Why The Broncos Lost

Monday, February 3, 2014

Why The Broncos Lost

Why The Broncos Lost

By

Francis William Bessler

Laramie, Wyoming

Feb. 3rd, 2014

Hello, Everyone,

       I don't often take the time to deal with a trivia item, but I am going to do so today.  What does it matter if the Denver Broncos lost to the Seattle Seahawks yesterday in the Super Bowl?  In the long run of important matters facing us in this wide ole world, winning or losing a football game should probably rank in the lower range of importance - maybe a 1 out of 100 in importance; but still it does matter some and we can learn from it and apply some lesson about it to our lives.  In that light, if we can relate something about it to our lives in general, its importance might rise to a 5 out of 100 - or even more.

       So, why do I think the Broncos lost so badly yesterday: 43-8, I believe?  I would call it "The Elevation Factor".  It is the same reason why my Wyoming Cowgirls college basketball team can win so well at home and then lose so badly to the same team where that other team resides.  It's the "elevation factor". 

        I know a lot of people think it is mostly a "fan base" factor that the home team wins more often than it loses; but I think there is more to it than that.  Now, if elevation of play sites is mostly the same, then other factors can prove more significant, but among teams that play in widely different elevations, it seems to me that the home team would always have the advantage.  That is mostly because of a thing called "adjustment".  Elevation means a lot when it comes to physical exercise; and when one changes locations and goes from one elevation to another, one must make an "adjustment" to deal with the change of elevation.  Why?  Because difference in elevation effects ease of breathing - and wave of energy; and that effects how one runs - or can run - and how well one can throw a ball - depending upon a variance of "density in air".  If one underestimates or overestimates density of air, one can over throw or under throw, given the exact same physical motions; and that is the difference between an "interception" by the other team or "completion" by your team.

        Thus, my Cowgirls can win decisively over a sea level team here in Laramie because a sea level team has to make an adjustment due to change in elevation.  Our elevation here in Laramie is 7220.  That reflects a huge difference in elevation for a team that normally plays and practices in a 0 elevation environment.  On the other hand, when the Laramie Cowgirls travel to a land of much lower elevation, it is the Cowgirls who have to make the adjustment.  It just makes sense.

        Now, fast forward to the Super Bowl!  The Denver Broncos live in a city a mile high in elevation.  The Seattle Seahawks live in a city that is sea level or almost sea level.  If the Denver Broncos play the Seattle team in Denver, Denver would have the "elevation advantage".  If the Denver Broncos play the Seattle team in Seattle, Seattle would have the "elevation advantage" - simply because Seattle does not have to make an adjustment to elevation related playing conditions whereas the Denver Broncos would have to allow for such an adjustment.

        In fact, where was the Super Bowl played this year?  It was not played in a mile high elevation area.  Was it?  It was played in New Jersey in a sea level city.  Accordingly, since Seattle did not really have to "adjust" for a difference in elevation, Seattle had the advantage; and that is precisely how it turned out.  In essence, Seattle was the "host" or "home" team because their elevation is the same as that of the city in which they played.  The Seattle Seahawks did not have to allow for an "elevation adjustment," but the Denver Broncos did.  Didn't they?

        Were the Seattle Seahawks significantly better than the Broncos - talent wise?  I do not think so; but from the start of the game to the end, the Broncos unknowingly had to allow for an "elevation adjustment" factor - which I doubt very much that they considered important.  Thus, they were badly beaten in New York and would have been badly beaten in Seattle; however if the Super Bowl had been played in another town of similar elevation to Denver, it is likely the results would have been completely different.

What Does That Have To Do With Me?

        So, what does that have to do with me?  It should tell me that "adjustment factors" are important.  We all need to make "adjustments" in life for many reasons; and failure to adjust to changing conditions can do us in, in a manner of speaking.

        And speaking for myself, I am 72.  I am no longer a boy - nor even a young man or middle aged man - unless I should live to be 140.  I don't consider that likely.  Do you?  Accordingly, I need to act like a 72 year old and learn to love being a 72 year old - and not insist on thinking I am younger than I am - or insist on acting like I am younger than I am.  If I am wise, I will realize - that though life is good at all stages - it differs in various capacities somewhat between ages.  As long as I take that truth into consideration and strive to "live my age," then all will be well; but should I consider that I need to act like I am younger and not take loving my age as it is into consideration, then I will only be disappointed in life and see ill where there is only reduced capacity - and maybe fall ill in the process.

        So, there is the lesson I learned by Denver losing to Seattle yesterday.  Failure to play up to par, so to speak, is a lot like failure to live according to one's real age.  In my opinion, for what it's worth, I think the Denver Broncos did not take into consideration an "elevation difference" - and in failing to allow for such needed adjustment, they lost - and badly so.  Likewise, if I fail to take into account that I am no longer even 52 and insist like age means nothing at all, then in my refusal to "accept my age," I am probably doomed to be unhappy - due to probable disappointment in myself.

        And that is what I take from the Denver Broncos losing to a team of equal talent yesterday.  What do you think?

Until next time, Adieu!

Your Bella Vita host,

Will Bessler

(Francis William Bessler)