Proud to Be a Broncos Fan - Floyd Little Enters the NFL Hall of Fame

Tonight as I watch Floyd Little's induction into the NFL Hall of Fame on ESPN, his acceptance speech brings me to tears. He delivers his message -- "No one travels this road alone" -- like he played football: with passion, humility and spirituality. He is the real deal.

Little is being inducted now, in 2010, in his 30th year of eligibility. If he was so great, why did it take so long? Because the teams he played on did not win. However, he filled the stands in Denver during the late 1960s and early 1970s. "He was the only reason to really even watch the team....He filled the stadium, packed it, because of No. 44," said the ESPN commentators prior to his induction.

I grew up in Denver and I remember oh so well when the Broncos lost and lost and lost and lost. But during those years Floyd Little shattered the rushing records of Jim Brown and Ernie Davis. When he retired in 1975 after nine seasons with the Broncos, he was the Broncos' all-time rusher and touchdown-maker; both records stood until 1998, commentator Len Berman told the crowd at the induction.

What I especially remember about him during that time was that he was aptly named -- he was considered "too little" to be a football player. Of course, he dispelled anyone of that notion in no time. He hung in there even when the Broncos weren't winning. (LeBron James, take note.) He helped ensure that the Broncos stayed in Denver, and John Elway and millions of Bronco fans thank him for that.

When Elway was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004 (his first year of eligiblity), I watched it live, as I also am tonight. He had his daughter introduce him (even though he also has a son), which was unprecedented. Tonight Little had his son Mark introduce him. I am so proud of both of these star Broncos for publicly cherishing their families. Little spent half of his allotted 10 minutes highlighting the accomplishments of and his gratitude for his family members -- parents, sisters and brothers, ex-wife ("mother of my two daughters"), wife, children. He thanked his Lord, Jesus Christ. He was a powerful man with a passionate delivery. His humility and gratitude, mixed with waiting 30 years for this honor, brought me to tears. I was so proud to be a Broncos fan.

Congratulations, Floyd Little! You did the Broncos proud 35 and 40 years ago, and you did the Broncos proud again tonight.