Look carefully.

At first glance, you’re attracted to the beautiful red and white stripes of the American flag.  You sense an immediate rush of patriotism.  You can probably even hear the jet fighters flying overhead (unless, of course, you’re in a dome).  Or perhaps the first thing you first notice is the guy’s shaved head at the bottom right of the photo.

Now take another look. 

Ah yes, Giants players in uniform.  My friend took this picture during the national anthem of the Giants-Buccaneers game back in January, a game which the Bucs dominated for fifteen minutes until the eventual Super Bowl champions lit up the vaunted Bucs defense for 24 points in three quarters before going on their storybook run.

Looking again at the picture…

 Oh, cool, I see Eli Manning, Super Bowl MVP, and a couple other Giants players.  Wait, who’s that standing to his right.  Wait, that…. that’s David Tyree.

Very nice!  You mean the duo that hooked up for what can arguably be considered the greatest play in Super Bowl history?  Funny how pictures work sometimes, huh?  Do you think these two had ANY indication at this point in time what they were destined to combine for only 28 days later?

Like I said, my die-hard Giants fan friend, who snapped this photo and who has been compulsively watching Sportscenter, Around the Horn and PTI reruns since Sunday night, spotted this eerie picture, then immediately called me to let me know that he and I were among the first to witness Super Bowl greatness one month before it happened.

Crystal ball time.  For my next trick, I will now predict this year’s college basketball national champions.  I just need to rummage through my photo album first.

There’s something to be said for sportsmanship…. just not at a Buccaneers game.

This past Sunday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosted the New York GEEEEEEE-Men in the new sombrero. To much of Tampa’s dismay, the Giants came out victorious in this match-up to advance in the NFL playoffs, leaving Buccaneer management with some difficult off-season decisions about their future.

On paper, the Giants were, and are, the better team.  That translated onto the field.  The Giants were underdogs going into that game, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who took the Bucs and laid the points.  If they played that game again, the Giants would win it again.

Anyway, I had the pleasure of attending this game with a life-long friend, who happens to be a Giants fan born and bred.  We had talked about him flying down for weeks, hadn’t seen each other in a while and landed some great tickets from the same person who scored those Police concert tickets not long ago.  Much thanks!  My friend, Jason, was appropriately decked out in full Giants regalia, rockin’ the Strahan jersey with more Giants gear layered underneath.

Since we’re like brothers, and by kick-off quite whiskey-infused, he and I were going at it ALL day.  When the Bucs got off to a fast start and the Giants failed to move the ball in the first quarter, I heckled him, and Eli, mercilessly.  But as the Bucs’ hopes started to fade later in the game, the Giants fans in the stadium became progressively louder.

Now sure, we were being a touch rowdy (this was an NFL playoff game, wasn’t it?), but trust me, my friend is from New Jersey and I have seen him WAY more obnoxious…. which brings me to my point.

After the Giants won, Jason went down to the front rows to celebrate with other Giants fans.  The guy seated to his left, who sported a John #### jersey (no longer on the Bucs, mind you), looked at me and said in total seriousness “I can’t believe you!  You call yourself a Bucs fan?”

I looked at him in amazement, wondering what he was talking about.  I hadn’t even spoken a word to this guy all game.  He then asked how I could bring a Giants fan to a Buccaneers playoff game.  As if the Bucs' inadequate offense was a direct correlation to my friend's seat assignment.  Huh?  Did I miss something?  I asked him what he was talking about, telling him that J and I grew up together.

“Yeah, but your boy was obnoxious,” he went on, by that point, almost bowing up to me.  Now I was about a pint and a half of whiskey in and was hardly about to back down to this putz.  I told him to look around as there were at least 10,000 other obnoxious Giant fans around.  They’re Giants fans… that’s what they do. 

“Yeah, but you encouraged him.”  I told that bonehead that J’s my best friend and I was merely congratulating him on his victory.  I’ll be darned if I’m going to let some stranger mess with my family, or my character.

I mean, you’ve got to me kidding me.  We’re all avid sports fans but…. this is a game we’re talking about here, right?  Is there something wrong with congratulating a friend, an opponent, or someone you don’t even know who roots for the opposing team on a hard-fought victory??   Do you hear Gambit insulting Pete_Nice improperly?  Or Marty Walker and Bayoudog talking about each other’s families?

The guy continued on, but I kept my senses and wasn’t about to stoop to his level.  When I met my friend in the aisle later on, he couldn’t believe it, laughing and telling me “Are you kidding me??  That guy was from Jersey!!"

So there you have it, friends.  Another episode of how fan-hood can go horribly wrong.  Remember, Bucs fans, to the Geeeee-Men faithful, we’re still an expansion team.  And it showed on Sunday… on the field and in the stands.  While Giants fans proudly sported Harry Carson jerseys, the best we could come up with was Mike Alstott. 

Folks, let’s keep things in perspective here.  Players shake hands with one another post-game to celebrate competition and fair play.  Sport exists to remind us what truly matters… sportsmanship and courtesy, not resentment, anger or bitterness.

So the next time your team loses and you’re among strangers, try elevating YOUR game and recognize that you’re among fellow human beings with family and friends.  You might just turn your loss into a well-earned victory.

Everyone, bloggers and sports commentators alike, are so gung #### about the Philadelphia Eagles, no one is even giving the New York Football Giants a chance to win this game.  Blame it on injuries, or Coughlin, or Eli.... you name it, but many have written off the New York in favor of the "hotter" Eagles.  That's why I like the G-men in this one.

Not to take anything away from their late season accomplishments in the wake of losing McNabb to injury, but it is possible that the Eagles lose this football game.  On paper, I still feel the Giants are the better team.  And although we don't play the games on paper, the Giants might just have enough left in their tank to kick it into gear now that they're in the playoffs.

Remember, we're talking about a team that was a common preseason pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.