The bottom of the old city dump was on the mountaintop of the world Thursday night.
Under a sky that had no clouds and no qualms, in a stadium that was built for football, at a momentous event that attracted more than 80,000 people of all shapes and sizes, statures and states, in at atmosphere that was a combination all-star rock concert, revival, outdoor celebration, county fair, fashion and light show, reality television program, and political convention, Barack Obama, as expected, accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.
The crowd did “the wave.” They waved American flags. They waved at TV cameras and at one another. A wave of celebration swept through the stadium, and a wave of relief rolled across Colorado.
Lucille Murphy — in a white skirt, blue vest and red knee-high boots, with glitter on her face and arms — was in section 126, behind the podium. “This is what it is and where it’s happening,” she said.
What it was was the whirlwind conclusion to the Democratic convention, and the nominee finally spoke at where it was: Invesco Field.
More than 160,000 feet stomped on the temporary floor, where the delegates were seated, and in the stands, where the rest were standing, when he appeared. Seventy-five thousand cellphones were turned on, and as many flashes went off.
Like James Taylor, I’ve seen fire, and I’ve seen rain — and I’ve seen many scenes play out on this site, which was dug out of a rat-hole landfill 60 years ago. The original Bears Stadium was opened on Aug. 14, 1948.
This was different from the others.
There was minor-league baseball in the old ballpark and Major League Baseball in the old stadium. There has been AFL, NFL, USFL, college, high school and international football (soccer) in Mile High Stadium and its slick, modern replacement.
The Jackson Five, the Beach Boys, the Eagles and Bruce Springsteen have played concerts here in one place or the other. Joe Montana, Joe Namath and Tom Brady have played football here.
Eric Young of the Rockies, it can be said, hit a historic home run on this ground. It will be said that Barack Obama of the Democrats hit a historic run on Thursday evening.
The pope came and talked.
Billy Graham came and talked.
Muhammad Ali came and fought.
Joe DiMaggio came and ran out on the field in his old Yankees uniform.
John Elway came and passed and won.
Former Republican presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Gerald Ford came here and watched games. The elder George Bush came here and played in an old-timers baseball game.
The Winter Olympics were supposed to come, but the locals decided against it.
And now, the Democrats’ No. 1 has come and talked.
But first, protesters marched across the adjacent West Colfax Avenue bridge Thursday morning, then Democrats marched across the same bridge in the afternoon.
The people waited in a hot sun (89 degrees) and lines snaking more than a mile to get into the stadium, then waited and waited as speakers — including Al Gore and Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter — spoke and singers, including Stevie Wonder and Sheryl Crow, performed.
Democrats rejoiced. Republicans sat quietly. Yes, there were a few. “All my Democrat friends wanted to sit in my (luxury) suite, so I had to come,” said one Republican not wearing an Obama button or wanting his name announced.
Bucko the Bronco, the giant horse above the stadium, was surrounded by police officers, but not for his protection.
The funfest, foodfest, politicalfest — sans beer — continued as the sun set behind the west stands and into the night.
At last, the crowd was raised, rallied, roused by Barack Obama. “I accept . . .,” he said, and the crowd responded as if the Broncos had just scored a winning touchdown against the Raiders.
You did good, Denver.
You threw a good, safe party.
What about a Republican convention in 100 years?
The old dump had a new memory Thursday night.
