Welcome to the G-Men Den

Hello Giant fans….my name is Mike Farley and I am your Fanball.com New York Giants’ correspondent.  I grew up on Long Island, following my dad’s lead and rooting for Big Blue.  I’ve been following this team since the mid ’70’s, and if I told you I loved the G-men as much as a person can love an entity that isn’t their wife or children, I wouldn’t be exaggerating.  Just go ask my wife, who has to endure my mood swings during football season based on what the Giants are doing.  I know you know what I mean. 

I’ve lived through the pain of Joe Pisarcik’s fumble (and a lot of bad football in that decade), Sean Landeta’s whiff in Chicago, the Rams’ Flipper Anderson catching the ball and running into the tunnel, of the crushing and ridiculous 49ers comeback in 2002, the Vikings’ crushing and ridiculous comeback against us in 1997, and the horrible playoff losses against Carolina in 2005 and Philly this past January. 

I’ve also lived through the exhilaration of three Super Bowl wins–the domination of Phil Simms/Lawrence Taylor against Denver in Super Bowl 21, the clock-controlled masterpiece by Jeff Hostetler and OJ Anderson against Buffalo in Super Bowl 25, and the sheer magic against the Patriots in Super Bowl 42.  (note to all of you purists, I hate trying to figure out the Roman numerals).  Really, that 2007 season playoff run may have made up for every speck of bad football we’ve encountered as Giants fans, and when I euphorically collapsed in  on my living room floor after Lawrence Tynes and the Big Blue gods guided that kick through the uprights in Green Bay, it was from the fan exhaustion we all know rooting for this team.   Then, two weeks later, there was a ring of man hugs in my living room four times–when Eli and Tyree and fate did their thing, when Plax caught the game winner, when Jay Alford knocked Tom Brady into the Arizona turf one last time, and then when Brady’s desperation Hail Mary was knocked down. 

What I’m saying is, there has been a lot of great Giants’ football.  But rooting for them has always been like a roller coaster (I’m sure other fans endure this too, but we like to think our roller coasters are steeper and faster), and looking ahead to the 2009 season, we are cautiously optimistic.  We are optimistic because the G-men finished 13-3 and were world beaters for three quarters of the season….and because Osi returns and Jacobs was re-signed and we had a really good draft, centered around big receiver Hakeem Nicks and LB Clint Sintim. 

We are cautious because let’s face it, this team was manhandled by Philly and Dallas down the stretch, the worst being that home playoff debacle against the hated Eagles.  You know what I think about when I think about that January Sunday?  Donovan McNabb making that imaginary phone call on the Giants’ sideline.  I can’t get that out of my head, and I can’t wait to erase it this season.  Specifically, I can’t wait for Osi to knock Jason Peters back into his own QB.  Still, the Eagles have also improved (see Peters and draft pick Jeremy Maclin) and are considered by many to be the team to beat in the conference.  Maybe that’s a good thing, because it puts the pressure squarely on Andy Reid and company.

I think I’ve babbled on long enough for my first post here on the G-Men Den.  But that’s because I get passionate when I talk about or write about the New York Football Giants.  There is Giants’ blue in my blood, I’m sure of it.  So if you feel the same way about this team, I hope you’ll hang out here with me, spread the word to your buddies and families, and contribute with comments and feedback.  Enjoy the ride with us and Go Big Blue!

Tags: 49ers, Andy Reid, Arizona, Big Blue, Brandon Jacobs, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Clint Sintim, David Tyree, Denver Broncos, Donovan McNabb, Eli Manning, Flipper Anderson, G-men Den, Giants 2009 season, Green Bay, Hakeem Nicks, Jay Alford, Jeff Hostetler, Joe Pisarcik, Lawrence Taylor, Lawrence Tynes, New England Patriots, New York Giants, OJ Anderson, Osi Umenyiora, Phil Simms, Philadelphia Eagles, Sean Landeta, Super Bowl, Tom Brady, Vikings