This past Saturday I traveled to Pueblo, CO for the grand opening of Dick’s Sporting Goods to meet one of the stars of the Denver Broncos defense.
First, let me provide a bit of a background for this trip. Many of you likely know about “The Beard.” This was a two year playoff beard I grew from the time the Broncos lost Super Bowl 48 until they won the Super Bowl (50). After “The Beard” got chopped off the day of the Super Bowl Championship parade in Denver, I decided to keep it. It sits in a manila envelope in the Broncos room at my house.
Last week, I received word that current Denver Broncos defensive lineman, Derek Wolfe, would be at the grand opening of Dick’s Sporting Goods in Pueblo. I’ve been wanting to get the envelope autographed by key players from the Super Bowl winning team. Derek Wolfe would be the first to sign it. This trip would require a bit of a sacrifice, though. The autograph session was scheduled from 12 noon until 2 p.m. on Saturday at the new store. However, not just anyone could get the opportunity to meet Wolfe. At 8 a.m. that morning, the store passed out wristbands to the first 450 fans and that would allow entry to the autograph line. Pueblo is nearly 120 miles from Lamar. This would require getting up very early to arrive before 8 a.m.
My alarm was set for 4 a.m. which would allow me to get there a little over an hour before the wristbands were passed out. I drove up to the new store around 6:40 a.m. and there were already close to 200 people waiting in line. Saturday involved a lot of standing in line, first to receive a wristband and then again to get the autograph.
While Wolfe was signing the envelope which contained a two year playoff beard, I quickly told him why I grew and when I was able to shave it. You might ask, what was his response? “Grow it again so we can win another Super Bowl!”
The playoff beard was a one-time event. I won’t be growing another one. However, I believe it is someone else’s turn. I saw a team I believed could win the Super Bowl and they didn’t get the job done. So, I grew it until the job was done. It represented unfinished business. It wasn’t a bet, it wasn’t a superstition, it was simply representing unfinished business. At Super Bowl 50, the Broncos got it taken care of by dismantling the Carolina Panthers.
I got my first autograph with more hopefully to come. Now I turn my attention to tonight’s NFL Draft. I have a wish list and it begins and ends with Christian McCaffrey. He can run the ball, catch the ball and handle punt and kick returns. He alone could take care of so many needs for the Broncos. The Broncos sit at pick number 20 in the first round with 10 picks overall. I’m hoping they use some of those picks to trade up to get McCaffrey.
Mike Bowen is the Editor for The Lamar Ledger
He can be contacted at bowenm@lamarledger.com or by calling 719-336-2266.