All Hail the Giants

February 15, 2008, 3:30 pm; posted by
Filed under Articles, Featured, Josh J  | 3 Comments

Not that New Yorkers need another excuse to litter, but they sure do love a ticker tape parade. And I love the Giants, so as a current New York City resident, there was no way I was missing last week’s first-ever victory parade for them, after the greatest Super Bowl of all time.

That morning when I got to the platform of the Staten Island Railroad, I was excited to see a father and his sons wearing jerseys — a few Staten Islanders heading over for the parade with me, I thought. I was completely unprepared for what happened next. The train pulled up and was wall-to-wall blue.

I crammed my Phil Simms in by the door and rode to the Ferry Terminal, which was also completely packed. The boat arrived and we poured on. The energy was palpable. I looked around and saw Mannings, Strahans, Jacobses, and throwback Bavarros, Taylors, and Carsons. I even saw an entire family in throwbacks, mostly Taylors and Simmses, with the father randomly wearing a Jim Burt. Since most people don’t wear center jerseys, I spoke up.

“Jim Burt. Now that’s an old school fan.”

He smiled and simply said, “Jim Burt.” Looking back now, I actually think he might have been introducing himself. He was the right size and age. I have no idea where Jim Burt lives now and am far too lazy to do research that would ruin a perfectly good story. As a matter of fact, forget I said anything. I met Jim Burt on the ferry.

As the Manhattan skyline came into view, the whole boat broke into chants of “Let’s go, Giants (clap, clap, clap clap clap).” As we docked, the stampede barely waited for the ramps to be put in place before bursting through.

As I emerged into lower Manhattan, I quickly realized today would be unlike any other. Everyone was happy. Everyone loved each other. Everyone was a Giants fan.

Of course, the thing about New Yorkers is that their jubilance sounds a whole lot like everyone else’s hostility. The chants of “Let’s go, Giants,” very quickly gave way to chants of “18 and 1,” and “Boston sucks.” And those are the ones I can print.

As I settled into the best vantage point I could find, waiting for the parade to begin, someone across the street pulled out a football and threw it across. People cheered as the ball went back and forth. Then someone with a weak arm came up short; the ball landed between the barricades.

And we booed him mercilessly.

Finally, the parade began, and everyone pressed forward to see, cheering our passing heroes. Between floats of players there were open-top buses of team employees and players’ families, leaving plenty of time for chants of “Who are you?,” or “Call me,” when a bus full of attractive women went by.

My favorite moment came when a random guy rode by, holding up a sign that said “Let’s go Defence!” He tried to get the crowd to start chanting it with him, which almost worked, until it was overpowered by chants of “You can’t spell,” as he hurriedly hid the sign away.

In my section we talked with joy and reverence about this team and that game, while of course still finding time to bash Tiki Barber. I told my friends that I went to the parade alone, but that wasn’t true. I went with a million of my brothers and sisters, and I have never been happier to be in New York.


Comments

3 Comments to “All Hail the Giants”

  1. Josh Tate on February 17th, 2008 1:20 am

    Wow! That is an excellent piece of writing, Josh. I felt like I was there, and for a minute I even felt like a Giants fan and then I vomited. Being a Giants fan was yucky.

    Really though I enjoyed the parade vicariously through you.

    Josh

  2. Mike J on February 18th, 2008 4:02 pm

    Josh, I enjoyed this piece too although I’m afflicted with Josh Tate’s jealousy. Someday…someday. Hopefully before I die and hopefully before Tate gets one with the Skins. :)

    Mike

  3. Josh J on February 18th, 2008 4:39 pm

    Tate, you should be thrilled with a Giants victory, at least as foreshadowing, since the last two of its kind were immediately followed by the odious sight of a Skins Super Bowl championship. As for Philly, I’m not sure they’d even know what to do with a championship at this point. Probably boo.

Leave a comment!