The curse of the Puking Giants Fan
We're a mere hours away from the most over-hyped sporting event of the year, so it's time for Stuck in the 80s offer a prediction: Giants 39, Patriots 35.
I'm officially invoking the Ghosts of the 1986 Giants to seize the day. Anyone remember Super Bowl XXI? The Denver Broncos came into the game looking as good as they ever were. John Elway was in his prime. And what happened? Giants QB Phil Simms completes 88 percent of his passes, and coach Bill Parcells gets the first-ever Gatorade bath. Ah, happy days.
Truth be told, I'm neither a Giants or Patriots fan. The only reason I remember that Super Bowl is that I met a group of girls at the viewing party who were bored and we organized a little "Marco Polo" party down in the heated pool during the game's second half.
A fun and highly inappropriate time was had by all until one overzealous Giants fan barfed in the pool, forcing one giant "Fish Outta Water" exodus.
It was like the candybar in the pool scene from "Caddyshack" -- only the alcohol-engorged contents of this disaster spread like a renegade oil spill.
And people wonder why I'm stuck in the 80s. Write it down, Pats fans. The Ghost of the Puking Giants Fan will haunt your team today. And probably some nearby pool as well.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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THIS WEEK'S SHOW: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers rock Tampa Bay. To hear the latest "Stuck in the 80s" episode now, 
I had to do a double take on that photo -- who knew Big Tuna was ever that young. Or happy.
While I don't remember Super Bowl XXI, I do remember vividly Super Bowl XXV (just past the rim of the '80s in '91) in which the Giants won a heartbreaker over the Bills. At the Big Sombrero.
I'm just hoping for a good, competitive game. And for TP & the HB to give us a smokin' halftime show. And for the Red Carpet thing to either not suck or to be so-bad-it's-good.
Posted by: jane | February 03, 2008 at 01:09 PM
twisting the knife eh Spears. And to think, the Broncos were actually ahead at half-time.
Posted by: denvermatt | February 03, 2008 at 05:06 PM
I feel you, Matt.
It was my first Super Bowl after I left Denver and went off on my own, and had only been in Hawaii for about a month. I remember feeling very, very alone when it was over.
As did, I imagine, the Puking Giants Fan.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 03, 2008 at 05:22 PM
are you from Denver?
Posted by: denvermatt | February 03, 2008 at 09:35 PM
All hail the Ghost of the Puking Giants Fan.
He came, he saw, he haunted. Giants win.
Posted by: jane | February 03, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Matt,
Columbine High School, Class of '81
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 03, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Ha, I went to Bear Creek (a bit later -'89)
Posted by: denvermatt | February 03, 2008 at 10:54 PM