Right now was among the finest days of my life. I acquired to satisfy and interview my favourite athlete of all time, Eli Manning. Surreal is placing it mildly.
I’ve by no means felt extra of an emotional connection to an athlete than Eli, and I by no means actually thought of why till this weekend after I was writing an introduction for him.
I’m a lifelong die-hard Giants and Knicks fan. Over the past twenty years, I may need missed a handful of Giants video games as a consequence of issues that had been out of my management. The Knicks have been a joke for a very long time, however I by no means stopped watching. Even throughout the Isiah years. Actually numerous hours of my life spent with groups that “I’m not on” is how some non-fans would view it.
Generally I envy non-fans who’ve all this time to do different issues. Whenever you add in the truth that there’s little or no pleasure in watching, you begin to surprise what the hell you’re doing losing all of this time. Being a sports activities fan is nothing however disappointment, generally intestine punches, punctuated by transient intervals of euphoria, in case you’re very fortunate.
I haven’t had that euphoric feeling but with the Knicks, however I’ve had it twice with the Giants, and a kind of occasions I actually wanted it. 2011 was the worst yr of my life. I had no job or something remotely resembling a chance. That summer season my mother handed after a protracted battle with most cancers. I used to be past misplaced. The Giants successful the Tremendous Bowl that season gave me one thing that’s exhausting to place into phrases. And Eli was on the middle of it. So yeah, I get emotional in regards to the man.
I cried my face off after I wrote the intro. Simply the end result of every thing I’ve been by means of, and to have the ability to have this chance, it’s a dream come true. I walked downstairs yesterday to my spouse me like, “Now why are you crying?” (I cry fairly typically, so she may not have been as shocked as you’re considering).
I used to be absolutely ready to wipe the tears off my face in entrance of Eli, however for no matter motive, perhaps adrenaline, I used to be in a position to preserve it collectively.
I had a lot enjoyable recording this. I’m nonetheless on cloud 9. Women and gentleman, Eli Manning.
