But the City's "Canyon of Heroes" tickertape parade brought out those who are railing for a parade for returning Iraqi war vets.
"Getting Super Bowl-champ football players a parade in their hometowns is never an issue. But Iraq War veterans? They deserve a little praise, too," said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America president Paul Reickhoff in a blog.
But there are others who wonder if a parade for veterans (1.5 million Americans fought in Iraq over the war's nearly 9-year tenure; 4,500 didn't return) while 90,000 American troops are still fighting in Afghanistan (the nation's longest war ever) would seem a bit tasteless.
And that logic might trump the critics.
Still, President Obama - in a re-election bid and mindful of his original campaign pledge to end the war in Iraq and Afghanistan - has heard the critics, and so at the end of this month, about 200 people will attend a black-tie, state-dinner-style White House event honoring Iraq veterans.
Will it quiet the critics? Likely not.
And tomorrow's huge parade for the Giants will likely add potency to the line that we honor Super Bowl champs but not war vets.
Tonight that debate takes a back seat to our local coverage of the Giants, who after a fast start when into a fast freefall and then surged back with an incredible comeback - first in the regular season and then in the playoffs. And their comeback was burnished in the last few minutes of the Super Bowl Sunday night, when a remarkably cool and collected Eli Manning strode onto the field, behind, and quickly led yet another last-minute charge that resulted in a last-minute win.
The best quarterback in the league? Hardly. The coolest under pressure, and the guy you want in your foxhole leading the charge? You betcha.
Tonight at 11, we'll have the latest on Giants mania. Our Rob Powers - who spent last week at Super Bowl preps in Indianapolis - leads our coverage.
And what did you think of the ads? Especially the Clint Eastwood ad about the "second half" for America? The spot - produced by Chrysler - was a fascinating look at a rebounding Detroit. Interesting that Eastwood did not approve of the government's bailout of the auto industry. Was it a political ad? What's your take? Click here to send a comment.
We're also keeping tabs on developments in Syria, where unrest there has forced the U.S. Embassy in Damascus to shutdown. Or as the State Dept. is putting it - a "suspension of operations," not a break in diplomatic relations.
We'll also have any breaking news of the night, plus Meteorologist Lee Goldberg's AccuWeather forecast. I hope you can join Sade Baderinwa and me, tonight at 11.
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