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Where The Mild Things Are – Eli Manning’s journey

(Original Photoshop/hack job by ArtieFufkin)

This weekend, the film version of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s story, Where The Wild Things Are opens in theaters nationwide.  Sendak lives in Ridgefield, CT – the same town many of your ReadAndReact brethren grew up in – so we hold a strong affinity for his stories, and especially WTWTA.  And for now, we remain hopeful that the Spike Jonze film doesn’t bastardize our childhood memories like so many other Hollywood blockbusters have in recent years.

While reminiscing on the story, we discovered an intriguing parallel between the tale of young Max and that of one young NFL athlete – NY Giants QB Eli Manning.

In Where The Wild Things Are, Max is a young boy who is sent to bed without supper and imagines sailing away across a harsh sea before reaching the land of the Wild Things, where he tames the monsters and becomes their King. In real life, Eli Manning is the youngest of a football family who has lived in the shadow of his older brother his whole life.  He is criticized for his mild (if you will) personality, and lack of fire at QB.  But he sails to the island of Manhattan, enduring the harsh seas of the NFL, and ultimately tames these monsters of the gridiron and leads them to a Super Bowl.  (How’s that for a literary metaphor?!? Bit of a stretch? Ah well, we’re too far along to stop now.)

In 2009, with the Giants off to a 5-0 start, Eli seems to have taken another leap in his development – both as a person and as a football player.  No longer does he have that 12-year-old “aww shucks” look on his face, or carry himself with that hang-dog demeanor we saw in his first 5 NFL seasons.  His mild-mannered nature is now viewed as coolness – his nickname among his teammates is “Easy E”.  There is a now sense of calm about him as he diagnoses defenses and efficiently finds open receivers.  Eli has grown into a fully confident team leader, and his play on the field commands the respect of his teammates and opponents alike. It’s gotten to the point where little bro netted a perfect passer rating in one half of play last week against the Raiders!

Oh, what a Wild Rumpus they are having in New York!

Tomorrow, Manning will return to his hometown of New Orleans to square off against Drew Brees and the 4-0 Saints in a battle of the unbeatens.  With people rightfully questioning the level of competition the Giants have faced thus far, this will be the first real test of the season for Eli.  Going against one of the NFL’s best teams in front of his family and friends, while still suffering from a painful plantar fascia injury, Eli still has a lot to prove to his doubters.

Based on the way he has steadily progressed throughout his career, and the way he’s playing right now, I wouldn’t bet against Max … er, Eli to return home as conquering King.  With his supper still hot.