Main: Toast of the Town
Top Ten: Mile High Moments
Faces: Orange-and-blue memories
Concerts: What dreams are made of
Memories: Former Broncos share memorable moments Pat Bowlen: Though he tore down Mile High, fond memories remain
Numbers: Mile High through the years

Victory: Broncos 38, 49ers 9
Finale: One last salute
New digs: Owens, Bowlen join ceremony to 'top out' new Broncos stadium
Stories: Broncos past and present share memories
Chronology: Mile High's last day
Souvenirs: Fans make a play for seats
Good seats: Workers, kin watch game on big TV in new stadium
Voices: Qutoes from Mile High's last day
Passion: Family still has first season-ticket seats
Tales: 76,000 tickets — 76,000 stories
Farewell cry: Tough South Stands fans say goodbye with tears

Video & audio: Broncos, fans remember Mile High
Destruction: Video montage of the stadium's demolition
Interactive timelines:
Game day | Through the years
Slideshow: Orange-and-blue memories

Proud reign: A day at Mile High
Q&A: What'll happen to Mile High landmarks
Gene Amole: When Bill Redd, Bears Stadium ruled Denver's sporting world
Dave Krieger: Frigid night of football frozen in time, mind
Bernie Lincicome: The burning question: How to say goodbye
The stars: Rating the best Broncos team ever

Forums: Reminisce with other Broncos fans
Vote: What Mile High moment is your favorite?
Thinking back: Readers remember Mile High Stadium

Nevertheless, this week even late arrivals are required to have memories of Mile High Stadium. And one of the most lasting for me is of Michael Dean Perry dawdling. Didn't get his fat frame off the field in time. Remember? Cost the Denver Broncos the game against Jacksonville and reduced the Broncos from three Super Bowls to two.

There ought to be a chalk outline of the Lombardi Trophy in the Broncos trophy case with Michael Dean's name on it.

As a visiting writer that day, I was as unhappy as any Broncos fan, more maybe. So certain was I the Broncos would beat the Jaguars that I had booked a week in Vail, expenses paid, from which I would, between runs, preview the AFC Championship Game.

Where did I spend the week instead? Providence, R.I., with Big Tuna and the New England Patriots, while the mayor of the town insisted the press try his own personal pasta sauce. Wasn't bad, either, but hardly lunch at Two Elks Lodge.

I have thought about this since. It might be why I am in Denver. Feeling unfulfilled, I consequently traded that missing week for a whole career change. Thanks Michael Dean, and thanks, Mile High.

Now, to business. As chairperson of the Do Right By Mile High Committee, I call this meeting to order. The only item on the agenda is, of course, how to do right by Mile High Stadium for its final, sigh, football game. No tears, please. We can be professional about this.

We shall consider all submitted suggestions, but this one shows the most promise. Some preliminary inquiries have been made, and I am happy to announce that Elton John might be available to adapt Candle in the Wind, at halftime.

We all know the words. "Goodbye Denver's Rose ..." and if we don't we can just hum along until we get to the important part ... "burned out long before your legend ever did."

Each fan is given a little candle, short enough to burn out just as Elton gets to the last note. Anyone who needs a souvenir of the occasion will always have a burn scar between thumb and forefinger. Elton will, I understand, have no problem wearing Broncos colors. As a matter of fact, all he wears are Broncos colors.

I would like to thank Archie of Aurora for all the fine research he and his subcommittee have done in pulling together a list of possible farewells, modeled on famous goodbyes we all know, though not all of them are practical for Mile High.

For example, I don't know how we can do the Rhett Butler. You know, where Scarlett asks where she will go and what she will do? Frankly, my dear, I don't think it will work. Too cold.

I believe, however, we could make the Lou Gehrig scenario work. Today, day, day, Mile High Stadium, ium, ium, considers itself the luckiest stadium, ium, ium, on the face of the earth, rth, rth.

Or we might be able to adapt the Douglas McArthur Farewell, played one last time by Dan Reeves, I think. Old stadiums never die, they just become landfill.

Hey, Michael Dean! Get your lazy self off the field!

Sorry, I sometimes have flashbacks.

As for nostalgia, bringing back the old Broncos is a nice touch but predictable. Here is a novel suggestion. Bring back the first USFL championship team, the Michigan Panthers (Bobby Hebert and Anthony Carter) and let them finish the 1983 game against the Philadelphia Stars. As I recall, the surprisingly large contingent of Michigan fans stormed the field and the game never did officially end.

This is not easy. Goodbyes are tricky and invariably ambiguous. Not like hellos. We all remember what Neil Armstrong said when he was the first man to land on the moon, but does anyone know what Eugene Cernan said when he left as the last man on the moon? Did he even promise to call?

How to say farewell to something precious? Duty compels me to give this last suggestion a proper hearing, for we are considering sentiment, after all.

The old cowboy, Gene Autry, was asked what he wanted done with Champion, the Wonder Horse, after Champ had died. Autry pondered the question. He was told Roy Rogers had Trigger stuffed.

Autry considered how fitting would be such a gesture for the animal and companion that had helped make him rich enough to buy most of Orange County and his own baseball team. Autry inquired about the cost of such a tribute. He was told it would run into several thousands of dollars, if done right. Autry didn't hesitate.

"Just bury the S.O.B.," Autry said.

That's another option. Shall we vote?

Contact Bernie Lincicome at (303) 892-2411 or lincicomeb@RockyMountainNews.com.