One more reason I'm pulling for the New York Giants this Sunday.

To date, the United States has 3,940 confirmed deaths in Iraq. Back in May, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Greg Gadson, a battalion leader, very nearly found himself on that list. An IED (improvised explosive device) thoroughly shattered his body. Only 70 pints of blood, the exceptional field work of men in his 1st Infantry Division and the skill of doctors saved his life.

His legs weren't so fortunate.

The New York Giants, however, consider themselves blessed to have made this double-amputee's acquaintance. They credit Gadson, who played football at Army with New York wide receivers coach Mike Sullivan, with helping to salvage their season and making it something approaching superb. His stirring pregame speeches and his living example of courage and perseverance have inspired them all the way to Super Bowl XLII.

These men got the opportunity to meet Lt. Col. Gadson in September, when they played the Redskins in Washington, with a record of 0-2. And it was then that something very special happened.

The Giants' defense had allowed a total of 80 points in their two previous losses, to Dallas and Green Bay, and they were trailing the Redskins 17-3 at halftime. But the Giants scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second half, the last one a 33-yard pass from Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress with 5:22 left.

Burress did not spike the ball. Instead, he sprinted to the Giants' sideline and dropped it into the lap of Gadson, who was sitting in a wheelchair.

"That's when," Gadson said, "I became one of the Giants."

And for the NFC championship game in Green Bay, gadson was an honorary team captain. And Gadson again received a little bit of NFL history.

The wind chill was below zero, but Gadson didn't want to watch the game from the warm suite the Giants had arranged for him.

"He wanted to be right out there on the front lines, so to speak," Sullivan said. "You'd see players would go up to him and he'd look them right in the eye, and you could tell they were feeding off his courage and his inspiration."

The game was in overtime when Webster intercepted Brett Favre's pass at the Packers' 34-yard line. That ball too was deposited in the hands of Gadson.

"I felt like he deserved the ball," Webster said, "because he's a big motivating factor for me, personally, and for the team."

Four plays later, Lawrence Tynes kicked the winning field goal and, improbably, the Giants were on their way to Phoenix. Yes, of course, Gadson will be there. He has become part of the team. Burress, who also comes from the Tidewater region of Virginia, calls him regularly and exchanges text messages with him.

Lt. Col. Greg Gadson has become the inspiration and good luck charm for this team. The Giants haven't lost a game he has attended, and he will be at the Super Bowl with the New York Giants on Sunday. And it is my fervent hope that we see him, when it is all over, holding the football from the game-winning score -- and the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

After all, Gadson is a true champion, and one of our nation's heroes.

Posted by: Greg at 11:19 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 554 words, total size 3 kb.