center stack and instrument panel - even the cup holders were upgraded.

But if you are looking for luxurious touchpoints inside, lower your expectations before you climb inside the carbon fiber tub.

Everything about this McLaren is built for racing. The weight savings generated by removing any frivolous interior amenities shows their obsession to lightening the vehicle. McLaren will even offer a weight-saving option that takes out the glass partition between the driver compartment and engine bay.

The seating comfort has always been a complaint, but engineers added almost six inches to the back legroom and made it overall a much more spacious feel compared to the previous generation.

The real bad news is that you’ll have to find another use for your million dollars as the entire run of Senna’s is already sold out.

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Known as the G550, it will launch with its current generation 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, making 416 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque but now with a new nine-speed transmission. Plus, you know an AMG is never far behind to blow these numbers out of the water.

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he real bad news is that you’ll have to find another use for your million dollars as the entire run of Senna’s is already sold out.”

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Who: Tesla What: Roadster WHEN: 2020 HOW: Starting at $200,000

Who:Land Rover Range Rover What: Velar WHEN: 2018 HOW: Starting at $49,900

Tesla is the brand that established the electrified roadster in 2008. Critics were quickly converted to the electric motor once they got behind the wheel of the Lotus-based vehicle and hit the pedal to experience that incredible torque it supplied. Now in 2020 comes the next generation Tesla Roadster which will deliver a claimed zero-to-60 in 1.9 seconds, 8.9 seconds in a quarter mile, and a top speed above 250 mph. This sounds like another outof-this-world creation from Elon Musk – and it is.

Range Rover brings a new model to the lineup that fits nicely into the current offering. Using the underpinning of the Jaguar F-Pace, the luxurious, high-tech feel of the Velar makes itself apparent the moment you approach the hidden, door-flush handles.

The engineers at Tesla are using an all-wheel drive system with a 200-kWh battery possessing 620 miles of range. The original roadster was closer to a Lotus Elise converted to electric power. This new roadster is completely designed as a Tesla by Tesla. The 2+2 roadster has a removable roof panel, a cabin that features a single display integrated into the center console, and an F1-style race car-like rectangular steering wheel.

Under the hood, the high beltline Velar has a multitude of engines including a 247-hp 2.0-liter inline-four, a 380-hp supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, and a 180-hp turbo-diesel 2.0-liter inline-four. Although able to handle on-road and off-road challenges, it does come with a heavy 4,676 pounds. The dynamic handling is solid for an industry segment that continues to push the boundaries of luxury SUV capabilities.

The net of this new creation? Elon already has people lining up to drop a $50,000 deposit for a $200,000+ sale price. Could a $200,000 roadster actually be a deal?

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The Velar’s interior is all that you come to expect from Land Rover – incredible leather craftsmanship to go along with Land Rover’s all-new dual-display infotainment system called InControl Touch Pro Duo, made up of two 10-inch touchscreens. The system takes away the need for most of the dash’s buttons and nobs which provides a technologically stylish driver experience to control almost all aspects of the vehicles.

Land Rover can expect a real success on their hands as the Velar shows the commitment to expanding their off-road heritage with the added touches that highend SUV owners expect – and the solid design and styling never hurts.

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Helping Kids. Building Communities.

DONATE TODAY & GIVE KIDS BRIGHTER FUTURES

www.GreatFuturesDenver.org

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PHOTOS BY SUSANNAH MCLEOD AND CHRISTINA PATSIOKAS, MCLEOD9 CREATIVE

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BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO DENVER ANNUAL GALA A record breaking 1,100 well dressed guests took to the Hyatt’s stunning ballroom on May 19th for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver annual gala. With a “super heroes” theme, the Boys & Girls Clubs pulled out all the stops to create a memorable evening as it celebrated its 2018 Youth of the Year Winners. Presenting Sponsor RBC Wealth Management was among the generous donors who helped ensure the night was the BGCMD’s most successful to date, raising more than $1 million and counting for Colorado’s youth! Dining, dancing and plenty of fundraising were enjoyed by all, including late night sweet treats and a live band who had the entire room on its feet.

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1.Erin Porteous, CEO Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver 2. Malachi Haynes, Senior Youth of the Year Winner with Dan Ball 3. Deja M., Emcee and Club Member 4. Kevin Spak, Health Specialist BGCMD 5. Mark Hopkins, Crescendo Capital Partners 6. Devyn H. 7. Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver’s Development Team 8. Musician with The Diamond Empire Band 9. Dan Ball and Family, RBC Wealth Management 10. 2018 Youth of the Year Winners take to the stage 11. Phillip Schuman, Gala Attendee

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PHOTOS BY JENSEN SUTTA PHOTOGRAPHY

FLIGHT TO LUXURY KICK OFF Guests arrived through the storied private gates of Cherry Hills Park Drive before being escorted via golf carts to Number 10 – an expansive new French Estate that was recently renovated from top to bottom.

Once there, they were greeted with champagne and brought inside the stunning villa to celebrate the kick off of the 8th annual Flight to Luxury, produced by lifestyle brand Cuvée. This year, Flight to Luxury will benefit PIVOT, the newly launched foundation that addressed the needs of the “whole child” in Colorado. Founding Trustees Larry Mueller, George Solich and John Elway took to the stage to introduce the organization and its future plans – which include raising $100 million over the next 10 years. All the while, more than 400 well-heeled guests mixed and mingled amidst the private estate, which recently hit the market and is listed by LIV Sotheby’s broker Rochelle McNaughton. Decadent fare was personally prepared by celebrity chef Troy Guard, who was working away in the home’s stunning kitchen for guests to watch and enjoy.

1. Cuvée’s Allison Spurrell and Paige Elway 2. Elizabeth Kudla, Candy Bhappu, Katie Bhappu and Pedro Campa 3. PIVOT Founders John Elway, Larry Mueller and George Solich 4. Matt Gallagher, Rochelle McNaughton and Kevin Marr 5. DJ Manos (Jacob Sanchez) 6. The event served as the launch of PIVOT, Denver’s most innovative new nonprofit serving the “whole child” 7. Chad Isaacs, Dr. Steven Milo, Robert Rubey 8. Guests gathered at the stunning estate, which recently hit the market in the tony Cherry Hills Park enclave

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PHOTOS COURTESY NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH

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REV THE RUNWAY All eyes were on the stunning fashions from Neiman Marcus on November 5th at the first Rev the Runway event. The fashion show and auction benefited care and research for National Jewish Health and raised more than $165,000 in its inaugural year. Chaired by community leaders Bonnie Mandarich, Robin Chotin and Abby Perlmutter Miller, the event drew more than 350 well heeled guests. The sunlit showroom of Mercedes-Benz of Denver was a stylish and unique venue where guests could browse the latest in highperformance vehicles, visit the pop-up lipstick bar, dine on gourmet foods from chef Troy Guard, and get a specialty cocktail or tequila tasting from the Rev It Up Bar. As the sun set, the lights went up on the runway where Neiman Marcus showcased the latest in women’s and men’s fashions. CBS4 meteorologist and Rev the Runway committee member Lauren Whitney was master of ceremonies.

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1. Models from Maximum Talent and Donna Baldwin showed off fashions from Neiman Marcus Denver 2. Lauren Whitney addresses the crowd 3. Britt Jackson, GM of Neiman Marcus Denver with Co-chairs Robin Chotin, Bonnie Mandarich and Abby Miller 4. The latest fashions impressed the crowd 5. Andree Hudson paints an original work of art 6. A lovely model takes to the runway 7. All eyes were on the runway 8. Rosalina Diecidue, Lori Marks and Carrie West SIRANDSP ORT.COM 9. Bold colors were all the rage

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years ago, Dean Wormer dispensed some of the most priceless advice one could ever hope to receive, and it holds true today just as it did back in 1962 in the Faber College Dean’s Office. “Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.”

Animal House is 40-years old.

From Otter, Bluto, Boon, Flounder and Pinto to Neidermeyer, Professor Jenkins, Dean Wormer’s wife and Otis Day and the Knights, this comedy masterpiece forever enshrined the likes of a classic 1964 Lincoln Continental transformed into the unforgettable Deathmobile, pledge pins on uniforms, Fawn Leibowitz and the tragic kiln accident, the Dexter Lake Club, cucumbers and their sensual nature in the produce section of the Food King, toga parties and “I gave my love a cherry that had no stone.”

In the spirit of not attending class, double secret probation and 0.0 grade point averages, here’s some actual knowledge from the film that changed the way we view the college experience…

• The bottle of whiskey that Bluto chugs was actually colored tea. This was part of keeping John Belushi away from alcohol and drugs. He was also excluded from the rest of the cast, staying at the Roadway Inn prior to the shoot.

PHOTOS COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES

• According to director John Landis, Universal Pictures President Ned Tanen objected so strongly to the Dexter Lake Club scene that he interrupted a screening of the film and ordered the scene be removed immediately, claiming it would cause race riots in the theaters. In response, Landis screened the film for Richard Pryor, who then wrote a note to Tanen which read: “Ned, Animal House is fucking funny, and white people are crazy. Richard.”

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• John Belushi’s performance in the cafeteria scene was entirely improvised. When he began piling food on his tray, Landis urged the camera operator to “stay with him.” The infamous “I’m a zit” gag was also improvised, and the reaction from the cast is completely genuine.

• Harold Ramis wrote the part of Boon, a.k.a. Face, for himself to play, but John Landis felt Ramis was too old. Ramis was so disappointed, that he refused to accept a smaller part Landis offered him. Ramis was thirty-two, Peter Riegert, who eventually played Boon, was twenty-nine.

• During an A&E documentary on the 30th anniversary of the movie, it was revealed that when Bluto takes Charming Guy’s guitar and smashes it, the scene was completely improvised from the script.

The terrified reaction from the actors and actresses is genuine.

• John Belushi received only forty thousand dollars for the film, with a bonus after it became a hit.

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