Ever seen the movie, "The Perfect Storm"? I really liked it--until the end.  I felt like I'd been duped, I'd been cheated, all because when you think about it, none of the movie after the first thirty minutes actually happened.  Since all the fishermen on the Andrea Gail died in the Storm, there's no way to prove the emotional events that happened out at sea.

Why do I say this?  Because I get that same feeling with Peyton Manning.  Now, I know I'm from Indy.  I know the Colts are now 12-0 following yesterday's destruction of yet another team, this time the Titans fell 35-3.  But there's something missing with Peyton Manning. Take this for what it's worth, since I'm the same guy who said the Colts should have drafted Ryan Leaf in 1998. 

I had to talk myself into writing this.  I thought, "No one will understand the point--especially now!  Are you nuts? Writing an anti-Manning column? What's next? An anti-Pete Carroll column in L.A.?" 

Even today, my points are somewhat valid.  Though Leaf obviously flopped big time and Manning was/is the clear choice, I can't get attached to Peyton.  He can break the single season touchdown record, he can lead a team to a 12-0 start, be humble, a great guy in the community, say all the right things--and I can want him to win (which I do)--but he can't break into that place reserved for the truly great players in Sports. 

Think about this: In this country, we love Quarterbacks, Shooting Guards and Hitters--and we love them flawed. We loved Michael Jordan, who had a gambling problem.  We loved Mickey Mantle, who had an alcohol problem. 

Specifically, if we're comparing quarterbacks, we love the ones who aren't perfect.  We like to know that Brett Favre can throw a ball like a pitcher at 75 mph between three defenders for a touchdown--but we also like knowing he faces many of the same challenges we do, like the loss of a family member, or even substance abuse. 

Wonder why most fans like Tom Brady?  There's just something endearing about the fact that everyone overlooked him at Michigan and in the NFL Draft, but he's become the best QB in Pro Football, at least if you're judging by Super Bowl rings.  As fans, we like Brady for the most part because he was overlooked, just like we feel the world is overlooking us at times, too.  Hey, we're all 6th Round Draft picks waiting for our chance in the "Game of Life". 

And when these guys are in pain, we're somehow in pain and we feel for them.  When Farve held his press conference years ago announcing his addiction to pain killers, with then head coach Mike Holmgren and his wife by his side, he was both a troubled young star and still everybody's All-American. 

He was vulnerable, but still somehow special.  These guys give me the same feeling that I had while watching the new film about Johnny Cash, "Walk The Line".  I felt Johnny Cash for two hours--almost knew what it must have been like to be him.  He was talented--and tortured.  But you wanted him to succeed, you wanted to see him with June Carter and you wanted to see him happy.  You didn't like seeing him in pain.

I'm not sure anyone gets that for Peyton.

When we see Peyton Manning in pain or upset, he's just got that look...like he's whining or he's been told "no" for the thousandth time.  I saw it after the 2003 Playoff loss to the Jets, 41-3.  Again after the Patriots loss last year, 21-3. 

You know the look on the face of Favre, Montana, Aikman, Bradshaw and other greats when they throw an interception?  The give a sly grin, and the look says "I'm coming back at you again".  Manning often looks like he's thinking about who's fault it was, because it wasn't his.

Though his brother Eli has some of these qualities, it's not the same.  Did you see how the Giants mobbed him after he threw that game winning touchdown last month against the Broncos?  Have you ever seen the Colts mob Peyton Manning?  Even after his 49th touchdown last year, it was congratulatory and businesslike. 

Maybe I'm wrong--maybe that's just Peyton Manning's style.  And it's fine, it works.  But it's just not endearing to me. 

I know he doesn't have to be cool--let's face it, he won't be.  But have you ever seen Peyton with a five o'clock shadow?  A hat on backwards?  He's nearly too polished, too "Made-For-This".  I don't know the Mannings.  I certainly gather everything I see from T.V. and interviews and articles.  But Eli seems to be the rebel.  Like he said to Archie, "O.K. Dad, I'll play QB like you and Peyton, but I'm going to do it my way." 

Perhaps there is a reason that no Manning has ever won a title.  Or maybe there isn't.  But often times, Sports is about a feeling, and I've never had that "feeling" about Peyton Manning.  I've wanted to, believe me, especially the last three years--but I just keep seeing the same kid who couldn't beat Florida in college when he played for Tennessee.  I keep seeing the kid who seemed like he both took it too hard and somehow not serious enough, if that makes sense. 

Sports fans are often about feeling--it's like a real relationship.  Average American Sports fans get attached and live, die and bleed their teams and their favorite players.

Look at it this way: would a marriage or friendship work if it was just perfect, even keil and non-emotional for years on end?  Of course not--it's the fighting, the making up, the laughs and the tears that make those things the reason the relationship/friendship will stand for a long time.  It's how you know you can depend on people. This is a Sports Relationship.

I can't, for the life of me, ever get to the point where I depend on Peyton Manning as a Sports fan.  I can depend on Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Michael Jordan and Pedro Martinez.  Maybe one day I can depend on Eli, but I'm not sure there will ever be room for "The Perfect Manning".