One of the central figures in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Denver quarterback Peyton Manning, will forever be linked to football greatness, his status soon-to-be cemented in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after his playing days are done.
Does Manning have one more glorious Sunday of super left in him?
Tracy Smith surely hopes so. But regardless of what happens Sunday night against Carolina, don't tell Smith and his family that Manning is anything less than super.
Smith's son, Navy Petty Officer Randall Smith, was one of this city's fallen five, the men who lost their lives here last July. Tracy moved here from Paulding, Ohio, in mid-November to be closer to Randall's widow and three daughters.
In the months since the shootings, he watched Manning's gestures and fundraising efforts help his family cope with the tragedy.
"He's called Angie a few times to check on her and the girls," Tracy said Wednesday during a break from his job at the Fort Oglethorpe Home Depot. "Everyone in Chattanooga has been incredible to our family, but to have someone who has done so much in his life like Peyton has "
Tracy paused for a moment, and then said softly, "For him to reach out and do this, it really resonates. It's easy to forget that quote-unquote celebrities are real people and we all have to look out for each other."
We do have to look out for each other. Now more than ever.
We are reminded of it far too often by a growing number of headlines that make us mutter: "How can this happen?"
How can a young man here decide to kill five men whose job is protecting his - and our - freedom? There is no answer, of course, just like there's no true solace for Tracy and Angie and Randall's daughters or the other four families grappling with how to live with their loss.
Manning's efforts - he and U.S. Sen. Bob Corker jump-started the fundraising for the primary fund to help the families - have gone beyond the money.
Although Tracy was quick to say it was much appreciated when the Manning-aided fund (without the flag-waving fanfare some celebrities may have craved) bought Angie a new car in December when their family's vehicle was failing. "It's just real nice to have that peace of mind to know they are going to get where they're going safely," he said.
Manning has sent letters to all the families and paid tribute to each service member in each of Denver's first five games this season by writing their names inside his shoes and dedicating his performance to them. Fittingly, the Broncos started the year 5-0 on their way to this Super conclusion.
Tracy Smith said the kindness and support from everyday people all around the area and the country - to the superstars like Manning and Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski - have helped in ways he never knew were possible.
Coach K, who called and left a message for Randall Smith while he was on life support at Erlanger hospital in the days after the attack, called Tracy out of the blue in August to wish him a happy birthday.
"Those kinds of things those kinds of people," Tracy Smith said, "that's what brings some peace. It really puts it into perspective, you know?"
The biggest event in the country is Sunday, and more than 100 million people will be watching, waiting to see if Peyton Manning can be super one more time.
For the families of Chattanooga's fallen five, Manning has been super for some time now.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com. His "Right to the Point" column runs on A2 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.