My thoughts today are with Archie Manning and the City of San Diego.

Bill Simmons of ESPN.com makes an excellent point in his post-Super Bowl column that XLII will be remembered, first and foremost, as the Day the Patriots Finally Lost, and only slightly second as The Day The Giants Won. His logic is that if Seattle or Tampa Bay, for example, had knocked off the Patriots, it would just be remembered as a historic loss. But because of the New York media, the Giants and Eli Manning will get their due for making history.

He’s right. And isn’t that exactly why Eli Manning isn’t a Charger?

Archie Manning didn’t want his son’s talent on display in a “small market” like S.D., as his own (less-than-stellar) career played out in New Orleans. So he talked Eli and Eli’s Agent into arranging that draft-day trade to the Giants that forever placed him on The List in the hearts of San Diegans.

Now, Philip Rivers’ Chargers will go down as just another of the 18 toppled dominos in the 2007-08 Patriots’ streak. Eli’s Giants are the toast of The Town. And Archie Manning is the smartest man in the metaphorical building.

Sorry, San Diego. Try to keep it classy.