Travel delays ruin visits for Eli

BY NEIL BEST

February 5, 2008

PHOENIX - Eli Manning's first full day as a bona fide sports hero got off to a slow start yesterday.

Delays in his flight apparently forced the postponement of both his visit to Disneyland in Anaheim and his planned appearance on "Late Show with David Letterman" last night. The Letterman spot has been rescheduled for tomorrow.

Manning was in downtown Phoenix until about 11 a.m. Eastern Time for the Super Bowl MVP news conference, then left the Convention Center with his marketing agent and fiancée for what was to be an aggressive itinerary.

Instead, it turned out to be a much quieter day than planned, perhaps just as well for a guy operating on precious little sleep.