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Most Giants fans have no problem wearing Tiki jersey

BY JIM BAUMBACH | jim.baumbach@newsday.com

February 4, 2008

GLENDALE, Ariz. - With thousands of Giants fans taking in the Super Bowl pregame festivities outside University of Phoenix Stadium yesterday, there was the usual smattering of replica jerseys on display.

Most fans donned the jerseys of current players such as Eli Manning, Michael Strahan and Plaxico Burress. Others went old-school with players such as Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson.

But a select few attempted to make a statement of sorts with their jerseys. They were the ones walking around in Tiki Barber No. 21 jerseys, representing a player who isn't exactly the most popular former Giant.

"There's one simple reason why I'm wearing this jersey," said Mike Bollhardt, 21, of Hoboken, N.J. "The only reason the Giants are in the Super Bowl right now is because Tiki Barber left the team. "

Bollhardt, a season-ticket holder who won the Super Bowl ticket lottery, felt so strongly about the good karma that came from Barber's exit that he wore his Barber jersey during each of the Giants' previous three postseason games. So, he thought, why stop now?

Others who wore No. 21 felt the same way.

Martin Marshak, 60, of Great Neck, bought his Barber jersey last year and sounded as if he wished he had picked another player. But he didn't mind donning it for this game. He, too, believes Barber helped bring the Giants together with his preseason criticism of Manning.

"I have no problem wearing this because I think his comments helped spur Eli Manning into a leadership role," he said, "and that's one of the reasons we're here. "

Marshak's friend, Mark Mehler, also of Great Neck, is a 44-year season-ticket holder who won the ticket lottery and invited Marshak to take the second ticket. He said he didn't question his friend's jersey choice, partly because he's too excited about being here to let anything ruin his experience - even a loss. "We're playing with house money here," Mehler said.

Another guy in a Barber jersey -- Dave Brush, 47, of London -- said he wished he were wearing a different player's shirt. But the Barber jersey was the only one in his son's closet that fit him, so he felt he had no choice.

"I am a little nervous about wearing this, because I don't know how this is going to be received by other fans," Brush said. "So far, no one has said anything. "

Brush's son, Ryan, 17, wore Osi Umenyiora's No. 72 jersey. They're originally from Summit, N.J., moved to London a decade ago and attended the Giants' regular-season game against the Dolphins. They couldn't pass on following the Giants here. They bought tickets online, saying only that they were "very expensive. I don't want to tell you how much. "

At least one Giants fan is willing to differentiate between Barber the player and Barber the mouthpiece. Scott Frank, 31, of Los Angeles, explained his jersey choice by saying: "It's a throwback jersey, not a throwback microphone. We appreciate all he did for the team, not what he said into the microphone. "

It's truly remarkable how many Giants fans seem to have united over their displeasure with Barber, whom they viewed as a me-first player who spoke critically of the team far too often. Barber has said in the past that he retired in part because Giants coach Tom Coughlin took some of the fun out of the game.

One fan wearing a Barber jersey yesterday did so with positive thoughts. Amanda Barnett, 19, of Cherry Hill, N.J., called Barber "the greatest running back ever. I'm going to love him forever. "

But of all the people wearing Tiki's jersey, a 44-year-old from Dallas had the most fitting reason.

He and Tiki share the same last name.

George Barber -- no relation to Tiki -- said: "I bought it for my son for his birthday a few years ago, and I had to borrow it for this game."