By Matt Draper and Serena Solomon
MANHATTAN — Giants fans across New York City are thrilled about the team’s improbable run through the playoffs and are buzzing about Sunday’s NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.
But does their enthusiasm match their knowledge of the team?
We took to the streets to quiz fans about all things Giants, such as if they could identify former Giants linebacker Lawrence “L.T.” Taylor in a photo.
“L.J.? L.D.?“ guessed Sarah Soffer from Greenwich Village.
Soffer, who did correctly identify Eli Manning as the team’s 2008 Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, added that she had connection to the quarterback.
“We lived in New Orleans for a while close to the Manning family,” Soffer said. “I have very good feelings about Eli.”
While most of the easy quiz questions — such as which Giants’ receiver performs a post-touchdown “salsa” dance (answer: Victor Cruz) — were no-brainers for many participants, questions about former players and coaches stumped nearly everyone.
“Philip Rivers?” asked Chris Hunter in response to being asked which player the Giants selected with their first pick in the 2002 NFL draft. “2002, right? It’s not Manning?” The correct answer was Jeremy Shockey.
However, one expert fan put on a quiz clinic.
Frank from downtown Manhattan, who declined to give his last name, answered eight out of eight correctly, including identifying where the Giants played their home games in 1949: The Polo Grounds.
Frank also had an answer to our extra question: Will the Giants win the Super Bowl?
“It’s going to be tough,” said Frank. “But yeah, they are.”
