Search For Broncos Supporter In Carolinas Turns Up 1 Brave Fan
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CBS4) - Michelle Thomas may be the bravest person in the Carolinas.
A CBS4 crew traveled to Charlotte to try to find Broncos fans in Panthers country leading up to Super Bowl 50, and they found one. That was it ... just one. Thomas was the only Broncos fan willing to go on camera.
But what a fan! Thomas isn't from Denver and has never lived in Colorado, but she has been to more Broncos games than most Coloradans. She says she picked the team as her favorite in 1983 and never looked back. Her daughter, also a Denver fan, even moved to the Mile High City.
"It's like the Broncos get in your blood, and (John) Elway did get me there, but honestly the Broncos fans -- and I've been to the stadium and seen the games -- there's just something magic about the Broncos and the fans," she said.
When CBS4 was interviewing her on the streets of Charlotte, Thomas was wearing an orange No. 18 Broncos jersey, a Broncos scarf and a hat with orange and blue feathers in it.
"Orange looks great on me!" she said.
She was also waving around a cheerleader's pom pom. And she had a Broncos scrunchie in her hair. And don't forget the purse with the Broncos logo on it.
"Can I get a 'Go Broncos?'" she asked a passerby while waving her pom pom.
"Not even close," said the gentleman. "Not in this town."
Being a die-hard Broncos fan in enemy territory hasn't been cheap for Thomas.
"I had a big satellite in my backyard, and I subscribed to the Denver stations, so I got the locker room interviews," she said.
During her interview with CBS4 there were plenty of audible boos from Carolinians who were appalled by Thomas's fashion choices.
Pointing to her heart, Thomas said in response to the boo birds: "I have all the ammunition I need, because it's in here."
In truth, Thompson isn't really alone in her support of the Broncos in Charlotte. CBS4 did interview a man who claimed to be a Broncos fan, but who can really be sure because this fellow insisted his voice be altered and his face not shown. He only was willing to put on his Broncos hat and hoodie for a few minutes for the interview.
"There's quite a few Broncos fans here. It seems they've gone into hiding since the Panthers were paired up against the Broncos," the anonymous man said.
- Written by Jesse Sarles
