*As part of WFAN's 30th anniversary, the station asked listeners to vote on the best moments, teams, and figures in their history: *
WFAN, the flagship radio home of the Giants for over two decades, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. As part of the celebration, the station has released a series of Top 10 lists to honor the best teams, figures, and moments in their 30 year history, as voted on by WFAN listeners.
The two most recent Giants' Super Bowl wins occupied three spots on WFAN's "Best Sports Moments" list, with Super Bowl XLVI ranking eighth, David Tyree's helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII coming in at second on the list, and the team's win itself in Super Bowl XLII topping the list.
"Eli Manning found himself under intense pressure — the pocket was closing on him, Jarvis Green even had a fistful of his jersey. But Manning somehow escaped the crowd, backed up and then heaved up a pass toward the middle of the field. As the ball descended, the Giants' David Tyree and the Patriots' Rodney Harrison went up for it at the same time. Tyree, with his arms extended, grabbed the ball, but with Harrison tugging on his right arm, the wideout fought desperately to hold on by pressing the ball against his helmet as he fell to the turf.
"No one watching could believe he didn't drop it. Not only did the catch keep the drive alive, it helped set up the game-winning score four plays later — a 13-yard pass from Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress. But that would not have been possible if it weren't for Tyree."
All three Giants Super Bowl championship teams from WFAN's lifetime were named by fans as a "Favorite Team" of the last 30 years. The aforementioned 2007 team that toppled the undefeated Patriots won the fan voting. The 2011 and 1990 title teams also made the list. The Giants won their first of four Super Bowls six months before WFAN came on the air.
On the 1990 Super Bowl team. WFAN wrote, "Despite having a middle-of-the-road offense, the Giants stormed out to a 10-0 start and finished 13-3. Their strength undoubtedly was their defense, led by Pro Bowl linebacker Lawrence Taylor (10½ sacks). The Giants allowed just 13.2 points per game in 1990, fewest in the NFL. Big Blue's D was particularly tough in the playoffs, yielding just three points to the Bears and 13 points to the two-time defending champion 49ers. And in Super Bowl XXV, Jim Kelly and the high-octane Bills, who led the NFL in scoring that season, were held to 19 points."
Finally, three prominent Giants legends were named among the "Best Sports Figures" of the last 30 years. Featured on the list were Lawrence Taylor at Number three, Eli Manning at five, and Coach Bill Parcells at 10.
"The Giants made the playoffs in Taylor's rookie season, with the menacing linebacker winning both Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
"Parcells was elevated to head coach in 1983, and by that time Taylor had established himself as by far the best linebacker in the NFL, striking fear into the hearts of opponents as an incredible pass rusher with the athleticism to stop the run and be a force in pass coverage."
