Fans celebrate in Times Square after the New York Giants' victory over the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl football game February 3, 2008.
(REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Unbelievable" was the most common word on the lips of New York Giants fans on Monday after their team's stunning Super Bowl win over the previously perfect New England Patriots.
"Unreal! What a game. It was unbelievable," gushed 33-year-old Matt Mayer from the New York City borough of Queens who had attended the Super Bowl seven years ago when the Giants lost to the Baltimore Ravens.
"This so makes up for that one," he said.
The Giants pulled off one of the greatest upsets in the Super Bowl's 42-year history with their 17-14 last-minute victory over New England in American football's championship game in Glendale, Arizona, ending the Patriots' bid for the first undefeated title season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
In the Giants' unlikely run, they rumbled over three heavily favored division champions on the road for the chance to thwart New England's bid for a historic perfect season.
"These last three playoff games have been unbelievable," said Nancy Stanton, 41, of Stamford, Connecticut, who said she never missed a Giants game.
"This was totally historical, unbelievable," Stanton said. "I could just watch it over and over again. I'm just so happy."
Business was booming at the Modell's sporting goods store on 42nd Street near Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan on Monday morning as fans clamored for mementos of the Giants' first title since the 1991 Super Bowl.
"It's been extremely hectic. We're up about 3,000 percent from last year," store manager Shaun Reilly said.
The store opened at 5:30 a.m. and Giants Super Bowl championship caps sold out in about 45 minutes, he said.
Children's size championship T-shirts were also gone quickly. Disappointed customers were told new shipments were expected later in the afternoon.
One fan said this Super Bowl literally was one for the ages as his 82-year-old father -- a lifelong Giants fan -- called him after the victory to celebrate.
"He said, 'I taped the whole game. I'm leaving it to you in my will,"' the fan said beaming.
(Editing by Eric Beech)
© Copyright 2008 Reuters. Reuters content is the intellectual property of Reuters or its third-party content providers. Any copying, republication, or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.
