Hindsight is 20-20, so I’ve been told, would someone please forward the memo to TiVi Barber.

Mr. Barber: You have done more than enough damage in the past twelve months to dig your own grave in the eyes of the Giants faithful twice over, so quit before you jeopardize the new career you sold your integrity to launch.

Harsh words for the all-time leading rusher in New York Giants history? Tough-talk for a guy who laid his heart on the field every Sunday? I used to think so, but not anymore.

This morning I read an exclusive interview in The Record, in which Tiki infers he saved Coughlin’s job and was the impetus behind the transformation that has fueled the Giants sudden surge to Super Bowl XLII. Furthermore, he laments he has been unfairly ostracized and backstabbed by his old organization. He goes so far as to label himself the ‘foil’ in some Shakespearean plot! “With every heroic story there has to be a foil, and I’m convenient for that,” he says. Come on, this cry me a river story has to stop. His skewed historical recollection has made me sick. I am not sure what is worse, if this is just another yarn spun by Mr. TiVi, or if he actually believes the diarrhea coming from his mouth.

Let’s take a look at some of the classic woe is me quotes from the interview:

At the conclusion of the 2006 season, which saw the Giants settle for an 8-8 record after a 6-2 start, Barber met with co-owner John Mara. The discussion revolved around the future of coach Tom Coughlin, who the Giants were thinking about firing at the time. Tiki offered his lukewarm support.

I think he’s a great coach and I give him immense credit for helping me as a player, John, Barber told Mara. But he didn’t treat us the right way. As a 31-year-old player and a 10-year vet, he rubbed me the wrong way.

Citing his ill-tempered coach, Barber was walking away from the game he no longer loved, because he could not jive with Coughlin’s rigid style. A style Barber has been quick to chirp about during several press conferences since his retirement from Football. During the conference that announced TiVi’s contract with NBC, Barber spent a fair amount of time harping on how Coughlin drove him too hard, and as a veteran TiVi felt he earned special treatment.

Tom is so hard and regimented with guys, it can drive you crazy, Barber said. As an older veteran, I tried to bring lightness to the team. Tom would go up to practice 20 minutes early, and when he left I’d start playing music as loud as hell in the locker room.

Later in the interview TiVi was discussing statements he made during the 2007 pre-season, questioning Eli’s leadership. Even calling his pregame speech comical.

Last year I told Eli, Look, you’ve got to get up and start talking and be a vocal leader, Barber said. I handed those duties to him. So middle of the season, he gets up and he’s never done this before. I’m there, all the old veteran personalities are there. And this insecure guy with a little voice starts trying to yell at us and motivate us.

The University of Virginia Valedictorian suggested he misspoke on his debut appearance on Football Night in America, sorry I don’t buy it for one second. The intelligent and calculating Barber knew exactly what he was going to say. When asked what bothered him the most Barber responded with:

Love me or hate me or be indifferent about me, that doesn’t bother me, Barber said. But when you don’t respect who I was as a player, that hurts. … For people to discredit what I was as a player is disingenuous at best and malicious at worst.

When asked if he has any regrets?

Do I have regrets? My only regret is that I had people who stabbed me in the back after I walked away.

Tiki please, spare us the sob story and the condescension, and respect our intelligence. We know you don’t care about the Giants or your former teammates, please stop pretending that you do. But at the same time, you obviously don’t think too much of sports fans anyway.

Sports are great, Barber said, but they’re meaningless to most people other than in giving them a distraction and a thrill.

TiVi, there is one fatal flaw in your revisionist logic; history is written by the winners.

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