Hi Broncos Country!
We are reporting to you from military bases in the Middle East. The Denver Broncos Cheerleaders — Allyson, Heather, Jessica, Kim and Lindy, along with Kelly (Director of JDBC and DBC alum) — are performing and boosting the morale of our troops in Kuwait and Iraq. We would like to share with Broncos country the last couple of days on our amazing journey.
Day 1
We arrived in Kuwait and had lots of emotions. We feel so blessed to have this opportunity and to be able to somewhat have a glimpse of what it’s like to be in the military. When we landed, the sky was filled with sand; we landed just in time to see the end of a sandstorm. It was over 120 degrees and we were told we were in the hottest place on the planet. Every time we want to complain about the heat we all catch ourselves in the act, as we are only here for a week and our military men and women endure this heat for months and in full combat gear.
Day 2
We are spending the first two nights at Camp Arifjan, we went to Arifjan Headquarters where we were briefed with the whole history of Kuwait and the our military presence here. We saw the map of Kuwait with all the military bases that are located in Kuwait. We were each presented with a commander’s coin. These coins are presented to soldiers as a symbol of appreciation and hard work. We have learned that Kuwait is a very safe country.
Then we were off to another base in Kuwait, KNB — Kuwait Naval Base — for our first show! The Kuwait Naval Base is a Kuwaiti military base; the US portion is called Camp Patriot. We took a tour of an army vessel where 17 personnel live for 4 months at a time and the food and energy supply lasts 14 days. We had some Pittsburgh Steelers fans onboard, and we may have converted them to Denver Broncos fans. The main purpose at Camp Patriot is to wash and clean all the military vehicles to be shipped back to the United States. It takes 23 hours to clean the largest tank!
We were highly anticipating our first show! The stage was outside, next to the volleyball court (Top Gun style) with a large Denver Broncos Cheerleaders banner at the back of the stage. We were so pumped to perform for our troops. We did a meet and greet before the show, said a prayer and performed our hearts out. Some highlights of the show, included the participation of Col. Rusher (AKA “Little Lenny”), not only did he give the cheerleaders some military orders but he also busted out a great air guitar performance – zebra pants and all.
Day 3
Well, day 2 and day 3 go right into each other. Day 2 ended at midnight and day 3 started at 3:15 a.m. We took a two-hour bus ride to Ali Al Salem where the airport is located. For military flights, they require you to be there EARLY — and I mean EARLY. We were fitted for our armored jackets and helmets before the flight. We took a C-130 plane to Camp Balad, all was well until we started to land. The pilots did a combat landing which they called “a hurricane bumper” which unfortunately caused one of our cheerleaders to get a little sick. The pilots let the cheerleaders sit in the cockpit and even fly the plane – what an experience! We arrived at Camp Balad, which houses approximately 17,000 troops. They are starting the process of clearing out and closing this base down, they plan to have only 4,000 troops at this base by November.
After eating lunch with the troops, we took a tour of the F-16′s and armory. After dinner, it was time for show number two; unfortunately Jessica was still under the weather so we needed to re-set the show minus one cheerleader. The show must go on! The Army General and Air Force General at Camp Balad presented the team with commander’s coins before the show. We were so honored that they went out of their way to greet us. We are the last entertainment group to perform at Camp Balad in Iraq — and we went out with a bang! After the show, LTC Hamburg presented the cheerleaders with an American Flag, which was flown onboard a United States Army Blackhawk helicopter during a combat mission just prior to our arrival. We anticipate bringing the American Flag home to share with Broncos Country!
Day 4
We arrived at the military airport to depart Camp Balad, we were greeted by over 200 soldiers that were awaiting their departure home! There were lots of smiles, laughter and joy as these soldiers were so excited to go home to see their families. We sat and listened to stories and couldn’t help but share in their excitement, as we provided them with Broncos hats and memorabilia for their flight home. We took a private C-130 flight from Camp Balad to COB Speicher. We were so pumped to arrive at Speicher because this is where many of our Fort Carson soldiers are stationed. SGM Leeling, from Colorado, presented us with the Ivy Division 4th Infantry coin, as well as their own personalized football jerseys. We even incorporated their jerseys into our show as one of our costumes!
We were told by a soldier after our show that this is the longest he has smiled on his deployment — it was the most heartwarming comment. Every show, we make a point to tell our troops how important the military is to Broncos Country and the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders. We cheer on the Broncos at every home game for our 76,000 fans and every single day we cheer on our troops. During this tour, we are their cheerleaders!
Sincerely from Iraq,
Allyson, Heather, Jessica, Kim, Lindy and Kelly
Denver Broncos Cheerleaders
Tags: Denver Broncos Cheerleaders, Iraq, Kuwait
HOOAH! I think its awesome yall went to Iraq and met w/ the troops! I got to see yall in Iraq in July 2006. On 7 July 2006, i got hurt by an IED and was at Al Asad in medical hold. I wasnt feeling all that well, but seeing my Bronco cheerleaders, made me feel better! Even if the troops you met were not Bronco fans, it still means a lot for ppl to visit! SGT BACHMAN
Touching the hearts of those serving are country that are in the military. You gals are just simply awesome. WOW!! God Bless You All!!
Makes you proud to be a fan of the Orange and Blue!!!
WOOOH YAAAAH!!!
As a former Navy/Marine, I thank you and our organization for showing support to our troops. Anytime there is a connection to home or the states when one is abroad is the absolute best reward of support for them. And nothing says, “everything’s gonna be alright” better, than a smile from beautiful girls! I will follow you more on your blogs. Thanks Girls, and maybe some of you could follow me on FB: prince.jackson2@ymail.com
I may get a Twitter account soon, as my fan base increases. Till then…OOORRAAAAHH! Go CRUSH!
Great Post!
Great job ladies. To the soldiers as well! Bring em home. (now drop and give me 20)
Makes me proud to be a Broncos fan, and puts this work stoppage into perspective. If only NFL players had the hearts of our soldiers….well, one did, Pat Tillman. His number should be retired across the league imo.
Glad to see not all NFL personnel is on work stoppage, keep up the good work!
Here is a nice story actually about a player, Quinton Carter, by Legwold:
The minutes and hours are routinely filled with victories, falls, laughter and tears as Wanda Ramirez works each day through the swirl that is a KinderCare in Norman, Okla.
And yet, in all of the skinned knees, dirty hands and big dreams, there is room for a surprise or two — as in, 6 feet and 208 pounds worth of surprise.
“Usually, a football player is a football player to me. I don’t know any different, not one from the other,” Ramirez said. “But Mr. Q touched my life. I can’t tell you how many lives he touched here.
“It was a surprise for a college football player to come see our children each and every week, but the more I know Mr. Q — that’s what the children call him — the more nothing would surprise me about what he will do.”
Mr. Q is Quinton Carter.
The former Oklahoma safety was a fourth-round draft pick by the Broncos this year.
On the field, Carter has the height, weight, speed and football savvy the Broncos are looking for.
Off the field, Carter has already made a strong impression, having started a nonprofit foundation as a college sophomore; organized a free, three-day football camp for youths in his hometown of Las Vegas; hosted a Father’s Day benefit to honor dads in low-income families for their efforts; raised funds for other causes; and made weekly visits to a classroom of 4-year-olds at Ramirez’s daycare facility.
He also has plans to start a program that would offer free medical care for low-income families. And he graduated with a degree in criminology and political science with a minor in nonprofit studies.
Asked how a 22-year-old with designs on a career as a professional athlete could have that much on his plate as a college student, Carter said, “I don’t play video games.”
“He was faithful to these children,” Ramirez said. “With all he had here (in Norman) and in Las Vegas, he was here every week. And if he couldn’t come because of something in his schedule, he always called to let the children know. He ate pizza with them, planted flowers with them, got his hands dirty with them. He’s a role model and wants to be.”
“I tell the kids at the camp that a few years ago I was right where they are now,” Carter said. “I was in their shoes. So it’s important they know that they need to take care of business now, do the right things, because the years go by fast.
“We pound the message and try to show them what’s important and what’s not (important). My approach has always been to make the most of any situation, on and off the field. And they can do that too.”
He plans to continue his SOUL Foundation activities in the Denver area once he is settled here and officially has a roster spot with the Broncos.
“But we know he will come back and see us whenever he’s in Norman,” Ramirez said. “Not all the children quite understand what’s happened now or where he is. We’ve tried to explain that he plays for a different team now, but they won’t forget what he did for them, just by who he is and what he does.”
Nothing else to add to all that other that I found out about three great players off the field we have on our team, thanks to this off season:
Bruton
Lloyd
Carter
I’ll always look at those three players with much gained respect.
This one should make any Mile High Stadium era Bronco fan scream and cry:
ESPN’s Ranking of the Toughest NFL Venues:
1. Lambeau Field (Packers)
2. Heinz Field (Steelers)
3. Qwest Field (Seahawks)
4. Arrowhead Stadium (Chiefs)
5. Soldier Field (Bears)
6. Superdome (Saints)
7. Gillette Stadium (Patriots)
8. Metrodome (Vikings)
9. Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles)
10. Oakland Coliseum (Raiders)
We used to easily be in the top three of that list if not at the very top spot.
It’s just plain disheartening but the truth none the less!
No one is scared to come at Invesco, except for that Patriots player who has health problems at high altitude and skips the trip. How very, very, very sad. I know Invesco can’t hold a candle to Mile High but if we had any kind of a team we might put the fear back onto teams playing in Denver once again, even though never at the level of the old mystic of Mile High Stadium…. Sob, sob, sob….
Brandon already falling out of favor with the Dolphins?
Shefter reports:
Three potential landing spots for Plaxico Burress: Rams (rejoin Steve Spagnuolo), Dolphins (Brandon Marshall concerns), Jets (3 FA WRs).
At least we don’t have to deal with that crap of his here any longer, amen to that.
If anyone really cares:
NEW YORK — The NFL and its players have again held secret talks, this time Tuesday at a New York City hotel, a source told ESPN.
Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFL Players Association head DeMaurice Smith and select owners and players were present at the meeting Tuesday, a source familiar with the talks said.
Chief Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan was also in attendance, according to the source.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league has no comment on the meeting, first reported by the NFL Network.
This is the second time in the last week the two sides have met, including a three-day session outside Chicago that included Goodell and Smith. The idea is simple: face-to-face negotiations are more likely to lead to a new collective bargaining agreement than court actions.
Duh, duh, duh….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz….
BTW, Invesco finished 12th on above list:
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/27544/power-rankings-top-10-toughest-venues
Bowlen finished 11th on the list of ten best owners, Invesco 12th on toughetst venues list and the actual team second to last, or 31st. So I guess taking everything in consideration both the venue and the owner are still rated way higher than the team itself, some sort of respect still lingering around, that’s actually good to see. Now let’s see if the team can raise that level of respect up a notch, or 31 notches, LOL.
Thank you to the Denver Broncos cheeleader squad for making your trip to Iraq and providing support to our Soldiers!
If the Jets don’t resign Edwards and or Holmes, look for this to be a landing spot for Burress. Of course Burress will have to wait until Lockout is lifted IF and WHEN it does happen.
Brandon Marshall is burning down his bridges, TO jr. not learning from his mistakes. Too bad.
Brandon Lloyd stepped right in and didn`t miss a beat.
I would like to think that we drafted the LB core to get us back to the top 10 hardest places to play with our draft this year. I feel very optimistic about these secret meetings also. I have a possibly stupid question but who will inherit the Broncos when Mr. Bowlen turns them over?
Just imagine what we’ll have with Lloyd,Royal,Thomas,Decker,Gaffney,and Willis all healthy,Hell that’s gotta be hands down the best WR core in the NFL……c’mon get a new CBA signed so we can get this thing rolling,I can’t wait till our younger players get some experience under their belt.
Tebow,Thomas,Decker,Miller,Irving,Moore,Carter,Beal,Franklin,Green,Mohamed,J.Thomas,not to mention the the college FAs,and some others I missed and Doom and Ayers playing the DEs,man I can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!
BFE
BTW….I am opening up my Orange Tebow jersey today and wearing it on my Birthday…Hell he ain’t going anywhere,I will wear it with pride,but I might get in a scrap or 2(almost everybody hates Tebow in Tenn,huge rivalry between the Vols and Gators)…but he don’t play for the Gators anymore so I like him now…..GO TEBOW AND GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!
Ex Bronco place kicker tryout Stefan Fatsis said Bowlen would like the franchise to be in a stable place for an ownership transition in the next few years to one of his seven children, however I have heard here and there that none of them might be interested if I remember correctly. So anything could happen is my guess.
BFE, I’m surprised anyone in Tennessee likes any Tennessee teams after all the messes they have been involved in, LOL.
Do you think he would sell it?
For the right price everything is for sale and with the children reportedly not interested I would think that would be the best way to go rather than letting the children do so. Just my business opinion though. If the Triumvirate thing works out over a few years, the value of the team will be there accordingly and it will be a perfect time to sell, like in 4/5 years or so, very possible.
But right now would be the worst financial time to sell, 4-12 and no NFL, so the near future is still with Mr Bowlen at the helm and I’ll enjoy it as long as it lasts, always was a fan of the man, had him autograph a football of mine in the magical 1997 season, our first superbowl win. It was in Atlanta and I remember talking with him about the winning season and telling him that going to the SB that year wouldn’t be good enough and he said we have to win it all, right? Very nice man, specially came off his bus after his wife pointed out to this older guy (me) trying to get his attention so he would sign my ball, and he did, classy move right there, Shanahan came to sign it too, that was a magical moment in my Bronco fan life. Sorry for the guys who have already heard about this story.
Bay, you told me the story and it`s cool to hear it a second time. I`m a big Pat Bowlen fan too. Maybe he`ll sell The Bronco`s to John Elway possibly. Lets get back to our winng ways.
BFE, happy birthday bro. Cool to bring out the orange #15 jersey dude. Live long and prosper. lol
HaHa, if you move out here some day and you wear your Tim Tebow jersey, you still might get some smack. It`ll be those damn raider fans waning in the shadows.
OOOOPS. OUR WINNING WAYS!!!!! LMAO!!
Speaking of messes, my USC Trojans keeps digging a bigger ditch so that they can never get out. Crazy stuff.
I don’t play video games” … that says it all …
About those rankings – it’s really hard to accept that we (Broncos) may be the worst (one of the worst?) team in the NFL … for a long time I’ve seen it as an aberation … but the longer it goes, the more I have to accept it … it’s really hard to do that … in the early days, they were pretty bad at times, but when I lived in Denver in the ’70s, they were a “middlin” team – usually around 7 – 7 (14 games then – don’t remember when they went to 16) … in spite of that, there always seemed to be hope … now – I don’t know … I feel like a Lions fan … I really hate the feeling … it’s starting to feel real, and I don’t like it!!!!!
Wiemin, my only hope is that the organization feels the same as you do about the depth and reality of our troubles since to know how bad your problems really are is the only way to confont them all the way and hence give yourself a shot at getting better. If we keep having this we are a few pieces away from greatness attitude, we are bound to be doomed for a long time. Elway and Fox are the two biggest pieces added to this puzzle and I think Bowlen has us going in the right direction once again, but know this Fox and Elway: Your team truly stinks as a team right now, no way to sugarcoat that and if you do you would do yourselves and the team a tremendous disservice. Gotta tell it like it is, only way to fly in the world of professional football, this is not pee-wee league…
Baylin, I believe the player you’re referring to is Ryan Clark S Pittsburgh Steelers. He has sickle cell disease. A condition where the red blood cells are deformed. RBCs are vital in transporting oxygen in the body. As we all know, Denver is a mile-high and thin air equals less oxygen concentration in the atmosphere.
As a result, it can cause serious complications with individuals who are afflicted with sickle cell disease.
Which is exactly what occured with Ryan Clark a few years back. He endured a sickle cell crisis after a game in Denver and had to have his spleen and gall bladder removed. He almost lost his life too. Very serious. So yes, he has every right to be afraid of Invesco.
As for the sell of the team, I think it was oldsouthstander who pointed out, former owner Phipps has first right of refusal if a sell were to occur. He also pointed out Mr. Elway, while rich beyond rich, is not wealthy enough to purchase the franchise!
Yay, more secret talks. I don’t get why they have to be deceptive about it though. Appears to me they are playing games still and wasting everybody’s time with this facade!
I have not heard about that Bay it sounds magical. I would by the franchise if I had the money lol but as long as a Bronco enthusist buys it I will be happy.
Gerald Phipps died in 1993.
Thanks for the Ryan Clark being a Steeler clarification.
Stan Kroenke will probably buy it, he buys every other sports team out there.
Kroenke is the owner of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, which includes the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League and St. Louis Rams of the NFL (the Colorado sports properties are in the name of Josh Kroenke, one of his children, to satisfy NFL ownership restrictions that forbid a team owner from owning teams in other markets) He is also the majority shareholder of English football club Arsenal. He currently lives in Columbia, Missouri. Kroenke was estimated to be worth $US2.6 billion by Forbes in 2011.
And one might wonder how a guy amassed that much money:
His wife, Ann Walton Kroenke, is the daughter of Wal-Mart cofounder Bud Walton.
That outta do it, LOL.
And you should know that Bowlen and Kroenke already have a history since in 2002, Kroenke partnered with American football legend John Elway and Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen to become co-owner of the Arena Football League’s Colorado Crush.
Bowlen, Kroenke and Elway, that right there might be the real Triumvirate, LOL.
Didn’t know that about Phipps.
Cool story by the way bay! Forgot to mention it earlier. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard it.
Kroenke does fit the bill, logically btw! He’d have to sell StL first. And that scares me, if he were to become owner and decides to hire his own HC, would their new “OC” be a candidate. Arghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope he does not come to own the broncos. Maybe I will make my invention soon and it will take off quick lol, one can dream. But he does not seem to have the same openess as the Broncos have now so I wonder if that would change for him or for us.
Don’t worry fans-you won’t pay until they play.
Dear ____,
As an NFL SUNDAY TICKET(tm) subscriber and a real fan of the greatest game on the planet, this is usually the time of year when your focus turns to training camps, player signings and the upcoming NFL season. But due to the NFL’s uncertain labor situation, it seems that it is possible that the start of the 2011 season may be delayed until all the issues can be resolved.
We can offer you one sliver of reassurance:THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO CHARGE FOR YOUR NFL SUNDAY TICKET SUBSCRIPTION UNTIL IT IS CONFIRMED THAT THE 2011 NFL SEASON WILL BEGIN.
What happens with your NFL SUNDAY TICKET during the dispute?
• A balance of $0.00 will show for the NFL SUNDAY TICKET portion of your bill
• Once the start of the NFL season has been confirmed, your subscription will auto-renew for six easy payments of $53.99 each.
• If any weeks of the regular season are lost from the season schedule, a reduced installment price will appear on your bill.
We’re as ready for football to begin as you are.
At (said satellite provider offering this service), we are fans too. In fact, like you we can’t wait for the NFL season to begin. We’re fully prepared to bring you another season of gridiron glory as soon as football is played.
It goes on. More blah blah blahddily blah.
It might have been easier for them to say, we are worried just as much as you are because (53.99 x 6) multiplied by the hundreds of thousands of subscribers will put a serious dent in our bottom line. No mind we are actually partially responsible for creating this uncertainty. And we really don’t value you as a customer so no need to discount any of the subscription. We will just collect when and if they do start! Thank you for your continued loyalty!
Customer service rep: How may I help you today?
Customer: yeah, just cancel my subscription. The NFL is not getting any of my money this season.
Rep: I’m sorry to hear that. Can I…
Customer: I’m sorry to interrupt you, but can you please just give me a cancel confirmation number? Please and thank you!
Bay…you said it bro…..hard to be a fan of anything to do with Tennessee,strand….USC is just as bad bro,Tennessee and Kiffen both face punishment vs the NCAA,but thanks for the birthday wishes dude!!!
One thing I can say positive about Tennessee right now,is I saw on the local news today is that Jake Locker is working out,and looks damn good!!!
Wished they hadn’t let Fischer leave…..but GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!
strand…..ROCK ON DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I’m sittin here in my Orange Tebow jersey done got in a fight at the bar for wearing it,I think I broke the guys jaw,but I’m home now,happy birthday to me,lalalalala,life’s fun sometimes,HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
I lasted in the bar like 20 minutes,I knew it would happen,but like I told the guy I punched”Sorry about your Damn luck”.HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t be dissin’ my Godamn team buddy,I don’t give a Damn how big you are,I’m 6 foot tall 200 Lbs,I might be 41 today,but I can still handle myself ByGod!!!!!!!!!!
I’ll stand up for the Broncos and Tebow right in the middle of the pits of HELL!!!!!!!!
LMAO………BFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sndvl
Canceled my NFL Sunday Ticket last week. After being with them 10 years.
LOL
FTR
BFE92
Happy B-Day.
FTR
Thanks FTR,ain’t talked to you in a while,but we still bros!!!!!!!!
You need to post more brother,nothing like a FTR post!!!!!!