The relationships and memories you build through the years as a team photographer are priceless.
You have a special entrée to a very unique group of characters in the universes’ daily theater.
As each season unfolds you begin to learn and really understand the inner-workings of your football club. It’s virtually a big wheel with many cogs that lock together to keep the flow, rhythm and unity of TEAM in balance and running smoothly.
We all know players become a significant part of that circle in motion. Not one player looks alike, acts alike or plays alike, but intriguingly they all fit together.
When you have a missing link due to injury, a trade or — tragically — a loss like we had yesterday with Kenny McKinley, the orbit in which the club operates takes a hit.
Kenny was a very unique cog. As a second-year, 6-foot, 183-pound player, he was one of our more recent squad members that at least in my dreams made me feel like I might have been able to step onto an NFL field. That’s where it ended, though. He was deceptively fast, had good hands and carried as big of a smile as I have ever seen in the league.
Generally, players are pretty good at small talk but not very good on long talk. I think because of his fun-loving personality, McKinley and I connected early on in his career, and we had many good conversations often peppered with humor.
Through the years I have tried to be courteous, friendly and supportive to all players, but it is hard not to have favorites. Kenny certainly was one.
Just as it was with Darrent and Damien, it will take the big wheel that drives the organization a while to get back in sync. But with time and heavy infusions of love, support, counseling and determination, all will realign and begin to revolve efficiently once again.
May that ever-present smile of Kenny’s shine down on us to keep the TEAM spirit and unity alive and the wheel turning.
God bless No. 11.
-Eric Lars Bakke
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Eric Lars Bakke, Kenny McKinley
R.I.P. Kenny, you will be missed!
In the end life is a matter of choices, obviously he made his, and it leaves all of us with the responsability to move on. So long Kenny, we must move on, we didn’t clock out, there are things to do, games to play and it’s too bad you decided to miss it all. RIP.
Bronco Aussie, thanks for posting that U tube vid on you guys’ website with McKinley cooking up burgers at his house for his teammates while he was at South Carolina, really enjoyed watching happy McKinley on the 5 min video, it was a good way for a send off to me, put me at rest about it a bit, remembering his good side, this is just to dark to wallow in. Thanks again.
Sad day in Broncos Country.McKinley will be missed by his family,friends,teamates and fans….R.I.P.
Rumors are going around that it was because his gf left with his kid…I hope not, that would be a tragic way to go. Chis Henry died last year because of his gf leaving him also…Sigh..Sad times.
Rest in peace McKinley… you will be missed very much.
What a tragedy. Whatever Kenny was struggling with I wish he would of reached out to someone, anyone. There`s alway`s a way out. The first step is love. With self, family, friends, and above all God. Kenny, you`ll be missed. R.I.P. BROTHER………
Baylinorcrush: You said it right. RIP McKinley.
TO Mr. Mckinley,
Thank you for your constant effort on the practice field. I wish we would of been able to see some more of that flash on the field this year. RIP and best wishes to his friends, family, and most of all his son!
r.i.p. number 11
No a problem bay, it needed to be there.
And RIP McKinley, your smile will be missed.
Not
Not a problem is what I meant, if that seemed wrong.
RIP Kenny. i will pray for your son
R.I.P. Kenny, #11, You will be missed and my prayers are with you and your family
Let’s try to do a good job on Sunday in honor of No. 11…
God is taking care of you, wherever you are.
Just hope the family, friends and teammates can overcome in certain way this huge lost.
God loves you everybody…