Every season starts with promise for all teams, and when it is over one stands as the champion, but sometimes there is an air of improbablilty to the accomplishment.
In no way does that imply that the champion is unworthy, just that the path taken to a title is different for every team, and sometimes the destination is reached in the strangest of ways.
Few paths ever have seemed as improbable as the one being traveled by the Colorado Rockies, who began a mid-September run that has seen them win 21 of 22 games in a streak that includes a playoff game against the San Diego Padres and postseason sweeps of the Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks, the latter giving the franchise its first ever National League pennant.
The best and most recent comparison in Denver sports history is the Denver Broncos’ 1977 trip to Super Bowl XII.
The difference is that the Broncos had a great 12-2 regular season which saw them start off undefeated for the first month, so it was apparent early on the the Broncos were strong contenders, and they clinched their initial playoff berth with several weeks remaining, so that is quite unlike the Rockies’ experience.
However, until that time the Broncos had never had any foray into postseason competition, so there was a magical quality to the experience, and the entire city and extended community not only jumped aboard the bandqagon, but had to first construct a bandwagon!
Once built, people jumped aboard in record numbers — and while the Broncos began the team’s astonishing sellout streak (now in its 38th year) in 1970 — “Broncomania” did not really get its identity until that fabled 1977 championship season.
That was the first time it all seemed magical.
It has never been the same since then, and while the glow never leaves, neither does the spotlight that shines continuously on the franchise.
After 1977, the Broncos were anonymous no more, both nationally and in the Mile High City.
So too is it and will it ever be for the Colorado Rockies.
They no longer have a need to defend their plan, their program for success, as nothing speaks to that success and the devlopment of talented young players as the record itself.
So from here on more will be expected, as the Rockies have shed their cocoon, but their franchise has broader shoulders now, an infinitely greater capacity to carry the burdens of those expectations.
What should never be lost is the joy of the moment, the deserved revelry of the first National League pennant in Denver history.
Bronco players who were with the team in 1977 still carry that legacy today — “The M & M Connection” of quarterback Craig Morton and wide receiver Haven Moses will live forever in Bronco lore — and so too will the Rockies of today carry that mantle of success with them throughout their careers, and beyond.
Since that fabled campaign the Broncos have won five more American Football Conference championships and have ultimately appeared in more Super Bowls than any franchise other than the Dallas Cowboys, winning back-to-back world championships in 1997 and 1998, but I firmly agree with the suggestion that only that first Super Bowl win matches the Broncos’ first emergence on the national playoff stage in 1977.
No matter how many titles the Broncos win, 1977 will have a special place in the hearts of the fan and the city.
And the same will always be true for the Colorado Rockies.
The moment is now, but it lasts forever.
Tags: 1977, Baseball, Broncomania, Colorado Rockies, Craig Morton, Haven Moses
Great piece! Just walking through the malls watching people buy up Rockies gear brings me back to the Broncos first super bowl in the 80′s. I can imagine the first super bowl was a majical time in Denver. If the Rockies win all eyes will be on the Nuggets to make this a title town.
Your blog today is symptomatic with what the teams problem is,You are talking about baseball which has nothing to do with Broncos football. The team is obviously not focused and worried more about the Blog(foxworth) instead of the task at hand. I would suspend pay immediately to all players and coaches untill they WIN. I am a 35 year fan and never have I seen a more pathetic display of team effort and execution,and a poor game plan from a coach that I have always admired. It is Time.
flyeaglefly, you suck. You’re not a coach, general manager, player, etc. so you have no idea what they’re thinking. All teams experience some adversity, and believe me the Pats may be successful this season but they’ve made a pact with the devil and it will all go to hell from here in Foxboro, Mass. especially next April when they don’t have a first-round draft pick. You’re not a fan, fef, you’re just a pampered a-hole who can’t be a fan when times get rough. It’ll get better, just wait and see. Speaking of suspensions, you should be suspended from this blog.
A-hole? That is not nice.
I am probably one the biggest fans in the country. I live in Cincinnati and I go to 3-4 games a year, I went to a lot more before I had 30 month old girls (who went to their first home game this year – the Jag Wag debacle). I am glad the Rockies are winning, maybe the Broncos will realize that they could lose their fan base. Something is wrong when Mike Bell is a stud next year and then on the bench, our best D-line man is a starter with … Oh yeah, the Raiduhs…. What the F is that all about. I think Mike has lost something. We have no depth at lineback or safety, the D-line is a mess… Anytime you sign a reject from Cincinnati you should not expect too much, or you could trade Warren to the Raiders to give Sam Adams more PT. Not sure what is going on. It sucks watching this team. They play with zeno heart.
BradJamesBroncoFan
What is your definition of a fan? You bad mouth people who state their displeasure with the production of their team? In my opinion – your not a true fan for accepting this garbage that has been thrown on the field lately. A bad fan – or “bandwagon” fan – is someone who doesn’t even bother to boo or voice their displeasure when their team underachieves on a level that is embarrassing. They just get up and leave – and don’t come back until the team is good again. True fans voice their displeasure with mediocrity – and they show up the next week to watch them again. And if they play the way the Broncos have been lately – they boo even louder. But we always come back the next week.
Obviously the season isn’t over. Thanks to a weak division – we still have a shot at the division. But don’t overlook the fact that we should be 0 -5 right now – which puts us not to far away from hearing…. “With the first pick in the 2008 NFL draft – the Denver Broncos select…” That in itself – is unacceptable. Because we boo – or voice our displeasure – doesn’t mean we’re rooting against our team. It means we as fans – will not accept this garbage that we pay good money for tickets to come watch.
Now I don’t expect a 16 – 0 record going into every season – but I will never accept a 2 – 14 possibility in Denver. And if we keep playing the way we did against San Diego – we are going to be 2 – 14.
Flyangelfly makes a valid point. Enough with the Rockies focus already. Get focused on the fact the Broncos are close to the worst team in the NFL right now. In an earlier blog – Saccomano tried to relate the Broncos bad start as equal to what the Rockies went through at the beginning of they’re year. That would be a great point – if the Broncos played a 162 game season – and had time to figure it out. We’ve already voiced our support for the Rockies… how bout we focus on not getting blown out the remainder of the season.
I’m a Colorado Rockies fan , i’m so happy cuz “Rocktober” has been great. I always belive on my team; first time in franchise history …… WE R NL CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!
GO ROCKIES!!!!
I am a longtime Bronco’s fan and I disagree with your comments about the 1977 Bronco’s being the best. I think the yr that Elway and Davis and Mr. Gaurantee’d first down E Mc Caffery combined with the dominating D and the WR position that was a long list of varying talent from phenominal to a step above average combined made for the best team in the NFL for 4 yrs in a row on paper and in the record books. Was by far the greatest team in the Bronco’s History. Elway Winning the Superbowl the Second time and retiring as one of the best that has ever played that position was one of the great story in the NFL ranking up there with the Joe Namath’s promise of winning the superbowl even as a heavy underdog and then doing it. So that team was in fact on paper and in my opinion the Greatest to Ever wear the Blue orange and White. Also the Denver fans who come out to games religiously yr after year to watch their team are one of the loyalist and loudest and rowdyest in the League. I personally live in Canada on the West Coast, have been a Bronco’s fan since I was a kid playing football in grade school and even with Montana in the League John Elway was from the day he got drafted my Favorite player in the NFL.
I don’t really think the Rockies players were thinking about how much they thought Colorado fans believed they sucked prior to their improbable run to the world series. When you watch this Rockies team today, it is quite clear that they are playing for the love of game and the desire to win. I believe the Broncos are not that much different. This is a team that has been kicked in the teeth last year with 2 unexpected deaths and a number of lost players (Al Wilson) and injuries (Jevon Walker). I’m definately not a Bronco fan to give excuses. However I know that when my boys are down and not doing so well, it makes me appreciate those 6 Super Bowl appearances that much more. Criticism is one thing, but kicking a team when they are down is unexceptable. I would only hope to remind some of you that the Broncos have only had 1 losing season (1999-6-10) since Mike Shanahan took over as thier couch. I will always be a die hard Bronco fan, bleeding Blue and Orange forever, whether my team is 0-16,16-0 or any other variation in between. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!! GO ROCKIES!!!!!!!
I have been a Bronco Fan since I knew what football is and I want to say that even though the Bronco’s are not doing so hot this last couple years, you all have to be open minded! We have gone through some drastic changes through the whole line up! Trust me when I say I miss the old crew with, Atwater, Elway, Sharp, Eddy Mc. , and the GREAT T.D!!! But we have to give the new guys a chance. Let them get a little time under their belt’s. I think its not really up to Shanahan at this point. It is up to the experience that these players really need to start winning like we used to.
I hope the Rockies do well! But I hope Mike Shannahan keeps playing that defense he played against the Steelers. When we won our back to back title we had a similiar still of defense. Bend but never broke ….. I hope he took notes. Actually I wish he would contact me and let talk some football. I think I could assist him.
[...] comments about the 1977 Bronco??s being the best. I think the yr that Elway and Davis and Mr. …http://blog.denverbroncos.com/jsaccomano/2007/10/17/rockies-parallel-1977-broncos/Power Steering 1966-1977 bronco.comMost of the early Bronco’s came without factory power steering. [...]