Football and weather-neither can be accurately predicted

By DAVID A. WILSON

Democrat Staff

Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs got more than could be hoped for this season.

After the 2-14 record of the previous season, fans hoped for a winning season with at least nine wins. Even four wins would have been progress and shown it was a building year.

But what a year it was with an 11-5 record! Once the season began, the Chiefs played both as a team and as individual players with special strengths. It was a real pleasure to watch the games.

With a couple of exceptions, even the losses weren't that devastating in the regular season. Sure, a couple of lopsided games were disappointing, but one loss was by two points and another was lost in overtime. In the game against the Chargers, most of the Chiefs' starters rested. The backup players lost in overtime. If it hadn't been for poor officiating, that game probably wouldn't have gone into overtime in the first place.

Not only did no one predict such a comeback for the team, several of the pundits refused to accept the fact that the Chiefs actually could do well. Tony Dungee repeatedly said the Chiefs were the worst winning team in the league, simply because he didn't see the team as having a strong offensive line. Up to that point, they had not lost any games, regardless of who scored the points.

And then there was the playoff game. Yes, it was a loss, but a one-point loss is not exactly devastating. Especially when so many injuries undoubtedly affected the Chiefs' play.

As it happened, the game I attended was Dec. 22 in Kansas City. The parking lot was full of tailgaters. It was also full of ice and snow, as were the seats.

The first half hour in the stands was something like being seated in a construction zone - a very cold construction zone - because of the noise of fans of both teams pounding to knock the three-quarters inch of ice off the seats.

The game, which started in bitter cold, was well-attended. During the game, the wind increased making the stadium even colder. The fans held on even though the team was not doing well and cold was seeping into their bones. Only in the last few minutes did the stadium begin emptying, probably because of the really bitter cold.

Which brings us to the weather.

Predicting the outcome of a football game seems to be a little like looking at a meteorologist report and predicting the weather in a certain area. The sports forecasters and weather forecasters gather as much information as they can, put in their own prejudices and then make predictions.

And they are not all that reliable.

When plans were made for a family event in Cape Girardeau for the weekend of Jan. 4, forecasts and predictions of weather conditions were good. Not that it was to be balmy - it is January after all - but it was expected to be reasonably pleasant.

The trip down on Thursday, Jan. 2, was brisk to say the least. With the forecasts constantly changing for the worst, some decisions were made at the last minute. The original plan was to stay over after the event and have a leisurely return on Sunday, Jan. 5.

The weather prognosticators began to predict a severe storm, but different forecasters, like the different sports pundits, failed to agree on the time, the day and even the severity of the coming storm. The event came off Saturday afternoon. But since the weather grew colder and windier, those at the big event took notice of the prediction of a severe storm to hit about 12 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5.

What really grabbed everyone's attention was the sleet and snow predicted for Cape Girardeau and a possible foot of snow in St. Louis.

To make a long story short, when it looks like the future is to be snowed in, home looks like the place to be.

Whether its the game or the weather, Chiefs fans are nothing if they are not resilient and hopeful. The weather, or the game, may be better another day.

Football is played one game at a time and one season at a time, just as the weather comes one day at a time and one season at a time.

Computers and statistics may be helpful, but you can't tell what time and chance will bring to either football or the weather.

That's why the games are played!