[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 28 (Thursday, February 21, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E215-E216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS 
                      FOR WINNING SUPER BOWL XLII

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 12, 2008

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
960, legislation to congratulate the New York Giants for winning Super 
Bowl XLII and completing one of the greatest upsets in professional 
sports history. I introduced this resolution because I am so proud that 
this incredible team plays at Giants stadium, located in East 
Rutherford, New Jersey in my district. I am honored that we have a 
Super Bowl champion back in the New York New Jersey region again.
  On Sunday, February 3rd, in Glendale, Arizona, the New York Giants 
achieved the highly improbable by beating the previously undefeated New 
England Patriots by a score of 17 to 14 in Super Bowl XLII to win the 
National Football League (NFL) championship. The game was the most 
watched Super Bowl ever, with nearly 100 million viewers tuning in--
making it the second most viewed American broadcast in television 
history.
  Since its inception in 1925, the New York Giants organization has 
been a model of professionalism, teamwork, and community service in the 
New York New Jersey metropolitan area. From the beginning, the Giants 
franchise--and indeed the entire National Football League--has 
flourished under the leadership and guidance of the Mara family. Back 
in the 1960s professional football was struggling to survive. It was 
the foresight of Wellington and Jack Mara, co-owners of the most 
profitable team in the NFL, which allowed professional football to 
prosper. They put the league ahead of their team by agreeing to share 
lucrative television revenue equally among all NFL teams, thus 
providing the other teams in the league with much needed capital to 
promote the sport across America. The current success of the NFL is a 
tribute to the character and selflessness of the Mara brothers. They 
proved to the National Football League and the Nation that honorable 
business practices and teamwork can indeed generate great success.
  The New York Giants franchise has been one of the most successful in 
National Football League history. The Giants have had 15 players 
inducted into the Profesional Football Hall of Fame. The team has been 
to the postseason 26 times and won more than 600 games, including 16 
divisional championships and 7 NFL championships--three of which were 
Super Bowls (XXI, XXV, and XLII).
  Since 1976, the Giants have played at Giants stadium in East 
Rutherford, New Jersey--which is located in my congressional district. 
I have always been proud to have such a wonderful organization located 
in our district. In particular, I would like to recognize the ``Giants 
Foundation,'' which was founded by Wellington Mara. It is an 
organization that provides important social and financial support to 
underprivileged youth and their families throughout the entire 
metropolitan area.
  The Giants began the 2007 season with a tough loss to the Dallas 
Cowboys at Texas Stadium. What they didn't know as they walked off the 
field in Irving, Texas, was that this would be the last time they would 
lose a road game all season. After that loss to the Cowboys the Giants 
won 11 straight road games--an unprecedented achievement and a record 
in the National Football League.
  Their impressive road streak began just a few miles away from here in 
Landover, Maryland at FedEx field. The Giants turned their season 
around with a fourth quarter comeback against the Washington Redskins, 
capped by an impressive stop on fourth and goal as time expired.
  After the regular season ended the Giants took their road winning 
streak into the postseason where they won 3 straight road playoff 
games--a National Football Conference record.
  The Giants' victorious journey this season epitomizes the American 
values of hard work, determination, and resiliency. Along each step of 
the journey, few believed they would triumph, but the Giants continued 
to defy conventional wisdom and prove to the so called experts that a 
team of individuals fully devoted to a goal is indeed greater than the 
sum of its parts. Their defense, which allowed 80 points in the first 2 
games, turned their season around to become the best defense in the 
league--capable of holding the most vaunted offense in recent memory to 
2 touchdowns on the biggest stage in sports. Their offense, captained 
by quarterback Eli Manning, was sporadic at best during the regular 
season, but seemed to mature right before our eyes in the

[[Page E216]]

playoffs as the Giants protected the football and put together clutch 
drives when it mattered most.
  But perhaps the greatest momentum shift of the season was Coach Tom 
Coughlin's decision to have his team play to win against the then 
undefeated New England Patriots in the final game of the regular 
season. In a game that didn't matter for the Giants, as they had 
already clinched a playoff birth, the ``Boys in Blue'' played their 
hearts out and went toe-to-toe against what many were calling the best 
team in NFL history. Even though they lost on that day--the Giants 
gained a great deal of confidence from the contest, which they carried 
with them all the way to their victory against those same New England 
Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
  I am offering this resolution to honor the entire Giants organization 
on their incredible season, and on their outstanding win in Super Bowl 
XLII. Specifically, I would like to congratulate Giants owner and Chief 
Executive Officer John Mara, Executive Vice President Steve Tisch, Head 
Coach Tom Coughlin, Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Offensive 
Coordinator Kevin Gilbride, and all of the Giants players and support 
staff on a job well done. Their triumph shows that no matter the odds, 
a group of determined underdogs can take on a dynasty and emerge 
victorious.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House 
Resolution 960, and congratulate the Giants for their exciting season 
and remarkable win in Super Bowl XLII.

                          ____________________