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Published on 10/03/2007 at Wed Oct 03 12:36.
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I am a Denver Broncos fan

Posted Wed Oct 3rd by

I have really liked what Kyle and some of our readers have been saying about the sad state of Denver fandom online.

As you know, I don’t live in Denver, and as a ‘remote’ fan I have more friends (and know more fellow Denver addicts) online than in real life. Most of these friends I found this off-season through Broncos forums and blogs. These sites and the friendships I formed helped me personally deal with the very emotional end of 2006 and all of the events that followed.

However, I felt almost sick to my stomach when I visited some of these same forums and blogs this week. Instead of the praise and support the fans were providing just a month ago, these forums were filled with venomous and insulting words for nearly everyone within the Bronco organization. It made me mad.

I am not claiming we should jump with joy when we lose. Nor am I suggesting that fans can’t disagree with the coaches and/or owners of a team. Heck, you all know I voice my opinion about certain players and/or their performances regularly on this site. However, I don’t post these things here just to throw out negativity or with intent to damage team morale. In fact, I always try to find some positive things to say even in my most negative evaluations.

So with those thoughts on my mind I am preparing for my first visit to the Mile High City. I am flying into Denver on Saturday and will be getting up early to partake of tailgating on Sunday morning before going to the game that afternoon. This is my first time in Denver and my very first Broncos home game.

Maybe it’s because of the recent bad attitudes on the forums, or maybe it’s because fans were booing our team vs Oakland, or maybe it’s just because I have a higher sense of fan duty that is reasonable. Whatever the case, I feel that as a self-proclaimed obsessive fan, it is a huge privilege to be able to stand in that stadium on Sunday and BE the 12th man. I want to add my blue & orange to the sea of colored jerseys in the stands. I want to scream my head off, and stomp my feet and make it impossible for San Diego to hear playcalls at the line of scrimmage. I want to chant IN-COM-PLETE when a Charger pass falls short and I want to get drunk on the energy of seventy-four thousand other people doing the same thing!

I want to be a FAN this Sunday. A fan that can, for once, have my team hear my voice and feel my passion. I want to give back (in a collective way) to the team I support. That’s what I feel being a fan is all about really – supporting your favorite team.

Maybe I’m alone in my beliefs, but I feel that we are all lucky to support an organization with as much integrity, compassion and competitive spirit as the Denver Broncos have.

I am a Denver Broncos fan – and I believe.

Go Broncos!

-Jonathan Douglas
–BroncoTalk.net

  • http://merlinofchaos.livejournal.com E. Halsey Miles

    Football fans are incredibly emotional. Also, a lot of fans are not necessarily deeply into the game. They’re deeply into game day, and the joy of winning, and the group sense of the town being better than another town, for example.

    And Broncos’ fans are rabid; always have been. Back when I actually lived in Denver, I couldn’t stand the whole thing, it was just too much. It was only after I moved away and met my Broncos’ fan wife that I was able to appreciate it, and now when I visit I, too, get wrapped up in the Blue and Orange.

    Web boards are often full of the strongest, least rational opinions. I believe they self-select for people who type before they think; for people who don’t care about things most people care about. A lot of the normal fans don’t necessarily even go near the web boards, let alone post to them. I, for one, spent a long time just reading stuff before I was willing to post, and I still won’t go near just fan boards. There’s too many people who don’t have a clue what they’re talking about. I prefer this kind of a forum, where most of the people here are paying attention, and the disagreements aren’t due to ignorance.

    The point is: don’t pay attention to the vitriol on web boards. And don’t worry, they don’t reflect what the real fans think. The real fans support the team. The real fans support the city. The real fans know that losing is part of the game, and you have to take the good with the bad.

    The real fans will be out there, tailgating on Sunday, or at home, eagerly awaiting the game.

    We have to take the good with the bad.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    I think you’re right. Usually the loud minority gets heard while the silent majority gets ignored.

    However, I definitely heard booing at the stadium during our home opener and that’s just not cool. Win or lose true fans should show their team on the field some support.

    I love to see the Denver Broncos win – I don’t love the Broncos because they win.

  • http://broncotalk.net kmonty

    Looking forward to your in-game report Jonathan, not just of the players but of the fans! Hope they’re as crazy as you are out there!

    I couldn’t agree more with the sickening state of the Broncos forums, and I think Earl is right too, it’s not a real accurate sample of Denver Broncos fans.

    Although all my Broncos fan friends are kinda pissed off right now too.

  • studbucket

    Thanks for the great post.

  • BroncoChris

    Very beautiful and emotional post. As fans go you are a king. May your journey be fruitful as well as safe. Remember Jon, your hometown needs you.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    Thanks, Chris! :)

    I’ll try to remember to take lots of pictures too – I know you want to see one of me and Miles!

  • LaurenK

    Hey all, I’m not sure how to start my own line/category on this site, so I’ll just start here and hope for an answer. I am buying tickets to the Oct. 21st game against Pittsburgh tomorrow from a guy I met on craigslist selling tickets. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what to look for to ensure they are real tickets and not fakes…any input will be appreciated! Thanks alot.