A QUESTION DESERVING OF SOME THOUGHT...

A buddy asked me recently if this win by the Giants was any different than the other two Super Bowl wins...my first thought was yes, since we'd been embarrassed in 2001 by the Ravens and it's been 17 years since the last one. But as I reflect on it, each win has special meaning to me as a lifelong Giants fan.

The first in 1987 meant our team had finally made and played in the Super Bowl, a game we'd watched for the previous two decades while the team floundered. And in that game, we were a huge favorite over Denver.

The second win came after the big upset of the 49'ers in the NFC championship and we were the underdogs in the game. Plus, the last minute thrill of the missed FG...that was sweet...

This time, the G-men changed history and no one expected them to do it....it was an improbable season given the way it started - 0-2 and down at halftime of the 3rd game...Let's face it...anytime you win the big game, it's special...

I should mention the person who asked is a Viking fan...and they've never experienced a Super Bowl win...:-)

FORGIVE ME IF MY STOMACH TURNS....

Reports say Plaxico Burrus might be looking for a new deal...and my stomach turned when I heard who is aget was - Drew Rosenhaus. He of the TO debacle with the Eagles...this is not good, folks...this has no upside, and could be why the Steelers let Plax go...

Notice everyone is flocking to meet anyone from the Giants who appears at the Jersey Shore...welcome to the off-season for the champs...

COUGHLIN'S REWARD...

Reports say Head Coach Tom Coughlin's reward for a Super Bowl win will be a contract extension of 4 years. Not a surprise, given the sucess they Giants have enjoyed and his makeover as a warm and fuzzy coach. Let's face it...the Giants have had a run over the last 3 years like they enjoyed when the Big Tuna was at the helm in the 80's - with Coughlin as one of his assistants...

A DOG STORY...

By now, you've heard of the Antonio Pierce story. He's charged with animal cruelty by leaving his dogs home alone in the days prior to the NFC title game. Then again, you might not have heard about it since it's been somewhat under the radar in the aftermath of the Giants SB win. It's a sad reality for people who have pets and can't always get someone to take care of them or trust someone to come take care of them. That is what's stopping me from getting a pet, since I keep such crazy hours and am never home on a regular schedule. Still, some do it anyway, and let the animal suffer....
I understand people's attachment to animals and why they want to keep them around all the time, but when the animal causes you to bring them to the office and threatens your job, it's an unhealthy obsession. Since I work in broadcasting, it goes without saying we have alot of expensive equipment which could get ruined easily. I know one person who kept bringing their dog to work and letting him run around the building (He did it one night when I was on the air and got the scare of my life when he ran into the studio and at another remote broadcast, the dog was there and my daughter practically climbed on top of my head to get away from it - it was a rather large, 'friendly' dog). He was warned to stop and one day, he did it not expecting anyone to be there and the boss showed up. Needless to say, he was fired. Another instance - having just moved into a new building, one dog owner brought his pet in just to finish up some work. The dog peed on the floor on one of the rubber ramps leading to the radio studios, a stain which lasted for a couple of years. He never did that again....

OK, off my soapbox.... NFL scouting combines are coming up - it will be interesting to see how Rutgers RB Ray Rice does...heard some rumblings he could go in the 2nd round....

TWO THUMBS UP FOR...

The NY Daily News...They had a great commerative section last Sunday on the Giants season which if you know someone who has it, get it. Enjoyed reading and reliving the season.

SIGNINGS!!!!!

The Giants resign both kickers to new deals and I say good! One thing about NFL contracts unlike any other sport - they aren't guaranteed. If Lawrence Tynes doesn't cut it, he'll get the ax and a new kicker takes his place. That's why you see those cap casualities every year...too much money owed to a player who was good and got a big payday earlier in their career...

But, I am happy to see the team recognize the job both did. Thought possibly Feagles might retire since he already did once and the G-Men brought him back.

JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON!!!!

It amazing to see everyone come out selling EXCLUSIVE SUPER BOWL CHAMPION (fill in the blank). I'll admit...I've gone for the medallion football with all the Super Bowl Champs on it, a couple of shirts, pins and a sign...but some folks are going nuts buying this stuff. Hey, to each his own. I'm just happy to see a win!

Kinda ironic watching to Pro Bowl with only one Giant in it...but they talked to Osi right at the beginning of the game...would Fox have even bothered with him if they lost?

And now the speculation begins to stur...what to do about Shockey? I think they need him and he makes the offense better....enough said...

A SHOPPING I WILL GO....

What did Wilma and Betty shout as they went shopping....CHARGE IT! That's what many Giants fans are doing at stores all over the area. SB XLII Championship stuff is coming in by the tons...I dropped some coin on a couple of pins, shirts and other stuff at the place you've gotta go to....and I wasn't the only one. For the record, I like the shirt which features the 3 Super Bowl wins for the team. One funny thing - there were signs already trumpeting the soon arriving Johan Santana Met Jerseys and T-Shirts with his number....

The biggest problem I found...not enough XXL shirts in the style I liked in one store. The problem of being 'stout'....

ONE THING I FORGOT....

I mentioned the memory of Wellington Mara last week...and Sunday Night, I was thinking how much he had to be enjoying this...somewhere, the man who was the Giants for so many years was smiling....

Let the marketing begin...gotta love the new t-shirt celebrating the 3 Super Bowl Championships for the Giants (Take that Eagles fans). Yes, I already ordered a bunch of stuff on nfl.com. I guess I was caught up in the excitement....

You have to love the celebration - for all the grief we've given the team and how little we expected of them in the playoffs...they deserve some recognition. I'm sorry the earlier Giants teams didn't get a ticker-tape celebration...

A CELEBRATION!!!!!!!!!

The Giants will finally get a ride thru the Canyon of Heroes in Lower Manhattan...you will recall alot of animosity between then Mayor Koch and the team during their last two Super Bowl wins and no parade. I also applaud the Giants for holding a celebration at Giants Stadium, the scene of their last two victory celebrations...

In talking to folks, everyone still seems amazed David Tyree caught that pass on the last drive...someone mentioned they keep rerunning it on their TiVO waiting for him to drop it....

Another funny thing...I've heard from alot of people their first reaction after it was over was (blank) the Patriots!!!!! and I can't say I disagree. The Pats are a victim of their own doing...the spygate thing early in the season made them the enemy to all in the NFL...

Didn't get much of a chance to read the papers yesterday (bought them all), but one thing did strike me - how many writiers were calling for the head of Coughlin a year ago at this time? Ah, how time changes everything...

UNBELIEVIABLE!!!!!!!!

I think at the beginning of the season, if you said a Manning would lead his team to a last minute TD and win the Super Bowl and the game MVP, you would have said Peyton, but he was right there cheering on little brother as Eli and the Giants play Giant Killers to the Pats perfect season.

WHAT A GAME!!!!!!! The Giants played well, and did everything they needed to to win. The defense kept Moss bottled up, the offense was mistake-free for the most part and Eli came up big. This was a win for the ages....and you have to wonder where this will lead...it's been 17 years since our last title and 7 years since our last Super Bowl.

One last thing - wonder what Tiki was thinking??????

3 DAYS TO KICKOFF...A PREDICTION

As the game draws near, I keep thinking about one man who was the NY GIANTS franchise - Wellington Mara. I thought the Asbury Park Press story yesterday made a good point...he would have loved this team. I got to meet and talk to the man covering the Giants during their glory years in the mid-80's and he was as down to earth as they come. I loved his boys in blue and somewhere, is smiling right now for their accomplishments. I was struck by his son following in his tradition of meeting the players in the locker room and shaking their hands after winning against the Packers. No sideline showboating for the Maras...that's a tribute to Mr. Mara.

This will come as no surprise - I think the Giants can win on Sunday...It comes down to the same things we've been saying for three weeks:
1) Eli must be mistake-free
2) Control the line of scrimmage on both sides
3) Defense must limit the big plays

On Eli - I feel about him as I did about Rex Grossman last year - can he have a good game when it counts? This is the biggest stage - I think the fact his brother played last year and he was there may help him in this respect.
The offense will have to play ball control, much like the Giants did against the Bills in '91. If they have a decided edge in time of possession, that helps the defense. They also must score touchdowns...field goals won't cut it...
The defense needs to continue to limit big plays...the Pats haven't been the same kigh scoring machine since opponents started keying on Randy Moss...they haven't been the offensive juggernaut in the last 6 weeks...and the Giants played with them for 4 quarters.

Two other points - Yes, Belicheat's won 5 Super Bowls as an assistant and head coach, but the last 4 wins have been by a field goal or less...the law of averages will catch up to you...
Number 2 - the Giants in their last two playoff games beat opponents who beat them in the regular season...three is a magic number...

In the end...Giants win 24-23. I said the last time the Giants won the big game that I never know when they will be there again, but this one was sweet. I also remember how the last trip to the Super Bowl ended up being a two hour pregame for Survivor...I hope we can enjoy this one...