Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Retro Active



As a football fan, Sunday’s edition of the Super Bowl was nothing short of astounding, and as a Giants’ fan, nothing short of immaculate. So many plays during their improbable playoff run defined this Giants team and their ability to come together as a whole and pull off one of the great championship victories of all time. The Giants played unselfish, created turnovers, and made the crucial and clutch big plays throughout the playoffs that are necessary for any championship run. One play in particular that will symbolize this team, eternally etched not only into Giants’ lore, but also into that of the NFL, will be the now infamous David Tyree circus catch.

So many things about that play are amazing: The fact that Eli was even able to get the throw off to Tyree after eluding several Pats’ defenders, the repercussions if Eli gets sacked (probable 4th and 15 with the game on the line), Tyree’s acrobatic, big top grasp, and the fact that Tyree had 4 receptions for 35 yards all season, not including a total of 1 catch for 4 yards in the Giants’ previous playoff games. Not to mention that Tyree also caught a brilliant thread the needle touchdown pass earlier in the game. That said, here’s this week’s Fab Five…

A phrase I tend to hear overheard anytime I am seen with a girl…

The Top Five ‘No, Seriously…That Guy???’s

1. Max McGee
1966 Regular Season: 4 catches, 91 yards, 1 touchdown

Super Bowl I: 7 catches, 138 yards, 2 touchdowns (A backup at this point in his career, McGee admitted to staying out all night the previous evening and had to borrow a teammate’s helmet as he didn’t even bother to bring his onto the field.)

Fun Fact: Was co-founder of the “popular” Chi-Chi’s Mexican restaurant chain.

2. Timmy Smith
1987 Regular Season: 29 rush attempts, 126 yards, 0 touchdowns.

Super Bowl XXII: 22 rush attempts, 204 yards, 2 touchdowns.

Fun Fact: Arrested for allegedly trying to sell cocaine to an undercover police officer in Denver in 2005.

3. Stephane Matteau
1993-94 Regular Season (w/ Rangers): 12 games, 4 goals, 7 points

1993-94 Playoffs: Scored two crucial overtime goals vs. the cross-Hudson rival New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals including the wraparound game winner in Game 7, sending the Blue Shirts to the Stanley Cup Finals en route to breaking a 54 year championship drought.

Fun Fact: Admitted to tapping the Prince of Wales Trophy with his stick blade prior to the start of the Game 7 second overtime period, violating a superstition of modern-day NHL players.

4. Jim Leyritz
1996 Regular Season: 265 ABs, 7 HR, 40 RBI

1996 World Series: Changed the complexion of the series and possibly the next decade of baseball by connecting on an 8th inning, game tying home run against Braves’ closer Mark Wohlers. The Yankees went on to win the game in extra innings and subsequently the next three games en route to their first World Series title since 1978.

Fun Fact: Pass

5. Rudy Gerner
1979 Summer Camp: 1 friend made, incessantly hazed

1979 North Star vs. Mohawk Olympiad: Brings the Olympiad title back to Camp North Star for the first time in the 47 year old rivalry, garnering respect, friends, a hug from Tripper, and a kiss on the cheek from Roxy…YEEOOOWWW!!!

Fun Fact: Secretly witnessed Spaz’s first make out sesh!


Now to this week’s If That’s What You’re Into’s…

Coach Who Squeezed the Most Out of His Players’ Mind Grapes:
Steve Spagnuolo – The Giants D stifled the NFL’s greatest offense including five sacks of Tom Brady.

Ace of the Week:
Shockingly…Eli

The Jake Plummer Best Press Photo of the Week:
Laurence Maroney – Tough, yet chic…probably the last guy I’d want to run into in a darkened al – dark alley.



Old Wrestler to Waste 10 Minutes Wiki-ing:
The Texas Tornado

Here Comes Treble – Song I am Listening to Right Now:
None – I drunkenly left my ipod at my buddy’s place post-Super Bowl and have already seen it posted on Ebay. Come on, guy!

Social Gaffe of the Week:
Bill Belichick, to the delight of many football fans around the nation, made several key social miscues on Sunday. Besides Belichick’s fashion mishap with that I Love You Red Hooded Sweatshirt, he elected to go for it on a now crucial 4th and 13 in the 3rd quarter, and to top it all off, left the game with one second left. This crass move left Michael Wilbon up in arms, as he stated, "LaDainian Tomlinson is right about Belichick; he behaves with no class and completely without grace in the football arena.... What he did yesterday, he should be fined for by the NFL and perhaps suspended for just being a jerk."

Creepy Fact of the Week:
Parents are advertising their political views on their children’s clothes, forcing them to wear shirts that say “Weepublican” or “I Only Cry when Democrats Hold Me.” Seriously, see for yourself.

Classic SNL Skit of the Week:
I am definitely not ready for kids.

Fearless Prediction of the Week:
The Rangers will sign Peter Forsberg…A tree will fall in a forest…

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