All 32 club nominees, including Barkley, will sport a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year helmet decal through the remainder of the season. The final announcement of the winner will take place during NFL Honors, a prime-time awards special, airing on Thursday, February 8. Barkley, the Giants’ nominee for the second consecutive year, aims to follow in the footsteps of Eli Manning (2016), the sole Giants player to have claimed this honor.

The significance of this award extends beyond recognition, as each nominee is set to receive up to a $55,000 donation, while the ultimate award recipient will be granted a substantial $250,000 donation for the charity of their choice.

“I want to make sure that with the time I have playing in the NFL and on this earth, I try to make a change, try to make an impact on someone’s life and fulfill my purpose,” Barkley expressed, emphasizing the core motivation behind his charitable pursuits.

Barkley’s commitment to philanthropy stems from personal experience. Having faced homelessness during his childhood, Barkley holds a deep-seated connection to two local charities dedicated to supporting young individuals in similar circumstances.

The star athlete has been a driving force behind raising $7 million for Covenant House New Jersey over the past five years. He serves as the celebrity chairman for their annual “Sleep Out: Executive Edition” fundraiser, propelling the event’s fundraising success from $750,000 to $1.6 million. Notably, this year’s Sleep Out is scheduled for Thursday, December 7 at MetLife Stadium.

Reflecting on his past, Barkley remarked, “Knowing now, I can understand how someone who cares about you and someone who wants to help and someone who wants to make change, I know how much that impacted my life… I want to do the same for others.”

Beyond Covenant House, Barkley is deeply involved with Children of Promise NYC, a nonprofit aiding children affected by familial incarceration. His contributions range from sponsoring summer trips to surprising kids in the Bronx with winter coats, with plans for hosting a December holiday party for children in Brooklyn.

Moreover, Barkley prioritizes fostering personal connections by inviting children and staff members from Covenant House New Jersey and Children of Promise NYC to Giants home games. He spends quality time with them both pre-game on the sidelines and post-game in the locker room, aiming to bring joy and support to their lives.

“I’m just happy that I’m able [to do] something so small as bring them to a football game on Sunday and it can go a long way,” Barkley stated, emphasizing the impact of these interactions.

His philanthropic efforts extend to organizing a free football camp for kids in Jersey City and contributing to the St. Luke’s Youth Football Camp in Whitehall, Pa., through his Michael Ann & Saquon Barkley Hope Foundation.

Barkley’s multifaceted approach to philanthropy embodies the essence of hope, reflecting his belief that hard work, dedication, and the right support can transform lives. Fans have the opportunity to contribute as well through the annual Charity Challenge, casting their support for Barkley via social media or NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.

The narrative of Saquon Barkley extends far beyond the gridiron. His commitment to making a difference off the field stands as a testament to the power of empathy and the capacity of sports stars to effect genuine change in the world around them.

The post Saquon Barkley Named Giants’ Walter Payton Man Of The Year Nominee appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Kara Arbadji is a performance chef for the New York Jets. However, she is a woman of many talents as she also does hospitality and social media work for the Jets culinary department as well. She is a recent college graduate from the University of Delaware with a degree in food science operations and management.

First Stint With The Jets

Two summers ago, Arbadji first worked with the Jets as she applied to a bunch of jobs in the area and the Jets were one of the first companies to get back to her. Her first phone call was with FLIK Hospitality who was hired by the Jets. Her first phone interview was more generic and more questions about her. However, her second phone call interview was with head chefs Jess and Patty and they clicked from there.

Her role or roles for that matter was a little bit of everything. She did a little bit of everything for them ranging from social media and graphics in house of content for Instagram and TikTok. For her work in hospitality, she was making sure the refrigerators were full as well as the coaches quarters. On the culinary side, she was prepping food and action stations where it is build your own bowls.

Even though she did mostly culinary, she is confident in her culinary experience and wants to expand her horizons and go above and beyond. So in addition to culinary, she also wanted to see how far she could go with her other passions in social media and hospitality.

Manifestation Is Key

Landing a job after college can be difficult especially depending on the field. It is even more difficult to land a job in the sports industry. However, she believes she manifested this job five years ago her senior year in high school. Her senior year capstone project was on nutrition in high school athletes and she spent the year creating different recipes and working with the team captains of the different teams to create something that would benefit them.

She mentions now it is crazy she is working for an NFL team and that she most likely wants to stick with professional sports.

Second Stint With The Jets

When she was done with her internship, the Jets offered a full-time position but she was going back to school for her senior year at the University of Delaware. They reached out to her this past summer but she wanted to focus on going to researching and developing food products. However, due to her struggling to find jobs in that field when September started, she called back asking if they were still hiring.

She is currently there part-time which allows her to focus on other interests such as working as a fitness coach and personal training stuff. Another reason she wanted to go back is she loved the atmosphere there and she loved her boss.

What Got Her Into This Unique Field?

Two of her biggest passions are health and fitness. The Jets were a perfect match for her as she gets to look at meal plans and try to help athletes recovery and the best types of food to help fuel their bodies to ensure they perform at their absolute best.

Day In The Life

Arbadji’s day in the life at work changes depending on her hours. Sometimes she will go in at 6:30 in the morning to prepare for breakfast which is from 7-9 am. Some of her tasks are putting out the breakfast foods and preparing for the day. Also, she at times makes overnight oats for the players to go fridge and other to go items.

Or, she may be tasked for setting up and preparing lunch which is either 11-3 or 12-3 pm where she prepares and cooks the food. Sometimes she gets to interact and engage with the players while building their meals.

Freedom & Specialty Dish

Now that she has been in her second stint with the Jets, Arbadji has a lot more freedom and flexibility which she is very grateful for. She made up a protein doughnut recipe and her chef gave her free reins as she knew Arbadji is looking for a research and development position which allows her to build her portfolio.

Out of all of the dishes she has made, both cooking and baking she prefers baking because she likes taking desserts and putting a healthier spin on them and making it more performance based. Her favorite thing she has ever made was the doughnuts and she mentioned they were a hit.

However, the process of making the donuts was a long one as it took awhile. Usually, she is only used to making around six while she is at home, but now it is a much larger scale as she had to make 120 which took a total of four or five hours.

Surreal Moment

She mentioned working for the Jets was definitely a surreal feeling as she gets to interact with and see the players daily. She also mentions, it is exciting that she feels like a part of it and almost playing a role.

Latest Article

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The “BE GIANT” campaign reinforces the standard set by General Manager Joe Schoen and Head Coach Brian Daboll of “Smart, Tough, Dependable.” It also highlights the foundational characteristics of the New York Football Giants.

The campaign will be amplified at the 2023 season opener on “Sunday Night Football” at MetLife Stadium, and all fans are encouraged to wear blue to create a “BLUE OUT.” All fans in attendance will receive a blue “BE GIANT” rally towel, courtesy of PNC Private Bank. The first 25,000 fans in attendance will receive a blue “BE GIANT” t-shirt courtesy of Pepsi.

“Giants fans can rally behind our ‘BE GIANT’ campaign, whether they are at the stadium, in their neighborhood, in school or at the office,” said Chief Business Officer Pete Guelli. “We are excited to launch this campaign ahead of our home opener at MetLife Stadium where we know our fans will create an unbelievable home-field advantage for the players and coaches on Sunday Night Football!”

To help kick off the campaign, the Giants will launch a community caravan on Friday, September 8, with alumni Hakeem Nicks, Jonathan Casillas, Ahmad Bradshaw and Mario Manningham, along with the G-line, the official drumline of the New York Giants. The groups will visit multiple schools in the Tri-State area to celebrate the start of the school year. They will make surprise stops along the way at various partner locations to reward fans with breakfast and lunch.

To learn more about the campaign, visit Giants.com/BeGiant

The post Giants Launch Season-Long Brand Campaign appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Dancing Dreams

On Thursday, July 6, the New York Yankees brought HOPE Week to Dancing Dreams. The brainchild of Joann Ferrara, Dancing Dreams began in 2002 as a program for pediatric physical therapy patients to put the fun back in physical therapy. But to the dancers, it means so much more than that.

In the words of one of the program’s first dancers:

In this class perfect was just a seven-letter word. What others would find imprecise and awkward we found expressive and beautiful. In other places the sound of a wheelchair clicking, a walker rushing by, or a crutch thumping would be disruptive, here those sounds enhanced the sound of the music and made it more beautiful. Our devices are shown with pride. There was no need to worry about being ‘graceful’ because we didn’t need to be. We could just be dancers.

What began as an impromptu class for five little girls has blossomed into an incredible non-profit with hundreds of members and three studios–opening the door for even more disabled children to “just be dancers”.

Dancing Down to Queens

Manager Aaron Boone and a handful of the Bronx Bombers made the trip down to Queens where Dr. Ferrara and her dancers were eagerly waiting.

OF Harrison Bader, SP Domingo German, RP Wandy Peralta, and RP Albert Abreu made an impression right away, lighting up faces throughout the studio. After the Dancers showed the Yankees the ropes, the class broke out into beautiful chaos: German serving up inflated-ball batting practice, Abreu and Peralta twirling ribbons around groups of dancers, Bader rocking a cowboy hat, and Boone showing his players how it’s done on the dance floor.

After all of the fun, Boone and his boys took a minute to share some words and one last surprise: a check for $10,000 and an invitation to batting practice before Thursday night’s clash vs. the Cubs.

HOPE Week 2023

Thursday’s Dancing Dreams event marked day four in the Yankees’ 14th installation of HOPE Week. This was the penultimate of five events on the docket for 2023.

The week kicked off with Damar Hamlin and Sarah Taffet giving on-field CPR training to Yankees players and coaches at the stadium. Both Hamlin and Taffet received CPR on-field after their respective injuries, a procedure that was lifesaving in both cases.

Day two was set aside to honor Project ALS and MLB Network Analyst Sarah Langs, a young woman who herself has ALS. On the 84th anniversary of 1B Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest Man” speech, Sarah Langs and other young women afflicted with ALS recreated his speech and took an intimate tour of Gehrig’s effects in the Yankees’ Museum.

A handful of Yankees, including 2B Gleyber Torres and SP Nestor Cortes Jr., took the show on the road to Paterson, NJ to host an instructional camp on day three.

After Thursday’s festivities, the Yankees took part in Street Lab in Morrisania, NY for the fifth and final day of this year’s HOPE Week.

The post HOPE Week 2023: Dancing Dreams appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Meet Sarah Langs

Born and raised in New York’s Upper East Side, for Sarah Langs, baseball has always been a part of her life. Growing up, her New York Mets were the only team worth rooting for, and her fandom ran as deep as her love for the game.

But after taking the gig at ESPN, her father says she was able to put that all behind her.

“It’s a miracle, sometimes I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Sarah was able to shed her allegiances when she decided to pursue her career which is amazing. She roots for everybody – she wants everyone to do well. She never highlights players who are struggling… I’ve never heard a negative comment about a player from her,” says Charles Langs.

The only thing more impressive about Sarah Langs’ passion for the game might be her resume. While attending the University of Chicago, Sarah spent all four years as a Senior Sports Editor for the Chicago Maroon. After internships with CSN Chicago and SNY, Sarah landed at ESPN where she would work as an analyst, a position she would hold for nearly four years until 2019 when she became a producer at MLB Network at just 26 years old.

Her time at MLB Network has featured regular appearances on broadcasts and in 2021, Langs crewed the first all-female broadcast of a Major League Baseball game, a regular season matchup between the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays.

Langs was diagnosed with ALS last year and has inspired the broader sports world with her fight. She continues to do research and make TV appearances while maintaining a must-follow social media account.

Project ALS meets HOPE Week

For the past 25 years, Project ALS has been leading the fight against ALS by funding teams of scientists and doctors for research and development with the hope of producing better and more effective treatments.

“We’re a baseball-loving 501(c)(3). Our mission is ALS research, and we believe that the only way we’re going to get through this is through really hardcore, targeted, direct research. We really are getting closer and a lot of that has to do with Sarah Langs. I think people are starting to understand that the only way through ALS is fighting it. Showing up, showing joy, and gratitude but it’s also a fight,” a Project ALS representative commented.

The Yankees, of course, have their own unique connection with ALS. Yankees Legend and Hall of Fame 1B Lou Gehrig, after whom the disease is nicknamed, tragically passed away at just 37 years old but not without delivering one of the most iconic speeches of all time.

Tuesday, on the 84th anniversary of that speech, the Yankees honored Sarah Langs and other young women also battling ALS by turning back the clocks for a day at Yankee Stadium. Prior to her pregame press conference, Sarah Langs and Project ALS stopped by Monument Park and the Yankees Museum to pay homage to Yankees greats and of course, Lou Gehrig. While in the Yankees Museum, Langs received a once in a lifetime surprise: getting to wear a game-used hat and holding the bat swung by the Iron Horse himself.

In Sarah’s words, “I grew up loving baseball and here I am with a disease that is known for a baseball player – one of the greatest players of all time, and to have a tangible connection was really, really powerful. ”

The Yankees and HOPE Week

Sarah Langs and Project ALS are just one of five different causes the Yankees have teed up for HOPE week 2023. Monday’s event kicked off the week with Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin and Fordham softball’s Sarah Taffet teaching lifesaving CPR on-field at Yankee Stadium.

Damar Hamlin and Sarah Taffet each received life-saving CPR after suffering injuries on-field and took Monday’s opportunity to raise awareness for the importance of CPR training.

Following Tuesday’s festivities, the Yankees took HOPE week on the road to Paterson, New Jersey, where a handful of Yankees, led by 2B Gleyber Torres, hosted a baseball clinic for local children. This follows similar events that SP CC Sabathia runs through his foundation, PitCCh In.

In the following days, the Yankees rounded out the fourteenth HOPE week in Queens at “Dancing Dreams” dance studio and Street Labs pop up play space in the Bronx, donating time and resources to causes making a difference in the New York City community.

The post Hope Week 2023: Yankees Honor Langs, Remember Gehrig appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Last week, former New York Yankees’ ace CC Sabathia and the PitCCh In foundation stopped by the Bronx to host an instructional camp for the New York City youth. Quarry Fields, a ballfield the Sabathia family refurbished in 2019, played home to the foundation for the weekend’s activities. The highlights were instruction from high school and college coaches, and, of course, CC himself. The event continues an ongoing relationship between Sabathia and the borough.

Campers received custom jerseys and team pictures with Sabathia before the activities got underway. A radar gun, baseballs, and smiling kids littered the infield dirt while whiffle balls, bats, and gloves lay scattered in the outfield. While the coaches and campers talked baseball on the field, parents watched from the sidelines as their children made memories that would last a lifetime.

“[My son] was very excited, he’s a huge Yankees fan so this was such a cool opportunity for him,” one parent said.

“When he heard about the CC Sabathia program, he [my son] was just ecstatic,” commented another.

In His Own Words

The importance of youth programs is paramount to the Sabathia family. CC and his wife Amber grew up in the inner city of Vallejo, California and Sabathia credits programs just like this one as his inspiration to give back.

“I started this foundation to help kids in kind of the situation that I grew up in. Me and Amber (Sabathia) both grew up in the inner city, and I grew up in the Boys and Girls Club and different organizations and without those vehicles I probably would not be here today – I know I wouldn’t be here today. We wanted PitCCh in to be that for some of these kids that look like us and grow up in the same situation that we grew up in.”

To Amber and CC Sabathia, it’s important that kids feel comfortable both on the field and in the classroom. In 2021, the Sabathias donated 3,000 backpacks full of school supplies to elementary schools across their hometown of Vallejo, California. This donation marks 20,000 such backpacks given out by the Sabathias to the Vallejo community since the program’s inception in 2008.

“The backpack giveaway was one of the first things that we did, starting at my hometown elementary school in Vallejo, California. That was one of our very first initiatives, we understand going back to school and how hard that can be for people in the inner city to have quality things for their kids to go back to school.”

In March of 2022, the city of Cleveland honored Sabathia for his longtime commitment to charity work with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Sabathia spent the first eight of his 19 big league seasons in Cleveland, sporting a 3.83 ERA across 1528 innings, striking out 1265. He would win his first and only Cy-Young in 2007 before his departure to Milwaukee.

When asked to describe what his foundation means to him, Sabathia admits the program has become another member of the family.

“It’s like our fifth child, it’s part of our family. My mom is here, my god-mom is here, my son is in the camp. Our family is very entrenched and involved in our foundation so it’s part of our family.”

Now in its 15th year, the PitCCh in foundation is showing no signs of slowing. PitCCh in, in association with ProCamps, has already put on two programs this year, and if Sabathia’s track record is any indication, more will follow. On a larger scale, the PitCCh in foundation does a lot of good for a lot of people, but to really appreciate how much each family benefits from the program, you have to hear it from them.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for remembering the children of The Bronx, thank you for coming out, and thank you for being so philanthropic.”

The post Sabathia’s PitCCh In Foundation Visits The Bronx appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Boston Red Sox OF Alex Verdugo will be bringing back his Alex Verdugo Baseball Clinic this summer. The event takes place on July 26 at Woburn Memorial High School in Woburn, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. Verdugo will personally run the clinic with other knowledgeable coaches in the area for kids in grades 1-8. The clinic will focus on the essential of the sport, such as hitting and fielding technique, so that developing players can learn from someone who has risen to the highest level in the baseball world.

To sweeten the deal, Verdugo will sign autographs for everyone, and each participant will also receive a clinic team photo and a custom-made shirt of the clinic. For more information and pricing, visit the official website, alexverdugoclinic.com.

ProCamps has been a leading sports management company since its established 25 years ago. They have partnerships with 12 leading athletic associations, athletes in the Big Four North American leagues. As the brand name implies, ProCamps specializes in running camps and clinics and helping athletes connect to their communities in a variety of media forms.

While this is a personal endeavor, Verdugo’s clinic is one of many examples of Red Sox players and the organization giving back to the Boston community.  The Red Sox Foundation supports a number of player-driven programs in addition to running their own nightly thematic events at Fenway Park.

2023 Season So Far

The announcement of the clinic’s return comes at a welcome time for Verdugo, who is off to a hot start. In a league-leading 23 games, the energetic rising star has been lighting it up at the plate. He is currently posting career highs with a .322 batting average and .885 OPS. Verdugo has three home runs and 11 RBIs so far while hitting for more power, walking at a higher rate, and striking out less often.

The right fielder has also noticeably improved his defense. While roaming the grass is notoriously difficult with the unusual dimensions at Fenway, Verdugo has turned a liability into a strength. Even though defensive metrics take longer to stabilize, the early returns are promising. Verdugo has dramatically raised his outs above average rating from the 13th percentile to the 92nd. Similarly, his jump (reaction time) has gone up from the 43rd percentile to the 75th, and his arm strength has improved from the 75th to the 96th. It is safe to say that Verdugo has a thing or two to teach students about getting better on the field.

All stats are through Sunday, April 23.

The post Alex Verdugo Brings Back Summer Baseball Clinic appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Today is Patriots Day, and the Boston Red Sox are playing on a Monday morning, as is tradition. But while the team annually celebrates Massachusetts and the American Revolution, this year carries extra weight. Saturday, April 15, marked the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing where three people were murdered near the finish line. Later that week, the two guilty brothers also killed a police officer.

The Red Sox organization was as shocked and heartbroken as the rest of the region and country. But as we know sports is capable of doing, the BoSox brought hope back in the aftermath of unthinkable tragedy. The 2013 team did not just win the World Series, they carried a city on their backs and declared that Boston will always come back stronger than ever before.

How the Red Sox Responded

Before the bombing, the Red Sox had celebrated Patriots Day in the best way possible, by hitting a walk off. They completed a sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays and headed to the airport. The team took off as news was breaking and just before authorities closed down the airport.

As a prominent part of Boston culture, the Red Sox were inherently folded into the city’s rallying cry. “Boston Strong” quickly became the motto of recovery, and the logo making waves used the Red Sox font for the letter “B”. The team dealt with the same raw emotions as the rest of us but still took the field to face the Cleveland Indians for three games. Playing with their hearts on their sleeves, they also swept that series before returning home. Unfortunately, the Boston area was in a total lockdown on Friday, April 19, while police searched for the two terrorists. The Red Sox game was obviously postponed, and they played a double header on Sunday.

The Sox played a 1 pm game on Saturday, April 20 against the Kansas City Royals and held a commemorative ceremony beforehand. The home uniforms said “BOSTON” across the front instead of the team name, because who they were playing for had changed. A number of people spoke, but by far the most memorable was DH David Ortiz’s speech. One of the longest tenured players and a fan favorite by that point, Big Papi addressed the crowd. He had a few prepared lines, but the meaningful part came to him in the moment:

The Boston Marathon bombing occurred ten years ago today. One of the city’s most tragic and senseless events turned into a time of resilience and community.

David Ortiz’s speech will live on forever.pic.twitter.com/n4lSnMEVJQ

— Boston Sports Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) April 15, 2023

The confident assurance declared that no one messes with Boston, and the city would be able to move forward. Ortiz was already a beloved superstar on the field for bringing a title back after 86 years, but he became a cultural touchstone intertwined with the triumphant spirit of his adopted home.

The Red Sox proceeded to win that day and kept winning all season long. They finished with a record of 97-65, won the AL East, and battled their way to an ineffable championship. In a year when observers counted them out, the Red Sox had the extra motivation of playing for a community rather than just playing for a team.

Eight years later, with the addition of Nike City Connect Jerseys, the Red Sox decided to honor the Boston Marathon by wearing yellow with light blue trim. They still wear the alternates today, especially during this weekend.

Personal Account

“There’s been some kind of bombing at the marathon.”

What? Here?

I was in seventh grade when tragedy struck. There was only one other student and the teacher sitting in office hours, a time when most kids laze around instead of doing homework. It is safe to say none of us did work after 2:49 pm that day. Anxious fretting ensued: we asked endless questions, searched for any updates, called our parents.

How does a 13-year-old deal with an unforeseen attack? I hugged my family and sat glued to the television because those were the only things to do. Watching highlights from that morning’s Red Sox game was unsettling. The players were joyously celebrating a Gatorade bath mere minutes before the world changed for the worse.

There was school Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but for the life of me, I could not tell you anything we did that week. My best guess would be an assembly followed by breakout groups followed by “regular” classes where no one could focus on pre-Algebra or the past imperfect tense.

I woke up on my own Friday morning and immediately knew something was off. If my mom didn’t wake me, then there must be no school. A snow day in April possible in Massachusetts but extremely unlikely. The reality was much worse: the whole area was locked down while public enemies #1 and #2 were on the loose. That evening brought even more screen time where meaningful updates popped up every hour or two but studios filled the rest of their airtime with speculation.

With the successful captures, we could all take an uneasy sigh of relief. The Red Sox were back in town the following day, and that was a must-watch game, even more so than Opening Day. Going to a religious school my whole life, hearing an athlete swear on live TV was the most satisfying feeling. It was a mix of childish disbelief and mature appreciation for Ortiz said exactly what we all needed to hear.

Similar to C Mike Piazza’s home run after 9/11 and Steve Gleason’s blocked punt after Katrina, Ortiz and the Red Sox showed that we still have reason to celebrate. Boston would come back stronger than before, and it did.

“This is our f***ing city, and nobody gonna dictate our freedom.”

The post How the Red Sox Brought Hope After Boston Bombing appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Last week, Yankee Stadium once again opened its doors to the Bronx faithful–by offering up ballpark hot dogs, garlic fries, and cotton candy. Only this time the New York Yankees are back and better than ever. They are bringing fans a flurry of new additions to the ballpark menu, headlined by an Aaron Judge-inspired burger just as good as its namesake.

Yankees Senior Executive Chef and Legends Hospitality general manager Matt Gibson is the man behind the menu’s new look. Yankee Stadium is partnering with Fuku, Mac Truck, and Bronx-born chef Christian Petroni to add to the ballpark’s already solid lineup of Streetbird, Bobby’s Burgers, and Mighty Quinn’s, among others.

Meet the Menu

Fuku: O.G. Spicy Chicken Sando + Chicken and Waffle Fries (section 213)

Since it opened in New York City’s East Village in 2015, Fuku has catapulted itself into the forefront of fast-casual dining by serving locations such as Madison Square Garden, Citi Field, the US Open, and the Barclays Center to name only a few. The key to this astronomical success? A spicy habanero brined chicken breast topped with Fuku mayo and pickles, sandwiched between a potato roll. Yankee fans be warned, this dish is not for the faint of heart. The spicy sando makes sure to live up to its namesake. The crispy, spicy breading, complimented by the heat of the chicken and signature mayo, pack a punch and leave tastebuds ablaze. Fuku will find its next home at Yankee Stadium in section 213.

Mac Truck: Chicken Mac and Cheese + Mexican Street Mac + Classic Mac and Cheese (section 223)

A Saratoga-born phenomenon, Dom Tesoriero’s Mac Truck has been rolling through the streets of New York since 2012, making stops at the Saratoga Raceway, Comic Con, and Afro Punk, among others. Currently Mac Truck is franchising, bringing their “cheesiest mac and cheese” out west and across the country.

Yankee Stadium will serve three types of Mac Truck’s signature mac and cheese. The three options are Buffalo Chicken Mac, Mexican Street Mac, and Classic Mac. The intro of mac and cheese is a part of Yankee Stadium’s efforts to provide fans a variety of vegetarian options. This includes Petroni’s Cheesy Garlic Bread, the Veggie Bronx Burrito, Bobby’s Veggie Burger, and Halal Guys’ Falafel, among others.

Christian Petroni: Cheesy Garlic Bread (section 125, 310)

Chef Christian Petroni brings his signature cheesy garlic bread from the streets of New York to the ballpark. Chef Petroni opened his first restaurant, Fortina, in Armonk, NY in 2013 and the brand has enjoyed major success. After appearing on Food Network in 2018 and with five Fortina locations in the region, Petroni brings his Italian cuisine to Yankee Stadium.

Petroni’s cheesy garlic bread is sure to delight the local fanbase. The bread has a thin, crunchy crust exterior which holds together a warm doughy center, coated in a layer of triple cheesy goodness. It comes with fresh mozzarella, pecorino Romano, and parmesan Reggiano. The bread is served with a ramekin of Chef Petroni’s eight-hour marinara, a show-stealing enhancement to an already incredible dish. Yankee fans can find these delicious contributions in sections 125 and 31o.

Yankee Stadium Legends Hospitality Exclusives

99 Burger (223), Pork and Broccoli Rabe Cheesesteak (107), Chopped Crispy Chicken & Jalapeno Bacon Ranch Cheesesteak (107), Bronx Burrito (311), Veggie Bronx Burrito (311)

99 Burger

The 99 Burger is the crown jewel of the updated menu, bar none. Served in section 223, the Aaron Judge-inspired burger features two four-oz. American Wagyu beef patties laid on a brioche bun, topped with American cheese, caramelized onions, dill pickles, and secret sauce.

Needless to say, this is no ordinary ballpark burger.  The cheese and sauce nicely compliment the Wagyu beef, letting it shine and keeping the flavors rich but simple. Combined with the Wagyu’s notoriously fatty texture and buttery smooth finish, this burger stands alone atop the peak of ballpark cuisine.

Act fast Yankee fans, this decadent offering is as fleeting as it is delicious. Upon its release, Yankee Stadium announced that a maximum of 99 burgers would be sold each game. That makes this handheld masterpiece a rare treat for the lucky few.

Rounding out the core of Legends Hospitality Exclusives are a quartet of cheesesteaks and burritos, the latter of which comes with an enticing veggie option.

Pork and Broccoli Rabe Cheesesteak: a pork shoulder and and marinated broccoli rabe with provolone on a hero.

Chopped Crispy Chicken & Jalapeno Bacon Ranch Cheesesteak: chopped crispy chicken, pickled, jalapeno, smoked bacon, American cheese, and ranch on a hero.

Bronx Burrito: cheddar cheese, beef barbacoa, rice and beans, salsa verde, chipotle mayo, and Melinda’s hot sauce.

Veggie Bronx Burrito: cheedar cheese, sweet plantains, rice and beans, salsa verde, chipotle mayo, and Melinda’s hot sauce.

Alcoholic Beverages

Prickly Pear Margarita: Hornitos tequila, prickly pear juice, simple syrup, lime (318)

Cutwater Vodka Mule: ginger, a splash of bitters, and a hint of lime (stadium “Grab and Go” locations”)

Visiting Yankee Stadium to sample the cuisine is a tradition as popular as going to see the Bombers play. Now is your chance to do both at once.

Cover image is courtesy of BSP’s Andrew Fuime

The post Yankee Stadium 2023 Food Review appeared first on Back Sports Page.

For Cavs forward Lamar Stevens though, he decided to give back to the local community. Stevens, partnering with The Light Center Recovery and several other organizations locally. Together they served the Akron area by giving out over 150 turkeys and providing an early Thanksgiving dinner for over a hundred members of the community. Stevens (who also participated in a sit-down style Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday for Project ACT) was on hand to help out and take pictures with guests.

A Reminder of Home

Patrick Yen / Back Sports Page

The Jerry Rowland Turkey Giveaway returned to Akron for its fourth year on Saturday. Nine local businesses came together at the Ed Davis Community Center near the heart of Akron to give back with whole turkeys and a delicious Thanksgiving meal.

The volunteers were mostly made up of young professionals with Lamar Stevens fitting the bill just like any other. Cars could drive up and grab a turkey with some assorted sides outside of the center. Music was playing on the inside as guests were served ham, turkey, mac & cheese and all the other Thanksgiving classics. The event itself was relaxed and friendly, suiting Stevens perfectly.

Speaking at the event, Stevens said that the surroundings reminded him of his hometown of Philadelphia.

“The holidays are really just about bringing everyone together and showing what you’re grateful for,” Steven stated warmly. “We are all better together, we need to show unity and use the holidays as an opportunity to grow.”

Open Arms

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Stevens is certainly doing his part by showing up to local events in Cleveland and the surrounding areas. He seemed to really enjoy the pleasant atmosphere, taking pictures with many of the guests and chatting with his fellow volunteers in his first time in Akron. Stevens even stayed after the festivities were over to tour the community center, checking out the gym and learning about the various upcoming renovations.

A big smile was constantly on his face, open to anyone to come up and say hi or grab a picture. The event was full of families eating and conversing, which Stevens appreciated and sources as a memory to be cherished.

“Spending time with my family and bringing everyone together,” Stevens recollected. “With everybody’s schedules that’s not going to happen all the time. So just the fact that we can all come together and share what we’re grateful for, I think that’s huge.”

On and Off the Court

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November has and probably will continue to be a busy month for Lamar Stevens. The Penn State alum is seeing more minutes than ever, partially due to injury as well as his own exception play, getting a few spot starts.

For the month of November, Stevens is averaging 27.9 minutes and scoring 8.5 points with 3.8 rebounds per game. While his numbers aren’t gaudy, it’s the confidence and effort that Stevens puts in on the court that makes him so endearing to Cavs fans. He tries 100% every possession and doesn’t shy away from the moment. That attitude also makes him one of the most generous givers in the community. You can be sure Stevens will be out and about during the holiday season, giving back with an easy smile and a quick laugh.

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