Lakewood resident Michael Cawthra said he’s been a Nuggets fan since the team made their first NBA playoff appearance against the Portland Trailblazers back in 1976 at McNichols Arena.

And it’s his fanaticism and creativity that helped him the Nuggets Winning is Suite contest from YourHub.com. His winning submission, entitled "Retirement Party at the Nuggets," details members of his "Dream Team": His wife, basketball buddies and co-workers, whom he’d love to treat to a Nuggets game for their continuing support of him.

"I would like to take 15 of my friends to a Nuggets game as my retirement gift to them for their support of me as a teacher. I have been through many things, incredible highs and lows, and these 15 people have stood by me for all of this," Cawthra wrote in his entry.

"I wrote this right from the heart," Cawthra, a Jeffco teacher for more than 30 years, said. "And I am retiring this year, so I want to do this as a party for my friends."

Cawthra said he and his friends haven’t planned any pre-celebration party yet before the Feb. 21 game against the Charlotte Bobcats, but we are looking forward to them posting photos and a story from their time in the suite.

Read the rest of Cawthra’s entry here.