Our goal was to win, to win a Super Bowl, but also to win in the right way, to be role models to our community, to represent Indianapolis, the state of Indiana and the National Football League. – Tony Dungy

Sunday night was religion for so many households in our country. One of the biggest nights of the year, Super Bowl Sunday.

In our house, for whatever reason, we were rooting for the Broncos and Peyton Manning. He is one of the all-time greats and even earned himself the coveted NFL Most Valuable Player for 2013. My little guy, who is 5, idolizes both Manning brothers and proudly wore his Peyton Manning Broncos Jersey all day and night on Sunday as he rooted for his idol.

I asked my little football fan if, even after the Broncos’ crushing loss, he would still plan to wear a Broncos jersey to school the next day as a sign of solidarity with his quarterback and idol of choice. To my surprise, he did not waiver; he nodded his head YES and said, “Absolutely mom!” Gotta love the loyalty (must be because he is a Taurus!) that came through in support of a strong role model and NFL great, Peyton Manning.

These big public figures are role models to our children – good or bad. For the sake of our society and our civility, we adults and especially those on the public stage need to decide what messages we are sending every day to our kids and remember that young people are looking up to us.

Manning seemed to maintain his grace last night, even after such a devastating loss, with reporters and fans who were clamoring for his autograph. He was poised and showed class despite his obvious and justified disappointment.

I’m not sure how many more years, if any, Peyton Manning will play the game of football in the NFL, but I am certain he has made a positive impact and impression on our children. That, to me, is certainly a heroic win.  Would you agree?

Choose Kind,

Leigh Ann