John Delach

The Giants 2008 Improbable Playoff Season

John Delach

Our flight didn’t leave until 8:15 and it wasn’t even 6:30 by the time we finished dinner so we found our buddies in a bar attached to the restaurant. As we sat down one of them said, “Do you know who those people are sitting over there?”

I followed the direction he indicated but, before I could focus on the two men and two women dining at that table, my son exclaimed, “Wow, that’s Archie Manning.”

I studied the slim man who was just about six feet tall and silently admitted to myself that I wouldn’t have guessed that this was the legendary former quarterback of the New Orleans Saints and the father of Peyton Manning, the quarterback of the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, and Eli Manning our beleaguered quarterback who had played a smart and effective game against the Bucs earlier today.

As I realized that this was indeed Archie Manning our friend advised, “The other fellow is the oldest brother, Cooper, the older woman is their mother and the blond is Eli’s fiancée.”

Obviously, they came to see Eli play and were returning to their New Orleans home. “I’m surprised they fly by commercial airline.”

After a while, Archie left the family so he could have a beer and watch the football game from the bar. When Cooper joined him, they were so close to our table that I could touch them. Michael said, “Dad the resemblance between Cooper and Eli is amazing.”

I replied, “I’ll give you a dollar if you tell them to please move because they are blocking my view of the game.”

Without missing a beat, my six-foot five son stood and said, “Excuse me gentlemen, but you’re blocking my father’s view and he’d like you to move.”

Then he turned back to me before they could react and loudly continued, “Okay pop, give me the buck.”

I handed him a dollar and he turned back to Archie and Cooper, “Would you both mind autographing this bill?”

They laughed out loud, and we chatted as they obliged his request. Archie was also kind enough to autograph one of the Bucs pennants that I had confiscated. I explained that I stood on it during the game. “I decided to take it with me if the Giants won. It’s like seizing the enemy’s battle flag. I’m taking it back to New York where it will grace my garage with your signature.”

And so it does.

We had aisle seats on the flight home. The good news of flying on a Sunday night is that there aren’t many other airplanes in the air, we left the gate on time, took off without delay and arrived early. One interesting note about the flight back to LaGuardia, Mike was sitting next to a young woman in her Twenties and a man about my age. I had seen them at the pool on Saturday. “Dad,” Mike said, “They won their tickets from the WFAN Radio contest.”

“That’s great.” I answered. Then I added, “I saw you two at the pool, yesterday. I guessed that you are father and daughter, or is this some Ozark situation going on?”

Mike blurted, “Geez, Dad.”

We both arrived home fine. Mike drove his car. I had a local car service meet me. I didn’t remember the driver, but he remembered me. He was happy about the outcome in Tampa and provided me with a running commentary as to why the Giants won and the Bucs lost. I was impressed. He had all his ducks in a row. Still, I could only think; what an awful ride this would have been if the Bucs had won.