As Giants Head To Super Bowl, Fans Head to Stores

With the NFC Championship in the rearview mirror, Giants fans in Forest Hills have a lot to celebrate—and a lot more to look forward to.

Already Monday afternoon, fans had ravaged tables of NFC Championship gear at the local Sports Authority on Woodhaven Boulevard.

While there were still T-shirts available at 2 p.m., an employee at the store turned away more than one fan looking for NFC Championship hats.

The store had sold out of their stock of 30 before lunchtime was finished.

The worker at the register told crestfallen Giants faithful that they were planning to have more in by around 5 p.m.

Nearby, , the baseball card and comic book store on Metropolitan Avenue said they were taking pre-orders for special Giants Super Bowl jerseys, for fans looking to root on their team in authentic fashion.

At bar and restaurant, fans were still getting over the excitement of Sunday night’s overtime victory.

“Watching the overtime, when it was going back-and-forth, back-and-forth, I thought we were going to lose," said Pete Stallone, 52, of Ascan Avenue. “After the fumble, I knew the game was over.”

Stallone was confident, saying he thought the Giants would “kill” the Patriots in the big game. At first, he predicted a 10-point victory, then dialed it back, saying wide receiver Victor Cruz would lead the G-Men to a 31-24 win. Needless to say, Stallone was not intimidated by Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.

“I’m Irish, and I know nothing about American football, and even I was excited yesterday about the game. I was cheering by the end,” said Joanne Keaveney, who has visited Forest Hills for the Super Bowl in each of the last four years.

Not everyone in Forest Hills was over the moon about the Giants win however.

One fan at on Metropolitan Avenue put it very succinctly.

“I’m a Mets and Jets fan,” he said. “Come on, this is Queens.”