Making His 'Mark' on 'Broadway'

New York City - bright lights and the home of Broadway shows. How appropriate, since one of the great unscripted productions in recent years is unfolding just across the river at Meadowlands Stadium. He's a 'giant' rising star yet his name isn't Eli. His name is Mark.

Rookie Mark Sanchez has landed the leading role as quarterback for the New York Jets, and so far the reviews have been nothing short of spectacular. Sanchez has helped lead the Jets to only their fourth 3-0 start in franchise history.

For years....no, decades, the New York football Giants have dominated the pro landscape in the tri-state area. The taste of Super Bowl success is still fresh in the mouth for many Giants fans. Jets fans got a small appetizer plate of Brett Favre last season, but in the end, it just tasted old and was tough to swallow. Eli Manning has had the exclusive rights to the 'star quarterback' label for the past 5+ seasons in the New York area, but it appears times are a changing.

Mark Sanchez, quite frankly, is everything Eli Manning isn't. He's got charisma, good looks and grew up in sunny southern California. Manning is a tad nerdy, doesn't exactly reek of charm, and grew up on the bayou in southern Louisiana. However, the one difference that matters right now is Super Bowl rings. Scoreboard Manning.

It's rather ironic, however, that Jets fan are enamoured with Sanchez. I'm not sure any of them even knew who he was 12 months ago. You have to imagine that many football fans in the New York City area didn't exactly have access to a lot of USC football games last year. Aside from perhaps the thrashing they put on Ohio State in 2008, I would bet that most Jets fans didn't even know how good this kid was going to be. USC coach Pete Carroll obviously did, and that was crystal clear the day Sanchez announced he was leaving school to turn pro. Carroll looked like someone just told him Reggie Bush's parents house had shown up on his credit report.

There is certainly some added value that has to be placed on a draft prospect who learned a pro-style offense, while still in college. (Ask Matt Cassell - he learned, but never took a snap at USC.) It also doesn't hurt to draft a kid who is used to winning. Winning breeds a positive attitude, an expectation of success.

For now, Jets fans can go toe-to-toe with their in-state rivals. They have their guy. They have their franchise quarterback. This is Broadway at its best. The lights are on, the stage is set, and the 'theater' is packed. Finally for Jets fans, when the curtain goes up, their leading man, Mark Sanchez, will be ready.