07/07/2025
I met a legend yesterday.
At the Saratoga Race Track of all places, I had the incredible honor of shaking hands with one of my lifelong heroes: Coach Bill Parcells.
I was born, raised, and baptized a Giants fan—not just by chance, but by bloodline. My dad and my godfather didn’t just teach me the rules of football—they handed me a legacy. Sundays weren’t just for watching games—they were sacred rituals. Giants football was our love language, and Coach Parcells? He was the embodiment of everything we admired: grit, discipline, heart, and the kind of leadership that didn’t flinch when it mattered most.
People think of Parcells as “The Tuna”—tough, no-nonsense, intimidating. But to us, he was the standard. He didn’t just coach players. He built warriors. He built Giants.
Getting to meet him wasn’t just cool. It wasn’t just a bucket list moment. It was a full-circle punch to the heart. I’m not someone who gets starstruck—but this? This hit different. There I was, suddenly 10 years old again, trying not to totally lose it while thanking the man who helped shape my love of the game... and by extension, my career in physical therapy. Because when you grow up worshiping sports like a religion, you don’t just become a fan—you build your life around it.
So Coach—if by some miracle this post finds its way to you—thank you.
Thank you for the wins, the wisdom, the edge. Thank you for showing an entire generation what real leadership looked like under pressure. And thank you—for giving me, my dad, and my godfather memories that still light up like Sunday stadium lights in my heart.
You helped shape the standard. And I’m still chasing it every day.
