FIVE TOWNS FANS’ GIANT CELEBRATION

After spending the day in lower Manhattan with throngs of Giants supporters, it’s clear that I speak for the entire Giants Nation when I say “WE DID IT!!”

As a guy who “has never played the game,” I have no real feel for how much any of the off field hoopla affects what happens on the field. My general perception is that once the ball is kicked off, none of that matters.

However, in the case of this team, based on the results, it’s hard not to point to the meeting between Tom Coughlin and Justin Tuck, and to the call of Antrelle Rolle around that same time, as off field turning points. The concept of “all in” that developed after Rolle insisted that everyone must participate in practices, seemed to catch on.

The message that the Giants needed a revitalized Tuck to succeed, seemed to get through. Certainly, as the wins piled up, Coughlin’s mantra of “finish,” seemed to provide these Giants with the added incentive they were looking for. And “finish” they did!

The game itself, while thrilling at the end, was not a pleasant experience for Giants fans. Bill Belichick proved again that no matter who is playing for him, he will devise a scheme to slow down even the most powerful offense.

The Patriots took away the Giants big play ability. They forced the Giants to drive down the field by running and by throwing short passes. They doubled Victor Cruz most of the game, and made him mostly a non factor. After the first quarter, they did a great job keeping us out of the end zone.

The Giants did a very effective job taking what the Patriots gave them. They ran well, and Eli Manning consistently connected with all his receivers, moving down the field at will. They were in position to possibly go in at halftime with a 16-3 lead, potentially turning the game into a blowout, when Kevin Boothe got called for holding on a 3rd and 1. After what seemed like an eternity of watching Tom Brady and Madonna, Giant fans were staring at a 17-9 deficit midway through the third quarter.

From that point on, the ball started bouncing our way. Two fumbles, one more disastrous than the other, somehow bounced to our fullback and right guard. Our middle linebacker intercepted a pass fifty yards downfield.

The Patriots were penalized for offside on a play that would have forced a Giants punt. Finally, New England’s most sure handed receiver dropped a ball that he catches “100 out of 100” times. After all that, Giant fans were thrilled to see Eli Manning running on the field, down by three points, with just under four minutes remaining.

The excitement of that last drive was surely “déjà blue.” Once again, our quarterback drove our team down for the winning score to bring us to a state of euphoria. Once again, Tom Brady came out in the last minute and tried to foil us. And once again, a few days later, Giant fans huddled together at the Canyon of Heroes, celebrating the Super Bowl championship.

It has been an honor and pleasure sharing this spectacular run through the playoffs with Jewish Star readers. I hope you’ve enjoyed the columns, and I hope they helped you get a better feel for what was going on during the playoff games. Although my Mets and Knicks don’t seem to have much of a shot (unless this run of “Linsanity” continues), I hope to be back in April and May travelling with the Rangers, and my readers, to another Stanley Cup championship.

Send any Big Blue questions or comments to bbsupersol@aol.com.

Benjy Schreier is best known locally for his close to thirty years managing Supersol, and now Seasons. He lives in Woodmere, with his wife, Penina, who is a co-founder of Gan Ami, a popular nursery program in Cedarhurst. Their children, Menashe, 21, Batya, 16, Dalia 15, and Hillel, 14 have kept up the Big Blue tradition that has made Benjy one of the most recognized Giant fans in the area. His video presentation, “The Giants 2007 Playoff Run..the plays that no one talks about” is a staple in every Giant fan’s video library. In addition, he was a semi finalist in the WFAN “Fantasy Phenom” contest this past year.