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AS EXPECTED, BARBER CLAIMS CREDIT FOR GIANTS WIN
Posted by Mike Florio on February 8, 2008, 7:35 a.m.
Posted by Mike Florio on February 8, 2008, 7:35 a.m.
We recently observed — half-jokingly — that former Giants running back Tiki Barber would find a way to claim credit for his old team’s victory in Super Bowl XLII.
And our sort-of joke ended up being sort of right.
Though the article reads like it’s the idea of William C. Rhoden of the New York Times and that Tiki is only partially agreeing, the gist of the item is obvious — his departure and ensuing criticism of men like coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning helped the team get to a level that it never was able to achieve with Tiki on the team.
Rhoden launches into his theory with this: “Retiring star players often set the foundation for future success.”
Huh? We’ve been following sports for a long time now, and we can’t think of many dynasties that were launched because a key player left. In fact, the only situation we can think of was Don Mattingly leaving the Yankees a year too early, but we can’t recall anyone suggesting that his departure actually helped the team get over the top.
Then Rhoden says this: “Barber laid the foundation for what happened this season, from taking on Coughlin, to challenging Manning to step up, to tutoring Brandon Jacobs.”
Said Barber, when asked about it by Rhoden: “[E]ven criticizing someone is a way of getting them to think about themselves.” As to whether his criticism of Eli Manning was helpful, Barber said, “In this case, it made him stand up and I guess become aware.”
We agree with Barber, but it’s important to remember that he didn’t do what he did to help the team win. Every action he took and word that he spoke was an act of selfishness, and the fact that it had a positive effect on the team was coincidental, and ironic.
What’s not ironic is Barber’s decision to turn the attention back to himself. That’s his normal approach, and he’s happy for the spotlight, even when being in it by all rights should be an embarrassment.
And our sort-of joke ended up being sort of right.
Though the article reads like it’s the idea of William C. Rhoden of the New York Times and that Tiki is only partially agreeing, the gist of the item is obvious — his departure and ensuing criticism of men like coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning helped the team get to a level that it never was able to achieve with Tiki on the team.
Rhoden launches into his theory with this: “Retiring star players often set the foundation for future success.”
Huh? We’ve been following sports for a long time now, and we can’t think of many dynasties that were launched because a key player left. In fact, the only situation we can think of was Don Mattingly leaving the Yankees a year too early, but we can’t recall anyone suggesting that his departure actually helped the team get over the top.
Then Rhoden says this: “Barber laid the foundation for what happened this season, from taking on Coughlin, to challenging Manning to step up, to tutoring Brandon Jacobs.”
Said Barber, when asked about it by Rhoden: “[E]ven criticizing someone is a way of getting them to think about themselves.” As to whether his criticism of Eli Manning was helpful, Barber said, “In this case, it made him stand up and I guess become aware.”
We agree with Barber, but it’s important to remember that he didn’t do what he did to help the team win. Every action he took and word that he spoke was an act of selfishness, and the fact that it had a positive effect on the team was coincidental, and ironic.
What’s not ironic is Barber’s decision to turn the attention back to himself. That’s his normal approach, and he’s happy for the spotlight, even when being in it by all rights should be an embarrassment.
.
