WASHINGTON – President Bush, who stayed up past his normal bedtime to watch the end of a stirring Super Bowl, called members of the New York Giants organization on Monday to offer his congratulations.
In separate, brief phone calls, Bush chatted with Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch, coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning.
It took a while for the president to connect with them all, but he wanted to be sure to "congratulate them on their historic victory," White House press secretary Dana Perino said.
The Giants defeated the New England Patriots, 17-14, in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in pro football history. The Patriots were bidding for a perfect 19-0 season and came into the game as double-digit favorites. The Giants scored the winning touchdown with less than one minute to play.
Those last exciting moments kept Bush, a sports fan, tuned in until the end. The game finished just after 10 p.m., which is later than Bush normally stays up.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox