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When I started my 28-year run at the @coloradoan in 1979, one of the first people I met was @GOzzello, the sports info director at @ColoradoStateU. Even though I was just the prep writer and rarely covered the @CSURams he always treated me like I worked at Sports Illustrated.
By the time I started covering CSU sports on a fulltime basis in 1982, Gary and I were already great friends. We both loved baseball, college sports and beer. We both had young families and he welcomed my boys to practice whenever they showed. He still asks about them today.
Most of the important stories I wrote for the Coloradoan were suggested by Oz. He tipped me off to some big stories so I wouldn’t get beaten by the Denver papers, and always made sure I had access to coaches and players - even when they didn’t want to talk.
I should also mention that Oz was among the first PR pros to push for open locker rooms for female reporters. CSU had several female beat writers over the years and they loved covering the Rams because it was such a welcoming environment. Oz got stuff like that.
We watched a ton of bad football in the 80s and were rewarded with the 90s and CSU’s glory days. One of my favorite memories was standing next to Oz when @CoachAntHill scored the winning TD in Death Valley. Hearing 90K fans at freaking LSU gasp in disbelief was incredible.
I watched his kids grow up and was there when DJ helped lead @RMHSLOBOS to the first state baseball title in what has become a dynasty. We got tear-gassed at Mile High after the Rammies blasted CU, and we shared a beer the horrible day the legendary Sonny Lubick was fired.
When I left the @coloradoan 13 years ago to take a job at CSU, he greeted me with a swag bag of Rams gear. And when he left Athletics to come work in External Relations, some brilliant person had the good sense to put our desks about 60 feet apart. The dynamic duo was reunited!
Today Oz announced that he’s leaving to take a job with @canvasfamily. His 42-year run at CSU - an amazing career during which @CSURams got WAY more than their $ worth - is over but our 41-year friendship is just getting warmed up. Cheers, my friend, and your amazing wife, Joni.
