Even though Mara was a good man, he didn't tolerate people who didn't play as hard as they could.
Posted on 10/27/2005 10:55:50 AM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Amani Toomer thought he had a chance to make the NFC Pro Bowl team in 2002, but when the votes were counted with two games remaining in the season, the Giants’ wide receiver came up short. But Toomer was an All-Pro to an important man who didn’t have a vote, Wellington Mara, and that meant more to him than the conference-wide ballot.
“He said, ‘You made my Pro Bowl,’” Toomer said today. “That’s all I needed. I was happy the next day. I said, ‘Okay, I made the Pro Bowl this year.’ It made me feel great. The next game I had my best career day (10 catches for 204 yards and three touchdowns at Indianapolis).”
It seemed everyone at Giants Stadium had a Wellington Mara story to share today. Mara, the Giants’ President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, passed away yesterday at age 89 from cancer. The patriarch of a large and loving family, the Giants and the entire NFL was remembered by his team, which plays the Washington Redskins on Sunday in a game for at least a share of first place in the NFC East. Mara would have loved it – an important game against an ancient division rival. As the players and coaches struggled to focus on the Redskins, thoughts of Mara were never far away. His funeral Mass will be Friday morning in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The entire Giants team will attend.
(Excerpt) Read more at giants.com ...
Even though Mara was a good man, he didn't tolerate people who didn't play as hard as they could.
I think he is the last owner alive when the NFL early years..
He was the last member of the NFL's founding generation; he was with the Giants ever since their inception. From ball boy to where he was at death.
It must have been something to see the league from when it started to see where it is today...
I'm going to the funeral home soon to pay my respects. Will give you a personal report later.
My son and I went to the wake tonight for The Duke at Campbell's on 81 and Madison. To our utter amazement, there was NOBODY THERE. We walked in and paid our respects to him in the open casket. There were more cops and funeral home directors than morners--by far.
Go to www.mem.com and then to his guestbook to record any thoughts or memories for him.
RIP, Mr. Mara.
Great story, thanks.
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