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Editors Note: This piece is special to BSN Denver from Sam Adams. Adams was a Broncos beat reporter for both the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News during Pat Bowlen’s ownership. In 2009 he left a career in newspaper and turned to stand-up comedy full-time.

I don’t apologize for being long-worded here.

Pat Bowlen and I were friendly for a number of years, 25 years to be exact. We didn’t hang out together. But we were “owner-reporter” friendly, and had several moments away from the football field that have come to my recall after learning of his passing.

Like Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005. The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles played the Super Bowl in Jacksonville FL. Jacksonville’s temp that day was 59. In Denver, it was sunny and in the 40s. Pat and I had an ongoing annual conversation about Denver hosting the Super Bowl. So I called his office the day of the game, intending to leave a message that said, “See, we could’ve played the Super Bowl here.”

Bowlen answered the phone, which shocked the hell out of me. When I asked why he wasn’t at the game, Pat said the Broncos weren’t in it, so he didn’t need to be there. We both agreed the Super Bowl could’ve been played in Denver that day. Denver would have hosted one Super Bowl, maybe two by now if Bowlen had been aggressive in asking for a dome on the new stadium.

Bowlen once told me that the reason he didn’t want a dome is because he didn’t want to block out the scenery of the Rockies. I still have the tape of him saying those very words to me. He really held a true love for the region and its surroundings. The surroundings included golf courses. He loved the sport, and often would ask me if I played. When I finally got my first set of clubs, I let him know. He said, “Hurry up and learn how to play, so I can kick your (butt)!”

Word was, Pat liked to play barefoot. We never played. I wish we had.

When Shannon Sharpe retired, I believe it was Mike Shanahan who put together a small gathering at Del Frisco’s Steakhouse. (This was before a steakhouse opened with Mike’s name on it.) Mike asked me to stop by to see Shannon. When I walked into the private room, Pat jumped up and shook my hand. He said, ‘Are you going to tell some jokes?’ I said, ‘Not for free!’ He playfully offered to pass a hat. I wasn’t going to do comedy — not with Sharpie sitting there ready to judge me. I was more impressed that Pat knew I had begun to perform standup. I still was very new at comedy, and couldn’t recall telling Pat I was doing it.