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| Image Used in an Old Blog Post about the NY Giants 2008 Ticker Tape Parade |
Last night, the New York Giants clenched another victory against the New England Patriots in the final nail-biting moments of Super Bowl XLVI - and I couldn't be happier.
I yelled. I screamed. I ate my feelings. I clutched my chest. It was EVERYTHING!
In honor of their win, I ransacked my archives and unearthed a blog post (on a now defunct blog) that I wrote four years ago about my experience at the ticker tape parade in celebration of Big Blue's win in 2008.
Here's the blog post...subpar writing, corny puns, misplaced commas and all. I've grown as a writer as much as the Giants have grown as a team.
*Runs to Modell's to grab a new hat and shirt for tomorrow's parade*
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On Tuesday, members of the 2008 World Champion NY Giants football team, rode floats headed up The Canyon of Heroes (Broadway) to the cheers and admiration of thousands of their most die-hard fans. There were painted faces, babies with miniature football helmets on; even a woman spray painted her hair red and blue for the occasion. And of course, there was the gear. For every Umenyiora jersey, you saw two matching fitted caps. For every vintage sweater or leather coat, you saw three long sleeve Super Bowl Champion tees underneath.
For some, it was less about the memorabilia and the hooping and hollering as coach Tom Coughlin rolled by holding the Vince Lombardi trophy, and more about the emotional spell the winning team has cast on the city. "I stayed up and watched the Super Bowl again last night" said one spectator to his buddy. "I have every game this season tivoed, and I will burn copies of them all and give them out to my friends." "I just cant believe they won" his buddy replies back. "Every time I watch the fourth quarter over again, tears come to my eyes" he said as he choked up right then and there.
He wasn't alone. Once the parade came to an end, the masses flocked to the gates of City Hall where there was a Jumbo Tron replaying all the best plays from Super Bowl XLII. The crowd ooohed at every completed pass by Manning and aaaahed every time Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was sacked by the defensive line. Then everyone stood in the rain to watch Mayor Bloomberg present the team with keys to the city. After a rousing speech by defensive end, Michael Strahan and MVP quarterback, Eli Manning, the crowd ripped and roared again-never minding the rain.
For some, it was an excuse to take off from work and get drunk before noon. For others, it was a chance to celebrate a team they've stood behind for years. Either way you slice it, the NY Giants returned home, to a hero's welcome. New York City may be surrounded by water, but yesterday, it was the streets of downtown Manhattan, covered in a sea of blue.
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