A good reason to root for the Giants
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jan 20, 2008 
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With the Giants in the NFC championship game, this seems like a good time to tell my Wellington Mara story.
I started at The Journal News in 1999 as a general assignment sports reporter. I did everything from boxing to baseball with a healthy dose of high school sports.
One Saturday I was assigned to cover the Iona Prep football team. Their quarterback proved to be the focus of the story and I spent a few minutes after the game interviewing the young man.
The next day’s assignment was to write a sidebar on the Giants game. I was thrilled to go and got to Giants Stadium early, so early that there were only a few other reporters in the press box. I introduced myself to the public relations staff and took my seat, intending to read the Sunday paper.
A few minutes later, one of the PR people tapped me on the shoulder and told me Mr. Mara wanted to see me. Mr. Mara? What had I done?
I was escorted to his office, somewhat terrified. But when I got there, he held up The Journal News and thanked me for the story I had written on Iona Prep. That quarterback, as it turned out, was his grandson. I had no idea and the young man was too modest to have mentioned it. Mr. Mara, who lived in Westchester, followed our high school coverage quite closely.
Mr. Mara and I chatted for a few minutes and I went back to my seat. I covered a few Giants game in 2000 before I got a baseball beat and every time I had a chance, I said hello to him. He was always friendly and gracious.
It’s a shame Mr. Mara isn’t still alive to see his team in this game today. But I’m sure the Giants and the people around that organization have him in mind.
That’s a nice story. I’m sure the late Mr. Mara is watching from above and is quite impressed.
But anyway, go Packers!
Nice story, Pete. He sounded like “good people”.
Nice play for the TD! Just like a ballerina on the sideline.
You truly have one of the most amazing careers there is, Pete
Through my nonprofit, I have been very lucky to have a relationship with the New York Football Giants. The Giants are easily the classiest and most well-respected sports franchise period.
Lets see the Giants ahead before halftime GO GIANTS
Jimmy Johnson with the headband is just wrong. He squinting so much he looks like Mr. Magoo.
Great story Pete.
I love this
“The Prudential Center showed the competing NFC championship game between the Giants and Packers on televisions throughout the arena. Fans were invited to remain after the hockey game to watch the remainder of the football game on the center-ice scoreboard screens.”
Burress is coming up big in this game
B’H Giants win tonight Go Giants
Madison is an idiot.
That’s a catch the Pack is going to lose a very valuable T.O.
Even if I wasn’t a Giants fan (since I started walking!), this is a really good game. I only hope the G-men can hold on to this lead and STOP THE PENALTIES!
B’H the Giants keep the lead and win the game. B’H
Lori-
Agreed. Smashmouth NFC style football
Great Job Giants Keep it up and win. B’H
20-20 B’H Giants get the lead and Win. B’H
This is one hell of a game!
Tulowitzki reportedly getting 6 years/30 million from the Rockies
LETS GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yeah baby!!!
B’H giants win
I need a Valium!!
Anyone know how many pro bowlers there are on the packers team. Go Giants. B’H
this is one helluva game!
I’m freezing just watching it
This game can drive a person to drink!
BIG CATCH BY THE ROOOKIE!!!!!
This is it.
i have to say at this point that Mike Francessa has been saying all year that ‘that kicker’ is gonna blow a game for the Giants.
but he’s gonna put them in the SB now!
GB is trying to ice Tynes with the TO
Oh god it hurts!!
…Instant classic?
well maybe he was right! or maybe not.
wasnt the kicker’s fault.
Scott Norwood style
this game deserved to go into OT.
This blog is gonna explode with all the comments at once
oh man
What a game. Here comes Brett.
what a GREAT game!!!
LETS GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is so painful I want to cry.
Buddy: Agreed. Should we inspect the fortifications?
YEAH BABY!!!!!INTERCEPTION!!!!!!!!
Here we go again…..
he’s gonna make it this time!
Go Giants and win. B’H
OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It must suck to be in Green Bay right now.
Not from 30, but 47?
You guys have a WEIRD team.
ok PABE! WAR IS ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ITS ON PETE! GO GIANTS!!!
Game on Pete!!
what a game.
And the Giants played REALLY well against the Patriots in that last game of the regular season. This may turn out to be a mighty good Super Bowl.
Let’s go and beat the Pats. Superbowl 2008 (It’s a road game isn’t it)
Wow! I am so excited right now! Go Big Blue! We were so close just a few weeks ago to ruining the Pats season – and we get another chance! (Sorry Pete)
Now the Green Bay Packer fan have nothing to look foward to but spring
Hey Pete, will you live blog the super bowl?
Pats definatly didnt have it today….you never know…..
C’mon Pete we’re waiting for some sage thoughts here…
Congratulations to the G-men. Should be a great Superbowl!
Seriously, calling this game emotional would be the understatement of the year. Thank GOD LT redeemed himself, congrats to the GIANTS!
This is gonna be a good superbowl.
Every week they predicted against the Giants and the prediction was wrong. They’ll predict against us in the Superbowl and B’H they’ll be wrong again (Manning a champion again JUST the other Manning, our Manning ELI)
Giants-Patriots. It’s the next best thing to Yankees-Red Sox
Pete, can I get a shout out for my prediction on your football post a few days ago? I predicted 24-20, I missed by one point! I’m glad I put that down in writing. Amazing that we’ll get a rematch with the Patriots!
Now the G-Men can set the tone for the summer
Gonna go get my 2008 NFC CHAMPION sweatshirt tomorrow morning and wear it around Philadelphia all winter!
what a game plexico burress had!
Not a Giants fan but IONA PREP PRIDE
“Giants-Patriots. It’s the next best thing to Yankees-Red Sox”
And hopefully as lopsided as has been the last few years.