Denver Broncos legend John Elway one of the few still admitting rooting for Michelle Wie

Everyone seems to be jumping off the Michelle Wie hype wagon these days joining the rare orginal thinkers who spoke up when the marketing machinery hummed along unquestioned. The latest is Associated Press golf writer Doug Ferguson (when you’re later then TravelGolf.com’s Tim McDonald to the party, you’re late).

It’s getting to the point where you cannot even find a dirty dozen who will admit they were ever Wie Warriors these days. The transformation’s sort of astounding - until you consider the kind of people who tend to latch onto worshipping supposed stars with no backing up results.

You have to give John Elway credit though. The latest in our celebrity golfer interviews, Elway stands by Wie.

“I just hope that she can win some tournaments, get some confidence,” Elway said. “She’s a great player. But she’s young. I just hope she can get that first win under her belt.”

Elway knows a little something about being criticized for not winning. Until those two late career Super Bowl truimphs, he was regarded as the quarterback who couldn’t win the big one. Of course, he won a lot of big ones, they just weren’t Super Bowls. Just ask your neighborhood Cleveland Browns fan.

I’d be the first one to declare it absolutely ridiculous to compare Can’t Win Any Small Ones Wie to Elway, but Denver’s most popular citizen is willing to stick up for Wie.

It’s probably no surprise. Elway is a nice guy who doesn’t say anything bad about anyone not named Dan Reeves. Plus, he’s the first Football Hall of Famer to have his daughter give his induction speech.

John Elway is a progressive sort of guy. Like me.