Feb 4, 2008 4:28 pm US/Eastern
President Bush Congratulates Giants' Top Brass
WASHINGTON (AP) ―
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President Bush, who stayed up past his normal bedtime to watch the end of a stirring Super Bowl, called members of the New York Giants organization on Monday to offer his congratulations. (File photo)
AP
President Bush, who stayed up past his normal bedtime to watch the end of a stirring Super Bowl, called members of the New York Giants organization on Monday to offer his congratulations.
But not all of them answered right away.
Giants co-owner John Mara, who received the call around 7:30 a.m. in Arizona, said at first he didn't answer because he didn't recognize the incoming number.
"My cell phone keeps ringing, and there were a lot of numbers I didn't recognize so I didn't answer. There was one that kept saying 'unknown,"' Mara said. "Then it stopped and my wife's phone started ringing, and she couldn't find it. Then mine rang again and I finally answered it and a voice came on and said: 'Could you hold for the president?"'
Besides Mara, Bush chatted with Steve Tisch, the other co-owner, coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning in separate, brief phone calls.
"He was great. He said: 'Congratulations. I'm proud of you guys, and we're going to have you down to the White House. It was a great game,"' Mara said.
The Giants defeated the New England Patriots, 17-14, in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in pro football history. The Patriots were bidding for a perfect 19-0 season and came into the game as double-digit favorites. The Giants scored the winning touchdown with less than one minute to play.
Those last exciting moments kept Bush, a sports fan, tuned in until the end. The game finished just after 10 p.m., which is later than Bush normally stays up.
It took a while for the president to connect with them all, but he wanted to be sure to "congratulate them on their historic victory," White House press secretary Dana Perino said.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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