Everybody has their favorite sentiments when the holiday season rolls around. The anticipation begins once those first lights go up on Thanksgiving weekend. They play all those mind numbing Christmas tunes for 6 consecutive weeks because someone must enjoy them. Even Lexus' 'December to Remember' ads bring back a smile to some 21 year old from Connecticut, probably kindling a memory of a past over-spent gift from their rich,loving parents. Lets also not forget all those wonderful opportunities that we get to purchase expensive jewelry as the weather gets colder.
Keep all of your expensive gifts because money will never be about happiness. To me life is all about enjoying the little things. Alas, that's easier said when you are collecting your paychecks from the government. Sure family is a huge part of the holiday season. Its probably the most important thing. Holiday season is all about spending some time with your family, but that doesn't always get you excited for Hanukkah.
Times Square packed with people. Penn Station buzzing with excitement. You could go outside when its 34 and windy, yet walk for hours and never think about your frozen chin. There is no plan or purpose for your journey, just a stroll through America's play-land as you soak up the energy from the streets. Quick turns off the street and into stores would always be spontaneous and never planned. Maybe you see something in the window that catches your eye, but hits your wallet with a NYC price-tag. A stop at FAO Schwartz to see all of the latest toys and gadgets is expected.
The grand finale of my journey would always come at Rockefeller Center. For whatever reason, there is something about this humongous tree covered in colored lights looming over a small skating rink that got me excited for the holidays. It was probably its size. When you are a Jewish kid from New Jersey you don't see 80 foot trees Christmas trees every day. When you looked at the faces of everyone around the tree, all you would see were smiles. To me, this tree embodied everything that the holiday season in NYC was all about. High-reaching, lanky, lofty, rangy, sizable, sky-high, sky-scraping, soaring, statuesque, towering are all ways to describe both the tree and NYC architecture. Just so happens that the Jets employ a certain wide receiver with those very same attributes.
Tomorrows game has enough story-lines to fill the back pages of the tabloids for weeks, let alone the few days in this short week. Rex Ryan has spent the week talking about owning the town while belittling the Giants past two seasons. Victor Cruz had the courage to fire a few words at Darelle Revis with the comfort of knowing he will be covered mostly by Wilson and Cromartie. Both teams desperately need a win to keep their season alive. Did we mention that these two share a stadium the same way two brothers would share a bedroom?
Not a shock that amongst all of those juicy story-lines, another would dare we say tower above the rest. Plaxico Burress. Super Bowl hero gets a chance to show his former why his current employer spent smart money by guaranteeing his $3 million contract back in August. Everyone knew back in August that Plax could probably still play football, but the Giants questioned what remained in that tank. Would Plax be able to create separation with his legs spending over a year in prison? would Plax be able to stay healthy to get through the long NFL season? The Giants did the right thing and brought Plax in to feign interest and appease their fans. However those questions remained and the Giants only offered a standard non-guaranteed contract.
The Jets went with Rex Ryan's gut, guaranteed Plaxico his $3 million and still have their Super Bowl dreams riding on his sky-scraping frame. Just a few weeks ago as the Jets trailed the Bills with their playoff hopes fading it was a one-handed grab by their high-reaching WR that bailed out Mark Sanchez on 3rd and 11. That was only five weeks after he caught 3 TD's in a come from behind must win against the Chargers. In fact Burress has hauled in eight TD"s so far in 2011. Should be nine if you include his non-TD in Buffalo week 9 where he dragged three defenders over the goal-line only to be wrongly ruled down at the 1.
A quick look at Plax's stat sheet will show you only 38 catches so far this year. They won't show you their importance on a team where each reception to a wide receiver is cherished. They won't show you the double teams he draws, and not just in the red zone where he remains one of the leagues greatest weapons. They won't show you his ability to fight for a poorly thrown ball by an erratic, young QB. They might tell you he is 6'5, but won't show you his physical presence imposing its will over an undersized corner. And they sure as hell don't show you how well Rex Ryan (and myself) sleep tonight knowing that this statuesque monster will be lining up in green, not blue tomorrow afternoon at Metlife Stadium.
Santonio Holmes might provide the Jets a little sizzle, but when the Jets need a big catch tomorrow look for Plaxico Burress to deliver the steak. Size will always matter in NYC -- the bigger, the better --and the battle for NYC bragging rights will be no different. What else would you expect? The Jets can rely on their sizable advantage to reach Rex's lofty goals as they soar into the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Giants would be home for their third consecutive January. Plus it would give Rex another shot to really own this town, win a Lombardi, and take his rightful march down the canyon of heroes. For tomorrow, just fill my stocking with a win and a little holiday cheer. Like I said, its the little things in life.
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