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Published on 02/05/2010 at Fri Feb 05 09:20.
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Homers Anonymous

Posted Fri Feb 5th by

Our call for help received a great response, and we’ll be publishing certain pieces over the next week or so in our hunt for the next BT Staffer(s).  This piece comes via Michael Guirges, an LA-based Denver-born Broncos fan.  Give us (and him!) your thoughts in the comments.

An unidentified fan of the Denver Broncos, front, in Denver in 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

An unidentified fan of the Denver Broncos, front, in Denver in 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The past four years of my Broncos fandom have really got my wheels turning, thinking about Homerism.

What is a homer? Am I a homer? If I am, is that okay?

I remember when Jake Plummer, just a few short months after the AFC Championship game was replaced by Jay Cutler. I was happy. I thought that it gave the team its best chance to win. Now that I think about it, that is what Coach Shanahan said…

Or  how about when the Broncos signed Travis Henry? That was great right? “Boy”, I remember thinking, “he’s a top back in this league. This should take us over the top.” If I only knew then what I know now. I don’t even really want to talk about it. Shanahan (I?) was wrong about Travis Henry too.

What about Brandon Marshall though? Yeah, they compare him to Terrell Owens, baby TO they call him. The similarities are pretty staggering right? Both are huge targets, that despite a lack of after-burner speed, always seem to be open. Both are fun to watch after the catch.

But that’s were the similarities stop…Brandon is a good kid, with a good head on his shoulders. He’s humble. He doesn’t get into trouble. Plus he has quite the relationship with Jay! (May I mention how much I love that Jay Cutler is my team’s quarterback!?) That girl’s lying! Yeah I bought that too….even though it goes against everything I know about NFL wide receivers…except for Larry Fitzgerald…but then again I thought that about Marvin Harrison before he turned into Harrison Ford…

I was…lets just say….excited, when Mike was let go. I was sad, but excited. I bought into Josh McDaniels. I fell for Coach in the worst way after 6-0. You see, you don’t need a great quarterback if you have a great system! (Although “Jay who?” is still a prevalent thought that crosses by mind until now…but come to think of it, that’s a pretty homeric thing to think too isn’t it?) I branded him a champion….the greatest young coach who ever lived! We were going to win it all…undefeated season; retribution for Josh’s oh-so-close call only two years before!

Now as I sit here I realize that I am a homer. I believed everything that I was told. That’s really what being a homer is all about right? I didn’t question authority, and I believed everything the people running the team were saying.

I have cheered on the team no matter what has happened. Even after losing to the mighty, Alex Smith led 49ers (I could barely finish typing that…) on New Year’s Eve 2006; even after we kept kicking it to Devin Hester in 2007. Of course there’s “The Collapse” in 2008 and most recently the “Collapse part Deux” in 2009.

So is the “Collapse part Deux” the straw that broke the camel’s back? Have I given up on the Broncos forever? Am I simply relegating myself to writing on a blog while looking down at all the homers and laughing at the readers because, well, you guys are all homers?

Actually, not at all. I still think Josh is the answer. I still think we will have a great defense and offense. I actually believe we will be able to sign Dumervil and Marshall and Kyle and every single big name free agent that is obviously dying to play for the Broncos….

Yeah, you know why?

Because my name is Michael, and I am a Broncos homer.

  • jonkrause

    Thumps up from me.

  • Josh Mcdaniels

    What in the fuck was that article about?

  • kyle

    Weak sauce bro

  • Anonymous

    This is the best article ever written! Well done!

    I also like puppies.

  • mizike

    I get the article too, I like to think that I can see things objectively when it comes to my team, but I can't.

    When I do my weekly picks the Bronco game is the hardest one because I always have to figure out if I am being objective.

    I just do what homers do. I always pick the Broncs, if they win and I picked against them then I feel like crap, If they lose and I picked them to lose It feels like I didn't believe in my team.

    My name is Mike and I'm a homer too.

  • altpwr1

    This dude is smoking something (not cigarettes)…….if this guy starts writing stories on the regular…… i might stop visiting here ….Never bet on any team when your heart is in it… you will be BROKE!

  • The Other Side of the Wall

    Interesting article. Anybody who can keep the “team spirit” going in this day and age when even football has become a “corporatized” business deserves three cheers from me. Let's hope that the Broncos appreciate fans with such blind faith.

  • hope

    I thought the same way.Broncos are the up and comeing team.they were a young team that needed a few games under thier skirts.I was disapionted what went on in 2008 and 2009.I belive the Denver broncos are 1 grate qb frome a super bowl.One person dosen't make the team one grate qb makes the super bowl.
    Owe Broncos went down hill when they lost Al Willson the real beast.

  • dogheadbrew

    Michael, good op-ed. From a critic stand point, I really liked your approach. I think a lot of us feel like we need a good visit to a HA meeting some times. Sill, your article seemed to wander a bit, and occasionally lack some focus. I think that made it less funny than you had intended. Overall I'm glad some new blood and perspective could be joining the corps, and any weaknesses you have in your posting, I'm sure will get better with practice.

    And I too, like puppies.

  • vince_mairne

    My name is Vince_Marine and I'm a homer too!!! Is this where I get my therapy? LOL!!!

  • TheTroglodyte

    lmao

  • monto

    Firstly I'l have to say I still don't know what a 'Homer' is, probebly due to my non-USness but I suppose thats not your fault :p

    Not a bad article (if we didn't have blind optimism then how else would we keep fuzzy warm at night) but it doesn't really go anywhere beyond being a self-proclamation of being optimistic. If it was to be a regular feature then it'd have to be able to get other people optimistic too

  • blueragoo

    I think of a “homer” as a biased announcer clearly pulling hard for his or her team, and viewing all calls and action through that lens. But I suppose it can be any one of us who is unable to look at our team objectively because of our passion.

    I fall victim to this thinking every year! I can see it all coming together, all the pieces fitting, everyone having the best possible year–hope springs eternal, annually! But that's what it means to be a true fan, to some degree.

    The problem is that every once in a great while, or twice (for Bronco fans), it's true, and it does all come together. Neil Smith really was the final piece of the puzzle! With the development of TD and Rod Smith, adding Howard Griffith to McCaffrey and Sharpe, signing Tony Jones, getting Keith Traylor and Maa, to go with Alfred Williams, Romo, Mobley, and Atwater (and a young Trevor Pryce), schemed and administered by Shanny and Big John–Neil Smith WAS the final piece of the puzzle, and as we all know, it all came together in Denver for two magical seasons.

    And every year since then, we die-hards imagine and envision it happening again. Right? That's the Kool Aide everyone talks about. But that's what it means to be a true fan.

  • anthony33

    The fact is… anyone that visits this site on a regular basis, has gone through the trouble of getting set up to post legitimate comments… IS a homer.

    a33… homer.

  • Mark Sanchez

    Bronco fan since I was born (33 years ago). I have to disagree with Mike. Josh McDaniels is a numb nut, and will be out of Denver by the end of next season. The reason? His players think he's a jerk off, his staff thinks he's a jerk off, and the most obvious reason–he doesn't have enough talent on his team to beat any of the AFC's top contenders. It's not like the Broncos have a defense like Balitmore's in 2000 and winning on the wings of Trent (Kyle Orton in this case) is going to happen. This best shot that they EVER had was with Jay (and his million interceptions) Cutler with Brandon Marshall and an up and coming running back. Living in Denver and being able to talk bluntly with old school Broncos that go to my gym (Elway, Shlereth (sp), Treadwell, etc) they all would agree with me. Losing the intereception king (Cutler) was the dumbest thing we could have done. Baby TO is next, he's never putting on a Bronco uniform again. So who do we really have? What we have here is a more dysfuntional version of “Jersey Shore. A reality show, if you will, of we call McNumbNuts at Mile High. Just like Jersey Shore, this will be the second and the last season of McNumbNuts (thankfully).

  • TheTroglodyte

    lol omg you are the exact definition of a “Tool” living in make believe land. I bet Windows 7 was your idea as well. Let me guess, you gave it to Bill Gates at your gym? lmao

  • TheTroglodyte

    Wait wait this line was the best “they all WOULD agree with me”. Oh, you mean if they actually talked to you they would. hahaha

  • JoeBEARS

    good article mike! don't listen to the idiot comments! you truly are a freakin Homer!! and you need help…let's see what your next article says

    …OH OH and please take Cutler back cuz he Sucks! Mark Sanchez up there should stick with the Jets b/c he must be OUTSIDE his mind if he thinks whack Cutler is worth anything with his pissed-off trust fund baby look on the sideline (oh and say what's up to Elway for me – me and him go way back! LOL!!)