Monday, February 06, 2006
Happy for Harry
First, I just want to congratulate the Pittsburgh Steelers, the 2005 Super Bowl Champions!!
Speaking of Champions though I would like to comment on some equally significant football news that has a personal impact on me. I am speaking about the election of Harry Carson to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
I have to give some background here:
I am a New York/New Jersey Football Giant fan. For those of you that might be confused as to why I also included New Jersey on that...well you would have to be a Giant fan to understand. Though it sounds very much like a cliche, Giants fans are truly the most devoted, passionate, loyal yet brutal fans in the world and yes, I am proud to be part of such a tribe. That said while the stories of today are about Eli Manning, Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress, my foundation was laid with the likes of Lawrence Taylor, Phil Simms, George Marshall, Phil McConkey, Carl Banks, Joe Morris, Mark Bavaro, Gary Reasons, Lionel Manuel, Brad Van Pelt, Leonard Marshall and Harry Carson. At 32 years of age I know I am dating myself with some of these names, but when you have so many great memories attached to them, well you just never forget and in reality never stop reflecting on those times.
I was 'born' into the Giants. My father watched them religously. That meant every game, no exception. Giant Football was the only reason as to why on Sunday's we were able to watch TV while eating dinner. As I understand it my uncle was a co-founder of the True Blue, Giant Fan club. (stilly trying to verify this though). In fact when my uncle retired, Bill Bellicheck (just an assistant with the Giants) was at his retirement party in 1987. This same Uncle held season tickets, Jersey Gold as some call it, and would take me and my father to a few games over the course of my childhood. He would also take my middle brother to a few Giant vs. Cowboy games (somehow, despite the rich blue blood in the family, mine somehow squeaked out a Cowboy fan).
In any case I watched those games with my father, and looking back, more importantly I watched my father watch those games. I was born in 1973, but only have memories of professional football from about 1980 on. Those were some hard years for the Giants and their fans. I remember my father getting excited at the most meaningless touchdown. Meaningless because the game was often out of reach and the season long lost. When you are young your father is a god to you. And while watching those games with my father, I saw my father's gods. I remember the playoffs leading up to the Giant's first Super Bown win in 1986. Any real Giant would tell you that we knew this was going to be the year (we didn't just hope it was as we did in 1985). I went to work with my father (I was 13 at the time) and on the way home we stopped at the gas station where my father got his ritual after work coffee. There was a Giant's T-Shirt hanging over the register. The words BIG BLUE WRECKING CREW over a picture of the Giants Football helmet. Though my family was far from poor, my family also didn't have enough for little extras such as an 'impulse' buy of a Giants T-Shirt. My father bought me that shirt anyway (perhaps sacrificing a few future coffee's in the process). You could't punch the smile off my face and to this day I don't think I ever felt closer to my father. I am teary eyed thinking about this now.
The Giants went on to win the Super Bowl and my whole family (the Cowboy fan included) was in fantasic spirits. I saved the News Paper clippings about the win for years (only tossing them after some water damage). While I know my father would tell you that the happiest moments in his life were when he met my mother and had us (his children), I know this Super Bowl Victory meant a lot to him. In a way, life was complete for him.
Why I am Happy for Harry Carson:
I can't sit here and tell you that Harry Carson was my favorite Giant. No, like most of my time Lawrence Taylor my favorite, the guy I always tried to emulate when playing in the neighborhood. He was the headline guy.
What I will say is that NO Player has meant as much to the organization than Harry Carson. I repeat NO Player. Often times Harry Carson Lou Gehrig to Lawrence Taylor's Babe Ruth in terms of media and fan adulation, but never where it really mattered which was on the football field. When Harry was passed up for the Hall of Fame in years past he always handled it in a dignified manner, even when he began to dislike the process itself. When he criticized it though, he did so with great purpose. When it was announced to him this week, that yes in fact he was inducted he continued to handle himself as a champion and a person of great spirit by acknowledging right away he would in fact accept his induction into the hall.
A Pro Bowl selection for 9 out of the 13 seasons he played Harry Carson was always respected by his peers. To this day I can't see 53 without thinking of Harry Carson. I can't see Harry Carson without seeing my own jubiliant father. And while my father has since passed away, i still get that call from mom asking how the Giant's are doing. Some habits are hard to break. But that is probably because of all the great memories that came with those habits. Those memories of the New York Giants and Harry Carson.
Congratulations Harry!
Posted by mightymerk,
6:06 PM
1 Comments:
By 
TODD
Mightymerk, Very well said. I am a few years older, but Giants football was the same in my house as yours on sundays. My dad had season tickets, which eventually became mine too when the Giants moved to Giants stadium. New Jersey, New York...who cares..They were still our giants. Trust me when I say, you only suffered a very few bad seasons. I remember my mom and I putting up Christmas lights on the house when the Giants beat Dallas in november so my Dad could see them when he got home from the game.....those are some memories. My father used to climb up on the roof and turn the TV antenna so we could get the proper reception to get the games when they were on channel three, Im not joking. I remember the seasons when homer jones was our best reciever, and Fran Tarkington scrambling was the only reason to cheer. I also remember our # 1 draft pick of rocky thompson, and Joe Pisarchak(sp) handing off to larry czonka against Philly. Those are the not so good memories. Although you did not suffer through as much pain as I did, your thoughts mirror mine growing up. Watching your hero, your dad act like a raving maniac when the giants scored. A family trait I have some how inherited. I did however get a chance to go to superbowl with my dad in 1986/7. We watched them beat the Bronco's in what seemed like a sea of orange jackets in the stands. When the game was over, I saw my dad cry for the first time in my life. His life as a Giant fan came full circle that day...And that moment I will never forget. My dad passed away four years later.. just months before we beat Buffalo in the super bowl. I swear he talked a few angels into blowing a little gust of wind to the right when Norwood kicked.
As far as Harry Carson is concerned. The week before they were to play the 49ers in the 1986 playoffs I sent him an antique wooden shafted golf club that was inscribed "Harry Carson Special" My father unearthed it at a construction dig. I cleaned it up and sent it UPS to Giants Stadium attn: Harry Carson. The next day a picture of him holding the club at his locker was published in the New York Daily News. I have an 8X10 print of that photo...a keeper.
Thank you for your posting...You and I and our fathers have alot in common.
As far as Harry Carson is concerned. The week before they were to play the 49ers in the 1986 playoffs I sent him an antique wooden shafted golf club that was inscribed "Harry Carson Special" My father unearthed it at a construction dig. I cleaned it up and sent it UPS to Giants Stadium attn: Harry Carson. The next day a picture of him holding the club at his locker was published in the New York Daily News. I have an 8X10 print of that photo...a keeper.
Thank you for your posting...You and I and our fathers have alot in common.
@ 5:10 PM
