Elway's Homecoming was spectacular

John Elway front and center in ESPN's Homecoming

Last night my husband and I got around to finally watching ESPN's Homecoming featuring John Elway.  The show taped last October and finally aired a few weeks ago.

The show was very exciting to watch.  Elway was situated in his high school gymnasium at Granada Hills Charter High School.  The marching band was playing, the choir was singing the old fight song and Elway was surrounded by his former coaches, teammates, current students (including Granada's current QB) and even his fiance, Paige Green.

Hosted by Boulder native, Rick Reilly, Elway talked about some of his favorite moments in life.  He moved around a lot growing up - but moved to Granada Hills during his sophomore year in high school.  He recalled a time when his dad, Jack Elway, asked him what position he was going to try out for.  Elway responded, "running back."  But his father saw a different potential in Elway and suggested he play quarterback.  Guess his father's advice was right.

Elway talked a lot about playing baseball in the off-season.  He loved football, but was also great at baseball.  He was recruited by the New York Yankees... but Elway said his calling to football was too strong.  As he entered his name into the NFL draft, he openly talks about his distaste with being drafted to Baltimore.  He said he and his father didn't want him to work for an organization that they didn't feel was managed well.  Elway wanted to win - and he wanted to be on a winning team.  This led to Elway's trade to the Denver Broncos for $5 million for 5 years - one of the largest deals in football at the time.

Elway talked about the painful three Superbowl losses - and then the amazing two Superbowl wins nearly a decade later.  Elway thanks Terrell Davis for giving him a running game.  He recalls "The Drive," his reputation as the "Comeback Kid," and how he was able to scramble out of many sticky situations. 

Some of the fun parts of the show involved the not so serious moments.  His teammates recalled getting the "Elway cross."  That is when you catch Elway's powerhouse throw with your chest - which will leave behind a cross on your chest.  Reilly also asked Elway about some of the jokes he heard after the Broncos Superbowl losing streak, like, "How many Broncos does it change to change a flat?" - the answer, "None, they're all blown out." 

The show also included an "Elway Olympics," where Elway was seen on his old high school stadium (now called John Elway Stadium), where he pooch kicked a ball 30 yards (did it on the first try), threw a pass that hit the crossbar from 40 yards away (did it on the first try), and then tried to skeet shoot footballs thrown in the air from 15 yards away (Elway had trouble with those, but back in the day it was old hat to him!).

Elway and Reilly visited Elway's old home, surprising the current resident, who was more than happy to give the football giant a tour.  Elway recalls jumping off his roof into the backyard pool and sneaking in the back door at night.

Elway also talked about some of the painful moments of his personal life, including losing his father/best friend and twin sister, who he lost shortly after he retired.  He recalled the painful divorce from his college sweetheart, Janet Elway, and reminisced about his difficult retirement from the game he loved.

On the Homecoming website, there are several unseen clips, including Reilly asking Elway how he could possibly be dating a former Raiderette.  He boisterously laughed at the question, but quickly turned the favor saying that Green was from Granada Hills herself.  You can see this clip and others on the Homecoming website.

Overall, Elway was introspective, funny and very personable.  He wasn't "too great" to offer advice to the youngsters in the crowd and he gave credit to his teammates for giving him the chance to be so successful.  The show made me smile and love #7 even more.  Perhaps one day we'll have another great QB in Denver - but with all the controversy of late, it will certainly be awhile before any QB steals our hearts like Jonno did.

Apologies if I got any information incorrect.  I'm going off memory but wanted to share more details about the show with you.