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In Times Square, it’s all about the Giants

By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 4, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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NEW YORK — It was New York's version of the two-minute drill.

That's how long it took between the end of the New York Giants' Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots before thousands of people had flooded into Times Square to holler, chant and hug one another as if it was New Year's Rockin' Eve.

A.J. Abrams, 39, of Manhattan posed for pictures wearing a t-shirt whose insult of the Patriots' home turf, the Boston area, could not be printed in a family newspaper.

"They're a bunch of cheaters and they didn't deserve it," he said, joining a bouncing, late-night crowd in chants mocking the Patriots' ruined perfect season.

"Eighteen and one! Eighteen and one!" echoed through the skyscraper canyons.

"Screw the Patriots, that's all I gotta say," said Kevin Tammaro, 31, a student from lower Manhattan. "They're cheaters. They're crybabies. They're pretty boys."

A crowd of onlookers embellished the pretty-boys reference with more things that can't be printed in a family newspaper.

Pedestrians danced in the middle of traffic. Some rich-looking folks in horse-drawn carriages circled Times Square, standing and flashing "Number one" signs that brought resounding cheers. It was as if the king of New York was riling up his subjects.

People in blue and white team jerseys climbed on top of mail boxes, vacant bus shelters and anything else that could be turned into a stage.

Strangers of all shapes and colors hugged one another – everywhere you looked – all under the watchful eye of horse-mounted police officers.

For one night, hardened New Yorkers acted like shameless tourists in Times Square, begging one another to take their pictures in the middle of a moment that felt a long time in coming.

"It's all about the Giants winning," said Greg Packer, 44, a retired highway maintenance worker. "I'm as proud as I was in the Yankees dynasty years."

Political writer M.E. Sprengelmeyer is in New York City covering the build-up to next week's Super-Duper Tuesday vote in the presidential contest.