Giants 26, 49ers 3

Show class, have pride, and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself.
- Bear Bryant

Like a stray leaf blown aloft on an early autumn breeze, drifting and spinning before falling softly to rest, so too did a pair of tickets 10 rows back on the 25 yard line for the Giants / 49ers game come to land in my hands. And like so many good things in life, it started over a few beers.

Out for drinks at Kezar Friday night, my friend John announced that he'd just come from the dentist. The significance? A) He was told he had exceptional teeth. Big bragging rights in this crowd. But B) and more importantly, he said his dentist had 2 tix to sell for the 49ers. 10 rows back. 25 yard line. Against the Giants. My team! As I watched the wheels turn in my brother's head, visiting from Santa Barbara, who already had his own nosebleed seats, I lunged and said "I'll take them."

And so it was that I rolled into Candlestick Park on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon with friend and lifelong NY fan, Rodney, quietly wearing our Giant blue taking in a football game from possibly the best seats I've ever had. There were a few derisive comments lofted our way as we took our seats in what looked to be a pretty regular 49er crowd with only a smattering of blue. It was to be expected. My brother Morgan had his wife wearing a red NY Giants shirt to better blend in while still representing.

Rodney and me at Candlestick

The Niners scored first and someone yelled towards us that it was time to go home. Rodney and I settled in to prepare for a long afternoon of Giant frustration and some heckling. But the Niners never scored again? As NY found a groove and kept SF out of the end zone, we stared at each other wide-eyed and smiling, keeping our high-fives on the down low and our fist bumps by our sides, grabbing each other like school girls spotting a cute boy at the  mall - oh my god! can you even believe?! don't look, don't look! ok look now, LOOK! Even as the mood around us dampened further, we stayed humble and quiet, almost in disbelief at catching such a dominant performance on such a sweet day. It was far more than we'd expected with the Giants' almost schizophrenic performance this season against a Niner team that had been dominating the NFL.

The sweetest view. Giants driving.

Of course, by the time the game ended there were more blue jerseys in the stands than anything. Niner fans had gone home and the stadium was nearly 80% empty. That's when we heard the "Let's go, Giants!" chant ripple through the crowds as Big Blue fans united to celebrate aloud the victory. That's when we high-fived up top and snapped a pic.

Go Blue!