On Dec. 7, 2003, Broncos running back Clinton Portis brought a world heavyweight wrestling belt he received from rapper Pastor Troy to then-Invesco Field at Mile High.
What a night to bring it.
Portis ran for 218 yards and tied the NFL single-game record with five rushing touchdowns in a 45-27 win against the Kansas City Chiefs. No player has accomplished the feat since.
From The Denver Post archives:
Portis piled up a franchise-record five touchdown runs, a near franchise-best 218 yards rushing, a whopping 9.9 yards-per-carry average, and the right to strut like Muhammad Ali.
Which he did, strapping the lavish black and gold belt around his waist in the fourth quarter and prancing along the Broncos’ sideline.
“Hey, Sharpe!” Portis shouted to teammate Shannon Sharpe in the closing minutes of the game that at least temporarily saved Denver’s season. “I’m the heavyweight champion of the world!”
Sharpe, Denver’s unofficial debate champion, could not debate Portis on this.
“For one day,” said Sharpe, who caught his 800th career pass, more than any NFL tight end has caught, “he is the heavyweight champion of the world.”
The belt is a replica of the big gold belt worn by the world heavyweight champion for the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling.
In recent years, . This year alone, the Kansas City Royals, the U.S. women’s national soccer team, the Chicago Blackhawks and the New England Patriots have all received one. And former “Daily Show” host and pro-wrestling fan Jon Stewart.
CHEW ON THIS
• Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey is the of the Heisman Trophy vote. Where he’ll land will be decided Saturday.
• Also, here’s 7-year-old Christian and his older brother Max .
WATCH THIS
This to win a preps basketball game in Texas.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Former Avalanche star defenseman Rob Blake turns 46. Here him on .
Joe Nguyen: jnguyen@denverpost.com or @joenguyen
