I am a lover of sports. From football and basketball to wrestling, golf and tennis I can sit and watch a game or match of just about anything.
My favorite, by a wide margin, is football. I have never played football, will never play football and cannot begin to understand what it is like wearing pounds of pads and running and tackling someone at high speeds. I am finally beginning to see penalties when they happen and can sometimes recognize plays.
With all of that, I still love it. Sunday night was the last night of football until NFL preseason games start and college has its opening day in September.
I have always liked Peyton Manning. I vaguely remember him playing at Tennessee, don’t remember him getting drafted at all and probably really started paying attention at about the time several Hawkeyes made their way to the Colts.
From then on, I became a fan. He seemed smart, talented and had the game plan in hand before the first snap even made it to his hands. In his first Super Bowl appearance, Manning played the Chicago Bears, who are my NFL team. Defeat never felt so good to watch Manning get his first ring, with what I thought would be many more to come.
At the time I thought I might be a fan of the Colts, as they were the reason I started watching the quarterback. I soon learned I had no love for the Colts as soon as Manning left and it was only the player I liked watching. I also learned that about Brett Favre. I know, I know, as a Chicago fan Green Bay is the worst, but Favre was different and always amazing to watch whether he was throwing rocket touchdowns or crazy interceptions.
When Manning landed in Denver, I knew I wasn’t a Broncos fan. That became more apparent when he was hurt and sidelined for a period before being benched late in the season.
In my mind, Denver could lose every game they doubted Manning as the man who could bring them their third championship. I am not so short-sighted to not credit the defense of Denver for its very large part in the season and Super Bowl win. “Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships” seemed to ring true more so Sunday than ever before.
I am very happy for Manning getting his second ring and hopefully quieting doubters who thought his career may not have been what it could have been only winning one prior. I was also happy he got some closure from an embarrassing performance in his last Super Bowl appearance.
I hope he calls it a career and goes out on top. Nothing was harder watch on the football field then Favre in his final season, when you knew he should have been home in Mississippi instead of hobbling up after getting sacked for the 100th time.
If he does decide to hang up his cleats, I will lose a player I loved watching every Sunday from September through January. But with that, I am excited to see who the “next Peyton Manning” will be to get adoration. Hey, maybe that player will even play for the Bears (fingers crossed).
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com