"Professional athletes don't always deserve the adulation they receive from their fans. Their off-field antics often overshadow their athletic achievements. But if anyone in Denver merits such adoration, without a doubt it is the Colorado Avalanche's Joe Sakic. Sakic never demanded the spotlight but he always earned it. An ideal pro with a champion's heart, Sakic displayed the rare combination of superstar talent and humble professionalism. Sakic played for one franchise his entire 20-year career, winning two Stanley Cups and appearing in 13 NHL All-Star games. That feat, at that level, will be nearly impossible to duplicate. While Sakic made a superb living playing hockey, he never acted as if it were his birthright. Some cities wait for championships for decades (some for more than a century), yet Denver was fortunate enough to watch Sakic lead two championship teams (with six playoff game-winning goals) and help make professional hockey a viable and popular sport in Denver."