Chevrolet's Mike Albano (left) presents New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning with keys to a Centennial Edition 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible. Photo: GM

Everybody’s had that experience – the quick pat down of all the pockets, the frantic rummaging through the bag, and finally the realization that you managed to forget your keys. What none of us have experienced, though, is doing that in front of an estimated 111.3 million people on worldwide TV…

That’s what happened to Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning last Sunday, when he started to walk off the podium at the post-game presentation of a 2012 Corvette Grand Sport Convertible Centennial Edition and veteran sportscaster Dan Patrick had to remind Manning to take the keys with him. Of course, in the age of the internet, no incident goes unremarked, no matter how innocent, and the story went viral through a number of different outlets (us included).

Of course, the truth of the matter is that there was simply a hell of a lot going on all at the same time, and Manning had no intention of turning down the car, inadvertently or otherwise. The following day, GM officially presented the Giants QB with the car, which he gratefully accepted.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (l to r), Chevrolet's Mike Albano and Trisha Croteau pose with a Centennial Edition 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible that Manning was awarded for being named the Super Bowl XLVI Most Valuable Player. Photo: GM

So, Manning has his new ‘vert, we’re sorry that we ever believed that anyone would turn down a free Corvette, and the nation can finally shift its attention back to what’s truly important – namely, M.I.A. flipping the bird during the half-time show.