The food-linked nickname even connects to popular culture, including the character Johnny Roastbeef from the Martin Scorsese-directed Mob movie “Goodfellas.” In real life, the Lucchese crime family, one of New York City’s Mafia Five Families, had a Paulie Roast Beef.Īfter other quarterbacks were injured, DeVito began attracting national attention while leading the Giants on a three-game winning streak. As a pro, he still lives at his parents’ home and has spoken fondly of his mom’s chicken cutlets. The nickname came from DeVito's family life. DeVito Appears At Pizzeria For Free After Fee DisputeĭeVito’s legacy is still being written, beginning with his nickname, Tommy Cutlets.

A heavy smoker and drinker, he died in 1992. He died in 2015 at age 84.Īs for Exley, “A Fan’s Notes” was turned into a limited-release movie that Exley panned, saying it did not resemble any of his work. “I gave myself up to the Giants utterly,” he says.Īfter the book came out and won literary acclaim, Exley and Gifford met a few times, including once when Exley was writing a piece for Esquire magazine.Īccording to what Gifford told Exley, the book would “probably outlast us both.”Īfter stepping away from the field for good, Gifford became a TV football broadcaster, later being snared in a supermarket tabloid sex scandal. According to Newsday, Exley’s breakout book was “the best novel written in the English language since ‘The Great Gatsby.’”Įarly in the novel, the main character, known by the author’s real name and nicknames (“Ex,” “Freddy”) says he faced “myriad defeats” over the years but discovered that his support of the Giants was “a life-giving” force. In the novel, called a “fictional memoir,” Gifford’s football heroics stand in contrast to the troubled lead character’s struggles with alcoholism and mental instability. The book delves into Exley’s obsession with the Giants and admiration for Gifford. In 1968, he entered popular culture with the publication of Frederick Exley’s autobiographical novel “A Fan’s Notes.”

A former NFL's Most Valuable Player, Gifford later was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Gifford Takes Center Stage In ‘A Fan’s Notes’ĭeVito is not the first New York Giants fan favorite to cross over into popular culture beyond the NFL.Īnother was legendary halfback and flanker Frank Gifford, a star during the 1950s into the ‘60s.

US promotional offers not available in KS, MS, NV or NY. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, DC, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).

Frank casino online casino