Super Brouhaha XLVIII

It has come down to this: a Denver Broncos team led by the best statistical quarterback of all time pitted against a brash and confident Seattle squad seemingly led by a mouthy and polarizing defensive back.  There are many facets and categories that ultimately determine a team's success and performance.  Intense scrutiny, fueled by a world-wide audience and over 6,000 credentialed media representatives, reaches the point where there aren't really any more angles to untangle.  It becomes a stage for every type of personality.  Attention garnered by some individuals parallels their overall demeanor on the field, during and immediately after games.  Peyton Manning has always exhibited a classy, humble personality, comfortable in the spotlight ever since his intensely scrutinized high school days at Isadore Newman School in New Orleans, through his decision to forego his father's and older brother's selection of Ole Miss by choosing Tennessee and on to his storied career in the NFL.

Having watched the ESPN-produced special, "The Book of Manning", it is plain to see that the football success of the Manning men is due to the character and guidance of father Archie and mother Olivia.  Their main emphasis has always been: be a good person.  There's a story that after a game in high school, where Peyton's team lost, Archie observed PFM berating the coach and blaming the loss on the coach's strategy.  Archie later drove Peyton to the coach's house and waited while the younger Manning QB, in tears, apologized to his coach for his behavior.  Archie, just this week commented on the hoopla surrounding the question of Peyton's 'legacy'.  In so many words, the elder Manning said that he didn't buy into the definition and attention paid to the term "legacy", that the only thing that is important is that he be remembered for being a good man and a good teammate.  Humility and class, when embodied by a player with the resume of a Peyton Manning, speaks to what is really good about some sports heroes.  Some people shine in the spotlight, others' character is revealed by the scrutiny.

The question of whether or not sports figures are role models, or not, is often argued.  Those that shy away from the burden of responsibility of that tag, are the ones that want the attention and notoriety of being recognized without acknowledging the import and affectation of their behavior.  In many cases, men's character is not so much revealed, but exposed.  I do not see much to criticize in Marshawn Lynch's obvious discomfort in dealing with the mandatory media onslaught.  If you listen to what he has to say, within the context of an agonizingly uncomfortable situation, he does not seem to be a bad character.  When you listen and watch Richard Sherman in the spotlight, he comes off as a garrulous and falsely portentous man with a huge ego and extensive vocabulary.  Respect means never having to 'splain harsh behavior.  Class means equal amounts of humility in victory and defeat.  Sherman lost a good bit of respect in the immediate aftermath of Seattle's victory over the 49ers and has been using his engaging personality and erudite palaver to backtrack and apologize, kind of.  That's the problem with most people: we want to be judged on some of what we do and say, not all.  Find me a clip or direct quote where Peyton Manning, or John Elway, or John Fox, or Champ Bailey comes off like an idiot, and I'll change my opinion that the Broncos have been built the right way.  Not a thug on the roster.  And, yes, Mr. Sherman equates that term as racist.  Perhaps he'd prefer the term bully, or hoodlum, or punk. 

The players are constantly being prodded with redundant questions and lame attempts to draw them out, perhaps into saying something, *gasp*, controversial or shocking.  This may then transfer notoriety and a blip of fame onto the questioner for being an effective 'journalist'.  The verbally effusive and obnoxious Jim Rome has built his entire 'journalistic' career from one moment in time long ago when he insulted former LA Rams' QB  Jim Everett in a post-game press conference by addressing him as Chrissy, a backhanded slap at Everett by obfuscating his name with the female tennis star, Chris Evert.  Rome persisted and during an interview a couple years later, this happened:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HNgqQVHI_8  The fact that Jim Rome has catapulted himself into the national sports dialogue with these types of tactics, only serves to emphasize one way to riches and fame: at the expense of others' pain and misery.  Rome has had many 'good' interviews and has conducted many 'good' productions, just like Richard Sherman has said many 'good' things since uncorking his true self to Erin Andrews after the NFC Championship game. THUGS, black and white.

I get a kick out of observing all the talking heads, former players and not, attempting to fill their time slots with inane and redundant talking points.  On being asked if he's going to retire if the Broncos win SB XLVIII, Peyton answers politely that he still has the passion and if his health continues to allow, he wants to play into next year and beyond.  "Do you prepare as if this may be your last game?"  Get real.  Technically, each and every play could be any player's last play in his professional career.  Ronnie Lott's last play wasn't the one where he had his pinkie finger mutilated during a tackle of Dallas Cowboy RB Timmy Newsome in the final game of the 1985 season.  Lott had the finger taped up, and finished that game, and played the following week in the Wild Card match against the New York Giants, which the 49ers lost.  After the season, when told that recovery from surgery to perform bone grafts on his damaged finger would possibly cause him to miss the start of training camp the following year, he said "Cut it off!".  Lott played another 10 years in the league, retiring in 1995, elected to the Hall of Fame in 2000.  By the way, 1985 was the year that 'Niners' RB Roger Craig became the first ever player to gain at least 1,000 yards both rushing (1,050 yds) and receiving (1,016 yds) and led the league with 92 receptions.  Since then, only one other player has accomplished the double-1,000 feat.  Can you name him?*

As a life-long Denver Bronco fan, I truly hope that Orange prevails this Sunday.  Seattle, statistically and schematically, is the best defense that Denver has faced this year.  I stop short of predicting a Bronco victory, but I think that Seattle has not faced an offense as efficient and prolific as this Peyton Manning-led squad.  If PFM stays upright with one or none sacks, Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball can combine for 24 carries or more for more than 100 yards total and Russell Wilson has more turnovers than Peyton Manning, then Denver should win by at least two scores.  If Denver's improved defense can hold the Beast to zero carries of over 15 yards and Seattle's offense has to start from inside their own 25 yard line every time, Denver will own the time of possession.  If it boils down to a kick at the end of the game, both kickers are reliable, with Matt Prater having a 10 yard longer range than Seattle's Steven Hauschka.  Ah fuck it!  Denver wins 30-20 and the parade is Monday.  SB Championship III for Elway and Bowlen.

Oh, pitchers and catchers report in two weeks!

*(Marshall Faulk, 1999 St. Louis Rams, the Greatest Show on Turf, 1,381 yds rushing and 1,048 yds receiving) Super Bowl XXXIV champ.