Street Corner Talking ~ New York Giants Step Up

Loftus Tavern 1962

50 years ago in 1962 the New York Giants played the Green Bay Packers at Yankee Stadium for the NFL Championship. Five gents from Loftus Tavern took a Checker cab up to 161^st Street & River Avenue in the Bronx.  It was 9 degrees with 35 mile an hour winds.  My Dad was in a Connecticut motel with four other Yorkville guys watching the game on a black and white TV outside the 75 mile local game blackout.  I was in my Irish grandparents 1616 York Avenue railroad apartment in the front room throwing around a pair of my grandfather’s socks like a football listening to the game on the radio and the steam pouring out of the radiator. Through the front window I could see Loftus Tavern on the south east corner of 85^th Street. I would have killed to be at that game, and I was crushed when the Giants lost 16-7. At 8 years old my life revolved around the Giants, Yankees, Rangers and Knicks. I moped for the rest of that winter. 

Bailey's Corner 2012

Yesterday, I returned to Bailey’s Corner formerly Loftus Tavern to watch the playoff game where the five sets of New York Giants season tickets were kept under the cash register. That cash register is still there. Ghosts flew around the bar cheering the Jints on.

The Giants play yesterday was noteworthy, they are on a roll and now face the best team in football based on record and quarterback performance. I can’t wait.  

After the game, I met two of the tavern’s regulars, Orson & Chris, outside the bar.  Each fellow had something to say about the game and the Giants.

Loftus Crew 1962

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Orson (aka) Frazzle

Orson: “The Giants defense has given up 30 points in the last 3 games.  That’s Dallas, Jets & Falcons. Their D is not the same D that gave up 38 points to the Packers six weeks ago.  Their running game is up a caliber, too. I like the Jints chances.”

Chris (aka) Ashley

Chris: “I agree with Orson, which is a rare thing. This Giant team has performed at a higher and more consistent level for three games that you have to think they can play with the Packers next week. I’ll be right back here at Bailey’s cheering them on.”

Our next City Stories: Stoops to Nuts storytelling show at Cornelia Street Café is tomorrow, January 10^th @ 6pm. 

Please come down, I promise a good time.

Our New Year artists are: Lisa Burns, Nicole Ferraro, Julia Joseph, Thomas Pryor, Francesca Rizzo & Adam Wade.


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