Super Bowl XLVI from Sports Plus Cafe

Sports Plus Cafe in Castle Hill

By Lennin Reyes

Festive fans gathered at Sports Plus Cafe on Castle Hill Avenue in The Bronx to watch the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.

“Since we opened in 1997, we’ve hosted World Series, NBA Finals, and big boxing fights. However, nothing compares to the Super Bowl,” Sports Plus Cafe part-owner and general manager Evelyn Gautier said.

The hometown New York Giants were in their second Super Bowl game in four years. Ironically, they were facing the same opponents they defeated at Super Bowl XLII, the New England Patriots.

While Sports Plus was dominated by Giants fans, there were a fair share of opposing fans. “You have Jets and Cowboys fans here just to see the Giants lose,” Chris Ragsdale said. “Plus, we get to silence Jets fans who rode the Giants’ bandwagon.” Joining the anti-Giants was Connecticut native Janet Diaz, who was rooting for her Patriots, despite her husband Carmelo being a Giants fan. “I couldn’t buy a Patriots jersey around here,” Janet Diaz said. “Thankfully, she’s a Yankees fan. If not, she would’ve not survive this event,” her husband countered.

After “American Idol” alum Kelly Clarkson sang the National Anthem, the New England Patriots won the coin toss by calling “heads.” However, they chose to defer the ball, meaning they would get first possession at the start of the second half.

During the first quarter, the Giants were able to score first on a safety thanks to Tom Brady being in the end zone when throwing the ball. Brady was flagged for intentional grounding. Over the next nine plays, the Giants drove 78 yards, eventually leading to Eli Manning tossing the ball to Victor Cruz for a touchdown. The Giants’ early lead, and Cruz’s famous celebratory salsa dance, had Carmelo Diaz and other Giants fans chanting, “Boricua time!”

New York 9-New England 0

Giants fans were confident, thanks in part to Patriots’ injuries, including kicker Stephen Gostkowski, who had a quadriceps injury dating back to the 2010 campaign. However, he silenced doubters by putting the Pats on the board with a 29-yard field goal during the second quarter.

New York 9-New England 3

The Patriots did not stop there, as Tom Brady threw a pass to Danny Woodhead to tie the game. Once again, Gostkowski played the role of “the great silencer” as his kick gave New England the 10-9 lead.

New England 10-New York 9

The next half hour featured a halftime performance from pop legend Madonna, who was joined by contemporary stars LMFAO, Cee-Lo Green, M.I.A., and Nicki Minaj. Controversy arose when M.I.A. showed the middle finger to the camera during the performance of “Give Me All Your Luvin.'” It garnered a reaction similar to the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction at Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.

Once halftime came to a close, Chris Ragsdale was ready to celebrate as the Patriots held a 10-9 lead. His excitement only intensified after Brady threw a pass to Aaron Hernandez to give New England a 16-9 lead. Ragsdale began singing the Black Eyed Peas’s, “I Gotta Feeling,” after the Pats scored the extra point on a kick from “the great silencer” Gostkowski.

New England 17-New York 9

When Jake Ballard got injured on a cut away during the third quarter, Madie Rodriguez decided that the Giants needed to play more aggressive. “They can’t be afraid of the Pats.”

It seemed like Rodriguez’s words hit the Giants immediately as Lawrence Tynes’ two field goals allowed the Giants to get within two of tying New England.

New England 17-New York 15

The fourth quarter was about to begin. While Patriots fans were tense, Giants fans were more confident. Chants of “comeback! comeback” erupted at Sports Plus. The Giants drew the opening salvo of the quarter with an interception by Chase Blackburn. “Like Manning-to-Tyree four years ago, this is the sign of victory!” bartender Jacqueline Diaz shouted.

After a failed challenge to an Eli Manning throw to Mario Manningham cost New England a timeout, the Giants capitalized on another New England mistake. The Pats decided to allow running back Ahmad Bradshaw to run a play without being blocked in order to avoid the Giants tying the game. When Manning threw to Bradshaw, the running back wanted to stop at the one-yard line. However, his body ended up inside the end zone, giving New York a 21-17 lead with 57 seconds left in the game. The Giants wanted to do a two-point attempt to prevent the Pats to win the game on a comeback. However, the play was no good.

New York 21-New England 17

With 57 seconds left, Giants fans were ready to celebrate. All they had to do was listen to NBC broadcaster Al Michaels say the magic words.

With that, a nearby police car sounded its sirens and a DJ at Sports Plus began to play Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’s, “Empire State of Mind,” as everyone, regardless of team allegiance, began to dance the night away.

“I wanted to see Giants fans salsa their way out the door, but I gotta walk out now,” a once confident Ragsdale said. The bitter feelings faded away as the Super Bowl win, and the birthdays of bartenders Ana Vargas and Lissette Santiago, were being celebrated.