While searching for column ideas, I ran across a poll on ESPN.com that posed the question: “Which athlete are you most likely to stop and watch if you’re surfing channels?”

The five choices listed were Kobe –Bryant, Roger Federer, LeBron James, J.J. Redick and Tiger Woods. While I thought the choice selection was a bit thin, it got me to thinking, “Who is the most exciting athlete on the planet?”

I decided then and there to sit down and come up with an answer to my question. Who really is the most exciting athlete on the planet?

The selection process was long and complicated. Intricate formulas were used to compute mathematical probabilities. Coins were flipped. Names were drawn out of a hat.

First, I went back to the poll that was the cause of my quest. None of the listed names inspired uncontrollable excitement, so I automatically ruled out any of the poll choices. They’re all great competitors, but when you’re talking about the most exciting athlete to walk the face of the earth, there just needs to be something that sets them apart. Five down, six billion to go.

I was also able to rule out myself, my family, my friends and anyone who I’ve ever met. I figure that amounted to a couple more hundred people it couldn’t be.

Next I ruled out any athlete not playing a sport at the collegiate level or above. Nothing against any aspiring superstars, but professional athletes play their sports at the highest level possible. You can’t be the best until you can play with the best.

Now that I had the field narrowed down to every professional or college-level athlete in every sport in the world, the choice was simple. I had my most exciting athlete.

The name Peyton Manning and the word exciting aren’t usually thrown together in the same sentence, even in the same paragraph. But Manning is most definitely exciting in his own right.

Manning isn’t exciting in the sense that he runs around like a Mike Vick or that he can dunk from the free throw line like another Mike can. Peyton doesn’t wanna be like Mike.

Manning is exciting in the way he works his craft. On the list of most terrifying positions I can think of, NFL quarterback is at the top.

I don’t want any part of Brian Urlacher sprinting at me, but Manning handles being a quarterback the way most of us handle making a sandwich – it’s a piece of cake. (Not really, though, because it’s a sandwich. It’s just an expression.)

Manning has more control over an offense than I’ve ever seen a quarterback possess. He calls plays at the line. He audibles. He reads defenses like they’re a Dr. Seuss book. And just to top it off, he makes great throws after the ball is hiked.

Manning is exciting in the way he understands the game. Quarterback in the modern NFL is increasingly seen as a position of physical gifts – a Vick-type ability to throw the ball hard and far, along with being able to put the moves on a defense with their feet. Pocket quarterbacks, once a staple in professional football, are taking a backseat to more physically-talented passers.

That’s why Manning is such a pleasure to watch. He plays with his head first, then his body. He’s not flashy in any form of the word, but he knows what he’s doing and he gets it done.

The Colts were three wins away from perfection, and nobody doubts who was responsible for their success. Mr. Excitement himself.

The ESPN.com poll didn’t have a space for write-in candidates, but I’m casting my vote now. I’ll stop and watch Manning any day of the week.

Nathan Grimm is a sophomore in ALS. He can be reached at [email protected].