The first thing Wellington Mara taught his son, John, about running a sports franchise was the importance of communicating with fans. When someone takes the time to reach out, as the late Hall of Fame owner would say, you ought to give the courtesy of responding.
This applies during the good and bad times.
Maryann Villa has been a loyal Giants fan long enough to see both ends of the spectrum and everything in between. The 85-year-old from Nutley, N.J. also isn’t one to suffer in silence. So, Villa had something to say as the 2021 season drew to a close.
Then they welcomed her. Along with her son and grandson, Maryann was a special guest last week at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. The three generations of Villa fans toured team headquarters and met with general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. But first, they were surprised by someone they watched play hundreds of times in person at home and on the road.
“I hope to see you back in the stands next year,” said Eli Manning, as the two-time Super Bowl MVP emerged from the breakroom adjacent to the executive boardroom, where everyone was gathered. “We can’t lose you. We’ve got to have you in there.”