Fanaticism

I have a friend who has very recently joined my clan in the larger picture of Broncos family. Why is this something I want to write about? Cause it is a complete shock is why. The Sunday after my birthday, I rolled out of bed and my phone was beeping that I had some messages. They were notifications for my facebook. OK, I am still groggy but I head over to the computer and log on. There is a message from my dear, old friend, Tony in Alaska, talking about how he has decided he needs to rethink his football team. A quick history: Originally he was a Vikings fan, but due to the fact that Favre will always be a Packer and the way the team was being run, he got disgusted and left without looking back. Make no mistake, he tried to stay loyal but couldn't do it. My heavens, the Vikings made the playoffs, and he still couldn't get behind them, so that told me how serious he was about saying goodbye to the Vikings. He then decided to go for the 49ers since he lived there a while. Frankly I don't care one way or another for them, sometimes I am for them, sometimes against them. Again, he tried, but just wasn't feeling it. I watched him try and love the team, but it wasn't happening. Even thousands of miles away I could tell. He and I would go back and forth bantering about our teams. Me always praising my Broncos, him, laughing at me and giving me hell. So imagine my surprise when I logged on that Sunday morning to find out that he was now on my side! He was pledging his loyalty to the DENVER BRONCOS!!! I read through all had written to me. I thought, "How much beer did I drink last night?!? I need some coffee, that cannot be right." I got up, made me some coffee, woke up and sat down thinking, that I was imagining things. There it was again. He was a Broncos Fan! Tom heard me say, "What the hell? This must be a joke!" He asked me what I was talking about and I told him. He just said, "Its a good thing, more Broncos fans the better!" I agree. But do you know how much crapola I got from this guy? In a matter of two weeks, he has gone from announcing his loyalty to full fledged, obsessed, fanatic! He never showed this much enthusiasm for the niners or the Vikings, whom he cheered on, for 41 years! So I believe him when he says this is the real thing. I have been able to share with him what I know, but he is quickly surpassing me to the point that I am going to soon be asking HIM for knowledge. I love having a another friend as a fellow fanatic. It is nice having people to discuss the team with. I have introduced him to a couple of my friends who are just as nuts as I am, Susan and my Mom. They have embraced him and are excited to have him on our side. Tony and I were discussing this recently and he said that he never really understood what I meant by "bleeding Blue and Orange" He just thought I was crazy! He now gets it. He understands the pride and commitment I have for the Broncos. He has taken this on full speed ahead. I am still in shock. Just a matter of a few weeks ago, he was giving me a hard time. All football season I heard it from him. (Broncos fans are used to it.) I can hardly wait for next season. I am always happy for fall football season, but even more this time cause we have a new fellow, insanely crazy, devoted fanatic. So welcome, Tony, you can look forward to your initiation soon. ;o) I am very excited to have him along for this wild and crazy ride. If you would like to check out Tony's blog, where he himself is discussing his own transformation, please click on the "Broncos Family" or the "Anchorage Daily" link on the right sidebar of my blog.

While I know other teams have their crazy fans, I must say Broncos take the cake. The love the fans have are enormous.
When we win, you can't shut us up for a week. When we lose, as sad as we are, we are still madly in love with our boys. "Here's to you, Mile High Denver Bronco Fans and your two favorite teams. The Broncos and whoever is stomping Oakland!"