Blog of Brotherly Love

I come from a New York family. I went to college in NYC, and so I’ve also made friends from there who have become family. This post-game reflection is dedicated to them. It’s dedicated to J, J and H, my three-headed Giants fan monster. Their names will remain anonymous out of respect for their lingering shame.

This epic win over the G-Men, the Eagles’ sixth in a row over their turnpike rivals, tops them all. Some of these big wins have been truly inspiring. I particularly remember a poem I wrote, from a bar in Spain, the day after I stayed up into Europe’s wee hours to watch the Birds take down the Giants in the Jan. 2007 playoffs. (I swear I wasn’t high when I wrote that poem, just sleep deprived and high on the Spanish life).

Members of the Giants sideline have too much vomit in their mouths to watch DeSean Jackson streak to victory.

But the win on Sunday, another Michael Vick fourth quarter masterpiece, something not so uncommon these days, has sports radio hosts in Philly still repeatedly pushing play on Merrill Reese’s game-ending radio call. We will never get enough of these highlights. I came out of the locker room at my gym last night, and about six guys were just standing next to the weight machines, staring up at the TV screen, watching highlights with no audio that they had surely seen multiple times already. An historic comeback against an arch rival in their stadium, with playoff berths on the line, will never lose its ability to captivate this town’s emotions. We can’t get enough of Merrill Reese, the longest tenured radio broadcaster for an NFL team, even when he’s just announcing a routine four-yard pass. This call could have the most replay value of any in his career.

Speaking of play-by-play, I’d like to leave my loyal readership–a significant portion of which, believe it or not, root for the NY teams–with this message exchange between myself and the Giants fan nearest and dearest to my heart during Sunday’s contest:

Me: Love the defensive tone to start this game

NYG Fan: “Smiley face” emoticon, “Thumbs up” emoticon (This is after NYG first TD)

Me: “Yawning face” emoticon

NYG Fan: Is that your impression of the DB?

Me: I’ve been really impressed with Patterson, but he def dogged it on that play and paid for it

NYG Fan: “Wiping of the brow” emoticon (After the Giants hold the Eagles to a FG)

Me: Yeah. Big to hold to 3.

Me: Think Eli will hit 30 turnovers this year? (After Manning throws an INT, giving him 20 on the year)

NYG Fan: This game. Don’t worry. He will fumble.

NYG Fan (watching from the West Coast): As a funny side note, long story short, the obviously scheduled bartender who was supposed to work this morning just came in, 2 hrs late, and he is still slurring his speech really bad.

NYG Fan: “Surprised face” emoticon (When Eagles fumble the ball with little time left in 1st half)

Me: Haha. Lotta bad breaks for us.

NYG Fan: “Hold on, I’m on the phone” emoticon (During booth review)

NYG Fan: “Talk to the hand” emoticon, I don’t wanna hear it

Me: But that’s our fault. I was just sayin we should run it because we’ll rush the play and get a turnover.

NYG Fan: Don’t worry. I’m still bracing myself for a huge comeback.

Me: Embarrassing (After the Giants continue to pour on points in the 2nd quarter)

NYG Fan: “Wide smile” emoticon. Hold your phone up so everyone you’re with can see my smiling face.

Me: Ok (after Vick finds Maclin to make it 24-10 Giants following Mario Manningham’s fumble)

Me: Turnovers will kill NYG

NYG Fan: I plan on it. I told you.

NYG Fan: Coach of the year (a heavily sarcastic comment after Andy Reid chooses not to challenge the DeSean Jackson fumble that almost certainly would have been overturned)

Me: Unbelieveable!!!!!! How do you not challenge!!!!! That drive is the game right there!!!! I am speechless!!!!! Are you fucking kidding??

NYG Fan: “Cup of coffee” emoticon, “I’m not interested”emoticon

Me: “I’m in love emoticon”, “I’m surprised emoticon”, “Wide smile” emoticon (after Eagles get onside kick)

Me: Coach of the year

Me: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha (after Jackson’s punt return TD to end the game)

Me: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

Me: “Star” emoticon

Me (Later on Sunday night): “Let me give you a hug” emoticon

NYG Fan (On Monday morning): Sorry dude. I still love ya, but I really just don’t want to ever talk about that. Try to see it my way. It was literally the worst thing ever. I’m not a big enough person, I guess, to deal with it maturely so soon afterward.

Me: Roger that.