Big Blue Huddle

https://x.com/adamschefter/status/1828932147467444409?s=46&t=1vcQIN8GqF5J2oLdxEVEJQ

https://x.com/tomrock_newsday/status/1828932766315979114?s=46&t=1vcQIN8GqF5J2oLdxEVEJQ

This is a BIG deal--Flaherty was one of my first Giant "heroes" when I first started rooting for them

Congrats to Nabers and the Flaherty family

Dumpster Dan

They should have left it retired, IMHO.

Quote from: T200 on August 28, 2024, 07:31:25 PMThey should have left it retired, IMHO.

Agree

Dumpster Dan  But its still a big deal

Quote from: Dumpster Dan on August 28, 2024, 07:36:54 PMAgree

Dumpster Dan  But its still a big deal

It's most definitely a huge deal. Flaherty earned the privilege to have his number retired.

Nabers hasn't done diddly yet for them to undo an honor like that.

https://nypost.com/2024/08/28/sports/meet-giants-legend-ray-flaherty-whose-no-1-malik-nabers-will-wear/

This is history in the making and I absolutely LOVE this decision made by the Mara and Tisch families and, most especially, the family of Ray Flaherty, to allow this to happen.

For the very first time, all of us will have an opportunity to see the Giants' #1 jersey in action for the first time in almost 90 years!!!

Yes, Ward Cuff's #14 was "unretired" for Y.A. Tittle from 1961-1964 and then "re-retired."

Frank Gifford's #16 was on track to be retired until Norm Snead came to the Giants from 1972-74, and then again in 1976. Frank went into the Hall of Fame in 1977 and had #16 retired at that time.

Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans' #4 jersey was retired in 1978 to accompany his selection into the Hall of Fame. For whatever reason, it didn't stop the Giants from issuing #4 to punter Joe Prokop during the 1985 pre-season when he debuted on ABC for the Giants against the Houston Oilers in, you guessed it, the Hall of Fame game!

For the record, I have always believed that, once the Giants' Ring of Honor was officially established, the concept of retiring jersey numbers should have become obsolete and that other great players, from future generations, should be able to add to the legacy of a jersey number. But what took place today is something I must admit I didn't think of and have to admit I like even more than my original idea. Let Nabers wear #1 with an obligation to perform on behalf of the #1 and what that truly means, and then re-retire it for the Flaherty family. Perhaps Nabers may join them if he truly holds up his end of the deal.

This historic day was a brilliant demonstration of the New York Football Giants demonstrating their past coming full circle with the present in their 100th anniversary in the National Football League. As one who closely embraces the long and storied history of this football organization, it truly gives me goose pimples!

Peace!

Quote from: kartanoman on August 28, 2024, 08:21:06 PMThis is history in the making and I absolutely LOVE this decision made by the Mara and Tisch families and, most especially, the family of Ray Flaherty, to allow this to happen.

For the very first time, all of us will have an opportunity to see the Giants' #1 jersey in action for the first time in almost 90 years!!!

Yes, Ward Cuff's #14 was "unretired" for Y.A. Tittle from 1961-1964 and then "re-retired."

Frank Gifford's #16 was on track to be retired until Norm Snead came to the Giants from 1972-74, and then again in 1976. Frank went into the Hall of Fame in 1977 and had #16 retired at that time.

Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans' #4 jersey was retired in 1978 to accompany his selection into the Hall of Fame. For whatever reason, it didn't stop the Giants from issuing #4 to punter Joe Prokop during the 1985 pre-season when he debuted on ABC for the Giants against the Houston Oilers in, you guessed it, the Hall of Fame game!

For the record, I have always believed that, once the Giants' Ring of Honor was officially established, the concept of retiring jersey numbers should have become obsolete and that other great players, from future generations, should be able to add to the legacy of a jersey number. But what took place today is something I must admit I didn't think of and have to admit I like even more than my original idea. Let Nabers wear #1 with an obligation to perform on behalf of the #1 and what that truly means, and then re-retire it for the Flaherty family. Perhaps Nabers may join them if he truly holds up his end of the deal.

This historic day was a brilliant demonstration of the New York Football Giants demonstrating their past coming full circle with the present in their 100th anniversary in the National Football League. As one who closely embraces the long and storied history of this football organization, it truly gives me goose pimples!

Peace!

Amen x 1000

Would love to see # 14 again in action. What a blast for us older fans who cut our teeth and bought in to being the hardcore Giants fans that we are.

 A side benefit is hopefully some of these new players would actually learn of the history of the organization that employs and pays them so handsomely.  And dare I say, might even give them a bit of inspiration.

Quote from: T200 on August 28, 2024, 07:42:09 PMIt's most definitely a huge deal. Flaherty earned the privilege to have his number retired.

Nabers hasn't done diddly yet for them to undo an honor like that.

Does an honor that old even mean anything to anyone anymore?  Would a grandchild or great grandchild even care?

Quote from: Philosophers on August 29, 2024, 10:23:55 AMDoes an honor that old even mean anything to anyone anymore?  Would a grandchild or great grandchild even care?

I can't determine that for someone else. I mean, it's along the lines of Purple Heart or Medal of Honor recipients. Because some are long gone and not many people outside of their families are going to remember them, do the medals get taken back and recycled?

Yes, I know my analogy may be a little extreme because we're comparing sports and war. My main point is that, to me, unretiring Flaherty's jersey is akin to rescinding an honor.

Quote from: T200 on August 28, 2024, 07:42:09 PMIt's most definitely a huge deal. Flaherty earned the privilege to have his number retired.

Nabers hasn't done diddly yet for them to undo an honor like that.

Tim,

Consider this-  Had Nabers not sought out and received permission to wear number one, would anyone yesterday or today be speaking about Ray Flaherty?  By bringing the number out of retirement, you are also breathing new life into the memory of a man and his accomplishments, which frankly were more or less forgotten.

To my prior point

Raymond Paul Flaherty (September 1, 1903 – July 19, 1994) was an American football player and coach who spent 18 total seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as both a player and a coach. He played college football for the Gonzaga Bulldogs and played for three NFL teams, most notably the New York Giants. After Flaherty's playing career ended, his jersey number 1 was retired by the New York Giants in 1935, making it the first jersey number to be retired in NFL history. He was a member of three NFL championship teams, one as a player and two as a head coach. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1976.


Read the rest of his story here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Flaherty

Quote from: MightyGiants on August 29, 2024, 10:30:53 AMTim,

Consider this-  Had Nabers not sought out and received permission to wear number one, would anyone yesterday or today be speaking about Ray Flaherty?  By bringing the number out of retirement, you are also breathing new life into the memory of a man and his accomplishments, which frankly were more or less forgotten.

No, and #1 would still be retired and out of rotation. The honor is still intact.

This is the 100-year anniversary of the organization. The Giants could *revive* the accomplishments of folks like Flaherty.

And, I don't look at Nabers any differently, however, TO ME, there's a tinge of "It's about me and not about the organization." Personally, if I had worn #1 all throughout my sports career and was drafted #1 by the Giants and this was the situation, I'd pick another number. Flaherty did so much for the Giants in his career that they decided to bestow an honor upon him saying that no other player will use that number, as a rookie who hasn't done squat in the league, there's no way I'm asking to bring that jersey out of retirement so that I could wear it.

I appreciate other points of view but mine ain't changing.

By way of compensation they should put Flaherty into the Ring of Honor.  Personally I would favor putting every player with a retired number into the Ring, who are not already in, and unretire all the retired numbers.