Say It Isn't So...

Even across the globe, our blue hearts are a different shade of blue today at the news that the Colts will part ways with franchise quarterback Peyton Manning.

Being a sports fan, i've always admired great athletes and remember several farewells: Walter Payton waving farewell to Soldier Field, Michael Jordan's various retirements, Cal Ripken, Jr.'s farewell to baseball, and others.

Growing up in Indiana, there has always been an inferiority complex when it comes to major sports; the small market Indianapolis versus the big city guys.  There's a decency and a handwork ethic that carryover from the agricultural sectors that dominate the state, and so, the sports teams were always expected to field the good guys, too; but good guys don't always bring the wins that often accompany the so-called "killer-instinct" and bravado of great players.

Indianapolis has been indebted to two future hall of famers in the past 2 decades: Reggie Miller and Peyton Manning.  Reggie brought a tenacious, trash-talking, make the last shot, in-the-other's-guy-face-leadership that helped the underdog Pacers basketball franchise move from the cellar to contender.  Though Reggie never brought Indianapolis a title, Conseco Fieldhouse is there because of the post-season success of the teams Reggie made great.  Reggie got to say farewell to Indiana in a Pacers uniform, coming up short against the Detroit Pistons; as the stadium gave Reggie his due appreciation in applause and cheers, Coach Larry Brown of the Pistons (in one of the most classy acts of sportsmanship) took a timeout to extend the applause and allow his team the opportunity to stand and cheer as well.

Even with an amicable press conference today, Peyton won't get that kind of send-off.

You can't really write any more than what has been written by numerous journalists from the Indianapolis Star newspaper to the sports media empire of ESPN--it is universally understood that without Peyton, the Colts may not have ever risen out of the cellar, there would never have been a Lucas Oil Stadium, and the city would not have hosted a Super Bowl, much less have a Lombardi trophy.  Yet, even more than that, Peyton has contributed to countless charities and events throughout the state, and funded a large part of the Children's Hospital that bears his name.  Beyond the dollars, he represented the small-town, hardworking, above-board ethics and values of the populace that not only made him the Colts' quarterback, but one of Indiana's adopted sons.

And so, within hours, the guy who has done all that will get a pat on the back and shown the door--he'll play and win somewhere else next year as the Colts draft their next quarterback.  In time, Peyton will be welcomed back to the city for a retirement of his jersey and his name in the ring of honor, and some other stuff.  But the changes that come today dramatically affect the relationship, and even with a big event in the future, it will not likely reach the same level of appreciation and respect as it would if he retired as only a Colt.

As Colts fans ourselves, we'll continue to root for the team and the new guy, and we hope that whether it's Luck or someone else that they can live up the hype.  But, for the first time, we'll also be adopting another team soon--just as soon as Peyton gets signed somewhere else.