Eli’s Coming

I’m coming out.  I want the world to know.  Got to let it show.  -Dianna Ross

Public Service Announcement:  Ok here we go!  Eli’s playing in the NFC Championship Game.  Eli Manning will play in his first NFC Championship Game against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.  Who woulda thunk it?  

You’ve heard the doubters.  The doubting Thomas’.  Thomas’ promises.  Thomas’ promises Eli Manning is an underachiever.  Thomas’ promises Eli Manning is not a leader.  Thomas’ promises Eli can’t win the big ones.  The big fig ones.  Ooey gooey rich and chewy inside.  Golden cakie flakey on the outside.  You believed them.  Why wouldn’t you?  

Eli tied for the NFL’s highest total with twenty interceptions during the regular season.  Eli had a paltry passer rating of 73.9.  Eli had failed to win a playoff game in his previous two trips to the postseason.  Turn back Gulliver, you’ll never make it.  But the times, they are a-changing. 

Eli Manning has completed 32 of 45 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns in these here playoffs.  His postseason passer rating is 123.2.  Yowza!  He’s achieving now.  Joi de vivring now.  Got us believing now.  Struck me kinda funny.  Seems kinda funny, sir, to me.  At the end of every hard earned day, people find some reason to believe.  Eli gave us a reason to believe yesterday.  Third and ten from the Dallas twenty-three, yesterday.  Down a touchdown yesterday.  Seventeen seconds left in the first half yesterday.  Bing!  Hits big Kevin Boss for a nineteen-yard gain.  Bang!  Hits Amani Toomer for a four-yard touchdown.  Just like that.  Hell yeah!  Hey DJ, bring that back!  Another thirty-seven yard, fourth-quarter drive, and that’s the ballgame.  The ballgame on a drive nobody would have thought Manning could have led earlier in the season.  That’s the stuff legends are made.  That’s the stuff that shuts up the doubters.  The pouters.  The down and outers.  Hold onto your hats, Eli’s coming!

For the record, older brother Peyton did not win a playoff game or advance to a conference championship game until his sixth NFL season.

Public Acknowledgements:  John Facenda, Thomas’ English Muffins, Fig Newtons, The Banana Splits, Bob Dylan, Philadelphia Inquirer, Bruce Springsteen and Ludacris

Public Spectacle:

Peace out homies.  Six Two and Even!

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