The Sidelines : Giants to Forgo N.Y. Ceremony

One day after the city said it couldn’t afford a ticker-tape parade, the Super Bowl champion New York Giants said today they won’t take part in a City Hall ceremony honoring the team.

The Giants said they would not participate because of the war in the Persian Gulf. The city then canceled Wednesday’s City Hall tribute.

“I understand and respect this gesture and share their desire to support the young men and women fighting in the Persian Gulf,” Mayor David N. Dinkins said.

The city had already erected a large platform on the City Hall steps. Dinkins had planned to present keys to the city to Giants Coach Bill Parcells and the team’s owners, Wellington and Tim Mara.

But in a statement, Wellington Mara said: “In recognition of the hundreds of thousands of men and women serving in the Persian Gulf area, we respectfully request that no such additional public celebrations be held.”