Here we go. Two weeks of hype leading up to Super Bowl XLI on February 4. We can expect to read and hear all about the life and times of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grissom, all of their wide receivers, tight ends, running backs and paperboys.

Some of it will be interesting, some will be useful. But what we can expect to hear ad nauseum is the significance of having two African-American coaches in the Super Bowl for the first time.

The Bears' Lovie Smith became the first of his ethnicity to be a Super Bowl coach. The Colts' Tony Dungy followed a few hours later last Sunday as their teams won their respective conference championships.

Ho Hum.

What is more important is that we have two gentlemen facing each other across the field. Two men who have worked their way up through the coaching ranks, labored in the trenches … you can probably think of some more clichés of your own.

Neither has generated a lot of ink for controversy or eyebrow raising comments or threats.

Michael Smith, who writes a column for ESPN.com, said this week that the color of their skins should not be the focus of pregame stories. Smith's street cred on this subject is strong … he also happens to be African-American.

Smith says both coaches' priorities are … in order of importance, faith, family, football. I might question the ranking of the first two, but overall the list seems right.

He writes that neither one spends the nights before big games poring over playbooks or tendency charts. They spend time with their families.

Hopefully, the background stories tossed as us for the next week will include something we can respect.

Once we get football out of the way next weekend, it will be time for "Racin'" as the "Good Ol' Boys of NASCAR" get their season underway in Daytona, FL.

I know … Brian France would roll his eyes if he read the preceding paragraph.

It's interesting, if unfortunate, that the biggest pre-Daytona 500 story so far has been the Theresa/Junior conflict that bubbled up soon after the Nextel Cup ceremonies in NYC ended last year.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s contract with his late father's company, Dale Earnhardt, Inc., ends after this coming season. Dale's widow, Theresa, is the boss. His people have been in negotiations with the DEI people. This ain't done at the supper table.

Insiders say Junior wants a management/ownership role in the company and Theresa wants him to win more.

Now, folks who should know its none of their business are getting into the story. Kevin Harvick was quoted this past week as dissing Theresa as being a "deadbeat" owner who never shows up at racing venues and really doesn't care about the racing team.

Shut up Kevin. For one thing, a "deadbeat owner" is way different from "absentee owner" which is what I think you meant. Were you trying to say she doesn't pay her bills?

What his remark did do, though is put Dale, Jr. in the position of defending his stepmother, who was starting to make Cinderella's stepmother sound like Mrs. Miniver.

Hopefully, that adjustment in roles could tip the contract negotiations to the settlement side and those involved can concentrate on their racing.

Remember the old saying, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

As long as you know which is which.