Philadelphia sports radio director says Denver pro teams shouldn’t be allowed to have home games

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Bobbi Sheldon - 9 News Denver




DENVER — A sportscaster out of Philadelphia took to Twitter last weekend to suggest that altitude is giving Denver pro sports teams an “unfair and unreasonable” physical advantage over visiting teams.

The series of tweets came before the Denver Nuggets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in a game Friday night at Pepsi Center.

“Remember when watching tonight's game that the home court advantage in Denver is unfair and unreasonable considering the physical disadvantage that the visiting team has," a tweet from Spike Eskin said. "Denver should not have any home games if we insist on giving them pro teams."

In his Twitter rant, Eskin also used the hashtag "#BanDenver."

“Imagine at a sports arena if they pressurized it so the away team would have trouble breathing? it would be disallowed immediately. this is basically what happens in Denver,” another tweet reads.

Eskin went on to make at jab at Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić. The comment did not sit well with Denver fans.

Whether altitude alone is enough to affect the outcome of games has long been a matter of debate.

In a Verify story last year, 9NEWS talked to Indigo San Millan, the director of the Sports Performance program and Physiology lab at the University of Colorado, about Denver's altitude and whether or not it carries a home field advantage.

“It doesn’t matter the sport. When you come to altitude and you want to compete, you’re going to suffer, you’re going to pay for it,” Millian said. “And if someone is waiting for you here, right, with the knife well sharpened, they should take advantage of you.”

Bottom line? Altitude affects an athlete’s performance. Teams who practice at sea level tire 20 percent faster and transport 10 percent less oxygen in their bodies when they compete in Denver.

But a team’s overall ability matters too. Altitude gives mile-high teams an edge, but it can’t win games.

[Goofy]

[DemonGeminiX]

Maybe the Philly players should get in better shape?

[PorkChopSandwiches]

Maybe the Philly players should get in better shape?

Exactly. Why do you think MMA fighters train in the mountains.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I always thought that the whole altitude thing was just hype and that it couldn't make that much of a difference...until I moved here. My first place in Denver was a third floor apartment and by the second trip up and down the stairs, I was seriously winded. The altitude is no joke at all.

[DemonGeminiX]

It might not be mile high, but the Poconos aren't too far away from Philly. Build a training and practice facility up there and quit yer bitchin', Philly.

[PorkChopSandwiches]

I always thought that the whole altitude thing was just hype and that it couldn't make that much of a difference...until I moved here. My first place in Denver was a third floor apartment and by the second trip up and down the stairs, I was seriously winded. The altitude is no joke at all.

Yeah, I notice it big time when I go to Big Bear