General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Seahawks are a great team but Peyton Manning is the symbolic leader of this Super Bowl...
A lot of Americans identify with Manning and what he represents this year.
He is the Labor/Union Poster boy of the Big Game this year.
Peyton is playing for everyone who was ever fired from a company where they had dedicated their whole career only to be sent packing prematurely.
Peyton is also playing for everyone who wakes up a little older each day and says "Hey that (knee, hip, back) didn't hurt yesterday".
Lastly, if Peyton loses the folks in Omaha, Nebraska will be crushed.
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)Given that, it would be my guess that he is fervently anti-union. He and "I will reduce wages if Obamacare passes" Papa John can take a flying fuck.
librechik
(30,663 posts)Like most athletes, he's probably unaware of politics in that sense.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)feature either his family or that asshole from PaPa John's who is apparently Manning's best buddy. Manning owns 21 PaPa John's Pizza locations, the chain that claimed 'Obamacare' was going to make pizza far too expensive. Peyton's pal lives in a Neverland like estate that is lavishly laughable.
I thought he was a birther.
shenmue
(38,501 posts)My Giants aren't in it this year, so I'm picking the next best.
lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)Usurpers to the throne. Mongol hordes. Vik... well okay not vikings.
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)I am happy for him that he found success after being fired for being old and injured, but he is hardly the only person who has an inspiring story. Richard Sherman came from Compton, went to Stanford and is now playing in the Superbowl. Derrick Coleman is deaf and bought Superbowl tickets for the two little girls who wrote to him. And I'm sure there are more. I don't see Peyton Manning as a symbolic leader of anything.
madokie
(51,076 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)I'm a veteran Broncos fan and will be rooting for them to win, but let's drop all this nonsense about celebrity entertainers being anything other than celebrity entertainers.
Johonny
(20,683 posts)Once fired after only a season by the JETS he was told his ra ra college crap didn't work in the NFL. A lot of people are pulling for Pete.
A lot of people see Manning's buddy buddy with Papa John's and don't think Labor/union at all. They see another "Reagan democrat" supporting the very mechanism that got him where he is.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)because of a physical or mental limitation. There are sooooo many stories within each Super Bowl that I find your OP more than a bit silly and presumptuous. I will be happy for either team.
Loaded Liberal Dem
(230 posts)Terry Bradshaw and some guy named Montana each earned four Super Bowl rings in an era where defenses were pretty much allowed to commit murder on the field.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)and then, I realized he was right.
cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)librechik
(30,663 posts)the Broncos are a great team, though.
countryjake
(8,554 posts)I'm hoping that none of the players are hurt today.
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)In the words of Wellington Mara to Vince Lombardi before Super Bowl I,"The entire NFL is counting on you to win this..."
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)Earth_First
(14,910 posts)...the biggest corporate beneficiary of the sport who spent a decade or more suppressing the injuries associated with concussions.
The NFL made a 'poster-boy' story out of the Manning brothers for one reason: ratings.
Ratings = $$$
There are plenty of players in the NFL who are just as qualified as "playing for everyone fired from a company..."
The Manning story is just as much Hollywood as it is 'one for Main Street...'
cpwm17
(3,829 posts)and I don't care as long as he doesn't try to promote nonsense.
He's a great player and should have more than one Super Bowl win to his name. Plus the Denver Broncos are my team when the Chargers are out. They are both AFC West.