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Tales from the Denver Broncos Sideline: A Collection of the Greatest Broncos Stories Ever Told
This new addition to the best-selling “Tales from the Sidelines” series captures the memorable moments, colorful characters, outstanding players, and championship seasons that are part of the Broncos’ storied history.
Beginning with the franchise’s origins as a charter member of the American Football League in 1960, Andrew Mason takes the reader on a journey that includes a decade of Bronco futility, the AFL-NFL merger, and the team’s first-ever playoff appearance in 1977, when they went all the way to the Super Bowl. Since then, the Denver Broncos have become one of the NFL’s most consistent and successful franchises, with just six losing seasons in the last thirty-five years.
Mason mines the team’s rich history for stories that are revealing, moving, and often hilarious. Examples from the first ten years are “the worst uniforms ever,” the arrival of Lou Saban and Floyd Little, and the story of “Marlin the Magician.” The 70s brought John Ralston, the 3-4 Orange Crush defense, the Miracle of ’77, and wild man Lyle Alzado. John Elway took the Broncos through the 80s and 90s, “The Drive,” five Super Bowls, two championships, and “the greatest walk off ever.” Fans are treated to the “ups, downs, and frowns” of Jay Cutler, the Tebow “miracles,” and the second coming of Peyton Manning.
“Mile High Football” is alive and well in Denver, but it wasn’t always that way. In Tales from the Denver Broncos Sideline , Andrew Mason gives readers the stories of the low points that tested Broncos fans’ allegiance, the incredible highs that followed, and everything in between.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.
Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Beginning with the franchise’s origins as a charter member of the American Football League in 1960, Andrew Mason takes the reader on a journey that includes a decade of Bronco futility, the AFL-NFL merger, and the team’s first-ever playoff appearance in 1977, when they went all the way to the Super Bowl. Since then, the Denver Broncos have become one of the NFL’s most consistent and successful franchises, with just six losing seasons in the last thirty-five years.
Mason mines the team’s rich history for stories that are revealing, moving, and often hilarious. Examples from the first ten years are “the worst uniforms ever,” the arrival of Lou Saban and Floyd Little, and the story of “Marlin the Magician.” The 70s brought John Ralston, the 3-4 Orange Crush defense, the Miracle of ’77, and wild man Lyle Alzado. John Elway took the Broncos through the 80s and 90s, “The Drive,” five Super Bowls, two championships, and “the greatest walk off ever.” Fans are treated to the “ups, downs, and frowns” of Jay Cutler, the Tebow “miracles,” and the second coming of Peyton Manning.
“Mile High Football” is alive and well in Denver, but it wasn’t always that way. In Tales from the Denver Broncos Sideline , Andrew Mason gives readers the stories of the low points that tested Broncos fans’ allegiance, the incredible highs that followed, and everything in between.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.
Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
- GenresSports
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2014
9 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 18, 2023
I really enjoyed the journey through Denver Broncos’ vivid and varied history. As a fan since being a kid living in the UK in the mid 90s my access to the team and sport as a whole has been relatively limited until much wider coverage in the last 15 years or so but I knew even less of the pre 90s teams and especially the pre Elway years.
I loved hearing how the team rose up from essentially being a laughing stock to the record-breaking champions, setting the standard and becoming the benchmark of the league. Personally felt the stories leading up to the 1980s had more detail to them and from then on they became more rushed - but this may just be because I came across more stories I already knew a large chunk about.
“It’s all over fat man!” a personal point of pride particularly having a father who is a Raiders fan!
I loved hearing how the team rose up from essentially being a laughing stock to the record-breaking champions, setting the standard and becoming the benchmark of the league. Personally felt the stories leading up to the 1980s had more detail to them and from then on they became more rushed - but this may just be because I came across more stories I already knew a large chunk about.
“It’s all over fat man!” a personal point of pride particularly having a father who is a Raiders fan!
March 10, 2019
Being a Broncos fan, I enjoyed this book immensely!
December 8, 2020
This book brought back some great memories from the Broncos history. A recommended read for any fan.
December 27, 2023
Author Andrew Mason in Tales From the Denver Broncos Sideline, shares his memories of a franchise that has had its share of ups and downs.
Within this book you will see how painful it was for Broncos players, coaches, and fans to endure 37 years (1960-1996) without an NFL Championship or Super Bowl victory until the 1997 season. You will also get to read about how John Elway spearheaded the Broncos turnaround from a so-so franchise into a legitimate contender for most of the sixteen years he wore the blue and orange. Those two Broncos historical narratives are the main reasons to read this book in the first place.
To this day, any Broncos fan or football analyst worth their salt knows that without Elway; late owner Pat Bowlen's deep pockets and his belief in the Broncos; good Broncos drafts in the 1980s and 1990s; good trades; and of course Mike Shanahan's offensive mind especially in the 1996 to 1998 period; there would be NO Super Bowl rings in the Broncos' history.
Pros of this book: I liked the fact that Mason put a decent amount of stories in this book about unsung or no name Bronco players. There are many serious football fans and casual football fans who seem to think that the Broncos' history begins and ends with Elway and Von Miller. But Mason didn't.
Cons of this book: The only gripe I had with this book is that I wished Mason would have talked more about Dan Reeves and Elway's longtime feud. Those two butted heads a lot over the direction of the Broncos' offense in the 1980s and early 1990s, which helped to secure Reeves's dismissal after the 1992 season.
In conclusion, younger Broncos fans will skip the first 189 pages of this book because millennial Broncos fans are interested in the present Broncos and to a certain extent the Tim Tebow era (2010-2011). But older Broncos fans will appreciate or bristle at (but still read) the stories concerning the Elway era; the back to back Super Bowl titles in 1997 and 1998; the Broncos' bridesmaid era (the 1980s, when they lost three Super Bowls after the 1986, 1987, and 1989 seasons); the Orange Crush era; and more.
Within this book you will see how painful it was for Broncos players, coaches, and fans to endure 37 years (1960-1996) without an NFL Championship or Super Bowl victory until the 1997 season. You will also get to read about how John Elway spearheaded the Broncos turnaround from a so-so franchise into a legitimate contender for most of the sixteen years he wore the blue and orange. Those two Broncos historical narratives are the main reasons to read this book in the first place.
To this day, any Broncos fan or football analyst worth their salt knows that without Elway; late owner Pat Bowlen's deep pockets and his belief in the Broncos; good Broncos drafts in the 1980s and 1990s; good trades; and of course Mike Shanahan's offensive mind especially in the 1996 to 1998 period; there would be NO Super Bowl rings in the Broncos' history.
Pros of this book: I liked the fact that Mason put a decent amount of stories in this book about unsung or no name Bronco players. There are many serious football fans and casual football fans who seem to think that the Broncos' history begins and ends with Elway and Von Miller. But Mason didn't.
Cons of this book: The only gripe I had with this book is that I wished Mason would have talked more about Dan Reeves and Elway's longtime feud. Those two butted heads a lot over the direction of the Broncos' offense in the 1980s and early 1990s, which helped to secure Reeves's dismissal after the 1992 season.
In conclusion, younger Broncos fans will skip the first 189 pages of this book because millennial Broncos fans are interested in the present Broncos and to a certain extent the Tim Tebow era (2010-2011). But older Broncos fans will appreciate or bristle at (but still read) the stories concerning the Elway era; the back to back Super Bowl titles in 1997 and 1998; the Broncos' bridesmaid era (the 1980s, when they lost three Super Bowls after the 1986, 1987, and 1989 seasons); the Orange Crush era; and more.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews