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Don't forget that my blog has moved! Check my current blog entries out at the Examiner.com.

Crush QB’s sister-in-law and former Idol extends 15 minutes of fame

Many Coloradoans fell in love with American Idol wannabe and country crooner, Kristy Lee Cook, earlier this year. The good news is that we haven’t heard the last of Cook – nor will we.

This blond beauty and sister-in-law of Colorado Crush’s quarterback, John Dutton, has just signed her first record deal with 19 Recordings / Arista Nashville this week.

People magazine reports that Cook’s first single, “15 Minutes of Shame,” will be released on August 11, with an album due out this fall.
Yee-haw ya’ll!

Breck's most famous snowboarder may be engaged

Yes, it's true. Jessie Csincsak, the totally rad pro-snowboarder from Breckenridge, is still in the race for the Bachelorette's heart. I know, it's hard to believe that Csincsak, who is as naive as Big Bird and as ready for marriage as George Clooney, might already be engaged to this season's prize, Bachelorette DeAnna Pappas.

This shocking news came during last night's rose ceremony on ABC's The Bachelorette, in which Pappas shocked fans by dissing favorite, Jeremy Anderson, who is perfectly hot, perfectly smart and perfectly right for her (probably why she didn't choose him).

Tune in on ABC next Monday to root for the hometown dude who enjoys "shredding" in "Breck" and whose words to live by are "stinkin skills or hospital bills."

Van Dyken accused of DOPING?

Olympic swimmer and Colorado native fervently denies accusations made earlier this week by her former teammate, Gary Hall Jr., in which he implies that Van Dyken used performance-enhancing drugs.

Could this be true?!?! Van Dyken, who has never tested positive for any illegal substance, is suddenly forced to defend her good name.

She wrote in an email to the Associated Press, “It is ridiculous that Gary would say something like that.” She also said that Hall’s words are “… slanderous, outrageous, and unfounded!!!

Hall’s harsh words for Denver’s swim champ came at a recent news conference where he expressed his anger for athletes who use drugs.

He said, "She's [Van Dyken] inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, and Marion Jones goes to jail. The only difference was that Marion Jones admitted it, but they were both on the same list.

Could it be that Hall is just a teensy bit jealous that his six gold medals didn’t get him a spot in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame while teammate Van Dyken is basking in the glory? DCE has to side with the hometown girl on this one – come on, don’t be a green-headed monster. Prove it before you speak it, Gary!

Read more about this story in the Denver Post. I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this one...

The Samples Lead Singer Sets Sights on Solo Career

On April 7, 2008, Sean Kelly, the lead singer and last remaining original member of The Samples, thought it was time to call it a day. He wrote in a letter to his fans, “The long and winding road for The Samples has ended.”

It was indeed a long and winding road for the 22-year old underrated band from Boulder that has survived many management woes and band member turn-over.

In an effort to learn more about the man responsible for writing and/or performing amazing songs such as Feel Us Shaking, Did You Ever Look So Nice and Weight of the World, CE sent Kelly an email to find out what’s next for this alternative-folksy-rock musician with a distinguishable voice and refreshing candor. Of course, Kelly, who is as gracious as ever, obliged to participate in an interview with this budding blogger.

CE: Why did The Samples break up?
Kelly: I found myself putting so much into it and not getting an equal amount out of it. I feel that the business side of my music has perpetually been mismanaged by individuals whom know nothing about music or people but rather self preservation of themselves. My last management debacle was the end for The Samples. Trying to exist for 20 years going against the best wishes of morally insufficient business associates got me a bit worn down. That's how they work and some how tend to sadly win.

CE: What do you think is The Samples greatest legacy?
Kelly: Strength and perseverance while telling stories through song.

CE: What's next for Sean Kelly?
Kelly: I would like to make a really great solo CD and continue playing music as much as I can.

CE: When can we expect a solo album?
Kelly: I have just recently begun the process of recording and writing. I am always curious what my thoughts will come up with. I just channel ideas and then translate them into music.

CE: What do you think the hardest part will be in terms of transiting from a band to a solo artist?
Kelly: Having the focus on me more than I am used to.

CE: What's on your iPod?
Kelly: Cricket sounds on a loop.

CE: The Samples were always considered a Boulder/Denver band – do you come here often?
Kelly: Yes, usually several times a year.

CE: What Colorado bands should we keep our eye on?
Kelly: Whatever band that Heath Whitney is in. He used to play in Boulder in a band called 80 West.

CE: What is your favorite Colorado venue to perform at?
Kelly: Tulagi’s in Boulder! Unfortunately they took it down.

CE: Freestyle Questions
Colorado Bands: One Republic or The Fray? Both!
Barack or Hillary? Barack with Ralph Nader as VP
Law and Order or Grey's Anatomy? Grey’s Anatomy
Jay Leno or Dave Letterman? Dave

CE: Is anything you want the people of Colorado to know?
Kelly: Yes, a few things: Some of my absolute greatest memories in life took place in Colorado. I also wrote a song about my years in Colorado. It’s called “Wild River.” And The Samples gave the Dave Matthews Band their start in Colorado. (CE note: DMB actually opened for The Samples back in the day!)

CE: Any final thoughts on Colorado?
Kelly: “Although it’s a bumpy ride, it had the best scenery!”

“I feel a bit like Forrest Gump when he stopped running, turned around and said ‘I think I am going to go home now.’” – Kelly in his farewell letter to fans

Local Design Star Dishes on Reality TV, his Colorado Roots and Phil Anschutz

The Celebrity Examiner stands corrected. The very kind Matt Locke, who is competing in this season’s reality show, HGTV’s Design Star, did indeed return my message and has graciously agreed to an interview. Apparently Locke was in New York for a “fun press event” for Design Star and couldn’t get back to me last week (ah, living the famed life already!).

While this Colorado Springs native (whose parents and sister still live in Colorado Springs) was careful not to give away any indication on whether he is the Design Star champion, this Air Academy High graduate did dish about life in the reality spotlight, his favorite high school hangouts and why he’d like to dine with Phil Anschutz.

CE: How did you become interested in Design Star?
Locke: I watched both seasons when I moved to LA and thought, “I’m a designer, I love TV, I should do that!”

CE: What is/was your strategy when competing on the show?
Locke: This show is about talent so I tried to focus on doing my best work. I also wanted to get along with the other designers because I knew we’d all be teammates on challenges at some point.

CE: What surprised you most about being on the show vs. watching the show in previous seasons?
Locke: It’s much, much harder than it looks. The cameras really are on us all day and there is no behind-the-scenes help with the challenges. Whatever we finish, or don’t finish, they show.

CE: There's buzz on the website that you're an early favorite to win - anything you can hint to us here?
Locke: I went all out on my design board and portfolio so I think that set a good tone with the judges; then Mikey and I rocked the first challenge with a cool bed solution.

CE: What are your favorite hang outs in Colorado Springs?
Locke: I grew up taking art classes at Bemis so I always loved downtown; the Fine Arts Center with its beautifully restrained art deco architecture and the Ritz when it opened 20 years ago before it was a nightspot. My friends and I would drive down there in high school and we thought we were impossibly cool.

CE: Do you come to Colorado often?
Locke: Not as often as I’d like. I worked in Denver for eight years in telecom and miss that city too. I love Colorado and hope to live there again someday part time.

CE: Have you been recognized in public yet?
Locke: Yesterday was the first time! I was checking into the gym and the guy who had scanned my ID for years suddenly said, “Hey, I know you from Design Star!” I shook his hand and told him he was the first person ever to recognize me.

CE: I Googled you and found out that you were on Jeopardy - how did you get involved with that?
Locke: When I moved to LA, I had a plan. One: become a full-time designer. Two: get on Jeopardy! Two was almost as hard as one! It took two tests, an audition and a year of waiting, but I made it on the show. That’s also what inspired me to go for Design Star because I absolutely choked [on Jeopardy] but still looked like I was having fun.

CE: Are you a trivia buff?
Locke: I love trivia, especially geography and world capitals. Ask me a country, I’ll tell you its capital and point to it on a map. I’m obsessed with maps and Google Earth!

CE: What did you think of Alex Trebeck?
Locke: He was a lot warmer in person than he appears on TV. I used to think he was a little snobby, but he’s really nice.

CE: What is your best talent outside of designing?
Locke: Fact-checking. I was a history major so I’m always verifying the source of everything. It’s incredibly annoying to my friends and family, but the Internet makes being a geek like that so much easier.

CE: If you could have lunch with one Colorado personality/celebrity/athlete/etc, who would it be and why?
Locke: Phil Anschutz. I love movies and he owns practically every movie theater in America. I’d love to hear all about that business from inside.

CE: What's next for Matt Locke?
Locke: I have crazy ambitions to design the world around us. There are so many amazing new technologies and processes for creating objects, interiors, and buildings that a designer can now do much, much more than ever before. The world is opening up to a new kind of designer and I want to be right there at the top.

Read More about Matt Locke at mattlocke.com
(reprinted from examiner.com/denver)

Colorado Springs Foodie on Food Network Design Star

The next winner of The Next Food Network Star Season 4 just might be Shane Lyons of Colorado Springs. If he wins, this 20-year-old actor and chef will have his own cooking show on the Food Network.

But before Lyons can be awarded the big prize, he needs to not only do a little more competitive cooking but also he needs to sharpen his game.

In the first episode, which aired on Sunday night, June 1, the contestants had to cook a meal in 30 minutes that would be judged by other Food Network celebrities. Lyons pork was undercooked and according to one of the Iron Chefs, the dish “had not reached a level to serve a human being.”
In the final elimination, Lyons was brought to tears as he pleaded his case to the judges so he could stay in the competition. His dramatic antics worked and Lyons survived the final cut.

Some of you may recognize Lyons as the former child actor star in the Nickelodeon show, ALL THAT.

Root for Lyons this summer on Sunday nights at 9:00 pm on the Food Network.

Photo from Food Network

Young Boulder Cyclist Eyes Olympic Dream

Cyclist extraordinaire, Taylor Phinney, 17, will give Colorado something to cheer for this summer. That’s because this Boulder High School senior and self-proclaimed Guitar Hero nut will be competing in the Beijing Olympics.

Admiringly, it took only six short months for Phinney to go from competing in his first individual pursuit race on the track to making the U.S. Olympic cycling team. It takes most athletes years to reach this level in their sport.

Competition is in this 6’4” athlete’s blood. His mother, Connie Carpenter-Phinney, is a1984 Olympic gold medalist, and his father, Davis Phinney, is also a cyclist and the first American to win a stage of the Tour de France.

Another reason to root for Phinney this summer: His father is battling Parkinson’s Disease and says the attention his son is getting is helping shed some light on this difficult and life-consuming disease.

This Celebrity Examiner is rooting for both Phinney men to win their respective battles. Go Team Phin!

Photo Credit: PhotoSport International

(also published on examiner.com/denver)

Famous Denver Athletes Go Commercial

It seems like a who’s who of famous local athletes making commercials these days. In fact, if you’re a news junky like CE, you’ve seen numerous commercials featuring local – and many beloved – athletes pushing products and services during the local news broadcasts on all network stations.

One of CE’s favorite set of local commercials is the 1st Bank commercials featuring former-Bronco wide-receiver and beloved KOA front-man, Dave Logan. Logan is a “handsome fellow,” according to CE, and has “one of the best voices on radio,” according to CE’s husband.

CE spoke with Logan this week to find out how he got involved with 1st Bank.

“The first year I did radio spots for 1st Bank was in 1991, and then I became spokesperson shortly after, I think in 1992,” said Logan.

Admitting that some people (aka, younger people) recognize him as the “1st Bank Guy,” he says, “Most people know I played pro football for many years, and those that have lived here awhile know me as the play-by-play broadcaster for the Broncos.”

And just so we can all feel good that Logan drinks his own Kool-Aid, he told CE, “Yes, I bank at 1st Bank and so does my family too.”

Other Denver athletes who are using their “celebrity” to push local products and companies these days include:

Colorado Rockies Shortstop, Troy Tulowitzki, is seen pumping up Hyundai of Greeley. Check out the cheesy commercial by clicking here.

Former Denver Broncos Wide Receivers, Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey, are pushing Blackjack Pizza and Good Feet stores, respectively.

Olympic swimmer and Cherry Creek High School graduate, Amy Van Dyken-Rouen, is a spokesperson for the Rheem Team, a group of heating and cooling contractors. In an unfortunate twist of events, CE may have inadvertently offended Van Dyken-Rouen when she asked her about the “cheesy” commercials. Van Dyken-Rouen wrote CE, in an email, “I will tell you that I make my living on, as you say ‘cheesy’ commercials.” Just to set the record straight, the commercials are cheesy – not Van Dyken-Rouen or the company.

Colorado Rockies left-field hunky heartthrob, Matt Holliday, has perhaps one of the most coveted endorsement deals of all – he’s part of the national Nike SPARQS campaign (SPARQ stands for Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction and Quickness). Click here to see the ad (Note: Holliday is more prominently featured in the 30 second ad listed at the top).

Note to local companies – CE is available for endorsement deals. Bring on the “cheese-y.”

DCN is Really Blogging Now

Dear DCN Readers -

I need your support more than ever!! That's because I have been asked to be the new Denver Celebrity Examiner for Examiner.com. I will be reposting many of my DCN blog entiries there, and will be doing so much more too! So check it out and visit often (i.e., I get paid based on the number of visitors, so visit me a few times a day if you can).

Right now my entry is on the front page - but it rotates. You'll see "examiners" on all sorts of topics.

In case you were interested, Examiner is only in three cities - Baltimore, Seattle and Denver. It launched last month and the goal is to expand in all major cities this year. The venture is backed by gazillionaire Phil Anschutz.

Thanks for your support and clicks!

DCN (AKA, Jenny Finke)