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Giants receiver eyes another big season
By JOHN VARGO
July 15, 2010
WARREN - Mario Manningham made the rest of the nation know what Warren G. Harding faithful and followers of the Michigan Wolvernines knew years prior.
Super Mario is a prime time, clutch receiver.`
The New York Giants 5-foot-11, 183-pound receiver finished the 2009 season with a career-high 822 yards on 57 receptions and five touchdowns.
He made his presence known early in 2009 against the Cowboys with 150 yards on 10 receptions and a TD - making him a must-have for most fantasy football owners.
Simply, the third-year pro wants more out of 2010.
"Get better than I was last year, get bigger, faster, stronger, know the game more," said Manningham, who played in the Warren G. Harding alumni basketball game Monday.
As for basketball, Manningham was a phenom in high school. WGH coach Steve Arnold tells of the football star being a standout on the hardwood.
"Some people don't realize how great of a basketball player he was," said Arnold, who added teams like Syracuse had a keen interest in Manningham playing basketball for the Orange.
"He had a triple-double against Akron St. Vincent in points, steals and assists. That's pretty special. Obviously him being a receiver, his hand-eye coordinator is really good."
Although basketball isn't intertwined into his life anymore, Manningham does remember when it was.
"I used to miss it, but I don't," he said. "I love football, so I don't miss it too much. When I first left to play college, I missed it - I missed it a lot."
The Giants training camp begins Aug. 1 at the University of Albany, where the team is trying to improve on their disappointing 8-8 record last season.
"(We need to) come out and ball and do what we've got to do to win - take every game at a time and come out and win," Manningham said. "That's all to it, to get better every day."
