Imagine two brothers facing off in a Super Bowl. Two big brothers. I mean big as in famous. And we get a good start on the weekly e-mails from a British Columbian (the Canucks might be good this year, eh?) who wonders how fun it would be to see a Manning-squared Big Game.
WHO WOULD ARCHIE PULL FOR? From Roger Hui of Burnaby, British Columbia: "What do you think are the chances of Manning vs. Manning in Super Bowl XL?''
This week will tell an awful lot in that regard, Roger. Giants have a major trap game in San Francisco, a team that will send the kitchen sink at young Eli if what they did to the Bucs' Chris Simms last Sunday is any indication. Remember the Giants were a shaky 5-2 last year when they lost to a team they should have beaten (Chicago) and went into the toilet from there. They have to show up big in San Francisco, particularly with some tough games looming. Regarding Peyton, look at it this way. The Colts have a two-game lead over anyone in the AFC for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. What does that mean? It means the conference is theirs to lose. So, obviously, the Colts have a much better chance of getting there than the Giants, but the G-Men are in the mix in a conference in which a great team hasn't surfaced.
NOW FOR THE IMPORTANT QUERY OF THE WEEK. From Jeremiah Lacsamana of San Francisco: "Which do you think would win in a three-way death match? Denver's orange crush jerseys? Cincy's trick-or-treat costumes? Or Tampa's classic creamsicles? I personally think Tampa's old uniforms blow the others away.''
The old Bucs uniforms were just ugly and bush league. They looked like something you'd find in a California junior college game or uniforms that were donated by the local Chamber of Commerce because they could get 'em cheap. The Bengals? Those things are a monstrosity. When you go to games, you really notice them. A couple of weeks ago, before the game against Pittsburgh in Cincinnati, I saw some people who must live respectable lives walking around in those orange pajama-ey things, and I wondered: Don't those people vomit when they see themselves in the mirror?
PUT RALPH IN THE HALL. From Jon Baer of Raleigh, N.C.: "I enjoyed your comments regarding the life of Wellington Mara. When do you suppose the individuals who make up the Hall of Fame selection committee will come to their collective senses and induct another great owner/father/football ambassador ... namely the Bills' Ralph Wilson. What more does the man have to do to prove himself worthy?''
You're preaching to the choir, Jon. I'm a Wilson guy.
WELL, THANKS, GEORGE. From George Cunningham of College Station, Texas: "As a Cowboys fan, I am one of the people who thinks there is way too much attention provided to New York teams. However, I really appreciate your writing about Wellington Mara. It was refreshing to read about someone who seems to have been such a wonderful person. Keep up the good work.''
That's kind of you, George. Thanks. I really do think we live in a hermetically sealed New York bubble sometimes, and I appreciate it when people call us on it.
