A Thank You to Eli Manning

Dear Eli,

A pleasant New Year to you! I’m sure you are busy getting ready to play this weekend versus the Philadelphia Eagles, but I hope that you might take a moment and perhaps peruse the internet and come across this little thank you note I wish to write to you.

I know, a man as busy and successful as you must conserve all his energy and game smarts for the upcoming playoff game. It’s that kind of drive and concentration brought your vaunted New York Giants to that sterling 8-8 record this season! Oh and hey, don’t worry…that meltdown in the second half of the season…NOT YOUR FAULT. You know the New York media can be too harsh sometimes. Ask Randy Johnson about his first day as a Yankee.

But who can blame a Manning, right? I mean, your family is football royalty! You can do what you want to do! Be the quarterback you want to be! Win the Super Bowls you want to win…oh wait. I’m jumping the gun, aren’t I? You need to get there first! Way to put the cart in front of the horse there, Lils!

But back to my thank you. I have to admit, that when you were drafted in 2004, I was a little miffed. Being a San Diego native, I love my team (GO BOLTS!). I want them to succeed. Sure we have our sucky years, but I stick with them nonetheless. Your statistics and family lore obviously made you a top prospect for a team searching for a quarterback. Yes, I was angry, hurt, and perhaps a little offended. I mean – who turns down America’s Finest City?

Year round sunshine! Real grass! Beaches! Shamu! The World Famous San Diego Zoo! The Charger Girls! There are reasons why sports figures like Junior Seau and baseball legend Tony Gwynn chose to hang around so long, Eli. This is why I couldn’t understand why you weren’t even going to give us a shot! Like the typical Charger Fan, I walked around with a chip on my shoulder, only masking my anger around my father-in-law, who is a big Giants fan.

But that was three years ago. And you know what they say! Hindsight is 20-20. There was no way you, your father, your handlers, or the Giants organization were to know that Philip Rivers would suck up all that aura learning the system while Drew Brees was making his comeback? How could anyone have guessed that Shawne Merriman would have turned out to be such a defensive STUD? Nate Kaeding? There was no definable research that said this guy could be the second coming of John Carney!

It’s probably a complete fluke that those three guys punched their ticket to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl this year while you booked your reservations through your travel agent.

It just doesn’t seem fair, does it? You got what you wanted…but the Chargers ended up 14-2 this season with home field advantage. It’s just bad luck that Marty Schottenheimer morphed his coaching skills into the second coming of Air Coryell, complete with Ground Attack Force.

At least things haven’t been all that bad. You had that Division title last season. Carolina just got lucky when they shut you out. You got Tiki Barber powering the offense. A shame he’s probably retiring. But these are small things. I’m sure things are looking up.

Dang…I strayed from my thank you again. Let me get back to business before I yammer your ear off!

Thank you, Eli Manning. From the bottom of my heart, this Charger Fan thanks you. Thank you for turning up your nose without tasting the cuisine. Thank you for passing up the opportunity to play in San Diego. Because, let’s be honest – who knows where we’d be this season if you chose to play!

And yes, I am fully aware of the “Any Given Sunday” rule in football. As long as you’re in the playoffs, you have a chance to win. You can run the board and meet the Chargers in the big game and prove your worth. But it can just as easily flip around too. There are no sacred sheep in football. It’s blood, guts, and honor time!

But you have to give the Charger Fans their moment in the sun. How often do you get to see hubris take it in the shorts? (Psst…Eli…”hubris” is another term for “big ass ego.”)

The Charger Nation can forgive, Eli. But they NEVER forget.

Good luck this week! (GO EAGLES!)

Best wishes,

Lillian T. White
San Diego Charger Fan
(Yes, even when they were the “Re-Chargers”)
1976 to Present