Colts

The Ravens really let me down this year when they lost to the Colts two weeks ago. The game was so boring and they weren't playing like they wanted to win. Most Baltimore fans despise the Colts because they used to be ours way back before they were in Indianapolis. The Colts actually haven't made it to the Super Bowl at all since they left Baltimore, and most Baltimore fans seem to want it to stay that way. So it was quite a disappointment to my husband when I told him yesterday that I was rooting for the Colts to defeat the Patriots.

I have two reasons for this choice. First, it gets boring to me to see the same teams win all the time. Going into last night's game, the Patriots were 12-1 in the playoffs and they were probably expecting to make it 13-1. When it was 21-6 at halftime, I think most of the rest of us expected the Patriots to make it 13-1, too. Yawn. My second reason for wanting the Colts to win is even more simple: I like Peyton Manning. He seems like a nice, down-to-earth kind of guy on top of being a good quarterback. He's never made it to the Super Bowl before, and I really wanted him to have that chance simply because he seems like a good guy to me. When the Colts pulled out an amazing win last night, Peyton was smiling his all-American smile, and I felt so happy for him. I know Baltimore can't forgive the Colts for leaving, but I don't see how people can cheer against Peyton Manning.

Last night became a night of firsts. As I already indicated, last night marked the first time that Peyton Manning has earned the right to be in the Super Bowl and the first time for the Colts since they left Baltimore. The Colts also set a new play-off record for a come back since they were behind by 15 points and managed to come back and win. In addition, when the Bears won, their coach Lovie Smith was set to become the first African American head coach ever to get to the Super Bowl. Then the Colts won and now we will have two teams with African American coaches playing each other in the big game. So as someone who gets bored with the same old, same old, I have a lot to celebrate now in the world of football.