With Chargers as Opponents, He’s Calling a New Game : Pro football: Irv Brown will be pulling for San Diego and his son today, only the third time ever that the long-time Broncos’ broadcaster has rooted against Denver.
The old man spends every day on the radio talking about John Elway with the people of Denver. He made a video with Mr. Bronco about how to play quarterback.
But today the old man’s kid will try to stop Elway and beat the Broncos when they take on the Chargers in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.
“Good luck,” said Irv Brown, who refereed half a dozen Final Fours, including three of John Wooden’s championship games and “Lew Alcindor’s” final game for UCLA, before becoming a broadcaster in Denver. “I can tell you this, though, in all my years in Denver this will only be the third time in my life I haven’t rooted for the Broncos.”
Twice last year--once during the exhibition season and once during the regular season--Irv Brown’s allegiance rested with the Atlanta Falcons, whose defensive backs were being coached by his son, Greg.
Today Greg coaches the Chargers’ secondary, and father and son are hoping their reunion in San Diego is nothing like last year’s regular-season gathering in Mile High Stadium.
“A nightmare,” said Greg, who watched Elway pass for 382 yardsand rally the Broncos from an 11-point deficit to win, 32-28. “And the thing is I wanted to come back to Denver and not be embarrassed, but that’s what the guy can do to you: embarrass you.”
Greg, born and raised in Denver, began his coaching career with the USFL’s Denver Gold as Elway was arriving to a hero’s welcome. He witnessed Elway mania and had access because of his father to walk the sidelines at training camp and meet the players. But he never met Elway.
“Just one of those things; I was more interested in watching the defensive back coaches at work,” he said. “But I couldn’t help taking in all the hoopla surrounding Elway while growing up. But whether you grew up in awe of him or you’re facing him for the first time, it’s still a scary thing preparing for him.
“I’ve been screaming all week to our players: ‘Get back, get back, get back.’ You have to keep telling your players: Don’t underestimate his arm.”
Darrell Green, Washington’s Pro Bowl cornerback, apparently wasn’t listening last week. On the final play of the Redskins’ game against the Broncos, Green positioned himself for Elway’s “Hail Mary” toss to wide receiver Rod Smith, who was still looking for his first NFL catch. “The guy throws a frozen rope Hail Mary, and nobody is supposed to be able to do that,” said Irv, a former defensive end coach at the University of Colorado, who now works for KYBG-radio and Prime Sports-TV. “Never seen anything like it. The other guys never had a chance to react.”
The comeback was Elway’s 28th fourth-quarter game-winning drive.
“That’s what it was like last year,” Greg said. “You’re in the fourth quarter trying to hang on and you get this feeling in the pit of your stomach that something bad is going to happen. This a guy who has withstood the test of time, and it’s no accident that he leads the world in comebacks.”
Elway is Denver’s biggest sports celebrity, and Irv Brown has been No. 1 in radio there for just as long.
“I defend the guy and my partner, Joe Williams, bashes him,” Brown said. “Been doing that for a dozen years. But hey, I’ve been in amazement of this guy since he came to town; when he’s playing well, he’s the best there ever was at both running and throwing. I wouldn’t want to have to stop him.”
That’s not what Greg needed to hear at this time. And he didn’t.
“I don’t listen to his radio show--never did,” Greg said. “When I was coaching at [Colorado], Bill McCartney once pulled up alongside my car and asked if I was listening to my dad. I wasn’t, but he told me to turn him on. First time I ever heard him.
“No way I’m going to tell him what we’re doing with Elway. And I won’t go on his show and be interviewed. My dad’s their mouthpiece back there. You take a knife and cut him open and he will bleed orange and blue.”
The old man laughed. “I don’t want him on the show; I heard him interviewed on a different show and all he said was all the right things.
“Still, blood is thicker than water, so you cheer for your kid. But you know now, Elway can get you up out of your chair--he’s something to watch.”
ON TV
* 1972 DOLPHINS
Chicago (2-1) at St. Louis (3-0), Channel 11, 10 a.m.: What a year--Cal Ripken Jr. passes Lou Gherig and now the Rams are within 13 victories of duplicating Miami’s undefeated 1972 season. Quarterback Chris Miller has thrown 112 passes without being intercepted or incurring a concussion. Consistency: Two years ago, Jerome Bettis ran for 146 yards against the Bears; in last year’s contest he had eight carries for seven yards.
Rookie report: Running back Rashaan Salaam has three touchdowns to date. Walter Payton scored seven touchdowns as a rookie; Gale Sayers had 14.
* CHOKER BOWL
Philadelphia (1-2) at Oakland (2-1), Channel 11, 1 p.m.: Both teams took early leads last week only to gag down the stretch. The Eagles are second only to San Francisco in limiting the opposition to three yards per carry, but when it comes time to sacks, Philadelphia shows no interest: Defensive end William Fuller has the team’s only three. Raider quarterback Jeff Hostetler was 0-3 as starter for the Giants against the Eagles.
Change of pace: After six games last season Raider running back Harvey Williams had 227 yards; after the first three games this season he has 206.
* GAME OF THE DAY
Denver (2-1) at San Diego (2-1), Channel 4, 1 p.m.: Don’t leave for the parking lot until it’s over--four of John Elway’s 15 victories over the Chargers have come by fourth-quarter comebacks. The Broncos are No. 1 in offense but are short on receivers because of injuries. The Chargers have their own problems: All their receivers are injury free. .
Doesn’t make sense: Running back Natrone Means leads the AFC in rushing and wide receiver Tony Martin leads the AFC in receptions, and yet the Charger offense has produced only four touchdowns.
* RATINGS KILLER
Green Bay (2-1) at Jacksonville (0-3), TNT, 5 p.m.: One hour into this game and it will be time for “60 Minutes.” The Packers have outscored opponents, 21-0, in the first quarter; they will probably be ahead by that much in this one. The leading rusher for Jacksonville is quarterback Mark Brunell.
Guess how many: The Jaguars have given up a league-leading 16 sacks, so how many does Reggie White get? The NFL record is seven by the Chiefs’ Derrick Thomas.
WORTH A LOOK
Kansas City (3-0) at Cleveland (2-1): Coach Marty Schottenheimer, the modern-day Chuck Knox, did everything in Cleveland but get the Browns to the Super Bowl. History--so far--is repeating itself in Kansas City. Chief running back Marcus Allen, who has failed to score against the Browns in four previous meetings, needs one rushing touchdown to hit the 100 mark.
Late bloomer: Cleveland safety Stevon Moore, who went six seasons without an interception, leads the NFL with four.
Minnesota (1-2) at Pittsburgh (2-1): Mike Tomczak continues to start at quarterback for the Steelers although the way he’s throwing--if placed on the bridge outside Three Rivers Stadium--he couldn’t hit the Allegheny, Ohio and Monongahela rivers. Good news for running back Bam Morris: The Viking defense is giving up a whopping 5.3 yards per carry.
Full Moon: Minnesota quarterback Warren Moon needs only 158 yards to become first quarterback in professional football history to pass for 60,000 yards (21,228 in the CFL; 38,614 in the NFL).
AWAITING NOV. 12
Arizona (1-2) at Dallas (3-0): It’s like watching an exhibition game: The only game that really matters is the Nov. 12 clash between the 49ers and the Cowboys and the Jan. 14 NFC championship game between the 49ers and Cowboys. Arizona has fewer total yards and passing yards than the expansion Panthers.
Past success: Buddy Ryan is 0-2 as coach of the Cardinals against the Cowboys, but he was 8-2 against Dallas while with Philadelphia.
YUK
New Orleans (0-3) at N.Y. Giants (0-3): Reruns of “Bowling for Dollars” might be more entertaining. The Giants average 7.6 points a game. The Saints rank last in defense. Saint quarterback Jim Everett has 51 two-touchdown games. The Giants’ Dave Brown has three. Neither is headed for the Hall of Fame.
So what? The Saints have a league-leading 15 sacks.
Washington (1-2) at Tampa Bay (1-2): Too bad Heath Shuler isn’t sound--this could be a matchup of the top two quarterback busts from the 1994 draft. Buccaneer quarterback Trent Dilfer has thrown two touchdown passes and been intercepted a league-high seven times. And they say he’s improving.
Much-a-do about nothing: The Redskins have the NFC’s No. 2 rushing attack.
THERE’S STILL BASEBALL
N.Y. Jets (1-2) at Atlanta (2-1): Falcon quarterback Jeff George passed for 386 yards despite a broken foot, but then who wouldn’t want to play against the Saints? If he’s on crutches, there will be no stopping him from playing the Jets, who have given up more points than any other team.
Boomer Esiason alert: The Falcons have allowed each of the last five quarterbacks they have played to pass for more than 300 yards.
Houston (1-2) at Cincinnati (2-1): It’s hard to believe the Bengals are no longer undefeated, but life goes on. Quarterback Jeff Blake blistered the Oilers with 354 passing yards and four touchdowns last season. Let’s see what he is made of this year: Houston’s defense ranks No. 1 in NFL.
Kicking edge: Cincinnati kicker Doug Pelfrey is seven for seven in field-goal attempts in four games with the Oilers.
BYE WEEK
Buffalo, Carolina, Indianapolis, Miami, New England and Seattle have open dates.