AP
President Bush, who stayed up past his normal bedtime to watch the end of a stirring Super Bowl, called members of the Giants organization today to offer his congratulations.
But not all of them answered right away.
Giants co-owner John Mara, who received the call around 7:30 a.m. in Arizona, said at first he didnât answer because he didnât recognize the incoming number. âMy cell phone keeps ringing, and there were a lot of numbers I didnât recognize so I didnât answer. There was one that kept saying âunknown,ââ Mara said. âThen it stopped and my wifeâs phone started ringing, and she couldnât find it. Then mine rang again and I finally answered it and a voice came on and said: âCould you hold for the president?ââ
Besides Mara, Bush chatted with Steve Tisch, the other co-owner, coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning in separate, brief phone calls.
âHe was great. He said: âCongratulations. Iâm proud of you guys, and weâre going to have you down to the White House. It was a great game,ââ Mara said.
The game’s last exciting moments kept Bush, a sports fan, tuned in until the end. The game finished just after 10 p.m., which is later than Bush normally stays up.
It took a while for the president to connect with them all, but he wanted to be sure to âcongratulate them on their historic victory,â White House press secretary Dana Perino said.
