The 1977 Denver Broncos, whose 12-2 season took them to their first Super Bowl and inspired the phenomenon known as “Broncomania,” pulled off a second Mile High Miracle by turning a benefit for Dani’s Foundation into a team reunion like no other.
Twenty-five players and coaches were at the event, joining 300-plus fans for dinner in the East Club Lounge at Invesco Field. Among them: Rubin Carter, Bucky Dilts, Steve Foley, Bob Swenson, Billy Thompson, Louie Wright, Otis Armstrong, Ron Egloff, Tom Glassic, Paul Howard, Glenn Hyde, Craig Penrose, John Schultz, Craig Morton, Red Miller, Joe Collier, Marv Braden and Babe Parilli. Former running back Jim Jensen chaired the event, and Jon Keyworth, also a running back, delighted the crowd by singing the ’77 team’s anthem, “Make Those Miracles Happen.”
Martha Simmons, executive director of Dani’s Foundation, said total income is expected to be around $100,000. “We have $42,000 in hand, and we’re anticipating another $50,000 from the Norris Weese Ewing’s Sarcoma Research Fund.”
Weese was a quarterback when the Broncos went to their first Super Bowl, and like Dani Stell, for whom Dani’s Foundation is named, succumbed to Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects children and young adults. Weese’s widow, Sandy, flew in from her home in New Orleans to share her memories from the ’77 season, including how she and some of the other wives were blamed for causing the team’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys on that fateful January day in 1978. She also made an impassioned plea on behalf of the new Norris Weese Ewing’s Sarcoma Research Fund that is part of Dani’s Foundation and will fund new science relating to Ewing’s Sarcoma and other forms of pediatric sarcomas.
Epicurean Catering provided a “fan”-tastic dinner served at tables set with orange cloths, blue napkins and centerpieces that featured ceramic stallions autographed by Craig Morton.
Emcees Lois Melkonian of KOA and Vic Lombardi of CBS4 introduced a video tribute to the 1977 Broncos, and Jensen and former Denver sportscaster Gary Cruz acknowledged members of the team “family” that were there in spirit, the late Alan and Gerald Phipps, Lyle Alzado, Fred Gehrke, Bernard Jackson, Bobby Mables, Bob Peck, Fran Polsfoot, Paul Smith, Gail Stuckey and Tim “The Barrel Man” McKernan. McKernan’s widow, Becky, was there with several members of her family.
The evening was filled with laughter, and the remark that seemed to receive the most chuckles came from offensive coordinator Marv Braden. Every time the team played, he said, Denver’s crime rate dropped. “The chief of police himself told me that crime was down 80 percent whenever the Broncos took the field. Even the crooks were Bronco fans!”
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
Photos from Mile High Miracles:
