The Manning Family Love

I know I posted about this before and I will try to make this my last post about this issue, but I just wanted to post about it one more time. What is it with the Manning family love within the sports media? Yesterday, on ESPN I saw the commerical in which the Manning family is being given a tour of the ESPN studios. I had seen the commerical before, it made me think once again why does the sports media focus so much on Archie Manning and his family. Before that, the show "First Take" had Archie Manning on the show a number of time to talk about his sons. This morning I saw the very end of "The Sports Reporters" and John Saunders was talking about how Archie Manning would be going to his second straight Superbowl after having never gone as a player. Once again why does the Manning family get so much attention?

If you knew nothing about sports you would probably think that Archie Manning is the only man to have played a sport, especially football, and had a kid or two go on to play professional sports. There are a number of people, as far as I know who have played professional sports and had a kid or two go on to play sports. As far as I know Ken Norton played professioanl football and then his son went on to win at least two superbowls. In addition, it seems that Mike Dunleavy played professional basketball and he has a son who plays professional basketball. There are a number of other men, including Kellen Winslow whose son now playes professional football, who played professional sports and had a son or two go on to play the same sport. So, why does Archie Manning get so much attention? As far as I know you barely hear about the other guys. It seems that the other guys are hardely ever asked to come on a show and talk about their sons.

Reading between the lines of all the Manning stuff, I think Archie had the money and people to plant the seeds of the "Manning Dynasty" very early on and has been actively managing his sons' careers from the time they began playing football in high school. Maybe even earlier.

I am thinking it also has to do with them all being QB's. QB's are the glamour position of the NFL. They are also somewhat charismatic and well spoken. Honestly, I think Peyton's commercials are pretty funny, if played a bit too often.

but he is the only man to have two sons start in a Super Bowl Game. Kinda newsworthy in a sports way. And you would love today's Times Picayune News Section with three whole pages dedicated to Archie Manning and his growing up in the small town of Drew Mississippi complete with many pictures. But son Cooper barely gets a mention.

both Tiki and Ronde started in a SB game. Tiki lost to the Ravens, Ronde beat the Raiders.

Poor Tiki, he could be in this year's super bowl as well.

what family has the father and two sons be the top pick of the nfl draft. They are newsworthy. Those other guys weren't QBs. QBs and top ones will always get more attention

I do not think you hear very much about it, but Rick Barry has four sons who were or are professional basketball players. Rick and his son Brent are one of only two father and sons to have won NBA Championships. I do not think any of the Barry kids were top pick, but they were in a professional sport like their father.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Barry

never gets the publicity that the nfl does. Its playoffs aren't even on regular television anymore.

former NFL Linebacker who won a SB with the Raiders (SB XVIII) has 2 sons playing QB in the NFL (Matt and Tim), one of which started in the SB a few years ago. I don't remember seeing him very much on national TV before the Seahawks played the Steelers. I don't remember seeing that much of Mosi Tatupu, (former NFL running back) whose son Lofa played for the Seahawks in the same SB either. They were on a local radio show in New England around then, but that's probably because both were former Patriots, and going into a SB where the local team isn't playing, local sports programs always try to provide some "local flavor" for the game.

a high profile QB and the other a career backup. Not the same as three high profile QBs from the same family.

but it's a closer comparison than others in the OP. BTW, Archie was not a #1 pick. He was #2 overall in 1971 behind Jim Plunkett.

His father, Ken Norton was a professional boxer.

I thought sure I had read that Ken Norton Sr. had played in the NFL. However, there have been a number of other fathers and sons who played professional sports and you hear very little about it.

They ain't gettin' it from me!!!!

Before last year he hadn't won a superbowl, yet he was on television every 25 seconds. He's certainly not the most telegenic QB in the league. Tom Brady probably is, and he was in a mastercard commercial, Tony Romo's in a commercial, but Peyton still dominates.

As for Archie Manning, if he's boys were linebackers or offensive guards, you wouldn't hear about them either.

It's because they're quarterbacks, and it's one of the most glamorized positions in sports.

I remember the 1997 Heisman voting and it was ugly. There was a contingent that really thought Peyton deserved it just for showing up on the field that year.

I, for one, will be pleased if Tom Brady can take down another Manning. Though I would like to see Amani Toomer do well.

Add in, talent, the familial dimension (both father/son and siblings), a Super Bowl ring, and that Eli plays in the country's largest media market makes for a perfect storm for publicity.