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Two years ago, Bill Belichick famously rushed off to the locker room with a second remaining in Super Bowl XLII, rather than offer congratulations on field to the champion New York Giants. That the Colts attempted to convert a 4th and 2 with the lead on Sunday wasn't the only way they cribbed their rival's coach; Peyton Manning made a beeline to the locker room in lieu of the requisite display of congratulations to the victorious Saints.
The postgame handshake is a pro forma bow to sportsmanship that means little to the players and coaches involved. However, should someone neglect this sporting nicety, the oversight is then used by writers as a cudgel to reinforce an irrelevant media enforced standard of honor. See also: James, LeBron.
What I take exception with is the way many members of the media were quick to crucify Belichick for what they saw as a brusque and cowardly departure, while excusing Manning's behavior as only indicative of his admirable disdain for losing. Because the differing reactions are done only to fit the narrative created for each personality - Belichick as spiteful misanthrope, Peyton as uber-focused competitor. When really they did the same thing for the same reason.
Manning later offered a text message kudos to Drew Brees, which is sufficient humility by my lights. In the future when a superstar player fails to give the concessionary photo op at midfield or center court, my only hope is that it is met with the indifference such a meaningless snub deserves, and not a reaction that is predicated on how the media views the losing player or coach in question.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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girls usually show better sportsmanship.
by lordhlatts on Feb 9, 2010 2:50 PM EST reply actions
I got $50 that says he left the field quickly because he was starting to cry.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Feb 9, 2010 11:40 PM EST reply actions
Hey, he just got a piece of confetti in his eye . . .
by old__Chuckeye on Feb 10, 2010 3:28 AM EST reply actions
he is the most overrated quarterback in NFL history. Just look what Brady, Ben, ELi did in their final drives and all we hear about is how great peyton manning is.
by Ren82 on Feb 10, 2010 7:25 AM EST reply actions
82, the most overrated qb in history, really? His regular season stats say otherwise. And if you want to talk about overrated qb’s how about Marino or Fouts? What the Colts where able to do this year without a running game was pretty amazing.
by buckeyenut on Feb 10, 2010 7:47 AM EST reply actions
Let’s face it. The Colts season ended in disaster. The decision to forego a shot at a perfect season started it and the Super Bowl loss finished it off. Peyton may be the greatest "regular season" QB in history but his 9-9 record in playoffs is a more telling story. There are so many factors that dictate the outcome of the game but the QB’s play is a significant one more times than not. This past Sunday Peyton came up a bit short. Greatest QBs of all time don’t come up short as often as Peyton has in the playoffs.
by pghjerry on Feb 10, 2010 9:06 AM EST reply actions
"…the differing reactions are done only to fit the narrative created for each personality – Belichick as spiteful misanthrope, Peyton as uber-focused competitor."
Well, ya’ know, there just might be reasons for those narratives.
Belichick made a spectacle of running off of the field while the game was still in progress five months after his "interpretation of the rules" regarding filming other teams’ defensive signals.
These are not identical situations. The media is what it is and it’s reaction is not as hypocritical as you want it to be.
by eleye on Feb 10, 2010 9:08 AM EST reply actions
My Pats won 3 titles, each of which came after a series of articles touting Peyton as the best in the game, perhaps ever… which is why it was so enjoyable to watch him get beaten up every January. He finally slipped through the cracks when the Rex Grossman Bears made the Super Bowl as his opponent.
That said, I don’t see why anyone would get all worked up over the guy. He plays in a cupcake division, with an expansion team to pick on twice a year. Again, he was a Bears anomaly from being the George Gervin of the NFL.
I actually like Manning, as he seems like a nice guy. He was terrific on SNL. He also is sort of what the French call a poo sai. When the playoffs come, he looks like a rich kid who had his car break down and now has to walk home through a tough neighborhood.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Feb 10, 2010 9:23 AM EST reply actions
L’equipe c’est moi? Good article and good point about BB and the media. I could care less if Manning left the field, as far as that goes.
by Radatz on Feb 10, 2010 2:11 PM EST reply actions
In the start of Patton ,George C Scott tells you all you need to know about losing.
by wildwalt on Feb 10, 2010 11:51 PM EST reply actions
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