Results tagged ‘ Broncos ’
Cajun Chicken Ass Whipp’n
10-28-12
Saints vs Broncos
Game 7
In the spirit of New Orleans Krista and I stopped at Popeye’s Fried Chicken for a little Cajun feast while we tailgated..
The spicy chicken strips were pretty damn good.
But I figure victory tastes better 
…and doesn’t give you indigestion.
Full moon today.
Not sure if Evan Dalrymple is on vacation but some Country Western guy was singing the National Anthem.
Coin toss.
Hey…Nobody rides for free!
Thunder got a workout today.
I learned my lesson about working the next day after a Broncos Sunday night game.
I took Monday off
Sucks to hear about Joe Mays who fractured his left fibula and is out for an “extended time”.
Manning crushed his thumb on Saints defensive end Martez Wilson’s helmet after a 23 yard pass to Eric Decker. His thumb seemed to be a non-factor for the rest of the game as Manning became the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns in four consecutive games…WOW!
Broncos are now 4-3 and the rest of the season doesn’t seem so intimidating now huh?
I’m “D” the Ranter…
Football is back in Denver baby!!…Can you feel it?
Not Nearly as Fun as a Real One
8-26-12
Broncos vs 49ers (Pre-Season Game 3)
Ahh the football pre-season…It seems real, but sadly like a lot of things in life… it’s not.
This is our second year as Broncos season ticket holders. I skipped both preseason games last year and Krista took the kids each to a game. This year, Krista took Mylee to the Broncos/Bears game and Hunter and I checked out the Broncos/49ers.
Baseball spring training and Football preseason are two totally different entity’s.
For me, baseball spring training is relaxing, not too crowded and it’s fun to wander around the stadiums and the practice fields exploring. Plus that time of year in Arizona the weather is perfect.
The football pre-season…Not so much.
Our first visit to Dove Valley was this year on my birthday and I found it sadly unimpressive. I must admit, I’ve never attending a football preseason workout before so I had nothing to compare it to.
As we heading inside Dove Valley and I got a good look at the joint, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was expecting. I guess maybe a little more frill?
Bronco fans were packed inside like sardines on the sidelines of what looked like a high school football field but nobody seemed to mind. It was blistering hot with very little shade unless you were part of the media. The media had nice shade tents set up along the end zone.
Here’s a few photos from back on Aug 7.
Brock Osweiler
Champ Baily
It was fun, Mike the Rox Addict was there as well and I’m sure I’ll be back but not until the novelty of having Manning as our quarterback dies down just a bit.
Anyways, back to Sports Authority Field.
I was shocked that I stumbled across free parking and it was only 4 1/2 blocks from the Broncos stadium…Hell Yeah!!
Tailgating was in full swing, but on a toned down level compared to any regular season game. My mission today was to spend some quality time with my boy, watch some football and practice my photo taking skills so I’m ready to rock on Sept 9th vs the Steelers.(Broncos first regular season game).
So lets roll with a picture show.
Dudes feet were real close to those spot lights.
Go Prater!!
Matthew Willis.
Manning looking for Demaryius Thomas.
Complete.
Champ ain’t lett’n go.
Decker just before his TD catch, the football is right next to the horse’s ass. Manning played for less than a quarter and had the Broncos up 17-10.
Caleb Hanie scrambling for the ball.
Broncos led 24-10 at the half. I felt like Manning and most the starters looked pretty good.
That soon changed. Because it’s pre-season I’ll spare you the details and make a long story short.
Final Score
49ers 29…Broncos 24
I’m ”D” the Ranter and one thing is for sure, pre-season games may be a joke but the Rant is serious business this Broncos Season.
Go Broncos…”D”
Doing My Part to Inspire Art
1-17-12
It’s one thing to admire someone’s artwork. What takes that to a new level is when that person admires your work and they take it and they add their own touch to it.
Here’s a picture I recently took at the Steelers vs Broncos game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
Here’s that same picture after Kyle Banister got ahold of it
Thanks Kyle, I’m honored and I think you did a fantastic job. If you’d like to see what’s next on Kyle’s drawing board become his friend on FACEBOOK. He’s working on a Giambi piece next
I’m ”D” The Ranter and this is some cool stuff…”D”
Fifteens no Seven but this Seasons been Heaven
1/8/12
STEELERS VS BRONCOS…THE REMATCH
This entry took a while to create because I had too many pictures to choose from. I finally decided since I couldn’t go see the Broncos take on the Patriots in person, I’d wait until after I knew who won the game to post this entry. Sorry to tease you.
As did most Broncos fans I went through a mixed range of emotions this past week. I was extremely excited that the Broncos made the playoffs but I wasn’t sure I felt they deserved to be there. Eventually as the week wore on I became comfortable with it
Krista and I had originally planned to sell our tickets and watch this one from home. However Coach John Fox called for all Broncos fans to not sell their tickets to avoid a Steeler takeover of Mile High like there was in 2006. Which is why we kind of didn’t want to attend in the first place.
Coach Fox asked nice and we knew we wouldn’t miss this game.
Besides, I was lucky enough to purchase two more tickets the day they went on sale in the south stands and Mike the Rox Addict was our guest this game.
For me this football game was about sweet justice/revenge. I was at the Steelers/Broncos game in 2006 when the Steelers embarrassed the Broncos and I hate that memory.
However, when your team is in the playoffs and you didn’t expect to be there, it’s all just gravy baby.
After the Broncos loss the previous week the media let loose on Tebow. They were waiting like hungry hawks for that opportunity to slam Tebow. The sound of every Sportscaster in America chanting “I told you so” echoing across the radio and television was enough to make me want to hurl.
I wanted see Tebow to shove a big win down their tiny microphones.
Here are a few pre-game pictures.
Steelers taking the field..Boo!
The Coin Flip. Broncos win and elect to kick.
Cartman getting the crowd ready.
First kick of the game.
The ball bouncing off the uprights after Prater’s monster kick.
Double choke.
Champ Baily proving you’re never to old to fly.
The taking down of Big Ben.
This is the Tebow Touchdown series.
Yeah!
Steelers Touchdown.
Steelers Field Goal.
Eddie doing his thing series.
The Decker injury series.
Broncos Field Goal
The dude who sits beside us…The Broncnator
I’ve never seen Mile High this amped before. The 12th Man was a major factor in this game every time the Steelers touched the football.
I was in a perfect position to take a picture of the winning touchdown. Here’s Thomas running in the game winner but as you can see it’s all blurry. That’s because Bronco Nation had Mile High stadium shaking so violently that my camera couldn’t compensate.
That’s never happened before.
“In your face Pittsburg”, and the best thing was nobody believed the Broncos could do it except Bronco Nation. The same Bronco Nation that was going absolutely nuts as Thomas rapidly approached the end zone ball in hand. The wife and I were hugging and high-fiving strangers we’d never even met.
That’s a memory and feeling I’ll never forget.
My first year as a Broncos season ticket holder was incredible. So many highs and lows. My wife and I tailgated every game and cheered our hearts out no matter how the Broncos were doing. If you look closely on TV during any Broncos field goal or extra point kicked, In the first row up on the fifth level just above the handicapped row you can usually see the both of us standing up cheering. I’m usually snapping pictures.
From the demise of Kyle Orton to the Rise of Tim Tebow. This season had everything because I expected nothing.
I know Tebow needs work. The Broncos as a whole need work. I’m hoping that Coach Fox has the resources, knowledge and the testicular fortitude to make some wise choices come next season. Props to Coach Fox for his ability to think outside the box this season, I respect him for that.
It can’t be a bad thing John Elway taking the young Tebow under his wing this off-season and passing on those golden nuggets of wisdom tucked away inside his legendary head right? Only time will tell on that one.
This concludes the 2011 Denver Broncos Football Season on the Rockpile Rant and I must tell you I really, really(yes two reallys), enjoyed taking pictures of football for the first time.
What’s next you ask?…Well it’s Rockies Fest this Saturday January 21st. I know a whole bunch of Rantics are going to be there and I’m really looking forward to hang’n with everyone. I miss baseball and my friends Yo!
I’m ”D” The Ranter and remember you can do what I do, but then I’ll just come back and do it better.
So sit back and just leave it to me …”D”
T didn’t Bow…He Buckled
10-30-11
Lions vs Broncos
Krista and I were really amped for this game along with the rest of the Bronco Nation as was witnessed by the enthusiasm of the tailgaters gett’n down in the Broncos parking lot pre-game.
I had no idea what to expect from Tebow this game. We all know he managed to pull out that win in Florida with a lot of prayers and some plain old last second luck. My opinion (which was formed during Kyle Orton’s last game) was I’d rather see Tebow lose and get the experience than see Orton’s unmotivating presence on the field.
By the end of this game that’s exactly what we got to see. Chalk this game up to experience as the inexperience of our new quarterback was painfully obvious.
Have I mentioned that I love photographing the skydivers as they enter Mile High?
These dudes are f’kn nuts.
The horse coming out of the horse.
Tebow doing the stand up version of Tebowing.
The coin toss. If you look close you can see the coin.
Right off the bat the Broncos marched downfield and scored a touchdown that for some reason was not a touchdown in the referee eyes. The play was reviewed and in the end wasn’t changed.
The Broncos settled for a field goal.
Then the game went from bad to worse.
All I could do is watch in disbelief and take pictures. Here you go.
Champ Baily doing what he does best.
Well amost…Johnson broke the tackle and scored.
This game was painful to watch. Even more painful if you paid to watch it.
Final Score..Lions 45 Broncos 10
I haven’t given up on Tebow. Stuff like this helps a fellow build character. But if you listen closely you can hear the rest of America saying “See Denver, you get what you ask for”.
And they’d be correct.
I’m the Ranter…Baby steps, as painful as they may be.
I’m not going ot tell Tebow “He can’t do it”.
Go Broncos…”D”
Orton Hears A Boo…Or Two
10/9/11
CHARGERS VS BRONCOS
The end of baseball season for me means Nuggets basketball (although this season is a bust), and Broncos Football. If you follow this blog you know it’s not limited to baseball. I’m a Colorado Blogger and with that said I need to be flexible, so I blog about all kinds of events from Judas Priest concerts to my little town of Nederland’s famous “Frozen Dead Guy Days”.
After almost ten years on the Broncos season ticket waiting list our number finally came up and Krista and I were offered the opportunity to purchase season tickets a few months ago. My wife is probably a bit more of a football fan than me(and a lot less of a baseball fan), but I’ve been a solid Broncos fan since 1989.
She supports me hanging out with the Rantics at Coors Field so I didn’t hesitate to get her the Broncos season tickets.
Happy Wife = Happy Life
The plus side is I get to go too Hunter and Mylee both were able to attend the two home pre-season games and they had a great time.
Our seats are on the fifth level and only thing in front of us is a railing. Cool thing, not too far from our seats is the Broncos fan mascot known as the Broncnater.
Here’s the Broncnator in full effect on the Big Screen.
Here he is in person.
Gotta respect a guy who puts his trademark name on his Jersey
This particular game was my third Broncos game of the season and although it was the Broncos forth loss I felt this game was blog worthy. The game kicked off the with the announcement that the skydivers were jumping out of the plane. Everyone stands there and looks up and waits for the skydivers to enter the stadium.
If you’ve never seen live before this it can get a bit tense at times as these dudes swoop over extremely close to the crowd. Once these guys manuver themselves inside the stadium they are haul’n a-ss.
Nobody took a boot to the head so I’d call this one a perfect landing.
Then there was the flyover…That never gets old…Jets will always be cool.
Ok, I was not on the Tebow bandwagon at the beginning of this game. I like Tebow but I figured he needed more time to learn the Broncos system and mature. But I’m not seeing anything I like from Mr. Orton thus far into the season.
Not long into the game the boo’s started because of Orton’s performance and not long after the Tebow chants started to echo the stadium.
I felt bad for Orton but not only did he put on a lackluster performance he just looked like he wasn’t into it. Body language says a lot. Kyle’s body language said..”Bench Me”
Coach Fox succumbed to the crowd pressure, pulled Orton, put in Tebow and the Broncos were back in the game. Something about Tebow, when he is on the field it feels electric. It’s like the Mile High Magic is back.
Say what you want, I was there and I felt it.
Here are some random game pictures.
This dude is gonna be great.
Gets the two point conversion.
Decker Flying
This catch was one Coach Fox reviewed. He clearly had possession.
Upon further review it was a reception.
Champ Baily doing his thing.
Sends Mathews airborne.
Mathews lands and loses possession of the ball.
Broncos ball.
Rivers attempts a throw to Jackson.
Jackson thinks he has it.
I think at this point Jackson knows he’s lost it.
The Broncos had a chance to win the game with one second left close to the goal but it wasn’t to be.
Broncos lose to the Chargers. The final score was 29-24. I’ve never exited Mile High with a loss and seen the crowd still buzzing with excitement. Is Orton done and the Tebow era begun?
By the way..Have you heard of Tebowing? You’ll love this
I’m the Ranter…I’m on the Tebow wagon, I like a quarterback with heart.
Tribute to The Barrel Man Part 2
12/20/09 Broncos vs Raiders Invesco Field at Mile High
I don’t have the opportunity or money to attend a lot of Broncos football games. Since they built Invesco Field at Mile High and tore down the old Mile High Stadium ticket prices for a Broncos game have become ridiculious.
I picked up these tickets in August for Krista’s birthday present.(Thanks Dan). We never miss the Broncos/Raiders game.
For a good reason too, we’re what you call Raider Haters.
FACT: After a Broncos game a Raider fan can usually get from the stadium to his car with out bodily harm.
I’m not so sure you could say the same about a Broncos fan working his way back to his car in Oakland.
Bronco fans take their tailgating seriously. Krista and I had spent the previous night in Colorado Springs at a long time friend of ours X-mas party so our tailgating consisted of a six-pack and a couple of Subway subs.
With that said we had food and booze… what more do you need to successfully tailgate?
Ok,… one of these contraptions might be nice but remember folks I was scraping just to afford the damn tickets in the first place…Cool stuff though. The parking lot was filled with Bronco vehicles and maniacs of all kinds.
As we approached the front of Mile High we noticed the first tribute to the Barrel Man.
Notice it says “The Greatest Superfan Ever…Nice touch Broncos.
There was a moment of silence during the game for Chris Henry who recently passed.
All the photos I took today were taken from the 500 level so they are not the greatest.
Before
After
Did I mention it was a beautiful day?
It’s not often you can catch a Broncos game in December and not need a heavy jacket.
Here’s video of the Broncos running on to the field.
As I had hoped, before the game started there was a video tribute to the Barrel Man. Instead of a moment of silence they called for a Broncos Cheer. Additionally they did the wave starting in the South Stands until the game started.
That was cool. I have no idea what else the Broncos Organizaton may have planned for the memory of the Barrel Man. I did notice during the game when they were trying get the fans pumped up the Barrel Man would pop up on the big screen and give a cheer…I liked that.
Here are some more random pictures.
Don’t even ask me what the hell this was.
Scary moment during the game when Champ Baily got his bells rung.
The Raiders had our number today. The Broncos defense was non-existant. Kyle Orton was totally off his mark today and it’s not easy to miss Brandon Marshall as he’s a really big dude with long arms.
Here’s a shot of the almost final score.
Second year in a row the Raiders have beat the Broncos at home and we paid to see it. The Broncos lost this one in the last minute of the game. Such is football I guess.
D The Rockpile Ranter
The Man in the Can was the Broncos Biggest Fan
12/9/09
Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve sat in front of a computer staring at my blog. It seems different now. Before when I was blogging I was running on adrenaline. Now, I don’t feel rushed anymore.
Our move to the mountains really taxed my ability to attend Rockies games, work full time, be a father and keep up a top ten MLBlog.
At the end of the Rockies/Phillies post-season game aka “The coldest post-season game in history” I was mentally done for a while as you could see in the lack of recent entries.
However, myself being a super fan in Colorado it would be impossible for me not to write an entry on the recently passed Bronco Superfan..the Barrel Man.
You see, I respected the Barrel Man.
Without fans professional sports cease to exist.
Most might disagree but in my small mind I consider myself the Rockies unofficial mascot.
This man also was considered the Broncos unofficial mascot.
Although when you make the Hall of Fame that in my eyes sort of makes it official.
I’ve attended 1-2 Broncos home games for at least the last ten years. Almost every game I’m dressed in several layers and by the time I get home I’m ready for a hot bath.
Not the Barrel Man. Nobody except he and his wife knew what he wore underneath that barrel.
Everything on the outside of that orange cylinder was exposed to the brutal elements.
Simply amazing. The temperature of the “Coldest baseball post-season game in history” was a nut shriveling 27 degrees. That’s probably close to what the average temperature of a Broncos game in the winter time is.
Had I watched that Rockies game in dressed only in a barrel I would have been a popsicle.
I don’t know how the Barrel Man did it, but he did it…And he did it for a long time.
Here’s a little history on ‘The Man in the Can“.
His name was Tim McKernan and he started attending Broncos games in 1967. The barrel was donned first in 1977 resulting from a bet from his brother. Here’s a quote from the Barrel Man.
“He wanted to see me on TV out in California,” McKernan said. “I had painted a barrel to make a drum out of it to look like an Orange Crush can, told him about it and he bet me 10 bucks that I didn’t have the guts to wear nothing but the barrel to a ball game.”
He retired from being the Barrel Man for thirty years after the 2007 Broncos season due to Doctor’s orders.
McKernan was the first Broncos fan inducted into the Visa Hall of Fans at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Several years ago, McKernan sold the famous barrel he wore for Super Bowl XXXII for $30,000.
The Barrel Man had it autographed by 49 Broncos and he sold it to a Black Hawk, Colorado casino.
McKernan gave 10% of the profits to the Jubilee House in Gunnison, Colorado.
The Jubilee House is a domestic violence and sexual assault emergency shelter serving a large rural area in Colorado.
Ok Broncos, time to step up to the plate on this one. I have heard a lot of ideas for tribute to the Barrel Man and these are the ones that I liked. The Barrel Man should absolutely be in the Ring of Fame at Invesco Field at Mile High and a bronze statue of the Barrel Man should be erected somewhere in the South stands so the Barrel Man is is seen cheering on the Broncos for as long as the Broncos organization exists.
It’s not a lot to ask and as I mentioned at the beginning of this entry, without fans,… professional sports cease to exist.
The Barrel man may have been imatated but he’s never been duplicated.
That would be impossible because he was truly one of a kind
I trust the Broncos organization will do the right thing. I’ve never met the Barrel Man but I’ve been within a few feet of him at a Broncos game.
The guy was magnetic.
Krista and I will be at the next Broncos home game vs the Raiders on Dec 20th.
This will be the first Broncos home game since the Barrel Man has passed.
I really hope they have some kind of tribute for him. Fans like this one don’t come around often.
REST IN PEACE BARREL MAN
THE BARRELS IN HEAVEN ARE FELT LINED
Got a Barrel Man Story? I’d love to hear it.
D…The Rockpile Ranter
Snow gotta go before that first throw
4/3/09
Just popped over to “The Maxx” to check the brackets and there’s an interesting match-up going on right now.
Rays Renegade against Diatribe of a Law Student. I read both of their blogs and both are outstanding in their own way. Tough call, so in fairness I can’t plug one or the other.
But I wish both of you luck.
The Rockpile Rant is up next against Eat, Sleep, Baseball. I have no idea what to expect because I had no idea I’d actually make it this far. Seems Julia’s Rants, Red State Blue State and the # 1 blog (whatever it’s called) are all history leaving me the only top five blog still in contention.
I don’t really understand this bracket, nor do I even plan to try. It’s all a crapshoot and I’m along for the interesting and controversial ride while pointing out the cool stuff
We’re getting ready for another potential “major” snowstorm to hit us the Denver area tonight. I’m ok with that because I’m off for the weekend and as far as I’m concerned Mother Nature needs to dump all she can because once Coors Field opens I’m not putting up with that snow bullsh*t anymore.
BASEBALL AND SNOW DO NOT PEACEFULLY CO-EXIST
Oh F*ck no!
No way, not ever, never, no. April 5th is officially the cutoff for new snow (That way the snow has time to melt before the home opener on the 10th).
There’s nothing quite like catching a baseball when your fingers are numb and then getting that cold finger sting from the impact of the baseball.
I suppose the runners could use snowshoes but how would you spot the baseball, wouldn’t it just blend in?
You choose the caption
Here’s a picture in dire need of a caption. Let’s see what you got, go ahead shoot me your best shot. This ought to be good.
Still speechless, I thought that one might get you.
Thanks for making the Rockpile Rant a part of your daily web adventure.
I’m D the Rockpile Ranter and believe me when I tell you the fun is just beginning. I’ll have the official rules for the sport of Hagg’n in my next entry…D
PS..Jay Cutler you can KMA you MF.
Back in my State, and a win feels great
12/7/08 Denver Broncos vs the Kansas City Chiefs
We showed up early for the Broncos game so we could get a good parking spot to do some serious tailgating.
Usually 3 1/2 hours before kickoff will do it, but not always. Today it worked.
We snagged a really good spot, kicked back and waited for our KC Chiefs friends Andy and Amalie to show up.
Then we grilled up some tasty brats, some pulled pork, and a can of beans.
Perfect food to absorb the beverages.
We saw the Bronco helmet wagon driving around tossing out T-Shirts, but we didn’t manage to get one.
After we ate we took a walk around to check out the scene.
Here’s the Broncos Caddy.
This is a sweet ride.
A few of the Broncos tents
You’ve got to love a sea of orange and blue.
Even the the horse on top of Invesco Field at Mile High was glad to see us.
It was a perfect day to watch Bronco football live.
My first day back in Colorado and I’m fortunate enough to get weather like this.
Here’s a shot of the crowd to the left of me, and one the right.
Here is what the field looked like from our seats…. I love Colorado, you wish you lived here.
Lots of fans who were really into the spirit of things.
8 degrees in Chicago yesterday, 60 degrees in Denver today, thus the smiles.
The Broncos didn’t fare so well at home after the first quarter. These lovely ladies kept coming onto the field to take our mind off of the score. That was nice of them.
Here’s Cutler getting ready to start this drive or a touchdown, putting the Broncos up.
This is what we call the beginning of a beautiful Colorado sunset.
Then the damn Chiefs came back and tied it. Below was also the attendance at todays game.
The Broncos had a late rally in the 4th quarter.
Broncos score, win the game, and fans get some sweet justice from the last time we played the Chiefs.They previoiusly put a whoopin on us at Arrowhead Stadium.
After the game everyone ran onto the field all excited.
Our KC Friends, not so much. They really were great sports today. Thanks,
both of you.
The only Bronco game we’re able to see this season and we beat the Chiefs in a great game. Glad we were lucky enough to be there live. Check out my video of us leaving the game. It was insane.
Thanks for checking in with the Rant…D
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