Describe your day for each Giants Super Bowl

Skip to Super Bowl 42 and I woke up that day hoping we didn't lose 55-0 LOL

1986 - watch as a 10 year old kid from my living room. remember being happy that mcconkey scored a td.

1990 - watched at friends basement.

2000, 2007, 2011 - very lucky enough to be at each of these games.

1986: The first football game of my life. Probably played Ghosts 'n Goblins (NES) all day.

1990: Skate or Die.

2000: Drunk.

2007: Dangerously drunk.

2011: Drunk texting strangers.

1986 - Grandfather's house
1990 - Grandfather's house
2007 - In-laws' house
2011 - Section 525, Row 4, Seat 19

'86 - I was 3 years old, so probably sucking my thumb in a crib.

'90 - My first game as a Giant fan. I didn't watch much of that season, but Niner NFC championship game is my first vivid memories of watching a Giant game, which hooked me for the Super Bowl. We had family over my parents house. I remember playing Tecmo Super Bowl on our Nintendo during the half, sacking Jim Kelly 12 times in that game with LT.

'00 - Watched at a friends house, I believe that was Senior year of high school. I brought a girl I really liked to the party, and she saw me at my angriest.

'07 - First year in my house, and watched the game with my fiance (now wife) and college friends who are all Giant fans. Best atmosphere for a game I've ever had. We all piled up on each other, uncorked a bottle of champaign on the front lawn, ran around the neighborhood, then celebrated at a local bar.

'11 - Watched with my family at my Uncle's house. This was a bit more tame than '07, since I always felt confident we'd win. Actually, I remember spending a good portion of the game stewing and complaining about that BS hold on Kevin Boothe. The game is likely over if the refs didn't botch that call.

1986 - I was 10; dad had a party and it was the first time I cemented myself as a life long NYG fan. living in Richmond I rarely got to watch them.


1991 - Dad was away on a ski trip with his buddies. I watched at home by myself. my mom and sister pretended to be interested, but they got tired of my antics. first game I ever taped. was glued to the TV yelling. did the same thing for the 49ers game. also, I remember listening to our game vs the Bears on the radio while studying for exams (was a soph in HS).

2007 - cranked out 14 miles in the morning and had friends over my place. was a great time. my bro in law and sister live in Mass (BiL from S. Boston). he wouldn't talk to me for 2 weeks after. had to watch the helmet catch like 10 times before I was convinced it was a catch. cursed the whole time during the play. though eli was lucky not to get sacked and wished he threw it away. couldn't believe he was dumb enough to throw it down the middle of the field ripe for a INT. shows you what I know.

2011 - had a another party at my house. purchased an oil-less turkey fryer for the occasion (it was cool). had an MRI on my knee scheduled for the next day which was ultimately operated on, so no 14 miles...no issues with the manningham catch. knew it was a catch the whole time. knew we were gonna win right after ward. was a little nervous with the hail mary at the end. didn't realize how close Gronk was to grabbing it. though in real life it didnt' look so close...I attended the GB game during the playoffs and that was the best live sporting event I've ever been to in my life.

forgot about 2000 - watched at my house with a couple of buddies. was pissed off the whole time. loved the NFC championship game though.

1986 - Was only 8 years old. Watched at home alone (I'm guessing my Dad was out at a Super Bowl party). Didn't really know what I was seeing but was happy they won.

1990 - Watched at home with my family. I remember my last thought as Buffalo was about to snap for the field goal was "I think I'm actually going to throw up."

2000 - Watched at home with my family at my parents' house at the shore. Wasn't really into this team but hey a Super Bowl is a Super Bowl. Had a bad feeling from the moment Sehorn winked at the camera. Drove back to Maryland immediately after the game ended, pissed off the whole way. Got pulled over in the middle of the Pine Barrens somewhere.

2007 - A special day. Spent the weekend in NYC. Started the day early with friends and family at my buddy's place on the upper east side with screenings of XXI and XXV. Walked over to Dorrian's and sat down at like 2 or 3. Refused to drink anything other than water (I wasn't having my memories of this day clouded). I remember having this exchange with my brother:

Me: What time is it?
Brother: 2:15.
...wait an eternity...
Me: What time is it?
Brother: 2:28.
...wait an eternity...
Me: What time is it?
Brother: Take it easy.

I held out until halftime, then I had to have a beer. Stood leaning on the jukebox in the corner the entire second half, petrified. After the game, drank my body weight in Jaegermeister until what must have been 3 in the morning. Woke up the next morning feeling great. Bought every newspaper on my way home.

2011: Dorrian's, same spot by the jukebox for the whole game. More Jaeger after. More newspapers in the morning.

Super Bowl XXI - I was 7 years old, that was really the first full NFL season I remember watching. We lived pretty close to my grandparents, and watched most games with my grandfather that year, he was the biggest Giants fan I've ever known. They came to our house for the Super Bowl and when it became clear that the Giants were going to win, the look on his face was priceless. He'd seen the championship teams of the 50s, and he'd seen the horrid teams that followed from the mid-60s until the early 80s.

Super Bowl XXV - Watched at home with my parents, who at that point had established our "good luck" Giants gameday meal and seating arrangement. When it was 12-3 Bills, I went into full tantrum mode. My father attempted to calm me down by saying "nobody even thought they'd be here, remember?" To which I said, "well they're here now, so I want them to win!"

That shut him up. By the time Scott Norwood came on the field, I'd assumed the same position I'd gotten into for Matt Bahr's winning kick the previous week in San Francisco - barely peeking through my fingers at the TV while crouched next to the couch. He missed, we jumped and cheered.

Super Bowl XXXV - I was a senior at Maryland, living in a disgusting off-campus house. We had a party, mostly Giants fans but some Ravens and other fans. I got drunk like everyone else, at halftime after Collins threw that fucking ridiculous interception I slammed a door and broke a mirror that was hanging from it. Watched the 3rd quarter in my attic bedroom to cool off and resign myself to the defeat. Returned for the 4th, got more drunk with everyone else. Not sure how that night ended, except that I know we built a pyramid of beer cans and had someone dive across our coffee table to knock it over.

That game sucked.

Super Bowl XLII - Our designated football bar allowed us to reserve a table for 15 in our usual spot. My parents came in and the whole group gathered at my apartment on the UES for lunch (good luck meal) and watched VHS copies of both SB XXI & XXV. We got to the bar about 3, then spent the next few hours pacing and trying to wish the clock to 6pm.

At halftime, even down 7-3 it felt like we were ahead. The most nervous I felt the entire day was immediately after Tyree's TD early in the 4th - it was the first time I could actually see the win happening. After Tyree's helmet catch, we all said "now they have to win". After Smith's 3rd-and-11 catch, I knew we were going to. I can still see the ball in the air and seeing Plaxico wide open - then immediately thinking about Brady with enough time to steal the game. When it was over, the celebration spilled out onto 2nd Ave, where SOME fans made an immediate trip to the Boston bar a few blocks uptown. I shared a hug with my parents, said we wished my grandfather was still alive to see this one, then for the first time saw my mom do shots. Hours later, I shared a delicious diner meal with the boys, went back to my place and re-watched the entire 4th quarter.

Super Bowl XLVI - The build up was pretty much the same, minus my parents who couldn't make the trip. This time, we were all positive the Giants were going to absolutely kick the shit out of the Patriots, and they would have if not for the ridiculous holding call early in the game. Really frustrating game between the 2nd and 3rd quarters, but once Eli hit Manningham, that game was over.

1. Extremely nervous, since it was the 1st one and a long way from '56;
2. Nervous....defeated.........then WIDE RIGHT!...joyous shock;
3. Nervous.....depressed and numb;
4. Hopeful.......thinking positive the more they hung in...a wreck until the ball hit the ground on 4th down....then an OMG moment(for about 2 days);
5. See 4 but even moreso re: the last play given how the Patriots almost always make the big play, and Gronk was only a foot away from catching it........and joy.

XXI: Hosted a fun party in my bachelor pad with my then-girlfriend, whose family had been season ticket holders since the 50s. Was doused with champagne by friends at the end. They knew how I had suffered, and how much it meant to me to see Simms vindicated so emphatically.

XXV: I was stage-managing a show, and we had a tech rehearsal that evening. We imposed a total media blackout in the theater. When the rehearsal ended (around the same time as the game), friends blindfolded and earplugged me, stuffed me in a cab and escorted me back to my apartment, where we watched the game together on tape. We didn't know the outcome - just that it was close, because we had heard tumult all evening from a party above the theater.

XXXV: Hosted the worst Super Bowl party ever. I was managing a global project, and the whole team was supposed to arrive in NY that afternoon for a workshop. So I planned a party in their honor, with materials to educate them about American football. The workshop - and most of their flights - were postponed at the last minute, so six of us sat and watched the Ravens drub the Giants, surrounded by enough food to feed an army.

XLII: Attended a fun annual SB party at my boss's huge house in NJ. By the time of the Alford sack, I was on my knees, in a state of complete disbelief, praying to the football gods.

XLVI: Same setting as XLII. This one was a much more somber affair. A close, beloved colleague of ours - a big Packers fan who had to wear my Tiki Barber jersey to work after the divisional round - had passed away suddenly that morning.

Some days as a sports fan you wake up and can tell the day either feels good or feels fucked up. For example, the 2008 playoff game against Philly felt fucked up from the start.

But 2/3/08 felt great from the moment I woke up. I don't know what it was, but that day just felt great.

Then the game started and every yard conceded felt like a war was lost, and every yard gained a war won. That was tough. But the day leading up to it...wow.

...as the red-eye from Newark landed at LAX, I awoke from my multi-beer buzz barely rested. I was 22, and this was going to be the greatest day of my life.

I spent every dime I had and borrowed some from my parents to fly out there with Al. He got the tickets and we stepped out into LA sunshine, and found a cabby who would take us to breakfast and do a little 'tourist' driving before dropping us at the Rose Bowl. Eventually, we virtually found the entire Giants Stadium 4J tailgate. We partied in the grass parking lot, saw Michael J. Fox at an MTV even, saw Daryl Stawberry and met Allie Sherman, who like me, thought the Giants would kick the Bronco's ass.

I'd never seen so many people in one place before. Rose Bowl capacity was 108,000. Crappy Neil Diamond, Beach Boys, Up With People entertainment, but the game... THE GAME!

McConkey got us all fired up, blowing out of the tunnel waving the towel, and it was a wonderful, if not surreal experience. I mean, just weeks before, we were freezing our asses off in the Stadium, and now it was beautiful, sunny and in the 80's, and there were our boys, ready to go.

Heart attack first half, but the vibe was there - it was just a matter of time before the Giants were uncorked - we were seated behind the end zone where Bavaro go that first TD and said a prayer, and the safety was the first sign that things were starting to swing the Giants way, but really - after the fake punt is was as absolute an ass-whipping as I've ever witnessed - absolute ecstasy.

Just an awesome, wonderful experience and it is an absolute disgrace and tragedy that they've priced out most of the real fans.

I'm grateful I got to do it.

And I did it right.

When I was 22.

I was home for all of them.
Had Jets fans in the house on Wide Right trying to deflate the moment; strangely, saw little of them afterwards.
On 42 and 46 spent at least 1/2-3/4 of the game on the phone with my cousin, analyzing each play.

1986: Honestly can’t remember. Most likely at home with parents/siblings, who are not Giant fans.
1990: Freshmen year of college, living in Virginia. Acted like an ass, pissing dorm of along with a kid from Glen Rock. Good time.
2000: At friend’s house in NoVa, watching with obnoxious, antagonizing strangers. Never again.
2007: At my house watching with my kids and wife. Awesome.
2011: Same as 2007. Winning recipe.

'86 - I had just moved from Miami to Boston, mom had enough of me and tossed my ass to the curb the day after I turned 18. Moved in with my dad, huge Giants fan, watched the game with him.
'90 - watched with my dad
2000 - went to visit my dad and said I was never going to watch a Giants Super Bowl at his house again.
'07 - watched the game in Miami at my buddies dad's place. Flew from Boston, while at Logan, I was in all my Giants gear, was interviewed by the local news and got on TV
'11 - dad came to my place to watch

1986: I was 8 and wasn't very interested yet. My parents and I went over to my godfather's to watch the game. I was more interested in coloring and playing with some electronic game my godfather had. Months later, I would start watching this game repeatedly and religiously, when CBS aired a replay in place of the Giants' Week 3 game against the Dolphins (wiped out by the 1987 strike).

1990: My parents hosted a Super Bowl party. Watched the whole game. Went nuts when Norwood's kick went wide.

2000: My parents, younger brothers, and I went to a small party at my house of one of my father's old college buddies. Watched the game until it was 17-7, then took interest in the ping-pong table in the back of the room. Very briefly came back to the game after Dixon's kick return. On the ensuing return, went back to the ping-pong table.

2007: Two years before, my friend Sam who was a Steelers fan hosted a party when Pittsburgh was playing the Seahawks, so naturally, this time I hosted. Could not watch the Jacobs' fourth down run. After the Tyree catch, Sam told me the Giants were going to win. I told him to shut up. When Brady's final pass hit the ground, I ran outside and ran down the street screaming. Interestingly, I was not the only one doing this (interestingly because we were in Maryland). The other guy and I ran to each other, high-fived, and never saw each other again. That night, bought a Giants license plate and a t-shirt with the 19-0 crossed out in red (NFL Shop pulled this shirt a day or two later). Stayed up all night watching post-game coverage repeat itself. Called in sick the next day.

2011: Went to the Americana bar in Canton, Baltimore for a Giants viewing party. The whole place celebrated with champagne and singing. Some drunk woman kissed me (don't tell). Still went to work the next day.

XXI: Watched at a friend's super bowl party, my father and I were pretty much the only Giants fans, and it was a tough time paying attention, so many people so much noise, it's also when I learned at 14 I did not like watching Giants games in a crowd

XXV: freshman in college, watched on campus, there were legit riots (or close to you find with a riot at Quinnipiac) Giants fans dumping over trash cans, non-Giants fans dumping over stuff and throwing things, some in joy, some in anger.

XXXV: watched in my new MA apartment with a few friends who weren't Giants fans. It was a brutal evening.

XLII: watched at my house alone in MA, looked over at half time and noticed my neighbor hung up a Troy Brown jersey pointed directly in view of my house (totally intentional) so I hung up an LT jersey right back at him. The neighborhood was screaming at the Tyree catch, and it was just a great environment. My daughter - 5 years old at the time woke up and came down and sat in my lap just before the Tyree catch and I woudn't let her leave (not that it was a long time, but all the replays and everything took a while - even the last minute).

XLVI: Same as XLII

With no Giants team in the Super Bowl I'll go to someone's house and watch or even host people at my house, but I just cannot watch it in a group. I also don't really like watching the SB at Pats fans houses when they're in it, because I root against them and I hate being that guy.

XXI: I was 6 years old. Just beginning to get curious about football. Passion wasn't there yet but the curiosity was. Watched along with my dad, knowing nothing about what was going on. But it looked like fun.

XXV: Passion was in full swing. Dad and I spent all day watching everything we could. All the pregame coverage. We felt like kings after wide right.

XXXV: Complete opposite of XXV. Just felt off that whole day. Ray Lewis still pisses me off to this day. Have still never rewatched that game.

XLII: This was probably the best day of my life. The game landed on my girlfriend's birthday and rather than make me miss it, she insisted I watch the game with my dad. He tried to come out wearing a 2000 NFCC hat and I told him to take cursed shit off, which he did. Never expected to win until the Tyree TD. After The Play, I lept out of the chair and straight into the air. People thought I went nuts. They were right. After the game, my dad and I hugged for a good 3 minutes. Best day ever.

XLVI: Once we beat the Packers, I knew we were going to win it all. I still have the FB posts to prove it. Went into the game completely confident in a victory. Didn't get to watch it with the family as my dad had to work that night, so he missed the game which sucks. But oh man, what a victory.

1986 - as a 12 year old (F off Brett - see JT Miller thread) as a 12 year old, I thought, no way are the "Gods" granting me a Mets World Series and a Giants Super Bowl, are they?

1990 - in my basement. My buddy showed up in a Jim Kelly jersey and a Giants hat. At 16 years old, our humor was different. He tried celebrating the wide right and got the head lock, noogie, treatment.

2000 - Do you guys remember the Nextel phones? Well apparantly if you throw it against concrete, they may break.

2007 - My son was born in the summer. Life couldn't get any better can it? It sure did. At my wife's uncle's house with Jets fans who were happy for the Giants at the time.

2011 - My daughter was born in the summer. Life couldn't get any better can it? It sure did. The Jets fans in laws were a bit different, 4 years later. A little puffy chested they were. Ahmad Bradshaw met Brodney Pool on a Christmas Eve game and the rest was history. Watched the game with almost the same crew from 2007. I got a sense that there was a bit of envy.

1986- Rose Bowl- Section F, Row 3, Seat 2. Got the tickets included with room package for $750 for the weekend at Westin South Coast Plaza hotel where Giants stayed. Seats were ten rows behind Giants bench at 50 yard line. Rosey Grier sitting in our row. Darryl Strawberry a row behind us. After the game there was a big party at the hotel and we met a lot of players. Saw Parcells in one elevator ride and congratulated him. Also saw Phil McConkey and I said "Phil, congatulations on your superbowl touchdown!" He replied "I wanted two!"
Lots of previous NFL stars, hollywood stars, and groupies around. Met Emilio Esteves, Lester Hayes, and even got Mark Bavaro to talk to us.
LT came down elevator to attend the private dinner wearing sunglasses with his wife on one arm, and some other beauty on the other. Fans gathered around chanting "LT, LT, LT." He looked up and said "Fuck This" and turned around and went back up the elevator.

1990- Normal Day. Hung around house watching some pregame etc. Nantucket, MA watching game at home with two friends.

2000- Normal Day. Hung around house watching some pregame etc. Monkton, Vermont, watching it at home with family and friends.

2007- Normal Day. Hung around house watching some pregame etc. Charlotte, VT at home watching it alone after my family was asleep

2011- Normal Day. Hung around house watching some pregame etc. Charlotte, VT at home with family

1986 - Drunk beyond drunk. With my brother and a couple of his friends. I barely remember it.

1990 - In treatment for being drunk since 1986. Watched it with fellow drunks.

2000 - At home. Sober, wishing I was drunk. Saw Glenn Parker say to Kerry Collins, on the sidelines, "Looks like you could use a meeting!"

2007 - Sober. Glad I wasn't drunk. Loving every moment. At home with family.

2011 - Sober. Glad I wasn't drunk. Loving every moment. At home with family.

XXI - I was ten years old. Mom made a big batch of chili and beer bread for dinner. We starting getting what turned out to be a blizzard during the broadcast, which ended up getting me out of school for a while. Ordinarily, that would have been great but I couldn't wait to get back to school to stick it in all the Redskins and Cowboys fans' faces. My parents let me stay up late to watch all of the postgame festivities.

XXV - I was in 9th grade and my grades sucked - worst of my entire scholastic career, by far - so I was forbidden from watching anything but the game itself. No pregame, no celebration afterwards. I was in my room studying the rest of the day and night.

XLII - My wife was 8 months pregnant with our son. She wasn't feeling her best, so she was in bed before kickoff. Our bedroom was right off the living room in our house at the time, so I had to watch the entire game with the TV on mute. As was my custom when we lived in Florida, I was on the phone with my dad the entire game, but I had to whisper. His feed was about 5-10 seconds ahead of mine, so before the ball was snapped on the Plax TD I heard my dad yell "Oh my God, they're going to win the Super Bowl!"

XLVI - My sister had a Super Bowl party at her house, mostly Giants fans. Tried to get my then-three year old son to be interested in the game, but he couldn't have cared less. My sister made some amazing nachos and wings.

SB XXXV

XXI - after years of being derided by the local Cowboy and Steeler fans (frontrunning fuckwits), the Giants finally brought one home, and I had them in my living room, front and center to watch it. Had a bet going in that didn't look so good at halftime, that if I lost I'd have to go to school wearing my friend's Cowboy jersey, instead, there were a few extra 56s in school that week.

XXV - watched with my grandfather and my brother. By that point, we had already established an on the floor prayer routine that accompanied big kicks, so the first hint of a Giants victory I got was Al Michaels saying 'Wide right!'.

XXXV - I had a similar experience to BBB, had a party all set up for some coworkers and friends, and a ton of food. Well, a work related emergency left pretty much the coworker side of the floor empty, and with twice as much food as people we watched the worst SB of all time in virtual silence.

XXII - Half my friends decided to go to the Glendale, but I had been watching with my son, and got a kick out of how much the little guy loved the game and could focus on it, even at 3, so I decided to throw a party at home for my friends and family. Can still practically kill my wife for insisting we expand the group, to include some other friends and a bunch of kids that I would end up having to kick out of the room at one point. Only my wife could end up half filling the place with annoying children and Jets and Pats fans.

XLVI - Intent on not repeating the XLII annoyance, I had a SB party with a very limited invitee list. Just family and a few friends this time, but only people who actually cared about the game, and enjoyed the whole experience a lot more this time around.

One thing I've noticed about the SB - if we're in it, I don't want to be anywhere else. I want to be home, in front of my TV, with my family. Unless the opportunity presented itself to actually go to the game (I looked into taking my son to XLVI, but the bill came to $12k and I decided to fork over a few extra bucks and buy a boat instead). Having a crowd might sound like fun, but it's work, and half the time most of them couldn't give a shit what's happening during the actual game. When you consider how rare it is, it's an opportunity wasted with casual observers or non-fans.

1986 - I was in my neighbors basement in Verona NJ, 6 years old. I still remember the mood being very jovial and confident. That was the best Giants team ever.

1990 - A different neighbors basement. When Norwood went to attempt the kick, we hid in the closest upstairs and I saw the miss out of the corner of my eye on a B&W TV. Ran downstairs and people were flipping out, including my Mom crying.

2000 - Drove back from URI my Sophmore year watch it at my buddies house. From the opening kickoff we knew it was going to be a long night. Drove 3.5 hours back to campus because I had a Monday morning class at 9. Not a fun night.

2007 - Living in NYC at the time. Every game of that playoff run we watched at my buddies apartment on 28th and 2nd. When the Giants won, we looked out his balcony and saw people flooding the streets. We ran down, closed out a bar and I was thankful that I called out of work on Monday in advance. Got back to my apartment at 4:30 and re-watched the whole game. My DVR cut out right after the Alford sack, haha. Went to sleep for a few hours, woke up and bought every paper. Then sat on my couch and watched Mike and the Mad Dog while drinking champagne.

2011 - Now living in Huntington Beach, CA. Drove down to Fat Fish in San Diego which is a Giants bar. After grinding out the first 3 playoff games from my house, I wanted to be with more Giants fans, win or lose, for the Super Bowl. I remember you could hear a pin drop in that place going into halftime since we outplayed them but were losing. Of course that's when my Mom calls me and points out that we've been trailing at the half of every Super Bowl win. The whole 2nd half I was huddled with about 20 Giants fans that I'd just met. Such an intense game. I'll never forget there were 3 Pats fans there...at a Giants bar, when there was actually at Pats bar like 2 blocks away. What a bunch of losers.

So many fans were little kids or not born yet in '86...

For 42, I listening to sports-talk radio on my way to NJ from Massachusetts (no way I was going to watch that game in enemy territory). All the fans calling in were so excited and positive, and I remember feeling sorry for them, thinking, "These poor bastards really think the Giants are going to win. They're all going to be so disappointed."

There was just no way in my mind that our boys could win that game. And then they did!

Magic!

XXI - Spent the day leading up to it watching all the SB highlight shows on ESPN (do they even show those any more?). Watched the game with my sister and mom who weren't that into it. Was supremely confident we'd win, and even when we were down early it was just a matter of when not if we would start winning.

XXV - Watched the game with my college roommates who were all Giants fans except for one Bills fan who was talking shit all week. We got a beer ball for the game right before the store closed, but forgot we needed a tap for it. So we had to break it open and scoop beer (and bits of plastic) out. As Norwood lined up to kick, the whole room was on their knees watching and all except one were leaping and celebrating the kick drifting away Wide Right. Knew we had a good shot that day, but was definitely worried until it was over.

XXXV - Watched at my normal football Sunday bar in south Charlotte. Only good thing that happened was winning a halftime raffle where I got a football shaped cooler with the SB logo on it. I can't believe I still have that thing. Was supremely confident going in that day off of 41-0, even though the Ravens were the one team I didn't want us to play. Still remember Shannon Sharpe making that long TD catch against Oakland and thinking that was a bad thing. And fuck that defensive holding call on Keith.

XLII - Watched at home with my now wife, 2 weeks before our wedding. Was a nervous wreck the whole time. On the Tyree I play, I couldn't celebrate it until I saw a shot that confirmed the ball never touched the ground. Once that was clear, I realized we were going to win the game. Had been cautiously optimistic going in. After the game was over, I did a few barefoot laps around my house screaming. My neighbors still love me for that.

XLVI - Pretty much the same as XLII (down to the victory laps), except I was nowhere near as nervous. In fact once I saw Brady mugging for the cameras in his introduction, I was confident there was no way we'd lose.

1986: Too young to watch.

1990: Went from being high on the Giants' win vs. San Francisco to worried the Bills were going to embarrass them on national TV. Got so worked up that I made myself sick and had to go to bed with the Giants down 12-3. Woke up just as Norwood missed the kick.

2000: In college. Chatted with a friend on instant messenger until the Giants fell behind 24-7. Suffered in silence through the rest of the game.

2007: I had mentioned to my sister-in-law (a Patriots fan) that me watching a Giants game on TV was usually bad luck for them. She made a cake just for me in exchange for coming to her house to watch. My niece put a Patriots blanket on me just before Tuck forced Brady to fumble before halftime and I kept it on for the rest of the game. Had to apologize to everyone afterward because of how much I celebrated after the final drive.

2011: Went to the same Patriots fan household again. This time remained much more collected. Missed a large chunk of the 3rd and 4th quarter because I had to read a bedtime story to my son. Came downstairs just after the Manningham catch and danced like a madman when Brady's Hail Mary fell incomplete. By this time I had learned to take the day after a Giants Super Bowl off from work, so spent most of the night celebrating.

1986: Wasn't aware of this sport called football since I was a ragamuffin living in Korea

1990: First football game I ever saw; watched it because my uncle had it on TV (he wasn't a big football fan but always watched the Super Bowl) and immediately decided that I was going to be a Giants fan because of the way the defense played

2000: Watched it with a bunch of my company-mates in the wardroom while at the Naval Academy; they knew I was a rabid Giants fan, so half of them were talking shit to me and the other half were consoling me

2007: Actually attended this game because of a generous friend; made it home just four days before the game from my fourth deployment; amazing experience at the game and at the after party

2011: Had a Super Bowl party at my house with some friends and neighbors; shared this day with my six month old daughter; tuned most of my guests out at various points in the game

SB XXI - I was 11 and remember watching it with my Grandpa and I was surprised that the Giants were pulling away in the second half.

SB XXV - I was 15 and watched it with my best friend. Both of us were on our knees praying that Norwood would miss. When it went wide right I jumped up and ran out of the room. Hardly remember anything from the post game show after that.

SB XXXV - Living in Vermont having graduated college a few years prior. Watched it with my girlfriend and from the get go knew it was going to be bad.

SB 42 - My daughter was born a few months before this game. When Eli -> Tyree happened I jumped up and made some sort og 'glarff' sound and woke her up, she cried. When Eli tossed the game winner to Plax I fell on ground silently cheering.

SB 46 - Living in the home I bought a couple years before. I thought the game was oddly not as stressful. Last drive seemed almost 'easy' not counting Manningham on sideline.

1986: Not alive yet.
1990: Still too young to understand what football is. May or may not have watched any of it.
2007: In Boston, at a party thrown by a college friend (and Cowboys fan). Maybe two dozen other people there, all of whom are Pats fans save for me, my friend, and one other Giants fan. Probably the most amazing fan experience I'll ever have.
2011: At a very well-catered SB party in a Lower East Side apartment. Great game to watch, but the experience didn't come close to 2007.

The fking walls until game time.

86 - was there in Pasadena. Night before the game my Dad and I had burgers and beers with George Young at Barney's Beanery. No football talk.
90- was there in Tampa. Stayed at Giants hotel, up and down in the elevator with the players. Rained 4 days straight. Took the charter bus to the game with Hoss' parents.
The others I watched on TV.

1986 - At childhood home in Oak Ridge, NJ
1990 - Working in a Red Lobster kitchen watching on a mini tv
2000 - Apartment with GF, she kept wanting me to switch it to something on MTV during commercials.
2007 - My friend's house
2011 - At home

XXI - 22 years old, just out of college. At home as usual on Sundays with my dad and my brother. Tense with nervous anticipation. Mom and my sister made dinner early as per our usual "eat before the game". No outsiders allowed. My father couldn't wait, they were finally in a title game again. It was the first one for my brother and I. Just an incredible release of joy when they pulled away in the 3rd qtr. My mother even watched at the end and she NEVER did.

XXV - Same location and scenario. I was worried that without Simms they wouldn't score enough to win. What a finish. I remember all of us kneeling silently waiting for Norwood to miss and then just screaming like crazy after.

XXXV - Sorry I have no recollection of this game.

XLII - First one that my son was old enough to watch. He was 8 and after the big win in GB was excited. On the phone with my father and brother throughout the game. Then in the 4th, I was on the floor with my son sitting on my lap when the Tyree play happened and we both jumped like crazy men. When it was over I kept thinking of Brady saying "we only get 17?"

XLVI - Same as 42 really, but older. And thinking how that holding call in the 1st qtr was going to screw us. Then "THE PASS" from Eli to Manningham. Maybe the best pass I have ever seen. 50 yds on the button to the only spot where it could be caught. And Mario having the stones to keep his eyes on it and get clocked to make the play.

'90 - this is one of the few games i really remember from my childhood. I watched the first house from my grandparents house who threw a big party. I remember lots of giants balloons and napkins (odd memory). Then i vividly remember Norwood's missed kick.

'00 - I remember being pissed off half of my friends skipped my party for some random keg party. Also remember being particularly pissed the giants completely mailed it in.

'07 - My favorite season all time as a giants fan. My parents hosted each playoff game, and we had a good group of big giants fans at each game. I remember calling the Dallas win "our super bowl". During the super bowl i completely lost my shit on a good friend of mine who started yelling that we won after the Plax TD, i was convinced he jinxed it for us.

'11 - The first football season with my wife, ever since that game she is convinced me, my dad and brother are completely insane (but she married me anyway)

'90 I remember I was living in Florida at the time, remember celebrating with my dad when they won.

'07 I was working in a convenience store, watching on a tiny tiny tv my coworker's husband brought in for me, was awesome.

'11 Probably my favorite, was at my uncles house with my cousin and him. Danced like a weirdo for like 20 minutes after the win.

Crazy day. My then 82 year old uncle was visiting from Phoenix and fell that morning. Gradually develops bad pain in left side of chest/upper abdomen. Take him to ER and find out he fractured a rib and lacerated his spleen. Thankfully the bleeding was contained by the capsule of the spleen (otherwise he might have bled to death shortly after the fall). So he's admitted for observation - or maybe surgery. Discussion back and forth with his children and doctors. He wants to fly home as planned the next day but wiser heads prevailed and he was scheduled for surgery later that day. His children arrive and finally I can leave the hospital and head to my friend's man-cave to watch the game. Got there 5 minutes before kick-off and watched the game, mesmerized by what unfolded. An absolutely awesome finish to what started as a terrible day.

1986- I was about 13 years old and was very superstitious then (not much has changed). I started watching the Giant games in my room rather than in our basement with the better TV after the Giants lost to Seattle. So riding an 11 game winning streak and going into the Super Bowl, I kept to my routine. Tape the game on the VCR on the downstairs TV so I can go back and rewatch it later (and refer to it again in 25 years, as I would find out), put on my Carl Banks jersey and watched the championship there.

1990- Again, watched from my room, as I had perfected this technique by this point, but this time wore a 1986 Championship shirt for good luck. I remember taking a knee by my bed and not watching the Bahr kick vs. the Niners the week before, and did the same thing when Norwood kicked.

2000- Saw this game at my future in-laws house. I had warned my then girlfriend that this was a bad idea and I was messing with the Gods since the Giants were 2-0 when I watched at my own home. I tried to warn as many party goes and future family members that I probably would not talk to any of them so don't take it personally. However, as the game went along, it became clear that I should never have gone there. I let out a huge barrage of curses when Armstead's pick 6 was overturned on the Hamilton holding penalty. And for a moment when things looked better after Dixon's kickoff return TD, it got worse with the Jermaine Lewis return. I walked over to my wife's parents, said that I'm sorry, I need to go, and I left. So I have told my wife, she had her shot to not marry this mess when she saw me at my worst, so don't complain about Giants' games;)

2007- We were now about 6 years into our new home, my older son was 3 years old. We had a tradition of hosting a Super Bowl party and had friends over. By this time, I had found my comfort zone to watch in the house and my good luck spots. Based on the lessons learned from 2000, we limited the invite list only to a smaller group and those over were all die hard Giants fans, no floaters who will ask "who is the QB of the Giants". I had no tolerance for that shit when the Giants are in it to win a Super Bowl. I had downloaded that awful song "proud to be a NY Giant" that they used to play at Giants' Stadium, but damned if it wasn't good luck. So I had that thing going on in the pre-game and when Plax scored, I think I jumped up into one of our friends arms. As soon as the game ended, my phone was ringing off the hook, since I was radio silent as the game went on for good luck.

2011- This time my older son was 7 and had a better understanding of the game. My younger guy was 3, so not so much. We increased the invite list a tad, with the promise that most of the non-fans would be gone by halftime. I was given one of those inflatable Giants things by a guest before the game and for some reason, even though I could have seen it as a jinx, I set that damn thing up on my front lawn like a Christmas decoration. I left it up for about 2 weeks after that, mainly to taunt my neighbors, who are Packers and Bears fans (not sure how that happened, but whatever).

86 - don't remember was only 4.

90 - the only thing I really remember about this one was my brother and I both kneeling in front of the TV as the giants were doing, waiting for the kick and watching it sail wide right.

00 - first year of college up in Boston. Watched it with my new college friends, this was my first taste of how they despised all thing NY even though up to that point the giants and pats never even had a rivalry.

07 - still living in Boston. I was afraid to watch with my Boston friends due to potential fighting, so i drove to NJ to watch in friendly territory. Watched it at my grandfathers bar and just remember how intense the entire game was, even the crowd at the game seemed to be more vested than usual. Through all the chaos of the final drive, I didn't even realize the magnitude of the Tyree play. I remember when Plax caught the TD, I jumped up and started running only to be tackled by one of my friends in pure joy. In hindsight it was a great decision to watch the game in friendly territory especially with how the game played out.

11-At this point I had fled Boston, and moved to CA. I didn't know how many times the Giants were going to make it back so I said 'eff it' and bought tickets off of stubhub and went with my mom. To this day, I have never felt a moment of more pure giddiness/anticipation for an event in my life. I was like a kid on Christmas times 10.
I had the prefect view of the brady intentional grounding safety, you could hear us in the crowd start grumbling about a receiver not anywhere within 20 yds of brady. It was so obvious at the game, but much less on TV when i watch replays. The rest is history as they say, the hail mary was right at my endzone and then party time in Indy.

1986 - Wasn't born, but watched my grandfather's old VHS copy a couple years back.

1990 - See above, except substitute "wasn't born" with "was only three years old"

2000 - Watched this one with my family, no big event or anything. I was so excited after the 41-0 beatdown, this was a big letdown for a 13 year old who just got seriously invested in the Giants around this time, but I stayed loyal obviously.

2007 - We weren't supposed to be very good this season (ESPN told me so). Definitely not Super Bowl worthy. I remember around training camp time I realized that the Super Bowl was on my 21st birthday, 2/3/08. I turned to my father and said, "wouldn't it be awesome if the Giants gave me that gift this year". His reply was something between a chuckle and "get real... but yeah that would be something."

The day came and I just felt so confident (I think a lot of us felt that way, despite the 18-0 beast we were facing). I was with my wife (then girlfriend) at the time, and she and a friend partied in the basement all night with my sister. I stayed upstairs at my parent's house and had one beer during the game. The game needed my laser focus! Pure joy when Gibril batted that ball down. Long phone call with my aforementioned grandfather and then one more beer and took advantage of my drunk girlfriend. Good night.

2011 - Excellent playoff run led to a similarly confident feeling, yet not as strong as it was in 2008. Watched each game that playoffs with an old empty NY Jets Bud Light can. Why? Because my mother accidentally bought Jets Bud Lights for the Giants/Jets game and it became a bit of a good-luck charm after Cruz's 99 yard throat stomp.

Back at my parent's place for the Super Bowl, and my grandfather brought his new girlfriend over to watch the game with us. Obviously, that was fine, but I remember she wouldn't shut up during the game and I don't take too kindly to that during NYG Super Bowls. This wasn't a Super Bowl party, this was a Super Bowl viewing. I was getting increasingly frustrated and semi-snapped at her after a while. I think my grandfather and brother were relieved someone stepped up to do it. I felt a bit bad afterward, but she's an Eagles fan and we won, so all was good in the world again!

1986 and 1990 - had young kids in both cases, watched one at home and one at our close friends' apartment near by (can't remember which was which).

2000 - at home. Bleh.

2007 - this was very memorable - I was in Berlin, Germany with one of our sons. The game came on at like 1 am and went until 4 am. We watched it in our hotel room in German, with no ads - the camera just stayed on the players standing around during the breaks - it's a soccer culture, they don't cut away from games. The announcers kept talking about Domenik Hixon because he was born in Germany, so that was funny. We barely slept as we had to get on an early plane to Munich.

2011 - by now our oldest (daughter) was married and she and our son-in-law's place was nearby, so we watched it there with a bunch of their friends, which was fun.

You're about 2 months older than me

In comment 12106768 Route 9 in LEH said:

Quote:

You're about 2 months older than me

Not a bad time to grow up a Giants fan, right?!

by that time I was in high school, and pretty much a well known as a Giants fan among the teachers and students (shocking). Anyway, we had exams the Monday after the Super Bowl and my math teacher was also a huge Giants fan. I remember stressing and grumbling the week leading up about the test and I wouldn't be able to study or focus, win or lose, the next day. So I remember my teacher after class the Friday before the Super Bowl, asked me and a few other guys (all big Giants fans) to see him. He was also a big Giants fan and he said to us, "I'll make you guys a deal, I will pass you a blank sheet during the test. You sit there and pretend to take it but don't say a word and I'm also trusting you won't get the answers from anyone else afterwards. I want you all to come in at 7:30 AM on Tuesday so you can take it then. Go Giants". Now that's an awesome teacher.

XXI- Senior year at Syracuse. Watched in my apt on my 19" TV. Watched it alone as I told my GF to go find somewhere else to go.
I will never forget being on the phone with my dad as the final seconds counted down. We have been season ticket holders since 1963. We never thought it would happen.

XXV- lived in Arizona. Again watched it alone. I cant watch with most people. Again was on phone with my dad as Norwood lined up to attempt his kick.


XXXV- Was in Tampa. Other than that, rather not talk about it.


XXXXII-I have been living in dallas for a few years. I proudly wear Giants BLUE. Lets say that playoff run was special. The friday before the game, my wife surprises me by telling me she invited some people over to watch the game with us. Lets just say that didnt happen and after watching me watch the game, I think she agreed. Watching that game with my 2 boys was something special as we had Dad on speaker as time ticked down.


XXXXVI- No parties planned just the family. Dad had died that Sept. It was first season ever with out him. In the Atl game that year, when Nicks broke those tackles and scored that TD righ in front of our seats. My sis and I turned and knew it was destiny. Never doubted we would beat that Pats that day. The best part is once game ended, I walked outside and gave a big scream and let all my cowboy fan neighbor s who won the game. Just in case they were not sure.

Well the next morning, my neighbor comes up to me. He had paused the game on the drive just before Bradshaw scored to put his kids to bed. He told me he had no need to watch the end.

Tator

SB XXI - Freshman year of college in St. Louis watching in a Frat House with all the NY/NJ guys rooting hard for Big Blue and everyone else from all over the country pulling for Denver. This was the year of supreme confidence in the Giants and especially compared to my baseball team, which won it all a few months earlier but always drove you crazy with late inning heroics. Didn't even sweat it at halftime and then Phil entered the pantheon with his second half ass-kicking of Elway & Co.

SB XXV -- Home for Xmas break for Senior Year and watched with my 3 best friends from home and we went bezerk after no good, wide right.

SB XLII - Have a group of 6-7 guys in my 'hood who are all die-hards and we watched at one friend's house whose house had been the good-luck charm all season. Eli to Plax and utter pandemonium.

SB XLVI -- Same location at XLII but this time with families. Kids and wives for the most part were out of the TV room until the very end. Knock it down from Gronk. More pandemonium. Beat Hoodie and Tom. Again!

1986 - I was 2 years old. Odds are I was eating, sleeping, or pooping at the time.

1990 - I was 6 years old, was watching the game at our home in Bayside Queens. Was still way too young to really appreciate this one.

2007 - My first year in Los Angeles, I was watching the game at a buddy's house in the Hollywood Hills. Fucking EUPHORIA. Had a good feeling about this one, told all the smug Massholes I was confident about the game.

2011 - I was in Miami for a trade show. Ran up and down Collins after leaving the Shore Club where I caught the game.

XXI: I was 4 years old at the time so I don't have any memories of it, unfortunately.

XXV: A little older here and I was starting to get into sports but I wasn't too into football at the time. I was big into baseball but the hype surrounding this game is what really started to get me into football. I don't remember the game itself but I remember earlier that day, I was with my dad who was hanging out and having some drinks with co-workers and friends. They were all talking about the game, if the Giants could do it, how good their defense was and how good the Bills offense was. I thought it was the coolest thing to be with the adults when they just chilled and talked about sports like this.

XXXV: This sucked. I was big time into football and the Giants and this was my first chance to finally see them play in a super bowl that I'd remember. I was so hyped after the NFC Championship game and the way that they won, but I knew they would have their hands full against the Ravens defense. I just didn't think they would lose the way that they did. I was in high school and ended up just relaxing in my room to watch it by myself. And being glad that I did that because sometime in the 4th, I just shut it off and tried to sleep, almost wanting to cry from the way they played, knowing they lost the super bowl and not knowing if or when they would make it back again.

XLII: They did make it back and what a game that was. I knew they had their hands full again with an undefeated team but I think that made everything easier leading up to it since my expectations were in check. I wanted to see them win it, of course, but it felt like it wouldn't sting too much if they didn't since nobody expected them to win. I took the day off from work, wore my Burress jersey all day long, had a few snacks and enjoyed the ride. During the Tyree catch, I kept thinking that the ball hit the ground or something and that they would reverse it and screw us over. That wasn't the case and the rest is history. The only "bad" part was that I watched the game by myself instead of being surrounded by other Giants fans for such an epic game. But that was okay, I was on cloud nine that night and had a blast watching every little postgame reaction that I could.

XLVI: This one I finally got to watch as part of a little super bowl party with about 8 to 10 other family members. Though half the time, I found myself was into another room to watch it by myself since I tend to be anxious in close, big games. Haha. I remember my dad wanting to wear a Giants jersey for the game and he didn't have one - so I loaned him my Burress jersey that I still had in my closet. Despite a few jokes from others that he wasn't even on the team anymore, the jersey still worked it's magic. One of the best parts was when my niece's husband who is a big Cowboys fan, and the only non-Giants fan the party, came over wearing an anti-Giants shirt. We joke around a lot in a good spirited way about each other's teams, so it was nice seeing him eat some crow at the end of the game and having to hand it to the Giants for winning it all. And again, I just sat there late into the night watching post game reactions/stories/ceremonies, loving it all.

Can't wait until it happens again.