As some readers may know, I have recently authored a book, my first, titled Game of My Life: Denver Broncos, in which 20 former players focus on what each considers the greatest game, for whatever reason, of his Broncos career.

For 30 years I have been honored to represent the Broncos in literally thousands of situations involving interviews or interpersonal contact with the public, but last night I had an opportunity to do something completely new — and after 30 years, you can imagine there is not a lot of “completely new” that one encounters.

The publisher (Sports Publishing, LLC of Champaign, Illinois) has arranged a number of book signings at various stores, and last night’s was the first, at a Barnes and Noble in Colorado Springs.

I approached it not knowing what it would be like, and certainly with no idea of attendance, or interest. 

Proving once again that there is no end to Broncomania, there were actually a number of people who arrived for this — it just seemd so surreal to me, because in public relations we generally stay in the background, but make sure interviews and autographs are all happening with the star of the moment.  It just seemed so odd to be the one at the center of attention, but obviously that is the whole idea at a signing.

I signed, I talked, answered questions from fans. 

Some asked for signings as Christmas presents, some as gifts for servicemen coming back from Iraq, and all asked as Bronco fans representing other Bronco fans, including one not yet born!

I believe the moment has to be treated as an honor, more for me than for the fans who bought the book.  When someone asks for autograph, and someone else gives it, the request is more honorable than the giving of the autograph.

If someone cares enough to ask, that is a humbling thing.

The Broncos have been the fortunate recipients of this kind of love for almost five decades now.

The team has the difficult and constant task of living up to the love and hopes and desires of the community, but it can never order the community to love it.

That is something given willingly by the fans.  When someone loves us, we have to remember that that is a product of their own emotion and free will — it is never because we commanded them to do so.

It was an honor to be a recipient of those feelings, as an author and on behalf of the Broncos, last night.

There are seven other signings scheduled, and I know in advance I’ll feel the same about each of those.

Thanks for coming, thanks for asking, and thanks for reading.

Tags: Broncomania, Game of My Life

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 at 9:04 am and is filed under Jim Saccomano. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.