New York Giants finish magical season with Super Bowl XVLI parade in the City that Never Sleeps
The streets were trembling, the buildings were shaking and the confetti was falling by the truck-full in the Canyon of Heroes on Tuesday, Feb. 7 as New York City said thanks to its beloved Big Blue.
The New York Giants celebrated the 21-17 Super Bowl XVLI (46) victory over the New England Patriots in style with a ticker-tape parade and estimated attendance of one million screaming onlookers. Fans laughed, cheered, even cried as their favorite team passed by on what could be magically mistaken as chariots of the football gods.
An estimated 40 tons of confetti showered the “G-MEN.” Fans barricaded on the sidewalks took to climbing streetlights, signs and building storefronts to could catch a glimpse of the team.
Side and backstreets were filled to the max. One street even sported a touch football game among a sea of red, white and blue.
The Giants turned from Battery Place and made their way up Broadway to the Canyon of Heroes on blue and white decorated floats. Fans threw everything from footballs to T-shirts back and forth to players in hopes of getting a signature or two.
Parade-goers rejoiced in a “Cruuuuuuuuuz” chant for overnight wide receiver sensation Victor Cruz. Wearing a red hoodie, he waved emphatically as his float strolled along. He even treated fans to his patented salsa dance that he breaks out when he scores a touchdown at the City Hall Plaza ceremony.
“We are here today because this team of Giants believed in each other, because you believed in them,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg told the crowd at City Hall. “We believe! We believe that as long as there was time on the clock and as long as Eli Manning had the ball, we would win the game.” He asked the crowd, “What do the first three letters of Elite spell?” and then led them in chants of “M-V-P.”
Giants quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning thanked the crowd outside City Hall for their support and patience throughout the season.
“We never lost faith in ourselves, and congratulations to all [the fans],” he said after the organization received keys to the City.
Head Coach Tom Coughlin went from possibly getting fired at season’s end to becoming the second Giants head coach to win two Super Bowls. Bill Parcells won two rings in 1987 and 1991.
Since the beginning of Coughlin’s tenure as head coach, he’s preached one word: finish. Finish every practice, every game and every play. On Tuesday, the Giants truly finished, with a parade.
“All things are possible for those who believe,” Coughlin said. “We always believed. We always knew we could get here. We finished as a team. We finished as a family. It’s wonderful to be part of this great day.”
For more Super Bowl parade photos, go to http://tinyurl.com/ 7q92sme.
