Do You Like Apples?: Dungy, Manning Make History

After an upset-heavy year in sports, some fans felt that the Chicago Bears weren't getting enough respect in the run-up to Sunday's South Beach Showdown against the Indianapolis Colts. On Monday morning, though, everybody agreed:

 

God didn't play his underdog card this time.

 

As an African-American, I've got to say that I'm proud too, given what was accomplished this weekend: For the first time in NFL history, an African-American coach led his team to a championship.

It was one of those moments when crying doesn't make you a sissy.

And it was one of those moments that makes you realize the importance of respect—something that Tom Brady doesn't know squat about.

The Conference Championship games only had three classy teams in them—and sorry Boston, the Patriots weren't one of them. After Brady and coach Bill Belichick showed no love to Dungy or Manning after losing to the Colts, I felt like finding every Patriots fan within a ten-mile radius and smacking them Rick James-style.

But enough about sore losers. Let's talk about the game.

I don't know what was worst: the lack of funny commercials, K-Fed making himself sound important, or Rex Plummer's...I mean Rex Grossman's performance. Just when you figured the Bears would take the lead, Grossman throws a pick and sets up another three points for Indy. And as if that weren't enough, Grossman handed the trophy to the Colts with his second interception in the fourth quarter.

After that fiasco, Rex, I have to ask: WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!

And then there was Devin Hester. Despite his sub-mediocre performance, Hester did make an impact by Forrest Gump-ing his way to a 92-yard score on the opening kickoff. Speaking of which, didn't Ted Ginn, Jr. do that almost a month ago in the BCS Championship Game—and didn't his Ohio State Buckeyes also go on to lose?

Coincidence?

Maybe. 

In any event, good for the Bears for defying their critics by making it as far as they did. Too bad they didn't leave Rex in Chicago. They might have had a better chance with Brian Griese at the helm. Oh well. At least they got in the history books twice—once for Hester's return, once for Smith's African-American trailblazing.

(And yes I know everybody else is saying "black"...but that's sort of a demeaning way to describe us, don't you think?)

Now let's talk about the Colts. What can you say, really? Defense wins championships, but offense doesn't hurt. Indy's D played more like the Monsters of Midway than Chicago's did, netting five turnovers and generating a score on Kelvin Hayden's 56-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.

Think everybody in Chicago is screaming "RABBLE!!" yet?

And the Colts offense. Let's just say that Peyton played like Chris Leak, and that Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai (a.k.a. the INDYnamic Duo) played like a two-headed Tim Tebow. The result: a Colts offense that was on fire...thanks in part to a Bears defense that couldn't catch a cold on the rainy tundra of South Florida.

I'm a Florida Gators fan, and the world knows it—and so of course I wasn't Peyton's biggest supporter going into Sunday. But I have to give it to him: He played like a man on a mission, and his mission, which he chose to accept, was to prove himself superior to Tom Brady. He earned this championship and he earned his MVP trophy by going 25 of 38 for 247 yards, one touchdown, and—guess what: NO INTERCEPTIONS!!

So way to go, Peyton. Even though you were a Volunteer, you've got my respect.

And yes, the Underdog Era may have ended with the Gators in the BCS title game—but it was good to see a perpetual bridesmaid like Peyton finally get the hardware to show off to Tom. Brady may have three rings, but here's hoping Peyton finds a way to reenact Good Will Hunting when the Colts meet the Pats next season. A quick refresher, in case you've forgotten:

Peyton: Hey, Tom. You like apples?

Tom: Yeah, I do.

Peyton: Well I beat you, got the ring, and helped my coach make history—all in one year! How you like them apples?!

Indeed, Tom. Peyton beat you at your own game. Your three Super Bowl wins were nail-biters; Peyton's was decisive. You had to rely on Adam Vinatieri's leg; Peyton took care of business himself. No one can ever question Peyton's sportsmanship—but we can all question yours.

So really, Tom, the question seems pretty clear going into the Pro Bowl:

How do you like them apples?