I like to tell the story of one my earliest Giant memories. It was the last Sunday of the season, the Giants were playing the LA Rams, they were 9-4 and a win meant the Giants were in the playoffs. They lost. That was 1970, and it took 11 more years until they got to the playoffs. During that time, being a Giants fan meant a whole lotta misery. How you got through it was basically an exercise in self-deception. You focused on the defense, and that meant watching guys like Mendenhall and Van Pelt. Van Pelt made the Pro Bowl 5 times, so that was the way you wore your colors. At least we had a guy who could make a difference.
Bluenatic tells the story of how Van Pelt was the oasis in the 1970’s desert. And like others who wandered there too long, his star faded just as the championship arrived.
Russ stated in yesterday’s comments that the Giants would be fortunate enough if they could get a LBer this year who could play like #10. Amen to that.
Long live Brad Van Pelt in our fondest of Giant Big Blue memories.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
