By David KalanThe Daily Northwestern

Last Saturday your friendly resident assistant campus editor and Chicago sports fan, Nomaan Merchant made me an offer.

He told me should the Giants defeat the Eagles in the first round and then upset their slated second round opponent, the Chicago Bears, he would write a guest column on why New York is better than Chicago.

Why he offered to do this, I can’t say. My instinct tells me he wasn’t particularly serious or didn’t believe it could happen. In reality, it was probably a combination of both.

But since the 2006 New York Football Giants season was mercifully put to an end on Sunday, you will not be reading Nomaan’s eloquent words on the virtues of the Big Apple. Instead you will be reading a tired fan’s misery.

And what misery it was.

There was the disappointing season opening loss to Indianapolis, the comeback against Philadelphia in week two, the 6-2 record which had some annointing them championship contenders and then the pyrrhic victory against Dallas.

I see Vince Young escaping from Mathias Kiwanuka’s arms 512 times a day, along with other bitter reminders – the 21-0 blown lead at Tennessee, the bitter loss at home to the Cowboys and that run by the Bears’ Thomas Jones on 3rd and 22 that started the downfall.

I will see all of them in my sleep for at least a month or two.

And so, Sunday evening when David Akers’ field goal ended the game – and the Giants’ season with it – I was more relieved than anything. Still, I knew a torrent of cruel taunting awaited me.

So earlier this week when I bumped into your friendly resident DM Emcee Todd Johnson, a devoted Eagles fan from the southern half of the Garden State, I feared the harsh mockery only clever Philly witticisms can provide.

But aside from us both mocking the “I’m shocked you called yet another 15-yard personal foul against Bob Whitfield” face Tom Coughlin made every four minutes, there was no mockery to speak of. Instead there was magnanimous cheer and compassion.

And that’s what sports fandom should be. Dedicated, but amicable in the aftermath. Because those on the wrong side are in actual pain.

So, in that spirit will I wish Todd and his Iggles luck against the Saints on Saturday night?

Good lord, no.

It’s the Eagles. Some principles just can’t be compromised.

But after Philly gets its spanking in the Superdome tomorrow, I’ll be the same magnimous gentleman Todd was to me.

And I won’t once mention that the Giants have won two Super Bowls since the Eagles last won an NFL Championship 47 years ago.

Sports Editor David Kalan is a Weinberg senior. He abuses his power every Friday. David can be reached at [email protected].