Deja Blue All Over Again
By Superfan
I can’t stop smiling. It’s Tuesday, and I don’t know if I’ll ever stop smiling. I know for sure that I never want to.
Soak it all in, fellow Giants’ fans, because our head coach and starting quarterback are spoiling the heck out of us. For the second time in five years our team went into the lion’s den, against a favored Patriots team led by Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and came out victorious. Unlike our win in 2008, however, I doubt anyone will look at this win and think the Giants won by fate or fluke. As most anyone watching the game could see, we won because we had the superior coach, the superior quarterback, and the superior franchise.
Let’s face it, Eli was talked about a lot more this season, but after Sunday’s win, the guy’s been thrown into an entirely new echelon of quarterback. A new echelon of professional athletes altogether. Being an elite quarterback is one thing, but now the guy’s a two-time Super Bowl winner and a two-time Super Bowl MVP, IN JUST TWO APPEARANCES!! Are you kidding me?! Lightening doesn’t strike the same arm twice. This is no coincidence. The little brother that could has become a self-made football legend. Period. And he’s ALL OURS, BABY!!
The View From Indy
I flew into Cincinnati last Friday and was picked up by my brother Robby who goes to school nearby at Miami, and he drove me to Indy with a couple of his friends. To repeat what everyone else has already been saying for the past week or so, Indianapolis was a FANTASTIC host city. I’ve been to a super bowl or two before, but more than ever, driving into Indy, with that huge Lombardi Trophy on the JW Marriott, you know exactly what you’re there for. And it’s impossible not to get psyched up when that’s the first thing you see driving into downtown. It was very much a Mardi Gras type of atmosphere (especially with Indianapolis’s open container laws), yet with the great hospitality it wasn’t too rowdy or dangerous. Just great vibes and a whole lot of energy. Didn’t hurt that all the local Colts fans were honorary Giants’ fans that weekend.
From a Patriots’ shout-out getting booed at the Playboy Party to Katie Perry decked out in a bedazzled Brandon Jacobs jersey at the DirectTV party, it basically felt like we were prepping for a home game. I swear it felt like a 70:30 ratio of Giants to Patriots fans. Just amazing.
Despite being so nervous I could hardly speak to anyone before kickoff, I knew things would work out when none other than the Barnicle himself, Neil Patrick Harris, walked into the NBC Tailgate party. One of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. Barney Magic! I also was confident knowing Joe was back at the duplex with Vandy rocking my old Eli Manning jersey from Super Bowl 42, and JJ was representing Big Blue well at a Patriots’ fans’ apartment. Hostile territory - SMALL THING TO A GIANT!
I sat with my brother and several other hardcore Giants’ fans at the game, and it was an amazing experience. There were two Patriots fans near us, but we drowned them out with ease. Everything about the game was special, from Kelly Clarkson’s spine-tingling rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner to the moment when NBCee-it showed the freeze frame of Mario’s feet being in to the final incomplete Hail Mary. I collected as much confetti from the stands as I could, relishing in the post-game celebration. I got completely separated from everyone leaving the stadium but really didn’t care. I just followed the crowd back to the Omni Hotel, hugging tons of random strangers the entire way.
When it was over I was lucky enough to head to the team hotel for the post-game party, and it was absolutely electric. I met Coach Coughlin and gave him a big hug - nothing quite as sentimental as seeing such a deserving coach smiling ear-to-ear, knowing how much this win meant for not only his fellow coaches and players, but the fans and families as well. I savored as much as I could of our incredible victory before heading back to Cincinnati the next day to catch a flight back to LA. I’ve got everything from the trip saved, and I can’t wait to get it all framed and hung on my wall. An experience I’ll never forget.
Back in the New York Groove
This is such an amazing team we’ve got, and from the looks of things we’ll be playing for the title for many years to come. And what’s best of all is that it couldn’t happen to a classier, better-run franchise. The rest of the league should take note - this is how you’re supposed to take care of business. Keep your heads down, do the work, and get the job done. Simple as that. Let those watching the Super Bowl each year worry about making predictions and creating unnecessary distractions. That’s why they hope to win championships while we BRING THEM HOME! Now for some Super Bowl game balls:
Offensive Game Ball - Eli Manning. In my opinion he’s the greatest quarterback in Giants’ history. He doesn’t have to say it or get tricked into saying it by an obnoxious sports writer with an ulterior motive, I’ll do it for him. He’s the best we’ve ever had, and we’ve got plenty more time with him at the helm. I BELIEVE IN ELI!
Defensive Game Ball - (tie) Chase Blackburn and Justin Tuck. Chase Blackburn made the defensive play of the game with that incredible leaping pick of a deep Tom Brady pass intended for Rob Gronkowski. And Tuck helped bring it home with his second sack of the game occurring in their final drive.
Non-Gmen Thoughts of the Week:
· Loved Eli Manning on Letterman Monday night. Especially when talking about Ahmad’s late, go-ahead touchdown - “He though about going down, just couldn’t stop. It worked out.” And they say the guy doesn’t have personality… He sure seems to now. On fire, buddy!
· Caught an advanced screening of “Safe House” on Saturday in Indy. AMAZING. Denzel is back to his Training Day/Man on Fire days of badassery, and Ryan Reynolds certainly holds his own in a big way sharing the screen with him.
· Great quote by Steve Tisch at both the NYC parade and at the stadium (I’m paraphrasing) - “There’s a team in Dallas that likes to call themselves America’s team. Well this team right here is America’s Dream!” Hell yeah we are.
· Sorry Jets’ fans, can’t really call this a rivalry anymore. You’re going to have to settle for little brother status until you can at least make a Super Bowl this century. And call the stadium whatever you want, but I think it should heretofore be referred to as “The House That Tom Built.”
· Wonder how long it’ll be until Steve Smith fires his agent. So much for the guy looking out for his client’s best interests. And so much for thinking he was going to a team with a better quarterback. Oh well, as Eli said the other night (granted in an entirely different context, but still), “It worked out.”
· Madonna has to accept the fact that she has the Murdock/Riggs syndrome - she’s too old for this (stuff). Time to hang ‘em up, M.
Final Thoughts:
While this is a time for absolute glee and celebration, there’s also a looming sadness that comes with it. The season is over, and we won’t get any more football until next summer. But I plan to relish in this championship for as long as I possibly can, taking in every ounce of its greatness. And next time any fans want to jump on Jerry Reese (hands down the Executive of the Year this past season, no question) or Tom Coughlin or anyone else during the preseason for any “questionable decisions,” just keep in mind that they know exactly what they’re doing. I believe in this organization, I love this organization, and I always will. It’s been a great run this year with you fans, and I’d love to keep all things Giants’ alive during the offseason. You can e-mail me at gmensuperfan@gmail.com, find me on Facebook under the name “Gmen Superfan,” and find me on Twitter under the name “@gmensuperfan1.” WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!! KINGS OF THE FOOTBALL UNIVERSE!! Until next season, GO GMEN!!
