"This day is for JOHN" Happy 45th

[broncosteven]

On John's 45th Birthday please post what John Elway means to you.

I loved the SB's & the fact that he got there 5 times. But John Elway to me means never giving up. I loved all the comebacks the most.

[Rock Chalk]

John Elway is the reason I am a football fan. While Louis Wright returned a blocked kick for a TD that got me into football, John Elway kept me there. My entire football loving experience begins with John and to him everything I measure against. John could have retired and never won a superbowl and I would not think less of him. I still consider him to be the greatest ever to play the game and will be the greatest for all time in my book.

When he brought us fans those two rings with the help of Shannon and Terrell, that was just icing on an already fantastically decorated cake. Its like a war hero who has the knowledge that he saved his buddies life and nothing anyone can ever do can take that pride away from him but then the government decides to give him a medal of honor for it. Well, the medal might not mean as much as the actual feeling of saving a friends life, but its nice to be recognized nonetheless. John Elway, the people's QB, our QB. There is only one and thank God we got to cheer for him every Sunday for 16 years.

[MT-Tdawg]

John Elway is the reason I love football so much and became a broncos fan. I can remember watching football in 1st grade on sundays, trying to find a team to root for since i was raised in montana and there wasn't a "local" team. I saw this amazing man in orange with a big white 7 on his jersey doing things that amazed me and have been a die hard ever since. Happy birthday to the greatest QB of all time.

[WyoLaw]

This from the Denver Post this morning. "[J]ust to prove time flies when you're not winning playoff games, happy 45th birthday to John Elway. " - Jim Armstrong

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Happy Birthday John - You are, and always will be, THE BRONCO.

[ludo21]

I also really enjoyed John being here. Im glad he chose to play it smart and tell the colts that he didnt want to go to that crappy franchise. Thanks John for all the wins, and all the come back thrillers!!!

Happy B-day!!

[Bronco9798]

I was a Bronco fan before the Elway Era but John turned the franchise around and made it what it is today. Great memories and what a wonderful ride it was. I'll never forget!!!!! Here are a few of my favorite collectibles.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/Khouck001/MVC-Helmet.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/Khouck001/MVC-039X.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/Khouck001/MVC-040X.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/Khouck001/MVC-041X.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/Khouck001/MVC-042X.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/Khouck001/MVC-043X.jpg

[Garcia Bronco]

John Elway taught me to fight until the end, and through acts...not words.. I don't know if he's the only guy to live up to the hype as Kiper suggests, but I know he is one of them. So happy birthday John....may you have many more.

[rbackfactory80]

Happy Birthday John,

Thanks for bringing the Broncs to the top and also never giving up and showing that not only talent but heart and drive are key factors to success.

[Crushaholic]

John Elway was born on the same day as TailgateNut? Cool...happy birthday to both...

[illbroncsfn]

I'll never forget a saturday afternoon game against the chiefs at Arrowhead. I was in 1st grade- 85/86, and I couldn't believe people could sit around for 3 hours and watch football on T.V., until I saw #7 do things on the field that no one else came close to doing- I was hooked...........

[maven]

Superbowl wins, lots of women, and plenty of Coors Light. What a great country!

[Smilin Assassin]

I'm with the rest of you. John Elway made me a Broncos fan and football fan in general.

There were always 22 guys on the field, but John Elway was like a Super Hero out there to me growing up. Might as well have been a big "S" on his chest instead of the 7. The flying helicopter in Super Bowl XXXII just cemented that for me.

Happy 45th John!

[Sir Mawn]

Time flies indeed. John's 45?!?!?!?!?!?!?

A true warrior and the best QB to have ever stepped on the football field.

[Sir Mawn]

... and that ARM!

[Goobzilla]

"This one's for JOHN!"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Goobzilla/lglargebeermug.jpg

Dude is my hero, plain and simple. I hope I don't pass out when I finally meet him.

[Boogerboots]

Nobody could have imagined the void that was left once Mr. Elway retired. I sure miss seeing him play for the blue and orange. I too became a Bronco fan because of his tenacious play and that "never give up" attitude.

The Broncos always seemed to be perrenial underdogs. But as the old saying goes, every dog has his day. For the few crushing defeats that twarted John's previous Super Bowl appearances, it finally was his turn to reach or gridiron glory. To see him helicopter spin his way to a first down in SB XXXII is something I'll never forget.

That to me was the apex of his career. His long illustrious career led to that one moment where he was willing to lay it all on the line to win a championship. Leadership, sacrifice, determination. That is what John Elway is all about.

All Bronco fans should be thankful to have such a talented quarterback create a great legacy for this franchise. Happy Birthday Mr. Elway! And here's to many, many more. :thumbsup:

[JPEZ]

http://www.digi7.com/pwn/elway/images/pics/fbkid.jpg
Happy B-Day..........Wood! :thumbsup:

[Kaylore]

Time flies indeed. John's 45?!?!?!?!?!?!?

A true warrior and the best QB to have ever stepped on the football field.
45 is actually younger than I thought he'd be. Vinny Testaverde will be be 42 this year. Some say John could have played that long, but few Quarterbacks get to go out on top like he did: Super Will, second consecutive title, MVP of the game. I think that only added to his mystique.

Anyway, happy birthday John! May you take a job in our front office! (Seriously, I don't see why this would be a bad idea. Shanny and John worked together on playcalling and even personel moves, talent evaluation would be terrific.)

[Arkie]

I looked up winner in the dictionary.

Main Entry: win·ner
Pronunciation: 'wi-n&r
Function: noun
: one that wins: as a : http://www.allposters.com/IMAGES/PHOTOFILE/AADR025_a.jpg b : one that is successful especially through praiseworthy ability and hard work c : a victor especially in games and sports d : one that wins admiration e : a shot in a court game that is not returned and that scores for the player making it

[jonny1]

I was a Broncos fan before that #7, but he is the measure to which all others must now aspire.

To watch an old game tape or highlight film and see him play QB . . . glad I was alive to see it when it happened.

[Mile High Shack]

Happy Bday Duke

you are d'man

[FADERPROOF]

I'm with the crowd of people that say that Elway got them to be a Broncos fan.

1989 AFC Championship game, Broncos vs. Browns. I was all geared up and ready to be a Browns fan when I watched a team named the Denver Broncos for the first time. What immediately drew me to them was the colors, I jsut lvoed the orange with the blue and the logo was great.

Throughout the game I just kept acknowledging how good the Broncos were, much to my families dismay(all Browns fan.) And I especially kept making remarks about how Denver's QB was much better than anyone else out there, including Cleveland's QB. After the game, I told my dad that I was a Broncos fan, I don't know if he ever came as close to hitting me as he did that day, luckily he held up.

Then we get blown out 55-10 in the Super Bowl, I watched my 2 Broncos game all the way til the end, after the game my dad sat me down and said," I bet you're having second thoughts on liking the Broncos now, huh?" I looked up and said "I'm still a Broncos fan, Elway is still the best player out there."

That's the 2nd closest he's ever came to hitting me.

Without John, we don't make it to the AFC Championship game and we don't win the AFC Championship game that year, which means I'd be sitting here 16 years later as a hateful spiteful Cleveland Browns fan.

Thanks John for making me choose the right team to root for and for all the great memories that followed, happy birthday!

[gunns]

I was a Bronco fan 13 years before John got there. I remember the draft of 83. I wanted Elway so bad but knew there was no chance. Watched Baltimore take him and that was that. And then......the Broncos had him. I could not believe it, it was a fantasy. Then the real dream started. 16 years of the best football I had ever experienced. I cried in Qualcomm Stadium I was so happy for that man on January 25, 1998. My children and grandchildren are the only other people in this world to give me greater memories than that man did. I thank him for that. Enjoyed watching him enjoy victory again with the Crush. Still love the Broncos but he took the luster with him when he left.....and a lot of my confidence.

[Tredici]

For a few years early in John's career I didn't have time to invest in many more football games than the Broncos and whoever was on Monday night. So basically I saw John. And the announcers used to ooooo and ahhhhhh and apply many superlative adjectives and adverbs to the point where, it was like, yeah, yeah yeah.

Then I moved to Cali and it was before DirecTV. Suddenly I was subject to watching games other than the Broncos and seeing what was passing as a QB for many other teams in the league. After a steady diet of Elway it was a real eye opener. I have a healthy appreciation of guys like Marino and Montana. But no one did with their feet, body, and sixth sense what John did naturally.

I've always thought history would be kinder to John then his playing years were. Fans opposing the Broncos were consumed with frustration and loved to hate him. As retrospectives are put together, people are going to be able to look back at his play with a better sense of appreciation. He was unique. And that is going to stand the test of time.