The Denver Broncos win on the road but lose an opportunity at home

Just a quick thing about missing the boat. And, yes, that's kind of a pun. Because in what could be Colorado's worst natural disaster EVER, people are looking to be buoyed by something...literally. The Denver Broncos, whether they deserve it or not, could be that flotation device. They are the biggest and most relevant sports franchise in the Rocky Mountain region. When there's a game the entire state turns orange and blue. People who aren't even football fans merge into the mayhem, often spending four or five hours on a Sunday erasing years of their life with queso and mounds of meat. Even if you're like me, and are weary of years devoted to cheering on what is a massive corporate entity, you still can't pry yourself from the anticipation of a Bronco game.

So with that huge, devoted following and multitudes more engaged in the sport, why not capitalize on the attention to get some help at home? A global audience watched as the press built up the game between brothers Eli and Peyton Manning as the "Manning Bowl," and eventually the pundits gushed to a rapt audience about how good the elder (Peyton) Manning was in leading his team. Meanwhile, almost a 1000 people are still unaccounted for in Colorado. Flood waters have crested in geographic swath larger than some states, thousands of homes have been destroyed, and thousands of people are without shelter. The Broncos aren't responsible for this, but the players should have been prepared by the organization to use their popular pulpit to support the people who have, without fail, supported them.

It's very simple. Give your players some quick talking points. A post-game interview could go from inane to awesome with a quick mention of how the victory was important but it was just a game. And then you tell the players to mention Denver Broncos dot com as a place where you can see how to help. It's a win/win. The players and team are seen as stewards of the community, and their fans are like, "Damn, that felt good." After all, we really did build their house, so the least they could do is help rebuild ours.

Remember the fans? Not so much.

Some might say that's depressing. Others with a marketing acumen could add that it takes away from the focus of building the drama and selling tickets. I totally disagree. There are people and organizations who have seen their popularity explode because of their involvement with the natural disasters. How many of you knew of a site called "Help Colorado Now" before the fires or the floods? How much more local news have you watched this week as compared to any other? It's almost like we're a third-world country with all of this attention and aid being delivered by helicopters. But we're not some remote location in dire straights. We're the Firstest of First-Worlds, and we should use all of our glitzy mass media tools to help those who need it. All it takes is a sincere comment from someone thrust into a popularity by his ability to throw a ball. That's not to belittle any of our sports heros, it's just a reminder of how big they are, and how little it takes for them to make a real difference. 

Comments

[Dan]

I guess everyone in the state but me. Don't lump me in with these sportsdouches.

Football, the sport, the players, the owners, etc. are all a bunch a fucking narcissists. Self involved bullshit artists who've been convinced by their adoring fans that their sport and their lives mean something. That you wasted space on this blog to even consider them in the recovery of our great state shows just where your own priorities lie. Get your head out of your ass you sycophant. Stop fellating them.

[ConniMac]

Great idea, and great opportunity. I'm sharing this a few hundred times. NoCo is in bad enough shape, we ain't too proud to beg...