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Tim 'Barrel Man' McKernan

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Fan

The Resume

    (1940-December 5, 2009)
    Resided in Gunnison, Colorado
    Super fan of the Denver Broncos
    Attended Broncos home games for 40 years (1967-2007) wearing a barrel, cowboy hat and boots, and not much else
    Died of lung failure at age 69

Why he might be annoying:

    He first donned the barrel to win a $10 bet with his brother that he could get on TV.
    Known for his boisterous behavior as a super fan, his son stated, 'Outside the barrel, my father was very quiet, an introverted calm person.'
    When 1970-71 Broncos head coach Lou Saban settled for a tie in a game against the Miami Dolphins, he nicknamed him 'Half-a-loaf Lou' (Saban justified the tie by saying 'A half a loaf is better than none').
    He went through 21 barrels in his lifetime as a fan - the first made from a cleaning solvent drum.
    He had several health issues, forcing him to give up smoking and drinking.
    After he suffered an abdominal aneurysm rupture in 2003, his doctors restricted him to wearing his barrel for half a game, and only if the temperature was above freezing.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He worked for 40 years as a mechanic for United Airlines until retirement.
    During a game he attended in San Diego when the Broncos played the Chargers, some fan tried to shove him down a flight of stairs.
    He became the first Broncos fan inducted into the VISA Hall of Fans at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
    He also received a black-tie invitation to attend John Elway's induction into the Hall of Fame.
    He sold the barrel he wore at Super Bowl XXXII, signed by several Broncos players, to a Colorado casino for $30,000, then donated 10% of the money to a Gunnison battered women's shelter.
    He had off-the-field friendships with former Broncos Rick Upchurch and Billy Thompson.
    Retiring his barrel in 2007, he was honored during a Broncos halftime show, where he was presented with a team football and other gifts, plus lots of fans cheering in appreciation that moved him to tears.
    During his 40 years as a super fan, through sickness and health issues, he only missed four home games.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 256 Votes: 52.73% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 30.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 20 Votes: 55.00% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 34 Votes: 67.65% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 29 Votes: 55.17% Annoying