Wright's disguise fools Peyton Manning
Denver Broncos quarterback Payton Manning, left, looks over a game program while teammate and wide receiver Eric Decker settles into his seat behind home plate as the Broncos players prepare to watch the Colorado Rockies host the New York Mets. (April 29, 2012) Credit: AP
DENVER -- David Wright called it "a big, big thrill," a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
He was talking about meeting Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who visited Coors Field Sunday and walked into the stadium with Wright and some other Mets.
One thing: Manning didn't recognize the third baseman, who was wearing a sombrero and fake mustache as part of the Mets' special western-attire team-building exercise. The Mets also wore the getups on their flight to Houston Sunday night.
"It caught me off guard,'' Manning said. "Jon Rauch almost broke my hand shaking hands with him. And he introduced me to some Mets teammates. And I heard this guy say, 'David Wright.' I was like, 'That isn't David Wright.' He was in a full mustache, sombrero -- the full hat. It caught me off guard.
"I was glad to see him in his normal Met uniform [later]. That's a good deal. I know baseball has some unique traditions and customs. That was kind of fun to witness.''
Manning is friends with Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, whom Manning replaced as University of Tennessee quarterback after an injury in the 1994 season. So this was not Manning's first visit to Coors Field. In fact, the Rockies let him work out there last summer as part of his rehab from neck surgery. Manning couldn't use the Colts' facilities because of the NFL lockout.
Manning also is friends with another former Volunteer, R.A. Dickey, who also arrived in full western gear. The three posed for pictures behind the batting cage during batting practice.
"R.A. was in school with me," Manning said. "It was great seeing him. I was sure to get a picture of he and Todd and I . . . Pretty good for three guys who were all in school at the same time back in the mid-1990s to still be doing it. I'm real proud of R.A., what he has accomplished and conquered. The Tennessee Volunteers all keep up with each other.''
Manning, a former shortstop, has taken batting practice at Coors before, but he didn't Sunday. Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker did.
"I love baseball,'' Manning said. "I grew up playing baseball. My dad [Archie] was a big baseball fan growing up. He played for Ole Miss and was drafted. He was a Yankee fan growing up.
"I was always a Cardinal fan growing up. But I haven't been in a major-league baseball town anywhere I've been -- New Orleans, Knoxville, Indianapolis. So really, since I've been in pro ball, the Rockies have been the team that I've kept up with, the team that I checked the boxscore, checked to see how Todd is hitting. They're certainly my team now, for sure."
