Giants Love Misery [J. Mark English]

"The party's over. Its time to call it a day. They've burst your pretty balloon and taken the moon away. Its time to wind up the masquerade. Just make your mind up, the piper must be paid.

"The party's over. The candles flicker and dim. You danced and reamed through the night, it seemed to be right just being with him. Now you must wake up, all dreams must end. Take off your make up, the party's over. It's all over, my friend." - Betty Comden & Adolph Green

“We will be sick about this one forever.” - Coach Coughlin

“....only in a nightmare. That is not how you want to finish a game. That’s a tough one to swallow.” - Shaun O'Hara

“We have to look at each other in the face and say we let each other down. Things like that should never happen.” - Plaxico Burress

“I think everybody in America knows that. That’s not how it’s supposed to go down. I have no excuses. We lost that game flat out.” - Antonio Pierce

“They made the plays and we didn’t. It’s frustrating. You’re at a loss for words because of the way it came down.” - Tiki Barber

Comments -

Since 1991, these words can be echoed by Giants no matter who they are. They seem to love misery.

Lets harken back to that 1991 season. With a season on the brink, following their Super Bowl title in 1990, they were up against the Eagles. They jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half, and even knocked out the Eagles starting QB. In came Jeff Kemp (Jack Kemp's son) and he led the Eagles back to victory, crushing the Giants title defense.

In 1993, the Giants were riding a six game winning streak, and were 11-3. They had two games remaining. One against the lowly Cardinals on the road, and the next against the team right behind them in the division, the Cowboys. If they could beat the Cardinals, the Giants would have secured a division championship as well as possible homefield advantage through-out the playoffs. Instead they lost to the Cardinals, and then lost a heartbreaker to the Cowboys in overtime. This killed their dreams of homefield advantage through the playoffs, and they were blown out by the 49ers in the second round.

The Giants would not make the playoffs again until 1997. Playing a home game in the first round against the Vikings, the team enjoyed a nine point lead with two minutes left in the game. The Vikings scored a touchdown behind the arm of Randall Cunningham, and then got the ball back on a onside kick. The Vikings kicked the game winning field goal, and the Giants, who had been celebrating prematurely, just hung their heads and cried.

In 2002, the New York Giants were playing once again in the first round, this time on the road against the 49ers. They were up big, 38-14, and Jim Fassel's offense was clicking on all cylinders. And then the game slipped away. The Giants gave up a 24 point lead which they had in the 4th quarter. When the clock expired, the score read 49ers - 41, Giants - 38.

The Giants love misery. It is the only conclusion that makes sense. This team never wants to make it easy for themselves. Maybe they are cursed...who knows. Whatever it is though, they have a chance to still right the ship this week against Parcells and the Cowboys. If they can win, they will be back in first place, with an advantage over the Cowboys because of two victories against them. They can still make this a special year.

But for now, only misery...misery...misery...