A Humbling Game

So today I was really looking forward to watching my team, the Denver Broncos, play. Last week, as I was away, I missed my team's game. In fact, I missed all the games. But today was different. I was available to watch the game, and Denver was playing the hated rival Raiders. I expected a great show.

I got that, but it wasn't the show I expected. As I flipped to the game, the Raiders came down and scored on the opening drive. Then Denver got the ball, Kyle Orton flung it to a Raider, and it was quickly 14-0. Not the start I hoped for.

By the end of the first quarter, when it was 24-0 with the Raiders driving, I was trying to decided whether or not to watch the game. When it got to be 38-0, I gave up on the idea of winning. When it was 38-14 early in the second half, I allowed myself to get hopeful again... the game ended 59-14, the worst loss Denver could have had.

Somewhere in between the booing of the home fans, my depression at watching a beating, and the constant scoring of the Silver and Black I was reminded of a quote from John Madden. During the first half of a game that was 35-0, the cameras caught members of the losing team's offense on the sidelines cracking jokes. Al Michaels made a comment about how they needed to take the game more seriously. Madden responded, "Well, you gotta laugh because it's too early to start crying."

I managed to laugh a little this afternoon, like a sad clown... But on a day like today, when we talked about what is truly important in life, it helped put Sunday's epic beating into perspective. Was I disappointed — yes. Was it embarrassing — yes. Was it traumatic — of course not. It was a game... one I'd like to forget.