The name Tim McKernan may not mean much to people in Denver, but when you refer to Tim as the Broncos' biggest fan, Barrel Man, everyone knows who he is. Sure, we're in Broncos Country and all, you'd expect that.
Now pushing 70-years-old, the Barrel Man will always be Barrel Man, but his super-fanism needs to live on in Invesco Field. We're not talking about another Barrel Man; there is only one Barrel Man, we're talking a new crazed Broncos fan.
On Thursday, Nov. 6, Metromix is seeking out a new uber fan, more specifically, the next Super Fan. If you think your look, your fan-wear is original enough to be the next Super Fan, come to Jackson's Lodo to strut your stuff and show Barrel Man himself that you care about the Broncos...not just in the John Elway era.
We had a chance to sit down with the star himself to get to know him a little more and what he is looking for in the next Super Fan.
This may be a rumor, but we heard you got a little miffed when other people tried to be the next Barrel Man without you really knowing. What did you say to the posers?
Realistically, I am still Barrel Man. I am still going to the games. I mean, hey, I spent 30 years doing it.
Right, so you can’t just give it up cold turkey…
That’s right. I will give you an example: You see the guys out there in the pom pom outfits?
Um, I think so…
The young man, the youngest of them, they are a father and son duo. When the son was 12 years old on a Halloween game, he was in his Halloween outfit. I went and got him and took him around with me, and after halftime I took him back to his dad. And I said, “You know, if you really enjoy this kind of thing and want to do it, come up with an idea that is completely original.” My idea was original. I told him, “People are going to accept it if it’s original.” Those guys—15 years later—came with those outfits and they have been out there ever since and I think they’re fantastic, I really do.
Did it take some warming up to for you when you first came to a game in a barrel?
The first time I came out I was getting good reactions from it. I didn’t wear it to the next game and everyone said I had to do it again. And it just took off from there.
Now we have to ask: What is going on under the barrel? Boxers, briefs or commando?
[Laughs] Leave that to your imagination. What’s going on under the barrel, eh? Boots.
Does your wife Becky want to answer that?
Actually we leave it to everyone’s imagination…
Oh no, so we don’t have an answer?
Well, when people ask me that question, I tell them cowboy boots. That’s what is under the barrel. It is what’s in the barrel.
Good answer. Now has your wife Becky ever gotten a little jealous of your barrel? Would she want to sport a barrel at the game?
Uh, no. She said that there is no way she would wear a barrel to the games.
So she won’t do it? Is she as big of a fan as you are?
Well she is right here if you want to ask her. Hold on a second…
Becky gets on the phone: “Hi dear”
Well, I was talking to Barrel Man and he didn’t tell me what is going on under the barrel and I thought you could give me an answer.
Mrs. Barrel Man: [Laughs] Well I will tell you what… I found out some things myself and I was horrified.
[Laughs] So why would you never want to wear a barrel?
Mrs. Barrel Man: I just had my 60th birthday and somehow that isn’t on my bucket list [laughs].
Now are you as big of a fan of the Broncos as Barrel Man is?
Mrs. Barrel Man: Sure am. I have not missed a game since I moved here in August of 1969.
So what do you think currently about the Broncos?
Mrs. Barrel Man: Well…I have to say…..that they always give up some kind of a thrill at every game. I have not heard the crowd as loud as it was last time versus Miami Dolphins. There are a lot of emotional struggles right now because the team feels like they should be doing better. But, we’re a new team and these guys have to realize that you can come back from injuries if you just have a few, but right now we have enormous amount of injuries. So many of these young guys feel really down in the dumps, to be honest with you. I will always enjoy watching a Broncos game…I have seen a lot worse.
Barrel Man gets back on the horn.
You’re a lucky guy, Barrel Man. So do people ever recognize you without your barrel? If not, does it kind of hurt your feelings?
No, as a matter of fact, they do recognize me. Surprisingly enough we were in the grocery store and I was walking down the aisle and a guy says “You’re the Barrel Man aren’t ya?” And I am in Levis and a Levis jacket. I didn’t have anything on that signified Broncos at all.
Wow, that’s cool.
Yeah, I have had people recognize me on the streets in San Francisco.
Oh my gosh…
In Las Vegas, we stopped by Caesar’s Palace to make some small bets before the Super Bowl game, and somebody in the casino came over and asked for an autograph. Then with that so many people came up wanting an autograph. And then this little old lady came running up from across the casino and asked for my autograph. She had a piece of paper and I signed it and handed it back. As she walked away she turned around and said “That doesn’t say Kenny Rogers!” And I said, “No I don’t have his kind of money."
Now, being the Barrel Man, did you ever feel like you had to go on a special diet or anything since you’re practically naked in public?
[Laughs] No not really. Actually it took me 30 years, but I grew into that barrel. My shape is a barrel whether I wear it or not. I just can’t do stairs in the stadium anymore….so I am still the Barrel Man I just can’t do it in the stadiums physically anymore. That’s why I make public appearances like Thursday night’s Super Fan Party at Jackson’s.
Speaking of which, what are you looking for in the next Super Fan?
Well it gives me a chance to put the barrel on at halftime to take pictures with fans. But the biggest thing for me Thursday night is that I get to go around and really talk to all the fans if you know what I mean. When I was doing the gig at the games, I wanted people to take a quick picture and move on, because I didn’t have time to stop and take tons of photos. I was there to watch the game.
So you now know how Brad Pitt feels?
Well I have had people come up to me and said “I saw you on the telly in Australia.” I even had someone in Moscow who saw me and they wanted to meet the Barrel Man. So it has been an experience. I mean I had the honor to be elected as the first Broncos fan in the Hall of Fame and that was a heck of an honor.
For Thursday night, you’re just wanting to talk to the fans to see if they’re true fans?
Well, you know I have people who say “Wow, you still watch the Broncos?” And then they’d go on to say that they haven’t watched them since Elway left. All I said to them was, “Well you’re an Elway fan not a Bronco fan then." I came to Denver in 1967 and I remember only seeing two wins a season, but you know what? They’re my team.
Well there you have it Broncos fans, Barrel Man is making an appearance just for you Thursday night, Nov. 6, at Jackson’s Lodo to find the ultimate Super Fan. Are you truly a Broncos fan or an Elway fan? We’ll find out who will be crowned the next Super Fan.
