The Giants win is bigger than football

By L.A. Batchelor
sports.yourblackworld.com
labatchelor@blackathlete.com

NC-Perfect season? The greatest season ever? The greatest team ever? I have the answer to those questions..........The New York Giants!

The Patriots crowning as Champions of The 42nd Super Bowl was derailed by the "G-MEN" who never received the memo they were inferior to The Patriots and they had no chance to win the game according to the odds makers, fans, media and experts. In fact, The Giants were so much of an underdog going into the big game, they should have stayed in New York and watch The Patriots crowning on television.
But as someone said before, "that's why you play the game!"

But when you examine The Giants win over The Patriots, it goes much deeper than The Giants beating The Patriots on the field. It was good beating evil, and a win for all that believe in fair play and winning the honest way. It was also a win for all of us who know how racist the state of Mass truly is.

Growing up in the North East, I was painfully aware of the prejudice that existed in the region but it was no more apparent and blatant than the Mass. The racial profiling, the double standard in arrest, job and house discrimination and other injustices took place from Springfield to Boston to New Bedford to Foxboro, RACISM was wide spread through the state where many of sports greatest teams reside.
You look at the Boston Celtics and their storied franchise. Sixteen (16)World Championships, Legendary players and a historic arena that tell the story of a team with many Championship stories to tell. But with every great story, there are some that are not so pleasant. Bill Russell is on the record many times talking about the fact that he was good enough to play in Boston for the Celtics, but wasn't welcome to live in Boston. That it was acceptable to lead the team to Championships but not acceptable to stay in hotels there in Boston. It was great to see him drink champagne after another Celtic Championship, but not a good thing to drink from a WHITES ONLY water fountain.

Many other athletes from the past who played for and against Mass sports teams tell similar horror stories of the "Massachusetts Militia" who spread fear and hate throughout the tiny New England State. As far back as Russell to modern day players like Jim Rice, Robert Parish,Stanley Morgan to Mo Vaughn. All have endured racial slurs and racial intimidation over there years as athletes in the state.

Even as the state has there first African American Governor, still makes no difference in the overall political climate as both Senator John Kerry and Ted Kennedy along with Governor Patrick found out when supporting the first legitimate African American candidate for President Senator Barack Obama still wasn't enough to win the state over the first legitimate female candidate Senator Hillary Clinton(A white woman). No, the state has become a little tolerant but not enough.

I know some of you may say, racism existed everywhere in the days of the 50's, 60's and beyond and my answer is only to tell you of my personal experiences in traveling through the state as a child with family and as an adult. I also would add that a lot of the hate came at a time when the south held that distinction while the north was seem as an area of diversity and the belief in equality.

So The Giants won Superbowl 42. 17-14 was the score in the game which made them number one in the eyes of there fans and the football world, but also made them number one with thousands of African Americans and other minorities who suffered the racism, hate and evil from the state of Massachusetts.