LOS ANGELES-Fall football is a go. Training camp practices are in full swing. That means summer activities are drawing to a close. Back-to-school shopping is at its peak. Educators are still trying to re-cooperate from the last nine months of teaching as they get ready for another academic year.
Cheerleaders work on their dance routines to perfection. High school and college bands are fine-tuning their music sounds.
The Denver Broncos, meanwhile, are still basking in their Super Bowl 50 win against the Carolina Panthers. Yes, the Broncos are getting back in the groove of things with training camp for all 32 NFL teams officially kicked into overdrive. But celebrating as world champions don’t get old. Neither does reaping the spoils of victory.
Looking back at the 2016 GBK & Cooper Tires pre-ESPY lounge event in Los Angeles in July, it appears the Broncos are continuing to soak up all the adulation and praise coming their way as they try to defend their title this season.
“It still feels so surreal. It’s an experience of a lifetime,” said Broncos placekicker Brandon McManus. “The game, the parties afterward where you can celebrate with your teammates…forever you’ll be tagged as Super Bowl champions. It was a dream of mine as a kid. It’s a reality now.”
It was McManus’ first time out attending a gift lounge put on by GBK Productions, which typically put on these type of celebrity gifting events to showcase vendors and to highlight a variety of nonprofit organizations.
McManus said he was trying to soak everything all in the same way he did after the Broncos had shut down Cam Newton and the Panthers with a 24-10 upset win.
“This is my first time here, so I’m super excited,” McManus said. “I’m taking it all in like a little kid, kind of like the way the Super Bowl was. It’s good to meet some of the celebrities. I’m super excited.”
McManus, running back Ronnie Hillman, defensive tackle Darrion Weembs and safety Omar Bolden, were among a host of Denver players attending the all day event, which featured products from exhibitors such as Cooper Tires, Dumbo Lounge Sacks and Pro Trending (Style Like a Pro).
Bolden and the rest of his cohorts took part in the gift lounge that served as a prelude to the 2016 ESPY Awards. Denver was nominated in the “Best Team Award” category for the 2016 ESPY Awards show.
Bolden said it was great to be here.
“Well, we get to come out and get to celebrate one another and have a good time in Southern California,” Bolden said.
On being part of a team that won the Super Bowl, Bolden said it was a monumental achievement, personally and professionally.
“It was probably the greatest moment of my life,” said Bolden. “I’ve been dreaming about winning the Super Bowl since I started playing football. For it to come true, it still is a surreal feeling. Like I said, it was one of the greatest moments of my life.”
Dennis has covered and written about politics, crime, race, sports, and entertainment. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Email Dennis at dfreeman@news4usonline.com
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