I grew up in a small town on very Eastern Long Island, New York called Sag Harbor. My Father Tom was a hard working landscape business owner. He used to tell me something all the time. ” Nick, we work hard, we provide for our family no matter what it takes, we love with all we have within us and we ALWAYS root for the New York Giants”
Along with my father; my stepfather Chuck and his father Charlie, I grew up immersed in Giants history. They made sure I knew the ins and outs of the entire rich history of one of the greatest franchises in football. My dad and grandfather made sure I knew the likes of Emlen Tunnell and Y.A Tittle, along with such legends as Frank Gifford and Fran Tarkenton. They suffocated me with tales of the rough and tough defensive play of Harry Carson, Carl Banks, and the best defensive player of all-time, Lawrence Taylor. All of these men epitomized the meaning of what it was to be a Giant. And they were just that in my eyes. Larger than life. The way I grew up, hard work was key in my household and nothing resonated with that sentiment more than good ol smash mouth, hard nose play of The New York Giants.
I was 11 years old the first time I went to a Giants football game. The year was 2000. They were playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jim Fassel was our head coach. Kerry Collins led the offense along with Tiki Barber at running back and star wideouts Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard. I could easily have fell in love with the offense that year. They were fantastic. But, as I sat there watching this drubbing unfold (Giants won 30-10) I was zeroed in on one man and one man only, #92, Michael Strahan. He didn’t record a sack that day, but the way he drew double teams, the way he communicated and led his team, his passion, his fire. All of those things made me realize why my family loved the Giants so much, because those things are the way they led their lives every single day.
The next year, Strahan broke the single season sack record with 22.5 sacks. The beautiful thing about It, I was there the day Strahan sacked Favre. The Giants were being blown out by Green Bay, but New York being New York, not a single person left their seats when the defense was on the field. We were all on the edge of our seats, waiting, hoping, praying he’d do it in front of the New York faithful that day. All of a sudden, Strahan went unblocked into the backfield, Favre went down and kind of uneventfully, the record was his. Nevertheless, the place erupted. Our guy, our leader, our field General had the record and in a way it was like the entire fan base got that record with him. I saw grown men almost cry sitting up in section 314. I was 12 and even I understood the magnitude of what was accomplished. It was a moment I’ll never forget. Even if you’d like to say Brett took a dive for Michael that day or whatever, what you cannot deny is that the record was broken and Strahan stood all alone atop the single season sack mountain. The next few years were hard to watch, but no matter what every year, my stepdad and I were there cheering on Strahan and The Giants. We cheered and supported during 3-13 and 4-12. We cheered as chants of “Fire Fassel” rained down in Giants Stadium. We cheered as we ushered in the new era of Coughlin/Eli even though at times in the beginning, it was brutal. Strahan kept that same energy, came with that same leadership every single game, every single play. Watching Strahan get around an offensive linemen for a strip sack or hit that caused an errant pass was a thing of beauty, and the flex celebration made him seem even more larger than life. He was on top of his game, until 2004. When he tore his pectoral muscle, I remember thinking that it could be the last time we ever saw him play. A comeback of that nature had never been done before. But Strahan being who he was and embodying the true nature of a Giant, he fought back. He willed his way back to the field much to the pleasure of thousands of Giants fans.
2007. Man what a run. Sneak into the Wild Card. Beat Tampa on the road. Beat Dallas on the road. Beat Green Bay in Lambeau. And an absolute defensive masterpiece against the undefeated New England Patriots for a Super Bowl Title. None of that ever happens without #92 and being paired with DE Osi Umenyiora. He was all over the field. He mauled quarterbacks, he terrorized running backs, and above all else was more than ever before the vocal and emotional field General I had grown to love. I truly believe that 2007 title does not happen without Michael Strahan. He had finally gotten that elusive title he had relentlessly chased for 14 years. The down times were worth it. The comeback was worth it. The trials and tribulations on and off the field did not matter. He was a champion and no one could ever take that away from him.
I Remember getting the news that Strahan was ready to walk away from the game after that 2007 season. My initial reaction was emotional and full of anger. After I calmed down, those emotions immediately turned to gratitude and elation. What better way for the defensive captain and a man that gave his absolute best to the Giants to go out than on top as Super Bowl Champion. Those same feelings came to the surface the day I heard about his election to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. I even had the same feelings when I heard he was going to join Fox NFL Sunday! Hell, there’s not many people I like to hear breakdown a good football matchup more than Michael Strahan.
I had these same feelings of joy and elation and gratitude last night as I lay in bed. The alert came across my phone as I was publishing a separate piece and I jumped up in pure bliss when I heard that he was finally being immortalized by the New York Giants and having his #92 retired. To me, it was the last piece to a legendary career that was needed to be absolutely complete. What a ride it has been. Thank you Michael. Thank you New York for making me a diehard, win or lose, hard working, smash mouth, hard nosed Giants fan. I bring the same energy I always have to every Giants game now. Whether 4-12 or 12-4, I’ll be there in front of my TV cheering, screaming, angry or joyous rooting for the New York Giants. As you can probably gather it runs deep in my family roots and I without a doubt, bleed Big Blue!
To The Rack With Mac 