He grew up in a tiny town called Berkley, Ala., and never thought he would hear Whitney Houston sing the national anthem at the Desert Storm Super Bowl (XXV), never thought he would win a Super Bowl ring, never thought he would wind up playing more games than anyone ever had for the New York Giants.

“I wanted to be an astronaut,” Howard Cross said.

Today against the Raiders, Cross, 34, plays in his 202nd game as a Giant, and breaks George Martin’s record. He missed one game, in 1995, with a knee injury. One game in 13 years. No astronaut, but out of this world.

“Been very blessed by God to be very healthy,” Cross said. “I think I’ve been here mostly for my availability more so than my ability.”

He is an offensive lineman disguised as a tight end. His secret to blocking? “Understanding leverage.”

His toughest opponents? “Kevin Greene; Greg Lloyd; Reggie White and Charles Haley.”

His Giant teammates and coaches?

Lawrence Taylor: “The greatest football player, especially for a defensive player, to ever play the game. Getting the chance to play with him was an extreme honor. Was kinda like a Big Brother figure . . . To this very day the league looks for another Lawrence Taylor to put on their team.”

Mark Bavaro: “Another great player. This team is constantly looking for that Next Mark Bavaro, and they haven’t found one yet. Another great friend of mine who spoke a lot about being patient and enjoying the game and not being so hurried and bustled with it, and it reminded me that most of all it was still just a game.”

Phil Simms: “Crazy Kentucky blond boy who my mom thinks is cute. A lot of fun. I thought he was the consummate professional. I remember when they decided to start Hoss [Jeff Hostetler] instead of him; he didn’t say a word. Never complained about it. Never thought of himself as a great player either.”

Carl Banks: “I thought he was a tenacious run-stopper. Probably one of the best Sam [strongside] linebackers that this organization’s had in a long time.”

Bill Parcells: “He embodied the New York personality, very rough around the edges. He was tough on young guys and I probably didn’t like him a lot when I was playing for him.”

Ray Handley: “He was a mathematical genius.” Did he make a mistake picking Hostetler over Simms? “Basically it was a mutiny against him almost because he lost control; guys got desperate and he had no way to regain their focus.”

Dan Reeves: “Great player’s coach. I think his problem lied in when things did start to go a little bad and he needed to make some adjustments, some changes, he wouldn’t make them. He believed his system is his system.”

Jim Fassel: “Another player’s coach; the difference between him and Dan, though, he’s able to make the adjustments.”

Howard Cross: “I’m like one of those things that you really need that you just don’t know that it really exists. Like those bolts underneath the seat of your car, that kinda hold your seat in place? If one of ’em was loose and your seat starts to shake, you know it’s not there, but as long as it’s there, it’s all right. Another thing about it is it’s easily replaced.”

But you’re still here. “It never,” Cross said with a hearty laugh, “comes loose.”