For the millions of you who have Brett Favre fatigue and are looking for something - anything - to distract you from the spectacle that the world’s most selfish person hath wrought upon us all, I direct your attention to Peyton Manning: Colts quarterback, role model, and a genuinely nice guy.

Last month, Manning, one of the NFL’s most popular players, reached out to Brian Burghduf, a Niles, Michigan, man who was fighting a losing battle with leukemia.

Burghduf, 48, died July 29, less than a week after spending a few minutes on the phone with the Indianapolis Colts quarterback. It actually was the second attempt by Manning to reach out to Burghduf, who missed the initial call because he was getting outpatient treatment at the hospital.

We’re constantly bombarded with stories of athletes getting arrested, being photographed in compromising situations, and, sometimes, offending an entire country.

It’s refreshing to occasionally read stories like this, if for no other reason it restores your faith in humanity, if just temporarily. For Manning, it was a simple gesture that required a few minutes of his time; for the Burghduf’s, it’s something they’ll be talking about for years.

“Brian was so thrilled,” said Sherri Burghduf. “My sons mean the world to me and my husband and for Peyton to take time to make my husband’s day and my kids’ day, knowing what was coming, we’ll always have that memory. It was just an awesome memory to have and that’s what my husband would want.”

So here’s to Archie Manning for not raising his son to be like Favre. Cheers to you, sir. Oh, and for all the Brady Quinn pointing and gawking we like to do, he has a history of gracious acts, too.

Okay, this concludes the Afterschool Special portion of the program. Back to Sager, Lithuanian dancers, and Hooters.