BBI Live Chat With Tiki Barber

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I'm getting my popcorn ready.

wanted to come on the Forum and answer questions directly, but I thought that would be a bad idea for obvious reasons.

check out the front page photo...memories...
http://www.bigblueinteractive.com/ - ( New Window )

Have fun with it..;)

I still recall the day I got to meet him over here in Israel. He was blown away and "didnt expect" seeing anyone with a Giants shirt in this part of the world. Guess it was a nice surprise for him.

Back then we all thought the world of him, and I still have the t-shirt he signed for me somewhere in the house. heck for a long while it was framed on the wall. shame he hurt his own legacy with the way he ended things with the Giants.

While I can't believe he's doing it, it says a lot about Eric that he advised Tiki to do this in a more amenable environment -- taking questions directly via the Forum would've been a disaster.

In the navy and light blue track suit?

it also says a lot about many of the posters on BBI

Get out your tap dancing shoes, Eric. That's gonna be interesting unless you stick strictly to the safe stuff.

Questions:

Tiki was once THE most popular Giant among the fans. He was so popular, he had his own personal autograph line on the way back to the lockers in training camp. He pissed all of that away -- not by his performance on the field, but by his personality off the field. And then took a flame thrower to his broadcasting career.

He hired an PR firm to help remake his image. That didn't work. He tried to come back to the NFL, and there were no takers. Given all that, my first question would be

What do you hope to achieve by doing this interview? (Assuming BBI didn't seek it out -- what is his agenda?)

Given that we live in the era of the Eliott Spitzers, Anthony Weiners, Mark Sanfords and such, where a mournful public apology and time will forgive pretty much any transgression, I might also ask:

If a public apology to the Giants fans -- saying he acted like an ass -- would make things better with the fans, would he consider it?

(My bet is he's more like Bachmann and will double-down on stupid, but it would be interesting to hear his answer)

What's the biggest thing he's learned since leaving football?

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When you announced you were going to be making a comeback to the NFL did you have any conversations with the Giants or anyone else?

Why do you think the Giants have not been able to successfully install a short distance passing game since you left. Has this been more by design or current personnel? What do you think is lacking or needed on the current giants squad to install this dimension to the offense?

How do you feel about missing out on a superbowl ring?

How do you enjoy being one of the most hated giants in this era of football?

If you could go back in time how would you change things? Or do you enjoy enjoy being an asshole?

How do you view David Wilson as a running back? Will his style be conductive to 'carrying the load' if the need should arise?

The question you will not ask:
How does it feel to thought of as an asshole by the whole fuckin' world...?

be called negative comments about the Giants...specifically Tom Coughlin and Eli. Yet, under TC, you had the two best years of your career and, without you, Eli went on to be a Super Bowl MVP. Do you think your personality plus that of Jeremy Shockey was a negative factor on the 2004-2006 teams that prevented Eli from becoming what he is now? Secondly, TC is now a beloved coach in NY...do you feel you might now be in the HOF had you not retired as early as you did?

My interest in Tiki (like LT) is what he did between the lines as a Giant.

My question is basic: When you came out on Sunday Night Football and slammed Eli's leadership, did you do it to make a splash for yourself or were you trying to give Eli a kick in the butt?

on Giants fans that Tiki can't come here directly and answer questions. Time to let bygones be bygones.

have any regrets about retiring when you did given the opportunity the next year to play for a championship?


What was the toughest obstacle in your career (mentally, emotionally or physically) that a casual fan may not understand?

On a personal note as a die hard Giants fan - thank you for your years of service to Big Blue, the wonderful memories such as the KC game in 2005 and how you evolved to be a dynamic threat as both a runner with excellent vision and a reliable pass-catching threat.

completely agree and Tiki is taking the time to engage giants fans directly, but there are too many whiny curmudgeons here that overlook all the good things in favour of a couple of his controversial comments.

questions can be tough...he's expecting it. But there is a difference between being tough and being rude.

those are pointed, but good questions.

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that once loved you, or do you dismiss it as people who've been motivated to do so by what you might consider an unfair representation in the media?

Don't get me wrong - a lot of the stuff that Tiki said/wrote rubbed me the wrong way just like a lot of other people, so I'm not dismissing outright the perception they have of Tiki. Just that we don't know the whole story, only what we've seen on TV/the web, and I'm sure he might think there are things we don't know that would somehow equalize those opinions somewhat.

At 1st he was blaming it on the hits he took from Trotter in week 2 of the 2006 season and that he wanted to reduce the punishment to his body. His later statements seemed to indicate that he was retiring because TC took his love for the game away.

I think at this point, we as Giants fans really should look to bury the hatchet here with Tiki. The Giants have won 2 titles since he left, and if he doesn't go off in Washington in 2006, Coughlin likely gets fired. And as a personal aside, I know people well connected with Tiki and they have good things to say about him. So I'll defer to them in this case.

How did Tiki and other veterans believe Eli's career would turn out after 2-3 years playing with him? Did they think it'd be similar to what Sanchez is going through now? Or a guy like Schaub who puts up numbers but hasn't taken that leap into greatness? Or did they envision a title or two?

as any professional would, from a star high school player, to freshmen in college. Being a star in college, then back to rookie in the NFL. For Tiki personally, carrying the Giants on his back for many games and many years, to then struggling again outside of football professionally. What has he learned over the years, and what advice would he give to others that might be coming up through the various stages of ups and downs.

Why did Tiki feel it necessary to throw his coach and teammates under the bus in an effort to selfishly further his own media career?

Also, why does he come over as such a condescending prick?

Your production seemed to have exploded from the start of the Kerry Collins era. Was there something different that you adopted in your preparation, mindset, approach to the game in your 4th year? Did something change with the team, with the end of Fassel and beginning of Coughlin that made the offense, and you especially, more productive?
Or was it just a matter of you getting your chance, and you always felt that you not only competed, but actually performed at an elite level?

Why do you think the era of a single running back carrying the load almost exclusively is over? Because of a more pass oriented philosophy now in place in the NFL or because the game just became to physical and the RB can't take the wear and tear anymore?

did Coughlin play in curing your fumble problems?

-Why on earth did you feel it necessary to question Eli's ability to be the top tier QB he ended up being in the national spotlight? Did Eli's response to your criticism get to you?

-If you could change the way you announced you retirement, would you have waited till the off season instead of the way you did it?

You don't need Tiki for that one. Having a QB that was actually a threat to complete a pass got rid of the 8 in the box defensive fronts and opened things up for the ground game.

And to follow up, Do you wish you had given him more of a chance like Michael Strahan did?

Is it possible that your comments regarding Eli and Coach Coughlin were fueled by your entry into the media and not wanting to be viewed as a Giants "homer". Were you, perhaps, going out of your way to show that you could be a "neutral" voice, ask the hard questions and not be afraid to be critical of the Giants? Now in retrospect, do you regret making those comments, especially with the subsequent success of the team and the blowback from Giants fans?

but might yield some answers.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently...both as a Giant and in your post-Giant life?

(My guess is that Tiki will say that he wouldn't change a thing...then try to blame his "troubles" on anyone or anything but himself.)

You had a tremendous career with the Giants. After all of your success and hard work, explain the emotions that you felt seeing the Giants win the Super Bowl the year after you retire??

chat follow?

In your autobiography (which I throughly enjoyed) you devoted a great deal of ink to Ginny as the love of your life. So, what happened?

Looking back, what single play do you feel was your greatest? A play that after it was over, you just said to yourself, "Damn that was good!!"

that being said...we can never get a straight answer on this...how complex is the Giants offense compared to others? meaning, does Eli have more shut to deal with than, say, a Ben Roethlisberger or a Phillip Rivers? how much of Eli's early struggles were on Shockey?

oh yeah...can you ask your brother if Eli can still be had?

1. What teammate have you been them most influenced/inspired by in your career?

2. What is the proudest moment of your Giants' career?

3. What current NFL running back most reminds you of yourself?

Early in your career, the Giants' Offense and Defense had a real animosity for each other. Did that spur each side on, or did it create disharmony on the team?

You've stated that you detested getting hit. Where did you draw the line between protecting yourself and staying on the field, and fighting for an extra yard and taking additional hits?

Was planking the intern worth half your jack?

If you could do things over again post 2006, what would you change? Keep the same?

Tiki's mind to follow Fassel to the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL?

do you consider yourself an elite RB? :)

Can you still play, and (if so) how successful do you think you'd be? Why did you want to come back after making the conscious decision to leave the game as a young man for health purposes?

Part of what was just posted.

You here and read about players saying once they shut it down its hard to get back into a game.

Once you decided to shut your football career down how hard was it to play week in week out. Do you think it cost the giants from doing more knowing you were playing out the string?

How hard is it for a professional football player to ramp it up after hanging them up? Why so you think it can or cannot be done based on different types of players / positions?

Tiki met with Wellington before he died, but I don't think he ever told the public what Mara told him on his deathbed.

1. Looking back at the 2000 Super Bowl, what could the Giants have done differently against that Ravens defense?

2. (Assuming he already answered the question above about Wilson), How do you assess the Bradshaw/Jacobs years? Obviously the team won two Super Bowls during that span, but the Giants had become more of a passing team by then. If you're the GM/coach and had to choose between the two which one woud it be and why?

3. With more emphasis these days on head injuries and attempts to prevent them, how do you think this will effect the future of football and if your sons want to play, will you let them?

Between the lines he was one of the greatest Giants ever. LT is a convicted sexual predator, but he's a god here. I guess alot of you can compartmentalize LTs life but not Tiki's. Go figure.

I'd want to ask him if he would rather have played a different position (like CB) where the wear and year may have been less.

he knew that girl was a minor. He didn't even have sex (intercourse) with her - and she said if she realized he was LT she would have wanted to because she's a Giants fan (not making this up - she was quoted saying that. Look it up).

Degenerate gambler and drug addict, yes, Sexual predator, no. Besides, I thought he beat the rap on that (either acquitted, charges dropped to pleaded down to something else)?

I really didn't like the way Tiki went about his post-retirement entree into the broadcasting world, but at the end of the day if Eli had flopped it wouldn't have looked so ill-advised. It would have just been the truth hurting. Eli's emergence is what made him look foolish and bitter. I lost a lot of respect for him over the personal troubles, but they are just that. Nobody doubts that he busted his ass for the Giants, he was not an off the field problem (something even beloved Giants have struggled with), and I haven't heard many accounts of him being an ass in person.

never will. Narcissists are not the kind of people I like.

That LT story keeps changing. Soon I will hear that he somehow saved her from the pimp while beating him up and notified the police.

but you some of your biggest games in the last game of the season. What do you account for this?

and

Do you still have the alligator suit or was that a rental?

1) What is the one thing he would change if he could do it all over again
2) Does he regret leaving when he did (team won the SB the next season, obviously)?
3) He played his whole career in NY, but in his eyes, how does playing in NY differ from other cities?
4) Are his critics being unfair to him? If so, how?

either working out or running style?

also, I fondly remember that great game you had against Kansas City right around Christmas. I was at a Christmas party but sat in a room with a few oher guys watching you dominate the Chiefs. Thank you!

Once under Fassel, you broke an "unwritten code" and talked about him needing to maybe take less to improve the team. (As a fan I knew this to be true or real, and appreciated it.) It seemed like the example of a guy showing leadership and thinking big, beyond the immediate to total team success. Did that hurt the relationship with Strahan? Others on the team? For how long?

He had a famous/infamous game against Philly where he racked up huge yards, but fumbled like 4 times. Philly almost ended it - and our playoff hopes - with a FG and Tiki was in tears as they lined up. What was going through his head? Then they missed and he got another chance, what was he thinking as he went back out? (And did this inspire the fumbling plot in he and Ronde's 'Teammates' kids book?)

I'm still not a Tiki fan, but I'm starting to soften on him a bit. He made mistakes. We all do. I still don't like how he left-announcing his departure mid-season didn't sit well with me then & now-but he was an all-time great Giant & his performance in DC back in '06 was legendary. It saved Coughlin & that obviously turned out to be freaking huge.

football. LT is a screw up, but he never purposefully threw his coach and teammates under the bus to advance his career. That is the issue many have with Tiki. He sold out the Giants. I don't care about Tiki's wife thing, and I don't care about LT's drugs.

and the team won the Super Bowl. One may not have anything to do with the other but it will always reflect badly on Tiki. It looks even worse because in his new job he ran his mouth and did not hesitate to throw his old team under the bus. I don't know why anyone would want to ask him questions. I think BBI is making a mistake on this one.

Tiki, I've been a huge fan for many years, I'd like to say thanks for the memories and I still treasure a signed pro bowl Jersey of yours. However, like many on this site I was disappointed when you came out and criticised a teammate in the manner you did because it was personal rather than analytical. Of course your opinion was your opinion and we don't want cheerleaders in the media but it used personal experiences to open a former teammate up to ridicule in a tough town and that didn't set well with any of us who played team sports at any level. Why did you, as the former leader of that unit, put a teammate in that position and do you regret it?

so what players do off the field means nothing to you, only what they do on it? Regardless of on the field play, LT is more than just a screw up. You can dislike Tiki for what he has said and done in his life. It's your opinion. But you cannot ignore LT's transgressions. Those are facts. No matter how good he was, he did things as a player that brought shame to the organization. Tiki was a model citizen, never in trouble with the law. Is he a bit egotistical, yes. Does he put his foot in his mouth, yes. But the level of vitriol for him is insane.

Too many idiots here with irrational hatred.

About the article we discussed the other week where he said he doesn't understand why people don't like him. Can we ask him if he truly does not understand?

Also I would like to know why he was so rude to me on twitter the other week.

in the history of the franchise

is all of this hate for tiki.
when i think about him,i remember sitting in the stadium
and every time he touched the ball there was anticipation that he was going to make a big play,and so many times he did.

are for grudges I guess.

Who would you choose introduce you in the ceremony?

...who in your mind sticks out as the best blocker?

a punt returner, 3rd down specialist who relied on speed and moves who fumbled too often. By the time you retired, you ran with power and did everything well that is required of a RB. How did you do that and do you believe players today are less willing to put in the work you did to reach max potential?

In spite of how I think most of us felt about you as a Giants player which was virtually unanimous adulation. For me this was about you taking specific things you knew or found out about as a player as using those things when you became a journalist. I thought this was a betrayal of the team, your teammates and basic journalistic standards. Could you address this?

Tiki, you clearly always had terrific running skills, but early in your career the fumbling was your one glaring problem. Looking from the outside all evidence pointed to the arrival of Tom Coughlin and his influence being the biggest factor in correcting that problem, and using you in such a way that allowed you to become arguably the greatest RB in NY Giant history.

So my question is simply in light of that, and the common success the two of you shared as a player/coach, why couldn't that relationship work?

And a follow up to that if there is time. Now looking back on it, is there anything you would have done differently with regards to that relationship while you were a player? (I don't really care about what was said after you moved on).

Are you jealous that Strahane has a ring and two legit jobs and youre a quasi whore?

What do you think of Eli Manning today?

How emotional was it for you to be apart of that 36-0 win against the Redskins after Wellington Mara passed away?

Do you see yourself as a coach for College or NFL anytime soon? If yes, how are you going to go about it?

My girlfriend met him at a conference and said he was by far the nicest person among the authors present. It was difficult to hear his comments about the Giants after retiring and watching his life fall apart. He expressed his opinion and I have no problem with that, thought obviously as a Giants fan I disagreed with him.

My questions for Tiki would be:

Does he think that the personal issues he faced with his public divorce colors the fan's perspective of him?

Also, specifically his comments about Eli's speech (that were called "comical" at times), do you think that Eli was still learning to lead at that time, and he was trying to motivate his teammates in a way he wasn't comfortable with? Or did you mean that content of his comments were "comical"?

Thanks Tiki. As one of the few Ring of Honor players I had the chance to grow up watching, I appreciate the years you gave the Giants.

Do you feel there is a difference in culture the way the Giants organization is run compared to other teams in the league?

Tiki, in hindsight was there anything the Giants could have done to change the outcome of the Superbowl vs the Ravens? Or do you feel the Ravens just were the better team?

would you have retired at the same time you did?

Who is your favorite character on Team Umizoomi?

the way it should be asked, and expresses what reasonable people understand the true issue to be between Tiki and the fans. That question should be chosen and asked the way aliaster asked it, it is the most direct yet tactful expression of what we all really want to know, and for that matter, express to him.

As for mister barber himsel, I want to say thank you for all the sunday afternoons I enjoyed for years watching him play, and for how you honored Wellengton Mara, and how you saved Coughlins Job, and how, on so very many Sundays, you seemed to be the only one who showed Up.

A few questions I would ask, is
1)Did your decision to retire reflect a personal belief that if you did not, that you might end up the way we all know Ahmad bradshaw is goin to be, walking with a cane when he is 45?Was it your belief that TC would drove you till you broke, and then some?

2)We aren't going to ask if you regret retiring, because a competitor such as yourself would of course question if he mad the right choice to retire as he watched his former teamates win the Super bowl.Are you at peace with that decision, and could you tell us how you felt after the Giants won the super bowl, both for them, and for yourself as a person?

3)Do you feel that playing so hard and so prominently through so many down years, and carrying the team on your back at times made you the face of the team to an extent that it made it hard for Eli to emerge?Do you feel like the departure of dominant personalities like yourself and Shockey from that looker room facilitated Eli emerging as a championship player?

4)Do you think Hubris is an issue in your life, either on a personal level, or as a factor in your relationship with the NY fans?

5)Understanding that you are an honest person, and speak without filters at times, Can you, here and now, apoligize to the fans, to Tom Coughlin, and to Eli manning,without qualifying it, so we can all move on and appreciate you for what you did for the NY Giants for so many years, as a true warrior on the field, and display some character for us in accordance with the principles that makes a player a Giant, so that we can welcome you back as a giant, and do you even care?

WTF does Tiki have to apologize to the fans for?

Seems that coincided with Tiki's ascension to becoming a legit full time RB.

but he sure as shit needs to do something if he wants to rehabilitate his image. You can't deny that it isn't fucking normal for fans to display the kind of animus towards a player who played as hard as he did for NY. I mean, read the thread for chrissake.Lotta pissed off people.No, he doesn't have to do a damn thing, and he may not give a shit either.But if he cares how he is remembered , and how that affects his ability to earn a living going forward, he would be well advised to do something. Frankly, as it stands, his celebrity isn't Marketable.Which is why his PR reps contacted BBI in the first place.

having a no holds barred discussion with Giants fans may not be on top of that agenda but it seems like a step in the right direction.

1. Will you encourage (or discourage) your boys to play football? Do they currently play football?

2. What are your plans for the future? Do you plan to stay in the New York area?

3. Have you reached out to Eli Manning at all, especially after his 2 Superbowl MVP awards, to apologize for calling his leadership skills "comical" and/or to congratulate him? Do you consider him an "Elite" QB now?

What were his honest emotions having to interview the Giants after they won SB 42? His honest emotions?

so how about presenting it like this...

Tiki, you had an amazing career with the Giants that fans will never forget. You have been very close with the Mara family. Since you retired the relationship between you, the Giants, and the fans has been strained. We have always heard the mantra "Once a Giant, always a Giant." Can you tell us about your relationship with the Giants organization today, and do you still think of yourself not only as an ex-Giant, but a part of the Giant family?

Thanks for doing this. I am one of many fans who was deeply hurt by your remarks following your retirement. However, I have slowly learned to forgive and forget and to appreciate what you were on the fiels as a Giant great. I hope that eventually time heals all wounds and fans and the Giants organization can embrace you as the Giant icon you should be. My questions are:

What is your opinion on the rules which have been implemented since your retirement protecting players from concussions? Do you feel it has helped or hurt the league? Would your style of play have changed at all? How do you expect the newest rule preventing running backs from intentionally initiating contact with the crown of their helmet outside the tackle box to impact the sport?

I greatly respect your willingness to come on here and answer questions knowing some will be tough. Thanks for your answer and best of luck.

Are you really surprised your disloyal exit and anti-Eli/TC/Giants shtick has destroyed the fans respect for you?

Abandoning your pregnant wife doesn't engender fond memories of you either. On the field you were great...off it you're a sad man.

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I think it's important to give Tiki a forum to explain some of his post career decisions and reflect on some of his comments about his former teammates and coaches. I don't think any questions should be presented with animosity but some direct and tough questions are more than appropriate.

1. Do you regret any of the comments you made re: Eli, Coughlin, etc. once your football career ended?
2. Do you think you could have handled your transition from player to to broadcasting in a more professional manner? If so, how?
3. How is your current relationship with the Giants organization and its members?
4. While time heals all wounds, do you think there's anything you can do to repair your relationship with Giants fans?

Tiki was one of the greatest offensive players in Giants history. Some of the things he did and said were simply inappropriate but I hope he can repair his relationship with the organization and its fans and can be given the respect that he earned during his playing days.

how does it feel when introduced in the ring of honor and get booed?

1) Are you suprised more backs do not carry the ball the way you carried it in the latter part of your career? Do you think its comfort thing as to why its not more commonly seen?

2) What is wrong with UVA football? Are you still connected to the program?

3) Any thoughts on coaching?

He didn't just give a professional anaysis of the game or team, he made personal comments that were clearly an attempt to throw ex-teammates under the bus for his personal gain. It isn't hard to understand. He is selfish, and comes over as very conceited. Its his prerogative to say what he wants, but he does have to deal with the fallout. I for one was happy to see his tactics backfire. I certainly hold no such grudge against Strahan, Simms, etc.

Which teammate had the hottest wife?

And pics or gtfo, obviously.

What athlete, if there is anyone, did you grow up idolizing as a youth and, in a related question, did you pattern your running style after any one in particular?

Why do you think Ron Dayne didn't enjoy any long term success with the team and in the NFL? Because of weaknesses in his game or other circumstances (like not having many oppurtunities for an example)?

Both Head Coaches you played under, Fassel and Coughlin, were known as offensive-minded coaches...which offense did you enjoy playing under the most?

And the last one for me is, specifically HOW were the Giants 'outcoached' in the playoff loss to the Panthers in your opinion.

Thanks!

Do you think it's mere coincidence that your 3 greatest seasons (2004, 2005 and 2006) happened to occur when Chris Snee arrived on the scene?

who said some stupid things off the field? OK that's fine. But then you look the other way when another player like LT actually DOES stupid things off the field? Some of the things downright embarrassing no less....

Don't get me wrong, I don't really care what LT did off the field because I don't like to put these guys on a pedestal to begin with. Just kick ass on the field for my Giants and I really couldn't care less what you do off the field, as long as they don't get thrown out the league or paint themselves as a monster. Guys like Eli are gravy. The Giants have enough easy guys to root for that one or two nut jobs doesn't really get me too worked up.

The whole Tiki NYG fan relationship is just an amazing case study to me. I honestly think Tiki just has a face and disposition that people love to hate. Life is a popularity contest and Tiki just comes off as easy to dislike at times. Look past what you think you see and really try to analyze what the guy did with true objectivity. He really didn't do anything at all other than question the way Eli speaks as a leader. OK he "announced" his retirement early in the season. That's not abnormal at all. Strahan also said 2007 was his last year before even playing one game that year. Yet here we are, SIX years later and fans still love to hate the guy. It's because fans want to hate Tiki.

If LT said the same thing about Eli back in 2007 people would not look at him the same way they look at Tiki. I really believe that. And I think each and everyone in this thread knows this is true.

I don't necessarily agree with that. As someone who was very upset at first but has calmed down as of late, I think its more disappointment than hatred. He was the favorite Giant of many fans when he played here and we felt like he stabbed us in the back. I felt like he used Eli as a way to get media attention. He also did it less than a year after playing with the guy. Some people can hold grudges and never forgive, but there was definitely more to it than just the way he looks, especially with how popular he was before retirement.

On a much more literal level, what is he ACTUALLY going to apologize for?

"Sorry I hurt your feelings?"

Giants fans show more love for a cokehead who was involved in a sexual assault case than a player who went to school on an academic scholarship, was already pretty damn well spoken, and had a bit of an arrogant side to him (like 90% of NFL players)

Barber made a cold, tactical decision to come out and redicule Eli and Coughlin,in an effort to further his career. LT is just a screwup. Its a quetion of intent, I don't see why its hard to understand. If someone screws you over intentionally you get mad. If someone makes a mistake that somehow effects you but didn't do it intentionally, you get dissapointed but let it go.

the day before a game, it was not intent. It was just LT being LT. It wasn't calcualted. It was just a guy failing to utilize self control and proper judgement. Tiki calculated something that might better his career.

You can spin it any way you want to spin it but it's clear that people love to hate certain individuals while giving others a pass.

Tiki showed bad timing. Nothing more. Nothing less. If Tiki said the same things and Eli went on to regress in 2007-2008, people would be saying Tiki was right all along. He was ahead of the curve...etc etc. The minute Eli hit Plax in the back of the EZ in supe 42, Tiki became a fun guy to hate on. Mob mentality.

I'm sorry. But when someone gives LT a pass and then completely blasts Tiki because he said something about Eli? Even in a calculated manner? I think that's a double standard. I think it's easy for people to rake on Tiki. And I think the evidence clearly supports this. People are actually bringing up the guy's private life like he's the only guy to get a divorce while conveniently looking the other way on LT's transgressions.

Just admit it, you like ragging on Tiki because everyone else does and Tiki comes off as smug and arrogant. What he's done off the field pales in comparison to some other former NY stars that are held in extremely high regard around here. Yet Tiki is public enemy #1. It makes no sense yet it makes perfect sense. Freud would have a field day with this one.

This isn't about LT, however LT doing drugs was an addiction. It was not something he purposefully did to the Giants organization, in fact I am sure it never crossed his mind. Tiki intended to use some Giant locker room info to further his personal career, at the detriment of the Giants. It was calculated. That is the difference. Even a Tiki apologist can see the difference.

Its solely his public, calculated comments that turned me. What he, or LT, do personally I could care less. So I am being very consistent. If Tiki was a coke fiend, I would have exactly the same opinion.

to own his comments. He didn't hide. He came out and spoke his mind. I thought his comments were a bit much...maybe even over the line to an extent but how is what Tiki said about Eli somehow worse than when a reporter leaks false info to the press in the hopes of generating a story to better his or her career? Tiki owned his comments on Eli. He didn't hide. He didn't even embellish.

We don't even know what goes on in a locker room. Half the guys we adore could be coach killing bask stabbing team wreckers but they never attach their name to anything concrete. They hide behind the locker room veil.

How is Tiki's behavior any worse than JR Smith's behavior DURING A PLAYOFF SERIES??

I promise you right now that a story could be printed proving that JR Smith was up until 4 a.m. the day before a 2 pm playoff game start getting loaded on Martinis and the guy would get cheered before game 1 next season. Anyone here want to doubt that? Anyone here want to try convincing me that JR's behavior and play did not directly lead to the Knicks losing a playoff series? The ironic thing is Tiki's comments about Eli actually may have galvanized the Giants in 2007. Strahan even stated this as fact. But Tiki gets booed at every stop while JR Smith does not. JR Shit all over the Knicks in May. Shit all over the team the fans and the city of NY. Give that guy a contract.

Explain that.

think that people held Tiki to a higher standard then LT because that is the persona he portrayed before he retired. It was a giagantic fall because people held him up so highly that they didn't expect him to do something so low. And going after a former teammate to make a name for yourself in the media is pretty low.

Also, an apology wouldn't hurt. He has made excuses like it was taken out of context and people made more out of it than it was rather than owning up to the fact that making those statements was wrong, apologizing and moving on.

I have made peace with it after being extremely angry with him and now feel it is time for him to come back into the Giant fold and become the icon he should have been. But there are some steps he can take to get the fans back on his side that he has not yet taken. Coming on to the forum like this one is a great start. He has some repairing to do.

I don't care about LT doing coke. I care about Tiki throwing the Giants publicly under the bus to further his career. He basically said screw the team who gave me the opportunity to get where I am, I'm going to use you guys.

it appeared that you gave your second career a lot of attention while you were in the prime of your first career. It did not seem to effect your playing abilities, but do you possibly think you could've been more effective at either career if you had segmented your focus respectively?

while Tiki is calculating?

I didn't say there wasn't a difference. What I said was one act was much more detrimental to a team while the other act was 100% NOT detrimental to the team. As a matter of fact, in retrospect, Tiki's comments could be looked at as galvanizing. Strahan even acknowledged this.

LT got suspended for partying too much. Cost the Giants games in the win/loss column. Tiki said some stuff that that allowed Eli to show some fight that won over the locker room. Comments, by the way, that many fans and writers shared.

Tiki did nothing to warrant the hate he's received from the fans in the town. What happened here was a perfect storm of the mob mentality going after a guy that was easy to hate.

If you put 10 of the most over paid and underachieving NY athletes on a stage along with Tiki Barber, take a while guess on who gets booed the longest and loudest. Tell those same fans that the other 10 athletes all admitted that they didn't prepare or work as hard as they should have and I still say that Tiki ets booed the longest. Tell me I am wrong and tell me that this is not insane.

not the outcome, not whether the damage inflicted was the same or not, it just has to do with the willful intent to injure the team. Tiki thought it through, knew what he was doing and the impact of it (IMO), and decided to go for the personal gain even if it meant burning bridges. He made that decision and now he is living with it.

This thread was about Tiki, not LT, JR, or anyone else. Is the result of what they did better or worse than Tiki, I don't care (at least knot in the context to Tiki). What I do care about is the intent behind what they did was different. Tiki is a jerk for doing what he did. LT is an addict and a screw up, but he never sold purposefully sold out his teammates

on a stage with Arod, JR Smith, Amar'e, the entire Mets front office and Brad Richards.

Anyone want to guess which guy gets booed the loudest?

Anyone want to tell me that this is nothing short of ridiculous?

Tiki carried an offense to a super bowl in 2000. He is by far the best RB in franchise history. He helped the Giants beat the Cowboys and Eagles and Skins in a time when the Giants were struggling on offense. From 2000-2006 there was not a better player the Giants offense. He probably helped saved Coughlin's job in 2005-2006. He said some things about Coughlin that pissed people off but virtually EVERY player under this regime has echoed the same comments and many feel that the minute Coughlin changes his attitude the climate around the team improved dramatically.

The whole Tiki backlash thing is a phenomenon that stemmed from a perfect storm of circumstances. It's not hard to see why fans like hating on Tiki. He's an easy mark. But Make no bones about it, I can rattle off 20-30 former NY athletes and coaches that were far more detrimental to their teams over the past 15 years. And people wouldn't boo them with nearly the same amount of passion and vitriol. Matter of fact they'd probably cheer them on.

When someone goes out their way to hurt you, that is different than someone screwing up and impacting you. This makes a big difference to most people. Maybe other players thought it but they didn't go to the press and announce it. Maybe other players have made mistakes that impacted the team in the same way, but they didn't do it on purpose.

I got news for you, every single member of the media is saying and doing things with one simple reason in mind. They want to better their career. Toomer does it. Strahan does it. Tiki did it.

Tiki was in the wrong place at the wrong time and there is no doubt that he comes off as smug and arrogant and I have no doubts that what he said was meant to generate buzz and attention. He was certainly looking to get his name in lights but I do think he was being honest.

I'm not saying I like him any more or less than most of the media, they aren't Giants and are not coming on BBI. I do like Strahan though, I've never heard him personally attack anyone in the organization. In fact they make fun of him for being too much of a homer.

You can disagree if you like. I'm not one of these on BBI who call people idiots if they disagree.

but save me the crap that LT was a victim of addiction while Tiki is some sort of vindictive monster hell bent on destroying the Giants. He said Eli was a weird speaker and came off as comical. He said Coughlin's harsh style was a little too much and it wore him down. The team then went on to win a super bowl.

Tiki said things. Said stupid things that added up to nothing more than water cooler gossip. HE said shit that was honest and quite frankly, true. Other athletes in this town have done things that directly torpedoed the team's chance at a championship. You can tell yourself that what Tiki said was worse, but you're mistaken. It wasn't. And history has proven that Tiki's comments did nothing but help the Giants win super bowls.

I don't think I said you were stupid because of your beliefs. I certainly didn't mean to come off that way. I just find the whole Tiki NY fan dynamic to be so odd.

Was it bad advice from your media handlers, pent-up anger with the Giants, or a belief that you needed controversy to appeal to a wider audience?

If it was bad advice, do you feel as if your media handlers used you as a dupe to drive short-term traffic to their venues? Were you pressured to take the controversial stand?

dumb as some of the reality shows. Too many good and new players with promise and interest to listen to rather than listen to this "f" tard. He choose his path, he had opportunities to mend his burnt bridges. He is, and will always be, a "cancer" to any that come into contact with him. He would not, and still will not, take the steps needed to correct the harm that caused to the Giants, and the fans. Two faced, back stabbing, suck azzed weasel, is all that should be discussed.

he didn't cause the Giants any harm.

Mr Barber, statistically speaking your are perhaps the greatest running back to ever put on a Giant's uniform. Why do you feel in your own words so many Giant's now have so much contempt for you?

With the benefit of hindsight, would you change anything you have said or done since you retired and why?

You're doing yoemans work on this thread..

Tiki

What do you feel are the pros and cons of today's players commenting / opining on teammates active contract negotiations?

Now that your brother has retired, are you two looking at starting a joint venture of some kind?

Do you have a favorite charitable organization that you endorse / participate with since retiring from football?

great question at 8:46. Good stuff

but before I answer it can I pose a couple for you?

1)Do you understand Tiki is currently trying to make a living by marketing his celebrity?

2)Do you understand that a great many Giants fans resent, or dislike Tiki Barber?

3) Do you understand this unpopularity makes him an unappealing booking, that potential clients view him as a poor draw , and this is affecting his ability to attain work?

4) Do you understand that to change that situation, he has to change the dynamic between himself and the general public, specifically the NY giant fan base? ( I doubt he has many potential clients in Denver)

5) Lastly, do you understand that Tiki and his handlers have chosen this forum to accomplish that?

If he wants to change the dynamic between the fans and himself, then he MUST address their issues.

WHAT their issues are, as far as I can see that needs to be adressed for him to achieve his ends are two-fold.

Disloyalty and Hubris.

First, his perceived disloyalty i.e., " Throwing his teamates and coach under the bus", stabbing them in the back", being an "ingrate for the best years of his career under TC",etc.

WHAT was his specific disloyalty? Showing a lack of respect for Eli , and showing open resentment for Tom Coughlin during the interview. These are the 2 points normal people are gonna wanna see adressed, or " apologized for".Tactically,if he doesnt, he wont change opinions and he will fall short of his goals.The problem he has, if he does anything other than apologize, it will be spun as self justification, and he will end up worse of than if he never agreed to the interview.

HOW he needs to do that is his own business. If he leaves it to his handlers he will come off as insincere, I think he needs to be genuine and honest, and if it is I think it will be accepted by those willing to accept it. I think he needs to apologize for not showing his team leader proper respect, that maybe he might say he misjudged his leadership abilities and that was his failing.His Coments on Coughlin seemed to many to be malicious, and that is a bit harder to address.I think Barber had genuine resentment for Coughlin at the time, and it showed in his interview.His feelings may have been valid, but to air them in that format was unprofessional and self serving. If he owned up to it it may go some way tom addressing his other issue, which is his percieved Hubris.I honestly can't say HOW he should address that, but his self contented attitude post interview gave many Giants fans the impression he didnt give a shit about fan loyalty or how he was perceived. He came of as "Ok I've moved on to bigger and better things, and Fuck the NY Giants and their fans.

I think it's as big an issue as it is because in reality, he was adored.He was respected, hH was liked.He was worshipped, pracrically, and in many cases actually.Understand the emotional investment many fans had in him. Sure, a vegas bookie or a casual fan doesnt really care, but to the poeple who looked forard to that one day a week, for years, and that one guy that couldnt wait to watch do great thinks, yes, it was hurtful.Tiki deprived us of our hero, himself. This is his greatest offense, really.

Thanks but I probably shouldn't have cluttered this thread. I got on a roll.

During the latter part of your career with TC as the head coach you had some of the most productive seasons for any RB in the history of the franchise. A key part of that production came from the screen - and while under TC the team has always had the pulling offensive lineman and receivers willing to block to make it work, among the backs the team has featured over the last decade you were far and away the best at it. My question is what particular things do you think made you so good in the screen game, and why do feel it has been featured less in regards to the capabilities of the other backs (Jacobs, Bradshaw, etc.) on the team since your retirement?

Who was the hardest hitter you ever played against?

What was your favorite play to run?

Other than Giant Stadium, where was you favorite place to play? Where was your least favorite, and why?

The toughest teammate you ever played with?

The best locker room practical joke you ever witnessed?

Do you think your comments about TC and Eli had an affect on your broadcast career? If not, why do you think things went south?

I know some fans still feel hurt about your comments about the Giants but I want to know how about your teamates. Do you still have a relationship with any of your teamates? Can you name some of your close friends from your Giants teamates? Do you still get together with any of them?

Who had the biggest positive affect on your career? Elaborate?

Who had the biggest negative affect on your career? Elaborate?

Why do you think it took 4-6 years before you became the starter on the Giants?

1. What the hell happened against Baltimore?

2. What was the cause of the four picks against Baltimore? Did Fassel not have the offense prepared as Toomer suggests?

3. Do you consider Gilbride's offense to be particularly complex from a passing/pass protection perspective?

Good luck to Tiki in his endeavors. Giants fans owe him respect... he never did wrong by us. It's football, not some goddamned reality show.

got really troubling he was approached by the press and asked whether head coach or RB coach were working on his ball carrying technique. To which he replied: "No one's telling me how to carry the ball."

My questions:

Was he thinking that no problem existed or just confident he could mend the problems on his own?

When TC took over as head coach and Tikis fumbling rate got way better did he back off from his original stand and except outside help? And if so what motivated the change in attitude?

1) Where do you draw the line of a journalistic obligation to expose your knowledge/opinion against the sanctity of the locker room?

2) How would you have felt and reacted if a former teammate made comparable comments about you early in your career?

3) How would you have reacted if you we're still on the team in 2007, Strahan retired, and made the same comments as you?

4) if you could script the next 5 years of your life, how would it go?

5) If you could only give one player on the current team one piece of advice on their game, what would it be?

of concussions, even during this decade, did future medical concerns about your health influence your decision, at all, to retire earlier than many people expected?

Given the propensity of younger players to mess up off the field and attract a large group of previously unknown friends with their new-found wealth, what is your advice on how players should prepare for the sudden influx of wealth and prestige, beyond what they even saw in college? Do you think that living in a major media market such as NYC, with other significant celebrities, is actually a benefit to younger players, as they are not immediately in the spotlight as much as in other towns?

My question is about the Giants offense, and whether you think it's one of the most complicated offenses in the NFL, or is that mostly a overused term? I hear people mention Tom Coughlin's offense as being the most difficult to digest compared to other NFL teams, and I wonder if you agree with that.

Any regrets?

Tiki, you had a rigorous off-season training regimen that included running up steep hillsides - have any current Giants asked you about this or do any Giants follow this regimen?

Thanks for all your great football!

You were always seemingly on the forefront of aggressive recovery techniques (use of Active Release Technique, massage etc..) during a season which you had previously credited with maintaining performance throughout a season. Have you continued with those types of treatments post-football and have you started or increased any other activities or treatments to counter the effects of aging (especially for athletes)?

I thought that after some pretty tough football and career related questions it might be nice to pick his brain where he always seemed to be pushing the trends in fitness.

Tiki, do you think, like many on BBI, that it was the BBI trophy that derailed both your Giants legacy and post football career? Have you shattered that trophy yet?

you still talk to any current or past Giants?

since he is familiar with the transition David Wilson is going through, in a more prominent role. How do you prepare for the rigors of a feature back?

Who was your favorite offensive lineman to play with?

Would you say that having seniority over Eli made you think less of him as a leader? I know Eli mentioned that dynamic when he was starting out.

What do you like and dislike about Fassel's offense and Coughlin's?

and what he needs to do to become a complete back like Tiki was.

Tiki -

First I just want to say thanks for all the great years of running for the Giants; you were always a pleasure to watch and never ceased to amaze.

My question to you is this: Was it a poignant moment for you and do you have any regrets to have seen the Giants go on to win the superbowl the year after you retired...knowing that you could have been a part of that team?

John Sudarsky

When was the last time you ran Rocky Mountain and Drag Hill at Ramapo Valley County Reservation?

you're 12:13 post, last sentence, need to be re-posted with a sticky...

How do you think you looked in that alligator suit? Do you regret wearing that, and perhaps think an armadillo suit would have been more appropriate?

What type of relationships did you have with fellow running backs (Dayne, Jacobs mostly) throughout your career and what did you think when the team drafted Dayne in the first round? Did that motivate you to show the organization that you were a #1 running back?

Do you think you would've handled your transition from the Giants to the media world differently if Wellington Mara and Robert Tisch were still alive at the time?

if he firmly believes that the Giants would have still won the Super Bowl if he had stayed for another season?

Did he root for the Giants during the last two Super Bowl wins?

What Giants memorabilia does he still own/cherish?

Why not just buck up, say you were wrong for saying some of the things you said to the media after you retired, say you're sorry and move on?

Thanks for some incredible memories, Tiki. All my best...

He's already stated that he doesn't think the Giants would've won the Super Bowl if he had stayed. Not because they wouldn't've been as good, but because there is so much luck involved that changing any piece to the puzzle would have changed the roll of the dice that brought the Giants to the Super Bowl.

For example, the Giants were a better team in 2008 than they were in 2007, but luck wasn't on their side that year.

I, of course, agree with the sentiment, I just wanted to hear his thoughts. Thanks for letting me know he already answered it as I was always curious what his response would be. I still want to know who he rooted for :)...

@Tiki

Obviously Tiki you were a great Giant and a favorite of many. Always talented but like many of us with flaws yet you showed that with hard work and focus, we can overcome our flaws and go from good to great...inspiring to say the least.

That in mind, obviously much of that good will changed shortly after you left the Giants.

And with that in mind..

What is your understanding of Giants fans animosity toward you since you retired ? What are your thoughts on why this is/was the case ?

1)Given everything that has been discovered about the dangers of brain injuries from football, would you do it all over again? Since health played such a major role in your decision to retire, had these issues come to light in, say, 2001, would you have retired even earlier?

2)In the first few seasons with the Giants, when you struggled at times and battled injuries, did you feel that all you needed was health and a chance to play more? Or did those bumps tell you that you needed to make some changes in order to become the player you knew you could be?

3)Finally, in retrospect, which win means the most to you? 33-28 over FSU? 41-0 over the Vikings? 36-0 over the Skins? A different game?

As someone who was in the stands (and one of the first on the field afterwards!) on November 2, 1995, thank you for over a decade of thrills and memories. I always felt lucky to have seen my favorite college player become the greatest of all time for my favorite pro team. Wahoowa!

If you could have played a position other than RB, what position would that have been? Would it have been Cornerback like your brother? Why?

have you seriously considered playing football at another level or joining some of the celebrity reality tv show circut?