Giants
- Saints
1999 Game 7 - 1PM
ET
Obscene
Gestures
It
was the big news item last week in New Orleans.
"A remorseful Mike Ditka said he was 'dead wrong' for
a pair of obscene gestures he made to Saints fans Sunday,
and he would make a public apology. Ditka was fined $20,000
by the team Monday."
Here's another.
"As the team was leaving the field at halftime, Ditka
turned to a jeering crowd and made a finger gesture. At the
end of the game, Ditka turned to the fans and grabbed his
crotch before exiting the field."
From my standpoint, the
only obscene gesture I want the New Orleans fans to see from
their perspective this week, is the sight of Tiki Barber streaking
down the field toward the goal posts with a football in his
hands.
The
fans speak.
One
Saints fan dropped into a Giants message board I've been known
to frequent, Giant
Insider, and commented,
" I was at the game when Ditka grabbed himself and also
flipped us off. Frankly, I thought it was hilarious (or I
would have if it weren't for the fact that we had just blown
our 4th straight 4th quarter lead). Which brings me to this
- Ditka was brought in to sell tickets - winning games is
always nice, but hey, its the NFL. Be thankful you have a
coach that is remotely in touch with modern football."
That guy had a point
as well as a sense of humor. The Saints have been outscored
51-8 in the fourth quarter this season.
Anyway, I replied, "Ditka is a good aside to the game.
Remember how much fun Billy Martin was around this town? BTW
- What's wrong with giving some back to the fans? Sometimes
they deserve it!
It could make a great half-time show. The coach stays on the
field and he and fans make gestures for a full ten minutes.
Everybody gets it out of their systems."
I was joking of course,
and some Giants fans wouldn't agree with that Saints fan last
comment, "Be thankful you have a coach that is remotely
in touch with modern football.'
Jim Fassel won a football game last week, but got no respect
for it because the offense was weak. Fans and reporters ignore
the fact that he's had no real running game to work with from
day one.
The RB situation on this team has been riddled with injuries
from before the season even started with Gary Brown's accident.
Joe Montgomery, LeShon Johnson, Sean Bennett, Gary Brown again,
all injured, and even FB Charles Way isn't totally healthy.
The Giants now have 3
wins without a running game, including the 13-10 one Jim Fassel
pulled out of the hat against a tough Dallas defense.
How did other teams do against the Cowboys defense before
that? Except for the wacky Redskins opener, they scored 7
(Atlanta), 7 (Arizona), and 13 (Philadelphia) points.
Even more
obscene.
Fans shouldn't get down on Ditka for very long on this. At
least he had enough interest in the fans and the game to do
what he did.
I'll tell you what's even more obscene.
This news article about Game 6 of the Mets - Atlanta game.
"With the entire
season on the line in one of the most exciting games in playoff
history, Henderson and Bonilla, who were both out of the game
by the eighth inning, were involved in their own game instead
of being in the dugout with everyone else rooting for the
team to win....
To be playing cards at that moment came across to teammates
as completely uncaring. Both Bonilla and Henderson, who have
had public run-ins with Bobby Valentine, are signed on for
next year.
Bonilla is due to earn $5.9 million. Henderson had his option
vested for 2000 by reaching 500 plate appearances and will
earn $2 million."
Now that's really obscene
and an insult to every paying fan and to their fellow players.
Even if you're not big on baseball, that was really one exciting
tension filled playoff game. Diehard fans payed through the
nose for bleacher seats, and these two guys didn't think it
was even worth a look from the dugout.
Saint fans, what Ditka did was nothing.
NOTES
Saints
Rank 16th overall in total offense at 329.4 yards
a game and 11th in passing at 227.2.
Pass defense (171.2) ranks 2nd & total defense (282.0) is
4th in NFC.
Held the Tennessee Titans scoreless in the first half last
week.
Had at least
3 sacks in five consecutive games, had only 1 last week.
Have lost last 4 games - losses have come by a total of 17
points.
Gained 409 yards last
week, but had 4 turnovers, and 13 penalties for 103 yards,
and lost to the Titans 24-21.
QB Tolliver was not sacked
last week against Tennessee.
RB RICKY WILLIAMS ranks
first in NFC among rookies with 292 rushing yards, and ranks
11th among all NFC rushers.
WR KEITH POOLE leads
league with 23.2 average (12 catches for 278 yards, 2 TDs).
Giants
Rush defense (74.5) ranks third in NFC.
Held
Emmitt Smith to just 26 yards on 22 carries last week.
Held Cardinals to only 31 rushing yards the week before.
Have not scored a touchdown in 11 quarters .
DE MICHAEL STRAHAN
has 5.0 sacks in last 3 games.
WR AMANI TOOMER
leads NFC with career high 34 catches & has career high 411
receiving yards.
QB KENT GRAHAM
completed season-high 71.4 percent of passes (15 of 21) vs.
Cowboys last week.
QB KENT GRAHAM
was sacked 5 times last week by the Cowboys.
RB-PR TIKI BARBER
had 231 combined yards against Cowboys, including 85-yard
punt-return TD, second-longest in Giants history.
He also set up game-winning FG with 56-yard reception.
Next
week
The Giants play the Eagles in Philadelphia on Sunday, Oct
31 at 1 PM.
The Saints play Cleveland at home on Sunday, Oct 31 at 1 PM.
Click
on the Team Giants logo to be informed of all Giants game
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Previous
Stories
1999
NFC EAST - Week 6
|
Team |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
PF |
PA |
Home |
Away |
AFC |
NFC |
DIV |
Streak |
Washington |
4 |
1 |
0 |
.800 |
174 |
128 |
1-1 |
3-0 |
1-0 |
3-1 |
2-1 |
W4 |
Dallas |
3 |
2 |
0 |
.600 |
120 |
75 |
2-0 |
1-2 |
0-0 |
3-2 |
2-2 |
L2 |
NY Giants |
3 |
3 |
0 |
.500 |
84 |
118 |
2-1 |
1-2 |
0-1 |
3-2 |
2-2 |
W1 |
Arizona |
2 |
4 |
0 |
.333 |
82 |
129 |
1-2 |
1-2 |
0-1 |
2-3 |
2-2 |
L1 |
Philadelphia |
2 |
4 |
0 |
.333 |
77 |
112 |
1-2 |
1-2 |
0-1 |
2-3 |
1-2 |
W2 |
|