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David Tyree, hero of Giants' Super Bowl upset of Patriots, said he'd trade win to block gay marriage
Giants 2007 Super Bowl hero David Tyree said he'd trade "The Catch" and the team's championship to keep marriage between one man and one woman.
Tyree is best remembered in his career for his miraculous late-game catch in Super Bowl XLII against the Patriots, trapping the ball against his helmet while being pulled down by New England safety Rodney Harrison.
Shortly after, Eli Manning threw the game-winning touchdown to receiver Plaxico Burress to cement the shocking win against the up-until-then undefeated Patriots.
"The catch was a gift, it's not like I'd try to do it. I couldn't do it again so that was a miracle," he said. "There's nothing worth more than [maintaining heterosexual marriage] right here for me."
Asked if he'd give up the Super Bowl to stop gay marriage, Tyree said: "Honestly, I probably would."
"Nothing means more to me than that my God would be honored," he said. "Being the fact that I firmly believe that God created and ordained marriage between a man and a woman, I believe that that's something that should be fought for at all costs."
"So I'll lay down everything I am to preserve the honor and integrity of the God that I serve."
He said last week gay marriage would lead to anarchy. Today, he said, the morality of a country is defined by its law.
"So once you allow something like same-sex marriage, it opens up the door for a continual softening to the backbone of our society, which will eventually, for generations to come, open up the door for who knows, polygamy, and all other" things.
Tyree, unlike New York Ranger Sean Avery last week in support of gay marriage, said he will not lobby individual lawmakers.
He also said he doesn't hold it against his former team co-owner Steve Tisch or former teammate Michael Strahan, both of whom have come out in favor of gay marriage.
"It doesn't bother me at all," he said.
He said he doesn't oppose benefits for gay couples, "but to call it marriage is not something I would ever agree with or think that our government has the right to change the definition of marriage when it didn't start here."
Tyree said he doesn't fear his position will tarnish his image with Giants fans who support gay marriage.
"I have no care of my image," he said. "I'm not necessarily here to be politically correct. All of my convictions come from my faith. I speak strong for that."
With the possibility of a vote later this week to legalize gay marriage, advocates on both sides of the issue have descended on the state Senate.
With opponents of gay marriage chanting "vote no" while nearby supporters of the measure yelling "yes, yes, yes," Senate Republicans are again behind closed doors discussing the issue.
Pro gay marriage forces have been around the Capitol for weeks, but it's the first show of force by those on the other side of the issue.
Rev. Jason McGuire, of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, said as many as 250 people are at the Capitol to fight against gay marriage today.
And a petition with 63,000 will be presented to Senate leadership.
"You try not to wear out your base," McGuire said when asked about the sudden turnout of opponents. "We know the end of the legislative session is here and now it's time to tell people to vote 'no.'"
"We want people to know that this is something that people care about and they will not forget coming into the 2012 elections," he added.
Coming into today, gay rights advocates were optimistic the Senate will not only take up the issue this week, but also pass it. So far, 31 senators, including two Republicans, have come out for the bill, with several other GOP senators undecided or undeclared.
The Assembly last week passed Gov. Cuomo's gay marriage bill for a fourth time since 2007.
Gay marriage supporters are carrying placards calling for "Equality for All Families" and "Marriage Now."
Opponents have signs stating "One Man + One Woman = Marriage."
Source: nydailynews.com