Barrel Man (Denver Broncos)

Barrel Man, real name Tim McKernan (September 5, 1940 – December 5, 2009),[1] was a superfan of the Denver Broncos. In all types of weather for 30 years, he attended every home game at both Mile High Stadium and INVESCO Field at Mile High wearing nothing but an orange barrel that covered his torso and a cowboy hat and boots. His costume was reminiscent of rodeo clowns (or barrelmen) who serve as a distraction to animals in the rodeo arena in order to protect riders who have been thrown and of the stereotype of the miner who lost his stake and had nothing left to wear but a barrel. He was the first Broncos fan inducted into the VISA Hall of Fans[2][3] at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[4][5]

For other uses of "Barrelman" or "Barrel man", see Barrel man.
The Barrel Man at a game against the Raiders on December 24, 2005
The Barrel Man at a game against New England at Mile High Stadium in 1998

McKernan began attending Broncos games in 1967,[3] eventually missing only four of them. He first wore a barrel in 1977 after making a $10 bet with his brother over whether wearing one would get him on television.[3] He won, wearing one painted to resemble an Orange Crush can.[4] The soft drink brand was also the nickname for the defensive unit of the orange-jerseyed Broncos who won the American Football Conference Championship that season.[4] McKernan also showed up at games for the Denver Gold of the short-lived United States Football League in the mid-1980s, wearing a gold-painted barrel. McKernan retired his act after the 2007 season at the age of 67, but announced that he would continue attending games in normal dress.[6]

McKernan had serious health issues in 2003, after an abdominal aneurysm ruptured.[4] After that time he was restricted by doctors to wearing his barrel for one half of play, and then only when the temperature was above freezing.[7] These health issues were a major reason behind McKernan's deciding to give up the barrel in 2007.

Retired after 40 years as a mechanic[3] for United Airlines, McKernan and his wife were based in Gunnison, Colorado, but spent their offseasons traveling in their recreational vehicle. Due to the space constraints of living in an RV, McKernan sold his Super Bowl XXXII barrel for $30,000.[4] The barrel, autographed by 49 Broncos from their first Super Bowl winning team, was sold to Nicholas Martinez of Las Animas Colorado.[8] McKernan gave 10% of his profits to Jubilee House, battered women's shelter in Gunnison.[9][10][11]

McKernan died on December 5, 2009, of respiratory failure caused by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at age 69.[4][11] The last Broncos game before his death was a rout of the Giants on Thanksgiving Day. In November 2012, the History Colorado Center honored the Barrel Man as part of an exhibit called Denver A to Z: Adrenaline to Zombies and (almost) Everything in Between. A statue of McKernan epitomizes D for Devoted.[12][13]

See also

References
  1. http://death-records.mooseroots.com/l/170701248/Timothy-D-McKernan%5B%5D
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-01-10. Retrieved 2009-12-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Hall of Fans
  3. Paul Schwartzman (January 15, 1999). "Roll out the Barrel Man Denver Pitchman delivers good cheer". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  4. Annette Espinoza (December 6, 2009). "Broncos' Barrel Man dies at 69". The Denver Post.
  5. "Barrel Man Hospitalized". 7 News Denver, TheDenverChannel.com. August 25, 2003.
  6. Colleen Locke & Kyle Clark (2007). "Broncos superfan hangs up the barrel". KUSA TV.
  7. Klis, Mike (March 20, 2007), "Brown-out:Veteran cut", Denver Post, retrieved 2007-09-19
  8. "McKernan, who spent 30 years as Broncos' 'Barrel Man,' dies at 69". NFL.com. December 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  9. Barrel Man Sells His Super Bowl XXXII Barrel, archived from the original (– Scholar search) on July 24, 2012, retrieved 2007-09-19
  10. Parker, Penny, Parker: Barrel Man's autographed legacy being consigned to eBay, archived from the original on 2007-10-24, retrieved 2007-09-19
  11. "Denver Broncos' Barrel Man Fan Dies". Fox News. 5 December 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  12. Greg Nieto; Brooke Way (27 October 2012). "Broncos 'Barrel Man' honored at museum exhibit". KDVR-TV. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  13. Shiff, Blair (24 October 2012). "Denver Broncos' Barrel Man honored at museum". KUSA-TV. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
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