 Classic SI photo by Bob Rosato |
Lucky 7
John Elway was the top pick in the 1983 draft and quickly put up Hall of Fame numbers, but his career wasn't complete until Jan. 25, 1998, when the Broncos beat the Packers 31-24 to win Super Bowl XXXII. After losing in its first four appearances, Denver would go on to defend its title in Super Bowl XXXIII, allowing Elway to retire in a blaze of glory.
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Jack Dempsey, Manassa
Won heavyweight title in 1919 after knocking down champion Jess Willard seven times in first round; held belt for seven years.
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Byron (Whizzer) White, Wellington
Future U.S. Supreme Court justice led NFL in rushing in 1938 and '40 after All-America career at Colorado.
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Amy Van Dyken, Englewood
NCAA swimmer of the year at Colorado State in 1994 became the first U.S. woman to win four medals at one Olympics, in '96.
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FLASHBACK |
1997: The Long Count
Seventy years ago, in a heavyweight title bout in Chicago, Jack Dempsey knocked Gene Tunney to the canvas. What happened next made this the most famous fight in the Golden Age of Sports
The sudden and furious sequence of punches grew out of nowhere, without warning, in the center of the ring. It began when the heavyweight champion of the world, Gene Tunney, threw a long left jab at Jack Dempsey's two-day stubble.
FULL STORY
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SI COVERS |
Prayer Answered
In one of the most improbable endings in college football history, Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart completed a 64-yard Hail Mary to Michael Westbrook as the Buffaloes shocked Michigan 27-26 in Ann Arbor. Colorado's "drive" had started at its own 15 with just 14 seconds left.
Click see to view a gallery of every Colorado cover
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THE SI POLL |
Who do Coloradans root for? SI asked the Centennial State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
Colorado Rockies | 56% |
New York Yankees | 8% |
No favorite | 15% |
Favorite NFL team
Denver Broncos | 67% |
Dallas Cowboys | 5% |
Favorite NBA team
Denver Nuggets | 24% |
Los Angeles Lakers | 11% |
No favorite | 43% |
Favorite NHL team
Colorado Avalanche | 80% |
Detroit Red Wings | 2% |
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Favorite pro team
Denver Broncos | 43% |
Colorado Avalanche | 26% |
Colorado Rockies | 5% |
Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
John Elway | 77% |
Patrick Roy | 7% |
Byron (Whizzer) White | 3% |
Peter Forsberg | 3% |
State's biggest rivalry
Colorado-Colorado State | 56% |
Broncos-Raiders | 18% |
Avalanche-Red Wings | 8% |
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More a fan of college or pro sports?
Pro | 63% |
College | 14% |
Equal | 23% |
Favorite sport to play
Golf | 19% |
Hiking | 14% |
Fishing | 11% |
Baseball/softball | 10% |
Favorite sports to watch on TV**
Football | 84% |
Hockey | 56% |
Winter Olympics | 47% |
**Multiple responses allowed | |
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*Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 420 Colorado residents who identified themselves as sports fans. Margin of error +/- 5%.
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Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary |
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STATITUDES |
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47 Number of fourth-quarter comebacks engineered by Broncos quarterback John Elway.
4 Number of Super Bowls lost by the Broncos before winning back-to-back in 1998 and '99.
63 yards Distance of field goal made by Broncos kicker Jason Elam, tied with Tom Dempsey for NFL record.
1,995 Number of points scored at Colorado by Donnie Boyce, most in school history.
10 Jersey number worn at Colorado by safety-quarterback Hale Irwin, who went on to fame as a golfer.
2,055 Yards rushing at Colorado by Rashaan Salaam in his 1994 Heisman Trophy-winning season.
6th Finish in 1989 Heisman race by Air Force quarterback Dee Dowis, highest in school history.
5 NCAA ice hockey titles won by University of Denver, tied for third all time.
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Al Davis
The Raiders have long been the Broncos' archrivals, and Oakland owner Davis the archenemy. Indeed, Coloradans chose the Raiders (65%) as their most hated opponent, followed by the Detroit Red Wings (16%) and the University of Nebraska (10%).
Al Davis | 54% |
Bill Romanowski | 10% |
Rick Neuheisel | 4% |
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: Aug. 1, 1876 (38th state)
Area: 104,100 square miles
Bird: Lark bunting
Capital: Denver
Economy: Agriculture -- Cattle, wheat, dairy products, corn, hay. Industry -- Scientific instruments, food processing, transportation equipment, machinery, chemical products, gold and other mining, tourism.
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Flower: Rocky Mountain columbine ( Aquilegia caerules 'Glauca')
Nickname: Centennial State
Population: 4,301,261 (24th)
Pro sports teams: Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Colorado Rockies, Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets
Major college programs: Air Force Academy Falcons, Colorado Buffaloes, Colorado State Rams, Denver Pioneers
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