HILLSBOROUGH: Giants are local fans’ Super Bowl favorite to win

By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
   Township Administrator Mike Merdinger will be at the Flagtown firehouse for its Super Bowl party Sunday.
   ”Hopefully, we not get a fire call at a crucial moment of the game as had occurred at the last Giants’ Super Bowl in 2008,” said Mr. Merdinger, who also is president of Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. “Most of the firemen were not able to see the David Tyree helmet catch (a key play to the final TD), but were able to hear it on the firetruck loudspeakers at the fire scene.”
   Mr. Merdinger was an early respondent to the Beacon’s invitation to send us your Super Bowl prediction. With a little encouragement, we roused a sampling of Hillsborough opinion — heavily tilted toward the local team, mind you.
   ”No matter who wins, it will be great to be with my fellow firefighters enjoying the most important sports event of the year,” said Mr. Merdinger, who predicted the New York Giants will win, 27-24.
   Four of the five members of the Township Committee governing body liked the home team, too.
   Mayor Carl Suraci said, “The fact that the teams met earlier in the season and are familiar with one another should make this an exciting and close game. (Giants Coach Tom) Coughlin will have his team well prepared. You can expect the unexpected from (Patriots Coach Bill) Belichick. The Giants are on a role, and Eli (Manning, quarterback ) showed his physical toughness against the 49ers.
   ”To quote the master of tautology, Yogi Berra, “It’s déjà vu all over again!’” said the mayor.
   He saw the Giants winning, 27-24.
   Committeeman Frank DelCore thought Manning and the Giants’ pass rush will prove to be too much for the Patriots for the second time in four years. He foresaw a 31-27 score.
   Deputy Mayor Gloria McCauley said, “I actually think the Giants may pull this one off. I think (Tom) Brady is the better quarterback, but I think the Giants have great defensive line,” she said.
   She said she was “thinking about a three-point difference.”
   Committeeman Doug Tomson was specific.
   ”(Hector) Cruz catches two touchdowns, and the Giants defense hits Brady in the backfield from the first snap,” he said. “And Eli will be the MVP!”
   He predicted the Giants, 37-31.
   Only Committeeman Bob Wagner came down on the New England side.
   ”Tom Brady and his tight ends will be too much for Giants defense to handle,” he said, seeing a New England victory by 42-35.
   Congressman Leonard Lance’s opinion was solicited with no advance polling allowed.
   ”They are clicking on all cylinders at just the right time. I’m all in for the New York Football Giants, 24-17,” he said.
   Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, a Hillsborough resident, said, “The Giants are not only solid in every aspect of the game. Their quarterback has the ‘hot hand,’ and the entire team is peaking at just the right time. Giants, 28-24.”
   Schools Superintendent Jorden Schiff said he liked the Giants, 21-10, adding “Go Big Blue!”
   Barbara Parker, president of the Hillsborough Education Association, “Giants by 6! Another Giant step for mankind!”
   Daynon Blevins, seventh-grade teacher at the Middle School, saw the Giants over the Patriots, 28-24.
   ”As much as I hate to root for the Giants, I hate the Patriots more! Go Cowboys!” he said.
   High school guidance counselor and basketball coach Ian Progin said, “I’ll go with New York, 24-20.”
   Pam Pedersen, “Growing up in central Jersey, I’m a Giants fan as are most of the kids I teach at Woodfern School. Many of them agree they are following the lead of their parents, but, as one student said, ‘The Giants have a great wide receiver and a great quarterback.’ There’s plenty of friendly rivalry amongst the school community, as our principal has even declared he favors the Patriots. I predict a Giant win, 20-17.”
   Three Board of Education members weighed in.
   Board President Steve Paget said he suspected the Pats are the better team, “but I will support the local team. Giants over Pats, 31-24.”
   Board of Education member Judy Haas predicted a win for New York’s Giants, 27-21. It will be hard to top the teams’ match-up in Super Bowl 42, she said “since that included our Hillsborough High School graduate, Shaun O’Hara, but I look forward to a very exciting game!”
   Board of Education member Jennifer Haley, “The Giants all the way! I hope we will have an exciting game for all the fans, but with the Giants coming out victorious. Giants, 30-24.”
   From township hall came these prognostications:
   Business Advocate Gene Strupinsky, Giants win 27 – 24.
   ”In sports, nothing tops momentum,” he said.
   Township CFO Nancy Haberle, This should be a real “nail-biter” right down to the last two minutes of the game. The winner will be the Giants, 23-20.
   Deputy Clerk Pam Borek, “Though I’m not a Giants fan, I’ll cheer on the locals so I say Giants, 35-10.”
   Dave Fritzinger of the building department, “Being a Raider fan and still mad from that Blizzard/Tuck Rule Game. I would take the hometown team, the Giants, and hope they destroy them. The Patriots should buy Ron Winter dinner every day for the rest of his life for changing history. Thanks, Ron.”
   Police Chief Paul Kaminsky, “Giants defense will have to come out strong and pressure Brady. Giants, 31-27.”
   Others from the public:
   Anthony J. Winchatz of the Resource Center of Somerset, “Giants all the way! Big Blue is on a roll, and they’ve got the Pats running scared. Giants, 35-17.”
   The Hestags of Hillsborough wrote in and went for the Giants. Ken Hestag saw a 31-27 score with Patrice Hestag at 44-30, Erik Hestag a nail-biting 27-26, and Ally hestag at 28-17.
   They also sent in a pick for Poppy Rogers, who likes the Patriots, 36-30, in OT.
   Jayne Mochnacz, ice cream store owner, “Hopefully, the Giants will win, 27-24. Giant fans need to celebrate with Super Sundaes’ ice cream cake for this prediction to come true!”
   David Wald, “The Giants are bringing the Vince Lombardi Trophy back to New Jersey where it belongs. Giants, 31-17.”
   John Reddan Jr., “The Giants will win, 34-21. I hope to see a very well-played game.”
   Frank Herbert, “I predict that if Mitt Romney wins the Florida Republican primary today, then under the premise that lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice in a week (Massachusetts), then the Patriots will lose on Sunday. Giants by three!”
   Tom Stacy, “Let’s keep the Giants-Patriots score at 24-20. This is what we had for Week 9 if you recall. If they continue to play the way they’re going, then it should be a repeat performance.”
   Matt Comito, “Giants will win, 31-17, and show the Patriots who really has it…one more time!”
   Kathy Hill, Hillsborough High senior class president, said “I don’t know much about football, but I am a Giants fan and cannot wait to see how this game plays out. I predict that it will be extremely intense, especially since the last time the Patriots and Giants played each other in the Super Bowl was only a few years ago.”
   Carol Kravette, “Just remember 17 seconds … anything can happen! Giants, 21-17.”
   Maryjo and Rich Eckhard, “It’s going to be a great game. An on-the-edge-of-your-seat game… but the end of the day will belong to the Giants, 27-17.”
   Mike Seelig, “Brady will be sacked five times, Bradshaw is the MVP with two TDs, and (Coach) Coughlin retires a week later. Giants, 31-27.”
   Aldo Martinez, “Since my Jets are out, I follow my heart on this one. Giants, 23-20.”
   Ken Berry, “Both defenses give up lots of yards but get tough in red zone, but Giants capitalize on a fumble for extra scoring chance. Lawrence Tynes, who misses a relatively easy one earlier, hits the game winner. Giants keep enough pressure on Brady to avoid big plays downfield. Giants, 27-24.”
   Mark Brownlie, “Let’s just hope for the same outcome as Super Bowl XLII when the game is all over. Go Big Blue! Giants, 31-24.”
   From the newspaper experts, we have these:
   Sports Editor Bob Nuse, “The conference championship games were so good that the Super Bowl has to be a clunker of a game. So I’ll go with Tom Brady to pick apart the Giants and win easy. Patriots, 31-7.”
   Sports reporter Justin Feil, “Giants ‘D’ line slows down Brady. New York receivers have edge on the Patriots secondary. Giants, 26-24.”
   And, last, and maybe least, Managing Editor Gene Robbins sees the Giants as the more credentialed team through the playoffs. Destiny seems to be going the Big Blue’s way, 26-20.