Our Main Man, Mingo

[SpringStein]

I’ve been communicating with his daughter today, and he is in intensive care on life support. I hope he would be ok with me sharing this - I’m doing so in case you are a praying person, please be in prayer for Scott. Many of us have known him for 25-30 years and he is a really special guy. Smart, wise, generous, kind, and optimistic are some words I would use to describe him. Thank you for remembering him in any way you can during this time.

 

[MileHigh64]

Oh my gosh. That's really tough news. We all love and respect Mingo. One of the all time best Bronco fans and from what I understand, an even better person. My thoughts and prayers are definitely going out to him. Get well, Mingo.

 

[LGM]

Still digesting this news, even though we expected something wasn't right. Praying for you and your family Scott. Get well soon.

And I'll save my thoughts on what he's meant to me for (hopefully) much later. I can just see him getting better and holding it over my head for years to come.

Need you to fight big guy.

 

[Draft Crazy]

I don't really know what to say right now. I couldn't sleep very well last night thinking about Mingo.

Just pray!

Keep fighting Mingo! Every text ding I get right now I keep hoping is Mingo telling me to relax, everything is ok followed by him flubbing up the spelling of Travis Hunter (which is hard to do but Mingo would find a way). Like, LGM I would have a lot to share but hoping that doesn't come for a long time. I have known Mingo since I was 16 years old... I was in High School, killing some time on Christmas break before I started my shift at the local grocery store. Looking for a place to talk NFL Draft. Registered at this place called Mouth Off. Thinking it would be a one time thing. Came up with the name Draft Crazy because it was all I could think of as I thought I was just entering some chat room when I was registering. Only to see it was a football message board. Thinking I would likely only be browsing for an hour before I had to head into work. Entered the Bronco room with very little activity but there was some guy named Mingo filling up new threads and replies in the Broncos forum. Instead of talking draft I got drawn in by Mingo... Talking Bronco football, I didn't know this was such a thing on the net. Cool, I get to talk to random strangers about my favorite team.. There was Mingo and one other Bronco fan who I think last posted like 8 months prior to me arriving. Mingo is really the reason I got started and hooked. I love Mingo! I have known him more then half my life.. He has seen me grow from a child to a man (Ok, some could say I am still a child but age wise)

I have so much more to share but hoping that will be for another day a long time from now.

Please pray for Mingo!!! He is such an awesome/amazing person. There is no other Mingo! I've learned so much from him over the years. I always admire his positivity in life weather that be with our Denver Broncos or just life itself.

 

[CEH]

I don't really know what to say right now. I couldn't sleep very well last night thinking about Mingo.

Just pray!

Keep fighting Mingo! Every text ding I get right now I keep hoping is Mingo telling me to relax, everything is ok followed by him flubbing up the spelling of Travis Hunter (which is hard to do but Mingo would find a way). Like, LGM I would have a lot to share but hoping that doesn't come for a long time. I have known Mingo since I was 16 years old... I was in High School, killing some time on Christmas break before I started my shift at the local grocery store. Looking for a place to talk NFL Draft. Registered at this place called Mouth Off. Thinking it would be a one time thing. Came up with the name Draft Crazy because it was all I could think of as I thought I was just entering some chat room when I was registering. Only to see it was a football message board. Thinking I would likely only be browsing for an hour before I had to head into work. Entered the Bronco room with very little activity but there was some guy named Mingo filling up new threads and replies in the Broncos forum. Instead of talking draft I got drawn in by Mingo... Talking Bronco football, I didn't know this was such a thing on the net. Cool, I get to talk to random strangers about my favorite team.. There was Mingo and one other Bronco fan who I think last posted like 8 months prior to me arriving. Mingo is really the reason I got started and hooked. I love Mingo! I have known him more then half my life.. He has seen me grow from a child to a man (Ok, some could say I am still a child but age wise)

I have so much more to share but hoping that will be for another day a long time from now.

Please pray for Mingo!!! He is such an awesome/amazing person. There is no other Mingo! I've learned so much from him over the years. I always admire his positivity in life weather that be with our Denver Broncos or just life itself.

nice story scott thanks for sharing

 

[Orange Crush77]

I love Mingo and I am certainly praying for him

 

[58crash]

I Will be praying for you Mingo We all love you.

 

[Jiddy]

Mingo is such a positive and genuine dude. All my love and prayers go out to him. Get well buddy.

 

[Draft Crazy]

I just received this text from Mingo’s son.

Hi Scott—this Pete Irot, Scott Irot’s (Mingo’s) son. I am very sorry to have to tell you this, but my dad passed away last night. He had been in intensive care for about a week and a half. His passing was peaceful and without pain.



I will add more later but I can’t right now. Need some time.

 

[nflbronco]

RIP Scott damn

 

[Duffman]

 

[MileHigh64]

I just received this text from Mingo’s son.

Hi Scott—this Pete Irot, Scott Irot’s (Mingo’s) son. I am very sorry to have to tell you this, but my dad passed away last night. He had been in intensive care for about a week and a half. His passing was peaceful and without pain.



I will add more later but I can’t right now. Need some time.

This is devastating news. So incredibly sad. Selfishly, I will miss Mingo's wit, intelligence, optimism and friendliness. He was the true spirit of this Bronco's forum. We're going to miss him so much. Prayers and healing for his family.

 

[MileHigh64]

He will forever be the Poster of the Month.

 

[SpringStein]

This should be renamed the Mingo Bronco’s forum. How often did we say, Mingo could be named Poster of the Month every month?

We were contemporaries, he was four months younger than me. I don’t go back as far as DC - for me it was the year 1998 or 99 when I was looking for a forum that was discussing the Broncos draft. I ran across a forum called Mouth Off and I was a lurker. I enjoyed reading Draft Crazy, Los Grande Mojo, PumpFake, Mingo and others I don’t remember. But suddenly, there was no more Mouth Off and I lost track of everyone.

In 2000 I was once again searching for a discussion group and somehow stumbled on to KFFL and there were those familiar names! I didn’t waste anytime this time registering online and started participating in discussions instead of just being a lurker. In time, both DC and Mingo invited me to be part of their 16 team fantasy football leagues on KFFL. In many ways it was there that Mingo and I became friends. He was the commissioner and I started helping him out because we drafted online and there wasn’t any computer support - so it was a lot for one person during a three week long draft. He then name me co-commissioner. In those roles we would have a lot of communication going back and forth by text - and naturally we started to ask about our respective families, work, etc.

He was a senior VP of one of the largest insurance agencies in Texas. I was/am the president of a non-profit. When O needed a directors and officers umbrella policy for the organization, I asked if he could help us and for the last 15 years we have carried insurance through his company. Meanwhile, most of my work is in Russia and he became a donor. I’m not sure it was his greatest interest, but 3 or 4 times a year, we would receive a generous donation from him.

He was much more than a contributor on a Broncos forum for several of us. He was a friend. He attended Cal Berkeley during the crazy days of the late 60’s early 70’s - and I remember the funny story of him being kicked out of college for a semester. I’d you know anything about Cal, you know you have to be bright to be accepted there. He was an OL on their football team, he never bragged a lot about that but I’m sure it was part of his in-depth knowledge about football.

He served in the Army, maybe some of you remember more details than I know about that.

He had a son and a daughter. His son attended Rice University and his daughter lived in Virginia after living in PA for awhile. He was really proud of both of them and dearly loved his grandchildren.

I’m going to miss him a lot. He was truly a friend - which is strange as we met online in a football forum, texted, and had phone calls, but never met in person. I’ll never forget him and his positive personality. Rest in peace, my friend Scott!

 

[CEH]

Rest in peace Scott

he was always the voice of reason. super smart and witty. wanted him to come see a game but never made it up here.

Prayers to his family.
he was one of a kind

 

[Orange Crush77]

Damn. Rest in peace. He will be missed

 

[MileHigh64]

This should be renamed the Mingo Bronco’s forum. How often did we say, Mingo could be named Poster of the Month every month?

We were contemporaries, he was four months younger than me. I don’t go back as far as DC - for me it was the year 1998 or 99 when I was looking for a forum that was discussing the Broncos draft. I ran across a forum called Mouth Off and I was a lurker. I enjoyed reading Draft Crazy, Los Grande Mojo, PumpFake, Mingo and others I don’t remember. But suddenly, there was no more Mouth Off and I lost track of everyone.

In 2000 I was once again searching for a discussion group and somehow stumbled on to KFFL and there were those familiar names! I didn’t waste anytime this time registering online and started participating in discussions instead of just being a lurker. In time, both DC and Mingo invited me to be part of their 16 team fantasy football leagues on KFFL. In many ways it was there that Mingo and I became friends. He was the commissioner and I started helping him out because we drafted online and there wasn’t any computer support - so it was a lot for one person during a three week long draft. He then name me co-commissioner. In those roles we would have a lot of communication going back and forth by text - and naturally we started to ask about our respective families, work, etc.

He was a senior VP of one of the largest insurance agencies in Texas. I was/am the president of a non-profit. When O needed a directors and officers umbrella policy for the organization, I asked if he could help us and for the last 15 years we have carried insurance through his company. Meanwhile, most of my work is in Russia and he became a donor. I’m not sure it was his greatest interest, but 3 or 4 times a year, we would receive a generous donation from him.

He was much more than a contributor on a Broncos forum for several of us. He was a friend. He attended Cal Berkeley during the crazy days of the late 60’s early 70’s - and I remember the funny story of him being kicked out of college for a semester. I’d you know anything about Cal, you know you have to be bright to be accepted there. He was an OL on their football team, he never bragged a lot about that but I’m sure it was part of his in-depth knowledge about football.

He served in the Army, maybe some of you remember more details than I know about that.

He had a son and a daughter. His son attended Rice University and his daughter lived in Virginia after living in PA for awhile. He was really proud of both of them and dearly loved his grandchildren.

I’m going to miss him a lot. He was truly a friend - which is strange as we met online in a football forum, texted, and had phone calls, but never met in person. I’ll never forget him and his positive personality. Rest in peace, my friend Scott!

My heart goes out to you and @Draft Crazy as you both knew @Mingo (Scott) the person. I'm so sorry for the loss of your dear friend. Both of you penned very touching stories and it helps all of us understand the magnitude of this loss. Looking back now, I'm honored that I was able to chat back and forth with him from time to time. I'm just so sad about this.

Scott, I'm sure you can hear us from heaven. Everyone here loves you and thanks you for being our Broncos ambassador and a dear friend to many. We'll miss you but will think of you in the Colorado orange and blue sunsets over Mile High.

 

[LGM]

Sorry if this wanders. Its been a rough afternoon.

Some of you get on my last nerve.

Life, circumstances, and just the nature of the internet can bring out my sharper wit and/or sarcasm, though its mellowed with a lot of age.

I've known Scott since at least 1998/99, and he used to be an active participant in Non-Sports Talk forum on a different site. In those days the internet was no holds barred, and at times I didn't hold back on responding. A few times in my younger days, he would dm and check on me, see if everything was ok, then subtly remind me its better to be kind than right all the time. Or that "fan" was short for "fanatic", and we all had the right to express our thoughts and feelings.

Very recently he reminded me of this again in a post, which made me stop and realize what I'd said. I apologized, and he responded to my post with an emoji. Most might think nothing of it, but to me it was an almost father-figure reacting to decades of hard work on his part. Lol. Telling me "good job". it was the little things. He could be as subtle as a whisper, or as loud as a hurricane. He usually chose to whisper.

His humor reminded me of Dennis Miller, sometimes so understated I'd actually look it up to see just what point he was getting across. And once I got it, I laughed.

Then sometimes, his humor was easy and basic, a joke for the every-man. He could do it all, humor-wise. I marveled at his skill, and emulated him in real life more than he knew.

Through the years he'd still check in on me, and see how I was doing. One year for either his birthday or Christmas I sent him a bobblehead Elway doll. It wasn't super nice or fancy, it was clay not plastic. He mentioned it on the board, thanked me publicly and privately, and seemed genuinely surprised and loved it. He always took time to do and say things to others that made them feel good about themselves, their efforts, or the impact they had on him or the world in general.

He rarely spoke here about his political views or thoughts other than short one-liners, but while I knew him he was his own mix of liberal and conservative, tough and kind, and wanted the best for this country despite his home state's recent decisions.

His personal anecdotes on the boards were relatively few and far between, and I do wish he'd shared more. His time guarding the tomb of the unknown soldier was always a great story, and on mouth off on the NST forums he would share them on occasion.

His creativity with stories, haiku (even recently) were remarkable, and every time I made one I wondered if he'd appreciate it.

We never met, but God I wish we did. I've recently wondered what this place would be like without his steady hand behind the scenes, creating a board almost by sheer will that was inclusive, interesting, filled with intelligent discourse and a sense of family that no other board seems to have.

I was fond of calling him my old friend, partly a joke, and partly a testament to him.

And now, one last time. I'll miss you more than you know, old friend.

 

[SpringStein]

LGM, that was one of the finest, from the heart posts I’ve ever read. Your old friend would approve!

 

[nflbronco]

LGM, that was one of the finest, from the heart posts I’ve ever read. Your old friend would approve!

1000%