In 1925- Tim Mara was sidetracked from backing pugilist Gene Tunney*s career- so he turned his attention to pro football-with a $500 investment. Looking for a big-name player- he signed an aging Jim Thorpe- but the great one couldn*t make it through a season. Mara made a run at Red Grange- but Grange joined the Bears instead. The Giants and Bears faced off that December in front of 70-000 fans in the Polo Grounds. Mara cleared $30-000-a huge sum for a money-losing franchise-and the rest is chronicled in New York Giants: Yesterday & Today.****This comprehensive- lavishly illustrated history of one of football*s most famous franchise includes these stories:**? The first NFL title game- in 1933- and the *Sneaker Game* in 1934- when the Giants switched from cleats to sneakers at halftime to negotiate the frozen Polo Grounds turf and beat the Cleveland Browns**? *The Greatest Game Ever Played-* in 1958- when the Baltimore Colts defeated the Frank Gifford and the Giants in sudden death overtime- the first time that had happened in a league championship game**? Super Bowl XXV- when the Giants wore down the Buffalo Bills but needed Scott Norwood*s kick to sail wide right to secure a 20-19 win**? And Super Bowl XLII- when quarterback Eli Manning and receiver David Tyree hooked up for *Catch 42* en route to the Giants* second Super Bowl win- over the previously undefeated New England Patriots****The Giants* offenses are known for their power running- led by the likes Tuffy Leemans- Rodney Hampton- Tiki Barber- and Brandon Jacobs. But it*s the defense that*s set the franchise apart- including Emlen Tunnel- Lawrence Taylor- and Michael Strahan. And with great coaches like Steve Owen- Bill Parcells- and Tom Coughlin-and quarterbacks like Eli Manning and Phil Simms-there*s virtually no end to the talent profiled in New York Giants: Yesterday & Today.**