April 30, 2008
Have I Got a
Book For You

Aah the memories.  And they all happened right here in the forgotten time zone.  Those magical moments came back with a rush last week reading “77”-- Denver, The Broncos, and a Coming of Age”.  What a fantastic read.  Were you lucky enough to be a Bronco fan thirty years ago, this work of Coloradoan Terry Frei, a most capable sportswriter who earns his daily bread toiling for both the Denver Post and ESPN.com, is for you. 

1977 was the year we Bronco-maniacs got even. Our Denver footballers, for years the dregs of the NFL, marched their way to the franchise’s first Super Bowl and in the process took fans from Montana to New Mexico along for the glorious ride.  It was the year of the Orange Crush, featuring the greatest set of linebackers every to play for one team at one time.  Gradishar, Jackson, Rizzo, and Swenson were their names and the fact that all four, Randy Gradishar in particular, are not in the Hall of Fame is ludicrous.  On offense, 1977 was the year of the M & M connection, Craig Morton and Haven Moses. 

But “77” is more than just a Bronco football memoir.  It was a time when our Centennial State exploded on the national scene. In 1977, Denver and its southern suburbs stopped at Arapahoe Road.  Forget about LoDo, no one ever ventured past Larimer for fear of his or her well-being and the 16^th Street Mall was just an idea on the drawing boards. We’re talking way back when folks still shopped downtown at Denver Dry, May D & F and Joslin’s. 

The Governor of Colorado, first termer Richard Lamm, promised, “to drive a silver stake through the planned C-470”.  In an interview with Frei, the former “hippie” Governor, who rode into office on the tidal wave of Colorado voters dis-inviting the ’76 winter Olympics, says he only opposed the highway project to protect Colorado citizens of the future against the high gas prices that were surely to occur. While the Governor may be long gone from politics, he can still “spin” with the best.  Actually the anti-growth Gov, he presided over the greatest population explosion in our state’s history, is treated quite fairly as Mr. Frei details the former Governor’s memories of shepherding our state through the turbulent seventies and political activists like Corky Gonzales and Pat Schroeder, a long strike at Coors Brewery plus the Equal Rights amendment struggle.  All are inter-woven throughout the history of Bronco’s most improbable season. 

One of “77”’s featured Broncos is today a Grand Junction resident.  Mike Montler, former CU All-American, achieved football fame as a member of the Buffalo Bills vaunted “Electric Company” offensive line that provided the power for “The Juice”.  Montler wangled a trade back home to Colorado and served as the Bronco center during the magical season. 

Before college Mr. Montler was a Marine.  In the corps he played football and served in Viet Nam.  Several pages are devoted to how the 6’5” Montler wound up as a sharpshooter on a ship patrolling the Saigon River.  The only problem with his sharpshooter assignment was he hadn’t fired a rifle since basic training and was issued a rifle with no firing pin.  Most likely the story is more of a laugh today than at the time. 

For anyone calling Colorado home decades ago, “77” is time well spent.  It’s a return to driving the Valley Highway, taking in a Turn of the Century nightclub show, people painting their houses, cars and bodies orange, a new columnist named Woody Paige, the brown cloud and 10,000 fans greeting the Broncos at Stapleton when their plane touched down after a road win over the Raiders.  (Thirty years ago was indeed a different time.  So long ago beating the silver and black actually meant something.) 

The “first” time is rarely the “best” time.  But it is the most memorable.  The “77” Broncos lost the Super Bowl to the Cowboys.  Later years featured “The Drive”, a Stanley Cup or two, plus the long awaited Super Bowl championships.  No one will ever forget last year’s “Miracle on Blake Street”.  But for those of us lucky enough to be cheering our lungs out for the orange and blue three decades ago, there’ll never be another year like “77”.  And thanks to Terry Frei’s wonderful work, we get to live that magical moment all over again.