Is Experience More Important than Knowledge?

Experience is valuable in every facet of life. We see it in sports, life, on the job, in government. Experience counts.

When a Quarterback fresh out of College leads the NFL in interceptions, both fans and the team are like, “it’s just the learning curve, we’ll get those other teams next year.” When a 5-year veteran Quarterback leads the NFL in interceptions, everyone’s like he’s got to go.

There is progression in life that is expected as consequence of experience. Experience sharpens knowledge.

In his heyday, if Peyton Manning threw three interceptions in the Division title game, no one ever blamed him. Even fans knew the team had put too much on his shoulders late into the fourth quarter.

When the Indianapolis Colts eventually won a title under Tony Dungy, it was because the defense did not put too much on Peyton’s shoulders. The defense showed up, played like a great defense, won the MVP as a collective (if I remember correctly), let Peyton play as well as we all knew he could.

In presence of demonstration of experience, imperfection always is seen for it really is, which is, part of life.

Peyton played the game like the quintessential Quarterback. The New England Patriots are good, play to win. Peyton, Tony Dungy, and the Indianapolis Colts played football. Damn the possibility of mistakes, they were going to give fans a good game.

When the Patriots suck in the defense with all of those dunk passes, then throw the ball deep to a wide open receiver, it is strategy genius. When Peyton threads the ball into the hands of Marvin Harrison while Marvin is running in step with a Cornerback, it’s football.

There are few things more invigorating in football than a receiver hauling the ball in running right on the sideline under tight coverage from a Cornerback.

But consider that man traveled in space before space was experienced. The mathematical calculations, the propulsions needed, the thrust reversals…