NEW YORK GIANTS--CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD--LIFE LESSONS

Dear Readers:

I apologize if I come off like Horatio Alger.

But wasn't it just a short time ago, that the critics and pundits were saying last rites for Coach Coughlin, Perry Fewell, and Brandon Jacobs? And what about Jerry Reese, the alleged apathetic GM, who sat through the off-season, let his starting tight end and high-volume wide receiver slip away and do nothing to replace them?

Lesson: don't judge a book by its cover

All we can do in our difficult times, is dig in, block out the distractions, keep working, and have the faith. What a concept!

That's what Couglin's predecessor, Bill Parcells, did in 1983. Had two terminally ill parents, lost Doug Kotar to cancer, had to deal with the rumors  the GM was talking to Schnellenberger in Florida. In his book, Parcells posed the question, how does one deal with it? answer: you just do. He coached the team during the day, visited his parents in the hospital at night.. Al Davis told him, "just coach your god-damn team".

Worked out pretty well, dontcha think? The fact that Parcells was kept out the Hall of Fame, gives new meaning to the word "bias".

Back to Coach Coughlin. His public persona is always even. But his wife conceded that the last couple of years have been trying. No amount of $ will mitigate that. You work insane hours, obliterates quality time with your loved ones. Everyone's a Monday morning QB. We have 24/7 talk shows with those who think they can do it better.

Reminds me of a quote by the late George Burns: "it's a shame that all the people who think they can run the country are too busy cutting hair and driving hacks". Classic. Not meant to disparage barbers or livery drivers, just to hammer home the point that each of us has our own limited sphere of knowledge.

He'll never admit to it, but it hurts. Maybe not as much as someone very sensitive, but it does.

Look at Joe Frazier. One of the toughest men ever, willing and able to absorb punishment. Yet Ali's words  hurt like uppercuts, qnawned at him forever, took it to his grave.

What I admire most about the coach as well as Eli Manning is their humility. Nothing against braggadocios, but I prefer those who do their talking through their actions rather than self-promotion.

 Wouldn't it be great if the examples that the way both Manning and Coughlin go about their business, becomes the new paradigm?

Kudos to the Giants, Coach Coughlin and his magnificent staff. I hope that both Well Mara and Bob Tisch are looking down with Cheshire The Cat smiles on their faces.