Dealing with death through online sports networks

It's so cold in Denver today.

Coping with loss is never easy. Recently, the Denver Broncos have had more than their fair share. First, the devastating defeat to the San Francisco 49ers removed the Broncos from playoff contention and then the death of a teammate.

Not even the 2 feet of snow that blanketed Denver matched the bitterness felt by those mourning the loss of Darrent Williams. He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten. The official Denver Bronco’s Web site has created a message board entitled “broncomania,” which allows anyone to post condolences and thoughts about the tragic death of the 24-year-old cornerback.

No longer is consolation an act of those close in vicinity, but now it spans across states through an interactive Web community of people helping themselves and others deal with something no one likes to deal with—death.

If the message board isn’t enough, then there is an e-mail link so users can send notes directly to the Broncos team and the Williams family. This cathartic experience seems to be taking hold, as there are already 277 posts.