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Superstitious Giants Fans Worship At Altar Of Garden Gnome


By

Ben Yakas

Published Jan 29, 2012

Modified Jan 29, 2012


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Giants fans at the altar of the Gnome

 


By

Ben Yakas

Published Jan 29, 2012

Modified Jan 29, 2012


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This week, we've spent some time diving into the eccentric underbelly of the world of hardcore Giants fans, including vocal local pol's such as Councilman Jumaane Williams, guys who shave the Giants logo into their heads, and of course Travis from Queens, who got a tattoo of Eli Manning on his ass. Now we have a few more specimens to add to that motley crew: fans who worship garden gnomes.

The Daily News caught up with Brooklyn resident Jennifer Pernice, who received the gnome-in-question (named "Ganomio") from her sister Lauren for Christmas—seeing as how the Giants have gone 4-0 since, the sisters attribute the Giants winstreak to the power of the gnome. “It was supposed to be a gag gift. We’re in the Super Bowl; it’s got to mean something,” said Lauren. At least Ganomio's role as the "quirkiest 12th man" on the squad is good news for Jerrel Jernigan, who up till now was the shortest roster player on the Giants.

Some lucky hardcore Giants fans lined up at MetLife Stadium yesterday for a chance to buy seats for next week’s Super Bowl in Indianapolis. “I’ve been a season-ticket holder since 1976 and this is the first time I’ve been picked to go,” said Andy Fogel, who received word he would be allowed to buy the tickets while vacationing in Aruba. Season-ticket holders who won the drawing got the chance to buy two Super Bowl tickets for $900 each, which was much less than the thousands of dollars some fans will end up paying on ticket selling websites.

Queens resident Mike Freed lucked out in that sense—his best friend Joe Cooper sold him his upper-level end-zone tickets for face value, instead of the $3,000-$4,000 market value. Freed in turn gave the tickets to his two kids. Not everyone was so sweet about their Super Bowl tickets: a woman who dumped a Nashville man after he told her he had cancer still wants the tickets because she claims they were purchased with her in mind.

Tagged

fans

football

garden gnome

giants

new england patriots

nfl

passion

super bowl

superstitious


Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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