Prime numbers

All-time Colorado lineup starts with Elway's 7

Rocky Mountain News

Published July 7, 2007 at midnight

Text size

More More Sports

More stories »

Still own a vintage John Elway jersey?

Today is your day.

It's July 7, 2007 — 7-7-07. Seventh heaven for Colorado sports fans with a thing for numbers.

Elway, one of the most formidable figures in NFL history, wore No. 7 for the Denver Broncos for 16 breathtaking seasons and in two Super Bowl victories.

Even now, more than eight years after his final game in a Broncos uniform, 7 remains the most famous number in the state's rich sports history.

But the all-star roster hardly ends there. The Rocky Mountain News sports staff has chosen an all-time lineup of Colorado athletes by number. Some were no- brainers, others a difficult test with multiple options, including:

• No. 33: Hockey, hoops or baseball? How do you choose from among Patrick Roy, David Thompson and Larry Walker?

• No. 44: Floyd Little or Dan Issel?

• No. 77: Karl Mecklenburg, Lyle Alzado or Ray Bourque?

The list is for fun, but the real fun will be in the debate. Let us know what deserving athletes we left off the list and tell us your other comments and suggestions at sports@rockymountainnews.com.

Brad Andress - Sure, few candidates wear ol' double zero, but even so, Andress doesn't get enough credit for juggling his roles as strength coach, quality control administrator and sounding board for Rockies manager Clint Hurdle.

Joey Meyer - One mighty swing - a 582-foot home run at Mile High Stadium - made him a minor celebrity with the Denver Zephyrs.

Jason Elam - The most accomplished kicker in Broncos history has an 80.2 percent accuracy rate on field goals in 14 seasons.

Alex English - The silky smooth forward averaged 25.9 points in 11 seasons for the Nuggets and was the chief contributor during the team's glory days in the 1980s.

Rich Karlis - Overtime field goal in Cleveland after the Broncos rallied late with "The Drive" earned a trip to Super Bowl XXI.

Chauncey Billups - Before earning national acclaim as MVP of the NBA Finals in 2004, the Detroit Pistons guard was a local pride-and-joy story after stints at George Washington High, the University of Colorado and with the Nuggets.

Matt Holliday - Rising star who Tuesday will attend his second consecutive All-Star Game and who could end up rewriting the Rockies' record book . . . if the club locks him up with a long-term contract.

Dee Dowis - Elusive Air Force quarterback was a 1989 Heisman Trophy candidate as a run-pass threat.

John Elway - Colorado's leading sports icon led the Broncos to five Super Bowls, including wins in XXXII and XXXIII, and became the first Broncos player enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Sal Aunese - CU's starting quarterback in 1987 and 1988 died of cancer at 21 early in the 1989 season, but his legacy continued as inspiration for a 22-2-1 run and a national title in 1990.

Vinny Castilla - Compiling three seasons of 40 or more home runs endeared him to Rockies fans and vice versa; the native of Mexico was eager to return to the organization after his playing career ended.

Dante Bichette - Original Blake Street Bomber remains third among the Rockies' all- time leaders in runs, hits, doubles, extra- base hits and total bases and ranks fourth in home runs.

Bobby Anderson - Quarterback/running back was named to CU's All-Century team and was the Broncos' top draft pick in 1970.

John Stearns - Former Thomas Jefferson High School athlete starred in football and baseball at CU, where he was nicknamed "Bad Dude"; became an All-Star catcher for the New York Mets.

Clint Hurdle - Yes, Rockies fans still long for the thrill of a pennant race, but the manager has been in charge since 2002 as the team tries to build with youth.

Andres Galarraga - Ever-popular "Big Cat" led the league in hitting in 1993 (.370) and won a Silver Slugger award by blasting 47 home runs in 1996.

Carmelo Anthony - The centerpiece of the Nuggets' transformation from laughingstock to playoff contender has averaged 24.1 points in four seasons and appeared in the NBA All-Star Game in February.

Jake Plummer - Positive or negative, everything the quarterback did with the Broncos - guiding the team to the AFC Championship Game or throwing a left-handed interception - drew a reaction.

Todd Helton - Smooth-swinging first baseman has spent his entire career with the Rockies and should approach or surpass such illustrious milestones as 2,500 hits, 400 home runs, 1,500 RBI and 1,500 runs.

Frank Tripucka - Won only 14 games in a little more than three seasons as a starter but was the inaugural face for the top sports job in town: Broncos quarterback.

Joe Sakic - Avalanche captain is a 13-time NHL All-Star who helped bring two Stanley Cups to Denver and ranks among the league's all-time leading goals scorers.

Louis Wright - One of the top cornerbacks in Broncos history. He picked off 26 passes in a 12-year career.

Peter Forsberg - Swedish superstar won two Stanley Cups with the Avalanche and was the Hart Trophy winner in 2002-03.

Gary Gait - Lacrosse great helped the sport explode locally when the Colorado Mammoth arrived in 2003, then coached it to the 2006 Champion's Cup.

Goose Gonsoulin - Original Bronco picked off a Champ Bailey-like 43 passes in his first six seasons, including 11 in the Broncos' inaugural season of 1960.

Byron "Whizzer" White - CU's first All-American, in 1937, set national records for rushing and points and later led NFL in rushing with the Detroit Lions before becoming a Supreme Court justice.

Becky Hammon - Colorado State retired her number after a record-setting career in which she led the Rams to the Sweet 16; went on to star in the WNBA and National Women's Basketball League.

Clinton Portis - The flamboyant one made his two seasons with the Broncos count, rushing for 3,099 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Steve Atwater - Hard-hitting Broncos safety who made receivers fear the middle. Capped 10 seasons in Denver with Super Bowl wins in 1997 and 1998 seasons.

Fred Steinmark - Wheat Ridge High School standout became a symbol of courage as a University of Texas defensive back who lost his battle with cancer; Rocky award in his name honors state's top student-athletes.

Howard Griffith - Hard-nosed fullback did the dirty work for Terrell Davis, and after paving the way for Davis' 2,008-yard season in 1998 was rewarded with two short touchdown runs in Super Bowl XXXIII.

Terrell Davis - Perhaps the best in a long line of Broncos running backs. He rushed for 7,607 yards and 60 touchdowns and earned two Super Bowl rings in his injury-shortened career.

Dick Anderson - Bobby's older brother had seven interceptions in an All-America season for CU in 1967, then enjoyed a stellar career with the Miami Dolphins.

Roy Halladay - Right-hander won a state championship at Arvada West High School and a Cy Young Award with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Patrick Roy - The NHL's all-time winningest goalie won two of his four Stanley Cups with the Avalanche and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006.

Tyrone Braxton - The safety, a 12th-round draft choice, played 12 of 13 seasons with the Broncos and made a key interception of a Brett Favre pass in Super Bowl XXXII win.

Tommy Salo - The International Hockey League Most Valuable Player won 45 games for the Turner Cup champion Denver Grizzlies in 1994-95 and played in 526 games in the NHL.

Billy Thompson - Broncos cornerback accumulated a team-record 61 turnovers (40 interceptions, 21 fumble recoveries) in a 13-season career that included three Pro Bowl spots.

Chris Drury - NHL Rookie of the Year in 1998-99 won a Stanley Cup during his four seasons with the Avalanche.

Mike Anderson - Thrust into a starting role in 2000, the Broncos running back responded by earning Rookie of the Year honor; holds team record with 251 rushing yards in one game.

Steve Reed - Blue-collar bullpen standout of the Rockies' 1995 playoff team appeared in a club-record 461 games (for pitchers) during two stints with the club.

Byron Beck - Former University of Denver athlete was the first player signed by the Denver Rockets and, after 10 solid seasons, the first to have his number retired by Nuggets.

Steve Bartalo - Doherty High School graduate walked on at CSU and set school career records that still stand, including 4,813 rushing yards.

Wayne Cooper - Big man blocked 830 shots in five seasons with Nuggets and provided strong inside presence for playoff teams from 1984-85 to 1988-89.

Ann Strother - Naismith High School Player of the Year at Highlands Ranch started 142 of a possible 143 games at UConn before launching a WNBA career.

Floyd Little - Rushed for 6,323 yards in nine seasons for the Broncos, including 1,133 in 1971, when he became the first Broncos player to top 1,000.

Tanya Haave - Evergreen High basketball standout started three years at Tennessee and helped Volunteers get to three Final Fours.

46Ted Johnson - Runner-up for 1994 Butkus Award at CU; later helped the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls.

John Lynch - Broncos safety, arriving in Denver in 2004, became an instant favorite because of his hard hitting on the field and community-minded demeanor off it.

Thurman "Fum" McGraw - Top name in CSU football history was the school's first consensus All-American, in 1948-49; went on to help the Lions win three NFL titles while earning All-Pro honors three times.

Dennis Smith - The original hard-hitting safety preceded the likes of Atwater and Lynch, and after a 14-year career that included six Pro Bowls, he was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2001.

Jim Ryan - Solid contributor at linebacker in his 10 seasons with the Broncos who later stayed in the spotlight as a radio host, high school football coach and Broncos assistant.

John Mobley - Before a neck injury short-circuited his career in 2003, the linebacker was a staple of the defense and knocked down Brett Favre's fourth-down pass to clinch the Broncos' first Super Bowl win.

Adam Foote - Gritty defenseman played on two Stanley Cup champions in nine seasons with the Avalanche.

Randy Gradishar - Middle linebacker is the Broncos' all-time leading tackler (2,049) and appeared in seven Pro Bowls in a Ring of Fame career that spanned 1974-1983.

Goose Gossage - Colorado Springs native, known for his fastball and intimidating presence, helped usher in the era of the closer, earning 310 saves during a 22-year career.

Dikembe Mutombo - The image remains one of the Nuggets' unforgettable moments: the 7-foot-2 center, lying on the court, celebrating with the ball after a monumental playoff upset of Seattle in 1994.

Al Wilson - Before a career-threatening neck injury caused the Broncos to release him, the linebacker was the heart and soul of the modern-day Denver defense.

Tom Jackson - The former Broncos linebacker, now a regular on ESPN, distinguished himself as the emotional leader of the Orange Crush defense.

Steve Russ - Though mostly a special-teams contributor in his four seasons with the Broncos, the linebacker carved a niche at Air Force in the mid-1990s.

Greg Jones - Steinmark Award winner was a three-sport star at Kennedy High School and went on to play football at CU and for the Washington Redskins.

Paul Howard - Steady guard helped anchor the Broncos line for more than a decade in two stints with the team (1973-1975 and 1977-1986).

Andre Townsend - Solid defensive end recorded 22 sacks and played in three Super Bowls in seven seasons with the Broncos (1984-1990).

Joe Garten - Consensus All-America guard for CU's 1990 national championship football team.

Leon White - Four- year letterman as offensive lineman at CU went on to a career as a pro wrestler.

Billy Bryan - Longtime center was a model of consistency in 12 seasons with the Broncos (1977-1988), the final 11 as a starter.

Gary Zimmerman - A possible future Hall of Famer. Was considered one of the league's best left tackles while protecting John Elway's blind side during Broncos' championship seasons.

Tom Nalen - Longtime Broncos center still is among the best at his position, and his five Pro Bowl selections are the most of any offensive lineman in team history.

Joe Romig - True scholar-athlete was a two-time All-America offensive guard/linebacker who helped CU to its first outright Big Eight Conference championship, in 1961.

Rubin Carter - Though primarily a run stuffer, the Broncos nose tackle amassed 33 sacks in a career that began in 1975 and lasted through 1986.

Mark Schlereth - The Broncos guard, an ESPN analyst and now a soap opera star, was a key figure in Davis' glory days and back-to-back Super Bowl wins.

Paul Smith - Broncos Ring of Famer compiled 55 1/2 sacks from 1968-1978, including 11 apiece in his Pro Bowl seasons of 1972 and 1973.

Claudie Minor - Solid offensive tackle spent nine seasons with the Broncos (1974-1982) and was a starter on their first Super Bowl team.

Keith Kartz - Effectively bridged the gap at center for the Broncos between long-timers Bryan and Nalen.

Simon Fletcher - Broncos' all-time sack leader amassed 97 1/2 in an 11-year career that ended in 1995.

Mike Current - In a nine-year career for the Broncos that began in 1967, the tackle appeared in 118 games and started 105.

Rulon Jones - Defensive end clinched 1987 playoff win against the Patriots with a safety and contributed 73 1/2 regular-season sacks in nine seasons.

Mike Bell - Two-time All-American as CSU defensive lineman. Was the second overall pick in the 1979 NFL draft, by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Karl Mecklenburg - A 12th-round draft choice who turned into a multiposition defensive standout with the Broncos. His 79 sacks rank second in team history.

Matt Lepsis - First starred at CU as a big, block-first tight end. Now, he is an even bigger left tackle for the Broncos.

Barney Chavous - Venerable defensive end spent all 13 of his NFL seasons with the Broncos and accumulated 75 sacks.

Rod Smith - Has set virtually every NFL receiving record for an undrafted player and still is adding to his Broncos records for career receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.

Steve Watson - Favorite target of Craig Morton in his younger days and John Elway later. Sure-handed Broncos receiver has been an assistant coach with team since 2001.

Vance Johnson - Most recognized of the Three Amigos. Deep- threat receiver ranks fifth on Broncos receiving list (415) and seventh in receiving yardage (5,695).

Michael Young - Spent four seasons with the Broncos as a productive third-down receiver and now is executive vice president of the Colorado Crush.

Shannon Sharpe - The most prolific pass-catching tight end in NFL history and a two-time Super Bowl champ for the Broncos. The outspoken one now is a CBS analyst.

Ron Egloff - Proficient run-blocking tight end who sometimes surprised defenses in the passing game (64 catches in seven seasons with Broncos).

Boyd Dowler - Quarterback and punter for CU (as No. 44) moved to receiver in pros and made this number famous as a key contributor to the Green Bay Packers dynasty in the 1960s.

Rich Jackson - Intimidating defensive end seemed eons ahead of his peers with the Broncos from 1967-1972 and earned All-AFL honors in 1968 and 1969.

Dave Logan - Wheat Ridge High School graduate starred in football and basketball at CU and was drafted in three sports; went on to catch a combined 263 passes for the Cleveland Browns and Broncos.

Greg Pankewicz - An icon in northern Colorado as captain of the two-time President's Cup champion Colorado Eagles.

Neil Smith - Aging veteran when acquired from the Chiefs, he helped resurrect the Broncos' pass rush during their Super Bowl championship seasons.

Buddy Lazier - Vail resident won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and finished in the top 10 six times.

Laval Short - CU nose tackle from Columbine High School had 372 career tackles and played for the Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Trevor Pryce - Defensive end was a monster pass rusher in nine seasons with the Broncos and still is a force with the Baltimore Ravens.

Alfred Williams - Consensus All-American in 1990 won the Butkus Award and helped CU to national a title, then played on two Super Bowl champions with Broncos.

Kavika Pittman - In three seasons with the Broncos, the defensive end was adept at stopping the run.

Kanavis McGhee - First team All-Big Eight linebacker for CU's 1990 national championship team.

Mike Lodish - One of the emotional leaders of the Broncos defense in the late 1990s who did the dirty work on the interior line.

Maa Tanuvasa - Bull-rushing defensive linemen who could clog the middle and rush from the edge; part of both Broncos Super Bowl wins.

Al "Bubba" Baker - CSU defensive lineman and basketball player recorded 23 sacks in his rookie season for the Lions and was NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

432

Doug Moe - The number, retired by the Nuggets, represents the number of wins for the most successful coach in team history.

Who has the No. 1 fan jersey?

Do you watch every game wearing your Steve Watson No. 81 in classic Broncos orange? Do you still roll around town in a No. 2 Alex English from the rainbow/skyline Nuggets era? Or maybe an Avalanche jersey personalized with your own name and number? Have you spilled mustard on your No. 14 "Big Cat" Rockies jersey? We're looking for the coolest fan jersey in Colorado. To enter, go to RockyMountainNews.com/sports and submit a photo of someone - you, a friend, a family member, your dog - wearing your team colors. We'll let the fans vote on whose jersey is No. 1, and the winner will receive a Rockies jersey autographed by All-Star Brian Fuentes in a 32-by-40-inch custom frame provided by Frame de Art II, 3065 S. Broadway, Englewood. Get to your closet soon. The contest ends Aug. 1.

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News