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kve820
12-18-2005, 12:36 AM
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Frustrations , The Life of a Football Fan

We all love the game of football or we wouldn't be here on the best site for football discussions. We all live and die by what our team does on the field every sunday or other times when they play. Why do we do it? Why put ourselves through all the aggrevation? It really makes you scratch your head sometimes. If your team has had success then it's not so bad.

I myself suffered a long time before Denver finally won a Superbowl, 4 times I had to suffer a superbowl beating, each time was worse than the one before. The ridicule, the jokes there was no mercy when it came to how they played. If it was bad the jokes and comments were worse, everybody remembers that one play that changed my teams fortune for the worse, and they harp on it until they run into the ground. http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/qbpro5bi.gif

1977 was really the first taste of success for me, My Broncos had just beaten the Arch Rival Raiders and were heading to Superbowl Xll ! Now I had a little bit pride showing through, didn't last long. Denver lost to the Dallas Cowboys 27-10. My team did little till Mr. John Elway showed up.

When Elway showed up the Denver Broncos got competitive again. Soon we learned not to turn the TV channel, because he could almost single handedly get the Broncos in a position to win a football game. He gave all of us Bronco fans something we never really believed in before, hope. We knew that as long and Elway was around we had a chance. Except when the Superbowl rolled around. Seems that the harder the team tried they couldn't win a Superbowl. Me and my family were crushed, again.

We found out the hard way, you can't do it all by yourself. The Broncos kinda went back and forth. They had changed coaches a few times, then landed Mike Shanahan again, He was there before, as a assitant but now he was going to be the man to lead the Broncos to the promised land. And he almost did in 1996, I still to this day believe if Denver hadn't lost to the Jacksonville in 1996 Denver might have won 3 straight Superbowls, long shot for sure, how could they, if they couldn't beat the Jaguars, personally I think the Broncos took the Jaguars lightly and just didn't take them seriously or something like it, but my hats off to the Jaguars they played a heck of a game and deserved the win. Another season of hopes dashed and crushed, quite humbling.

I started off watching the 1997 season with a little subdued mentality. Like "ok, oh well, maybe they will win some this year". Those new uniforms helped a little, gosh those old Orange Jersey's were loud. It was really hard to get interested in football after the lost to the Jaguars in the playoff's. But finally that would change. Denver started playing well and before I knew it the playoff's were here. Guess who Denver got to play first? The Jaguars, and this time it wasn't even close. But the next team was The Chiefs for Denver. "oh my goodness", I was thinking well it was good while it lasted, but Denver doesn't beat the Chiefs very often in Kansas City let alone in the playoff's. Well they beat them, but I didn't watch the game, I couldn't, I didn't want to feel the way I did again after the lost we had in 1996. Now I was thinking "oh man we got to play the Steelers at Pittsburgh"! No way, No way we were going to win that game! I coulnd't watch that game either. Denver did win and went to another Superbowl, agaisnt a defending Superbowl Champion, The Mighty Green Bay Packers, Title Town USA, Well I thought, Elway sure is trying his best to get that long lost ring he had been trying to get for so long. But I have to admit, I believed Denver could beat them, I really believed that. I told some that it would be the best Superbowl Denver had ever played, win or lose it would be close. It was close and a True, devoted Bronco fan and there are many of us around luking quietly in the shadows just waiting to bust out and let the world know that our beloved Broncos were Finally world champs! Nobody could take that away from us.

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But some tried their best to down play Denvers win, Elway had thrown for like a little over a 100 yards , what are you kidding me? Thats all, he didn't have to throw for more he had Terrell Davis to hand the ball too. Terrell Davis saved the Broncos from suffering another Superbowl lost, if he hadn't, I would have lost interest and would have just faded away from it altogether. Wow, I was that close too.

With the Superbowl win against the Packers and a new fresh start the next year, 1998. This was the year Denver really ruled the NFL. For one year they were the team eveyone wanted to beat. Not unlike the Colts today, Denver went to a record of 13-0, Wow we are so close to the 1972 Dolphins we all could just taste it, POP, went the balloon world I was living in, we lost to the Giants, "Ah Man, are you kidding me! Not the Giants, their not even good this year! But you don't have to be good for a year just one Sunday to win a football game. Oh well, that would have been sweet for the Broncos to have gone undefeated that year but they lost the following week as well. Blink it was gone.

Then came the Superbowl we Broncos fans had been waiting for all our lives a Superbowl we knew we were going to win! Without a doubt we knew it. They did, it wasn't easy by any means but they won it out right and what a game for Elway this time he threw for over 300 yards and was the game's MVP. Not a bad way to retire on top and it felt great! Finally we had the respect and not a fluke Superbowl win. It was about to change again, not so good this time.

Elway was now retired and we had pinned our hopes on Brian Griese. He played well but we Bronco fans expected him to take over and lead us to the promised land again, well we should have known better, its not Brian's fault it was the unfair expectations we had placed on him. Then things got worse, Terrell Davis got injured. The guy that carried the Broncos to back to back championships was done. He tried to come back but had lost too much of his ability by then. The Broncos were now mediorce again. http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/DENlogo_231486.gif

A few years went by, and some changes were made to give us hope again.
Mike Shanahan traded for who? Jake Plummer? Are you kidding me! It was I admit, very confusing to say the least. Well Denver was playing decent, not a barn burner but were putting it together somewhat. Jake has lead Denver to the Playoff's for 3 years in a row now. Only to be crushed soundly by the Colts back to back. Ah man not again, Am I going to have to wait for another 30 years for a Title? I sure hope not but this years team still gives me some hope, thats why they play the game, but they sure aren't the greatest team out there today but they are competitive.

We all have our stories and memories of our past, present football teams and games. Why do we come back for more? I believe maybe it could be we football fans love the game so much and we are all so competitive that it is our natural tendencies coming out. I don't know really, it's probably different for everyone.

http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/afc_346750_893125.gif When you look at the Denver Broncos and out of the 45 year History they have 2 superbowl wins, so this means they are 2-43. Not very good odd's is it? So why would I or any other Bronco fan be excited about their chances? It drives me crazy sometimes. I really don't know the answer. I have been so mad that I have broke some home furniture, windows and some drink glasses because of the play of my team. When I look back I can't help but laugh. You wouldn't know me today if you knew me then, I was alot different in those days. I suffer even to this day when watching my team I guess I'm no different than most. We all are wanting the same thing, to be called world champions, that is the the reason, it must be, that is something that stays with you forever and it can't be changed for any reason. Congrats to the victor. I don't have to look at someone else's team to know what it feels like, I know what it feels like and I want it, just like everyone else.

anditsgood
12-18-2005, 10:15 AM
great article kve

i know what you mean--heck when the pats won thier first, they went into the big show being 0-2 and going against the "greatest show on turf". they were a 14 point underdawg and all i heard for two weeks was that wasnt enough points, the Rams had already beating the Pats in thier own home earlier in the season. yada yada yada.--lol

Your first one is really special now isnt it? (perhaps your favorite) I know i liked the bronco first one a bit more cause they beat the Packers, a team that had humiliated my Pats the year before :eek:

mhwolfgang
12-18-2005, 10:34 AM
Great, Read kve,

It was a long time before I finally saw my Patriots win the Super Bowl.

Even after, they have won, the game never loses it's excitement, season after season.

As fans we always want to see our team be the best. So even after they get there and win, we start all over again in the next season to watch and hope and cheer them on.

kve820
12-18-2005, 11:08 AM
It was hard being a Bronco fan, for years I took the ribbing for it, Then Finally they won and to this the day I see people wearing Bronco stuff, that was unheard of back in the 70's and 80's and even the early 90's. I remember when Denver was facing the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Tilte game, alot of the reporters of the day were saying the AFC should forfeit playing the Superbowl and stuff because Denver was 0-4 and Buffalo was 0-3 with 3 losses in a row, You know it wasn't as much winning the Superbowl as much I was so proud that Denver was the first AFC team to break the NFC Domination of the Superbowl's, man it was a great time to be a Bronco fan.

gcomella34
12-18-2005, 11:31 AM
It almost seems that we are somehow connected to our teams. For those of us that followed them during their hard times and rebuilding years it feels like a payoff. Sometimes it feels like being a fan is work, some people even connect there success with their team's. Sports sometimes can really help you get through some rough times by taking your mind off things for three great hours. That's why I feel such a connection to the Sox in '04. I was always a casual fan, but with some of the times I was going through with my daughter's open heart surgery, those ALCS games and the Giants preseason (watching Eli take his first snaps) helped me in ways I could've never imagined. Thinking about next season just kept me together. It's funny as a fan there are so few moments of sheer adulation, but they make all the suffering worth it.

Besides, any guy that's tried to please his lady, goes through batting orders, offensive stats, pitching rotations, and possible offensive formations, to keep his mind off the task at hand. :D

Sascha
12-19-2005, 08:00 AM
It shows the value of being a true fan though, doesn't it? I mean, how bad were the Bucs. For 15 years straight, we would lose double digits. Makes winning that much sweeter. Same goes for the Lightning, and who knows, maybe one the Devil Rays.

Chicky
12-19-2005, 09:37 AM
This is my life right now. I get so up for games and same result. Great read.

Razzy
12-19-2005, 04:36 PM
More frustrations...


You live on the opposite side of the country as your team's location.

When theres a big game on Sunday (Dallas @ Carolina) you get a worthless Eagles vs. Cardinals game instead.

I wanna shoot our programmer.

jjflr
12-20-2005, 12:05 PM
kve820,

With each and every article you write, you are raising your game to a whole new level.

You are doing a great job for PSH and therefore, with your approval, I would like to assign you the title of '#1 Writer on PSH' (in my opinion) for your interesting, well-written pieces.