The remarkable story of the Giants, one of the most respected franchises in all of American sports, began in 1925 when Timothy J. Mara plunked down $500 for the rights to start a New York franchise in the fledgling National Football League. His first squad, which included the legendary Jim Thorpe, played one of its first games against the Red Grange-led Chicago Bears before 70,000 roaring fans at the Polo Grounds in upper Manhattan.