During a miserable first half Sunday which saw the New York Giants fall behind Jacksonville, 17-6, fans at New Meadowlands Stadium booed lustily. Giants' safety Antrel Rolle took on the boo-birds Tuesday.
↵↵↵"The booing, honestly, it (ticked) me off. It really did. It (ticked) me off. That's something that I haven't heard since I've been here. ...
↵"You don't boo your team," Rolle said. "This is your home team. We're out there playing. We're out there pouring our heart out for our team and for our fans. You don't boo your team. I don't care what the situation is. You don't boo your team. You know, we're 7-4. We're not 2-10, you know? We're 7-4. There's going to be ups and downs during the season. (Not) under any circumstances should you boo your team. That's just the reality of it. ...
↵"I want our fans to hang in there with us," Rolle said. "We know we don't give the best of the best show all the time, but we are Giants at the end of the day. We are all as one - - players, coaches, fans, organization. We are one. Because when we go to the big show - - as we are going to go this year - - and we win that thing and bring it home, we are all going to celebrate as one."
↵
You're not in Arizona anymore there, Antrel. Welcome to the big city. I have heard Derek Jeter get booed. I have heard Mariano Rivera get booed. Eli Manning is a Super Bowl MVP and he gets booed. Tiki Barber got booed at the Ring of Honor ceremony.
↵When you stink, which the Giants did in the first half Sunday, you get booed. Especially when it looks like you are on your way to a third straight loss, one that likely would have killed your playoff hopes.
↵When you win, New York is a great place. When you lose, it's not fun. I get Rolle's point that things are not always going to be perfect. I get the fact that no athlete wants to be booed. But, players love the adulation and the riches that go with being well-paid, well-known professional athletes in the greatest city in the world. You don't get a free pass when you are stinking it up.
↵Learn to take the good with the bad and don't be so thin-skinned, Antrel. I doubt Sunday's serenade will be the last time you hear boos from your hometown crowd.
Loading comments...