Like father, like daughter, for this New York Giants Super Bowl star.
Nobody denies Eli Manning is living a charmed life, yet just when you thought it couldn't get any more magical, his 14-month-old daughter spoke her first handful of words. Eli tells Parade (via People) his little girl could follow her old man's career path into the world of professional sports.
"She's still working on her throwing motion a little bit. She does like playing with footballs, basketballs and baseballs. One of her first words was, 'Balls,'" Manning said of daughter Ava Frances. "And of course I have a lot of footballs around the house so she's often picking them up and throwing them. It's kind of a two-handed toss right now, as expected."
With that in mind, Manning spent Father's Day with his precious little girl at the New York Mets game, tossing out the Citi Field first pitch to David Wright. Eli told Parade this was the first Father's Day where he really has some interaction with Ava, since she's 14 months now.
Eli, 31, who admits more kids are "in the future plans," credits his bride Abby for most of the heavy lifting when it comes to his daughter. "My wife does a lot of the work while I"m away practicing and having commitments," Manning explained.
Despite his busy schedule, Manning says fatherhood is treating him right. "I don't think you can truly know how it's going to change your life or how you're going to feel. You love your child and just have so many emotions, like coming home at the end of every day and right when I walk in the door I immediately drop everything and look for her, hoping that she's not taking a nap or sleeping. That you get to run around and play with her a little bit. That's one of the most exciting things," he said.
In any event, Eli Manning has just a few days off this summer as the Giants will begin defense of the Super Bowl title in 79 days against Tony Romo and the Cowboys in the NFL season opener on Sept. 5.
-- Follow Ben Maller on Twitter @BenMaller.
