Editor’s note: Darrent Williams was gunned down early New Year’s Day, in an apparent murder that is still unsolved. Contributions to benefit Williams’ two children can be sent to the Darrent Williams Children’s Fund, c/o Denver Broncos, 13655 Broncos Parkway, Englewood, CO 80112. Here, Broncos reporter Bill Williamson offers his final memory of Williams:
Darrent Williams’ last words to me? He said he was at a loss for words.
His words surprised me. Eight hours later, his memory shook me.
Just as I prepared to leave the Broncos’ sullen locker room on New Year’s Eve after the team squandered a good chance for a playoff berth, I noticed Williams standing alone at his locker, applying lotion to arms that looked like they belonged to a much bigger man. I decided to test deadline. It was Darrent Williams. It would be worth eating a few precious deadline minutes for him. Time with Williams always was time well-spent.
I walked up to him. He was bent over, now applying lotion to legs that provided his great speed to help him overcome his small stature. He looked at me. He was disgusted. He couldn’t believe the Broncos lost another home game. He used words like “brutal” and phrases like “we blew it.” Then he said he was at a loss for words.
Darrent Williams never was at a loss at words.
For all the boisterous, candid talk provided by Williams, my final memory of the kid with the fro-hawk was that of a quiet moment as he prepared to leave the Broncos’ locker room for the final time.
…
Darrent Williams’ funeral is scheduled for noon Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas, where he grew up.
The funeral – open to the public – will be at Great Commission Baptist Church, 7700 McCart Ave., in Fort Worth. The church holds about 2,300 people. Speakers will include Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and coach Mike Shanahan.
A private memorial service was scheduled for today in Fort Worth.
In Denver, a candlelight vigil for Williams will begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday at 10th Avenue and Broadway, concluding at West 11th Avenue and Speer Boulevard, the site of the shooting.
Another candlelight vigil organized by fans is set for 2:15 p.m. Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High, at the south stands entrance below the horse waterfall.
Condolences can be e-mailed to broncos.website@broncos.nfl.net. Messages also are being left at Williams’ MySpace website, myspace.com/deewill927.
THE COUCH
ON: The NFL playoffs don’t hit their peak until next week, and who gives a hoot about Cincinnati and Western Michigan in Saturday’s International Bowl (ESPN, 10 a.m.)? Instead, tune in to an exciting college hockey matchup when Wisconsin visits Denver for a two-game set against the Pioneers. The league rivals – and owners of the past three national titles – face off today at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m., both airing on FSN.
OFF: If the bumper sticker industry has yet to develop a line of “There’s no shoeing like snow shoeing” products, then clearly someone is slacking. Speaking of, two snowshoe events Sunday will get the heart rate up. The Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series, a 5K run/walk and a 10K competitive event, races through town beginning at 11 a.m. (bcsnowshoe.com). And the Rocky Mountain Nordic Tour, a noncompetitive cross country ski and showshoe tour, runs from Breckenridge to Frisco starting at 9 a.m. (rmnordic.org).
AROUND TOWN
As witnessed by Air Force’s barn-burning victory over Colorado State on Wednesday, the arrival of the college basketball conference schedule means teams can no longer mess around. There are too many tough road games (did you see TCU take down Mountain West favorite New Mexico this week?) with too much at stake. The thin line between a league title and also-ran status will begin to be drawn Saturday, as Colorado hosts Texas in a Big 12 showdown in Boulder at 2 p.m. (airing on Altitude); Air Force welcomes UNLV at Clune Arena at 1:30 p.m. (Versus); and Colorado State travels to Albuquerque to take on the Lobos at 3 p.m. (the Mtn.).
WEAK IN REVIEW
Nick Saban, living up to the good name of Lou Saban as the Rand McNally of coaches, will coach next season at Alabama, despite pledging, repeatedly, that he wouldn’t consider ditching the Dolphins. Sabes, your pants are on fire. Miami, meanwhile, should take the obvious next step: Hire Mike Shula to be its head coach.
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
The Rockies on Wednesday capped an aggressive push to secure one of its coveted veterans, second baseman Jamey Carroll, with a $4 million, two-year deal. With Carroll, the Rox bought seven home runs and a .280 average over a five-year utility career. If the Rockies could just put that much effort into signing someone who’s like, y’know, good, they might not finish at the bottom of the NL West next season.
