If there was ever any doubt that football makes for great drama, tonight’s Colts / Patriots game should effectively end the debate. Two fierce rivals. Five lead changes. One monumental comeback. What a game…
Peyton Manning finally exorcised his big-game demons in fitting fashion by mounting a historic comeback against his nemesis, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Trailing by 18, the Colts clawed their way back to a 38-34 victory, claiming the AFC Championship and a berth in next month’s Super Bowl. The showdown with the Bears in Miami represents the opportunity for Manning to shed his reputation as the best player in the league without a ring. He has no desire to be Dan Marino, at least not in that regard. As big as tonight’s game was, Manning knows his legacy will be written in two weeks.
Super Bowl XLI will be historic for more important reasons. Never before has an African-American coached a team to the Super Bowl. Now both Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith will share that honor. Said Coach Dungy, “It means a lot. I’m very proud to be representing African-Americans. I’m very proud of Lovie.”
But I’m sure there’ll be plenty of time to talk about that over the next two weeks. Tonight I’ll savor the sweetness of the classic I just witnessed. Like I said, what a game!
So, we’re watching the Colts / Pats game with the kids. Reche Caldwell, a New England wide receiver, drops a pass in the end zone. Hit him right in the hands. Caldwell — whose teammates have affectionately nicknamed him “Headlights” for the gargantuan size of his eyeballs — walks back to the huddle with his eyes wide open in amazement that he just cost his team six points. I’ve honestly never seen more white in someone’s eyes. It’s like his eyeballs were trying to escape from his face or something.
Anyway, Sunny notices his look and exclaims, “Whoa! Look at his eyes!”
From that point forward, everytime Caldwell’s face appeared on the screen, Joshua looked at us and said, “Mommy, Daddy, look at his eyes! Look at his eyes!”
Man, these kids are like sponges…
already & not yet 
Super Bowl is Feb 4; due date is Feb 7. I told my son last night that he has about 10 days to arrive so that we have enough time to get out of the hospital and back home in time for Peyton’s Super Bowl. I really hope he’s listening.
I’ll actually be pulling for a Manning.
I saw his eyes too and immediately went into diagnosis mode. It is not at all uncommon for African-Americans to have shallow bony orbits which give the somewhat false impression that the eyes are bulging.In his case though, the bulging appearance was intermittent, and he seemed to be controlling it. Look at the picture you posted–he looks pretty normal there. That led me to believe that he might be having difficulty seeing, either because of uncorrected refractive error or possibly a toric, astimatism-correcting contact lens that was not orienting well on the eye or was drying out.Bottom line, he needs an eye exam. The dropped passes only increase my suspicion.
Mike, I was thinking the exact same thing.
To me he looked like ex-opthalmus. He def. needs to have it checked out. Could be thyroid.Great Game. GO COLTS!!!! He def. looked bug eyed even my girls noticed it.
Laura, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve diagnosed exophthalmos in African Americans and sent them out for thyroid profiles only to have them come back normal. I’m at the point where they have to be manifesting other signs or symptoms before I waste their time on a work-up.If it was Graves Disease, I don’t think it would been intermittent like that. That was a contact lens “stare” if I ever so one.Jason, what do you think?
Uhhh….I concur with you.
My eyes would look like that to if I dropped that pass he did in the fourth quarter. My wife exclaimed “I would have caught that pass!”.My diagnosis, he’s just no good.
Rooting for the Bears. Don’t get me wrong I love Peyton, but don’t want to hear that all the sudden he is great because he won a big game. He is the same guy today as he was yesterday and when he wins the Superbowl he’ll still be the same.A Dan Marino fan
Lane, you’re right…Kristen could’ve caught that pass.Kenny, right or wrong, the criteria for judging all-time great QBs is singular: whether or not they won a championship. It’s really unfair, but that’s the way it is. I’d rather have Marino at the helm than about a dozen QBs who won it all, but Marino will always be remembered for what he didn’t do. Same thing with Peyton if he doesn’t win. That’s why I’m hoping he’ll win and get that monkey off his back.