Well, back in September, I discussed my Giants and predicted a 9-7 regular season. Was only off by one (the regular season was 10-6), but I never would have expected a Super Bowl win, nor against a team going for a perfect season. What a rush! Just a fantastic game with a nail-biter ending.
Peyton showed us last night he has no ill effects of "Super Bowl hangover"... man, what a blowout.
To the left is NBC commentator John Madden's current ride, his customized MCI E4500 LX conversion coach. This is his fifth coach after using Amtrak for many years to get between games. His main driver, Willie Yarborough, has been with him since 1987. Yarborough was a Greyhound driver who was one of two winners to drive Madden when Greyhound made the initial deal to transport Madden in a converted coach (a 1987 MCI 102A3 converted coach painted in regular Greyhound livery). Madden became so comfortable with Yarborough, he hired him outright, and he's been the main driver ever since.
Madden's home away from home is outfitted with 4 plasma high-def televisions, a granite-trimmed kitchen (floor tiles and countertops), two bathrooms (including a steam shower in the master suite), and a queen-size bed for Madden. It weighs in at 45,000 pounds and gets approximately 5-6 mpg of diesel. It was delivered last summer, and cost approximately $800,000.
Conversion coaches have been the entertainment industry's vehicle of choice for decades. They have ranged from used school buses and retired city buses to multi-million dollar custom units made from shells by MCI and their main North American competitor, Prevost Car.
As for football... I'm a Giants fan. Seen them in person at every home stadium they've had since the old Yankee Stadium. Thanks to my dad working at the Meadowlands Sports Complex for almost 25 years, I got a few "perks" over the years at Giants Stadium, and I was even standing in the tunnel for one of the Giants' worst losses in the 80s,... the famous Flipper Anderson play in the 1989 playoffs against the Rams. He ran right past me as he entered the tunnel, screaming like a banshee, and it was all I could do not to trip him. I also remember the look on Lawrence Taylor's face as he walked off the field... it was an expression that said "Don't give me a reason to slam you through a concrete wall."
Prediction: Giants will go 9-7.
