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Barber & Shockey Got To Visit Mara
Topic Started: Oct 26 2005, 05:31 PM (72 Views)
Gene
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Down & Out
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Barber, Shockey got to bid Mara farewell
Giant Pro Bowlers traveled to owner's home on Monday to say goodbye



Wednesday, October 26, 2005
By MIKE GARAFOLO
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER

EAST RUTHERFORD -- Monday should have been a day for Giants running back Tiki Barber to relax and enjoy the previous day's comeback win over the Broncos.

Instead, it was a day for him to make a personal pilgrimage to say goodbye to a legend.

Barber and tight end Jeremy Shockey traveled to the Rye, N.Y., home of Giants co-owner Wellington Mara, whom they knew they would be visiting for the last time. Both offered a quick prayer and a fond farewell to "The Duke."

"It was a great trip for me, being someone who understands the great history of this league and where it's come from," an emotional Barber said in the bowels of Giants Stadium yesterday. "The things that we're afforded today, you know he was a big part of that. Having such a special relationship with the Mara family is something I'll always cherish."

Eli Manning threw the game-winning TD pass in Sunday's victory over the Broncos. After the game, Manning was told by one of Mara's grandsons the owner had awoken right before the pass. Mara watched the play, smiled and then went back to sleep.

For Manning, just knowing he had made Mara's final football memory a happy one was his bit of sunshine on a fittingly rainy day.

"It makes me feel good a little bit that the last game he saw was a win, especially the way we did it," he said. "If he just smiled or had a little joy at that time, that makes me feel better.

"It's a sad day with everything that Mr. Mara has done for the Giants and the league. He'll definitely be missed," Manning said. "But I think it's also a day to celebrate a wonderful life. He was a true example as a person, as a team leader and as a family man. He lived a great life."

Giants players have always had an appreciation for their pioneering owner.

At the team's minicamp in June, on Mara's first day back to work after surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck and torso, the Giants broke the team huddle after practice with a chant of, "One, two, three, Duke."

While most of the players scattered and headed off the field, Shockey trotted directly to Mara, who was seated on the sideline in his Royal Rover golf cart. Shockey leaned in, shook the owner's hand and asked him how he was feeling.

Shockey was fond of Mara. The player labeled by many as irreverent for his off-field comments and actions early in his career has actually showed much respect for Mara and his role in NFL history.

"I know that I've had some good discussions with him," Shockey said on Sunday. "And I'm happy that I talked him for an extended period of time about some things."

Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi had even more discussions with Mara over the years. Yesterday was an emotional day for him as well.

"First of all, my heart is breaking for this wonderful family," Accorsi said in a statement. "Second, Wellington Mara was a second father to me and to everyone in this organization. I knew him for 33 years and worked for him for 12. I never came to work without looking to him for guidance, for wisdom and, especially, for inspiration.

"I tried to savor every moment that I ever spent with him and never for a second took that privilege for granted. It was an honor just to be in his organization."

"I'm sure he's smiling somewhere knowing we showed a great dose of Giant character in what was his last game," Barber said. "That makes us feel good more than anything, but I'm sure he got some joy out of it as well."

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BlueHeart
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Well, ya did it. You found the article to get me crying.
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G1..
G1
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BlueHeart
Oct 26 2005, 08:18 PM
Well, ya did it. You found the article to get me crying.

me too , Wellington Mara = :ny:
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Gene
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Down & Out
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:hug:
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KCGirl
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Shaper of Young Minds (aaahhhhhh!)
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A lot of them have brought a tear, but when I read this one last night I cried. A lot.

Anyone wanna take a "field trip" Friday? I can take the day off......
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KCGirl
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“He really touched my life for the past four years. It was a great experience for me as player, and more importantly as a person, to get to know (him) and really talk to him and be friends with him. We never really talked about business. It was always stories and always trying to help a person be better in living their life day-to-day." --Jeremy Shockey
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Halfmoon
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Crazy, but in a good way. Honest!
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*salutes giants flag in room* Goodbye Wellington Mara, you will be missed. :ny: :bh:
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