Boomer, Gunnar, ‘What the Game’s All About’

Seemingly inseparable teammates, Boomer Esiason and his son, Gunnar, were split up last year. But it was a change worthy of celebration because Gunnar, diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 2, was healthy enough to leave Long Island and attend Boston College for his freshman year.

“It was tough, both for me and his mom, Cheryl. We were anxious. We were worried about him leaving the nest, if you will,” Boomer said this week. “But at the end of the day, it’s all about Gunnar taking care of himself and becoming a young man with cystic fibrosis, and for the most part, we thought that he really handled it extremely well. We couldn’t have been any prouder of him.

“I got accused of becoming a college freshman all over again because I spent so much time up there in Boston, which is good. And now his younger sister, Sydney, is going to go with him up to BC and we couldn’t be any happier.”

On hand at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium for the 15th annual Empire Challenge, Esiason watched a competitive contest as New York City high schoolers came from behind to defeat Long Island, 15-10, before 8,224 spectators. While this contest featured drama, nothing will ever match the 2009 Challenge when Gunnar, who played QB at Friends Academy in Locust Valley, got to take a few memorable snaps.

Not only does the Empire Challenge support youth football in the New York metropolitan area but money is raised to fight cystic fibrosis. A genetic disorder that affects more than 30,000 Americans, CF causes mucus to build up and clog organs. If there are clogs in the lungs, mucus can cause bacteria to get stuck in the airwaves and then inflammation and infections can lead to lung damage.

“We’ve raised $80 million dollars and most of our money goes into research grants to try to support the biotech companies that are trying to bring a cure to the forefront,” Esiason said of his foundation. “In the meantime, we’ve benefited from five drugs that have come from the test tube to the patient that Gunnar has right now in his life.

“We’ve given over $2 million worth of college scholarships to CF kids, we’ve given lung transplant grants, we’ve given $6 million to Columbia to create an adult center and we’ve given $6 million to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to create the pediatric center our there plus a research grant chair out there. So we’ve done a lot of good things and it’s very inspiring to watch all this stuff and then to watch Gunnar finish his freshman year at Boston College and benefit from everything that so many people have done for us — it really makes me feel good.”

Boomer and Gunnar aren’t satisfied, though, even as they’ve helped life expectancy increase for those suffering from CF from 18 to 37. The annual battle between the best and brightest talent from New York City and Long Island is an important football game that hopefully brings the Esiasons and countless thousands closer to a cure.

“It’s been great and every year it gets bigger and better,” Boomer said. “Even through the lean sponsorship times, we’ve always been able to find somebody to make ends meet. MSG stepped up huge this year for us and everybody now seems to get exactly what this game is all about, so I’m pretty proud of it.”

Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge practice Friday, Day 1

NYC backs up boasts with dominant defensive effort in memorable victory

The New York City players talked and talked and talked some more. The days leading up to the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge, an all-star game at Hofstra University, was filled with chatter.

Team NYC talked about how its wide receivers would be unstoppable. They talked about how Long Island wasn’t going to be able to run the ball against its defensive line. And don’t even think about throwing deep with Poly Prep’s Devante Wheeler and Dean Marlowe of Holy Cross patrolling the secondary. They talked about how their opponents better not going to score the same 31 points they did year ago.

And losing? Well, that wasn’t going to happen.

“They better hope somebody messes up with the scoreboard or something,” Holy Cross defensive lineman Chris Brathwaite said before the opening kickoff.

I was told prior to the game that the Long Island players had read and heard about the city’s boasts. Quotes were underlined and they certainly got their attention. But none of that mattered. You didn’t have to look hard to see what the scoreboard lights at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium read after the final whistle Tuesday night: New York City 15, Long Island 10.

Smack talk validated.

“It wasn’t all talk,” Brathwaite said. “That’s how it is. They couldn’t block us, we made plays. That first touchdown was lucky. They played hard, they played good, but we were just better. We made plays when we had to make them. I just take the ‘W’ like it is.”

And what a win it was.

Long Island gained just 24 yards in the second half against a dominant defensive line led by Flushing’s defensive end Jason Bromley and Braithwate, who recovered a fumble. New York was in the backfield on nearly every play, grinding the L.I. offense to a standstill. The lone touchdown they gave up came with 4:39 left in the first quarter.

After that it was just a 33-yard field goal by St. Anthony’s Jesse Signa on a drive that started with a 56-yard kickoff return by Mike Gallo down to the New York 14. Long Island rushed for just 1 yard and had incomplete passes over the next three plays.

“I will give it to the defensive line,” Marlowe said. “If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have been winning the game right now.”

They weren’t the only ones.

New York City also had two interceptions, not quite the five they were jokingly hoping for, but certainly good enough. Xaverian’s Mario Tull had one and Wheeler grabbed the biggest of the game to set up the winning score, as Long Island completed just 5-of-17 passes.

“My heart dropped. I didn’t know what to do,” Wheeler said. “I tried to get into the end zone, but I was like alright let me just hold onto the ball. We’re on the 2-yard line. You know what? We don’t need a touchdown. I would have loved the touchdown, but I didn’t need it. It’s all about getting that ‘W.’”

One the players no longer need to talk about. Anyone who saw it will do it for them.

My enjoyable trip to Hofstra with Hayes football star

My Blackberry was glued to my ear as I settled into the taxi outside of the Hempstead Long Island Railroad station. Next to me was a student, I figured, his iPod bumping.

Halfway to Hofstra, the driver asked us where we were going. I told the coach on the other end of the phone, I would call him back. Almost in unison, we both said we were going to the football field, for the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge, the yearly all-star game pitting New York City’s best against Long Island’s finest.

“You’re going to watch it?” I asked my fellow passenger.

“No,” he said, smiling. “I’m playing.”

“Yeah? For who?” I asked again.

“New York City,” he said.

My ears perked up. “What’s your name?” I blurted out.

“Jeremiah Kobena,” the Syracuse-bound Cardinal Hayes standout replied.

Wow, I thought. What a coincidence. I was kind of ashamed, too. Sure, I cover PSAL football, not the CHSAA, but how could I not recognize the kid that has had his face plastered all over our site, who is going to Syracuse along with plenty of other city standouts, who was an All-City selection by our staff? I actually apologized.

We got to talking, about the game, about Syracuse and its treacherous winters, about Hofstra not having a football program anymore. Kobena missed the team’s dinner at Outback Steakhouse because he had to take a Regents exam. He said he told teammate Gary Acquah of Mount St. Michael to bring him some food.

“He’ll probably eat it all,” he cracked.

I asked him what was going to happen in the game.

“We’ll win, of course,” he said, and smiled yet again.

Minutes later, the taxi dropped us off – on the wrong side of campus.

We had to find our way to the field, across Hempstead Turnpike. I sprinted across the heavily-trafficked street to avoid oncoming cars as he jogged. Somehow, he got across the street faster. Go figure.

We still couldn’t find the field. He was getting nervous, I could tell, but still remained friendly and jovial. Kobena was late as it was, and the team’s coaches weren’t treating this like an all-star game. Eventually, we found the players’ entrance. I headed to the press box, Kobena to the locker room.

After the memorable game, I was in the parking lot, looking to track down a few players when I saw him again. He smiled and we shook hands.

My taxi compatriot was right. New York City won.

‘Sky’s the limit’ for underrecruited Bromley

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

For such a big guy, Jason Bromley has become rather adept at being overlooked. It almost happened again when PSAL coaches were looking at film in preparation selecting their all-city team.

Flushing coach Jim DeSantis said he had to step in on behalf of his star defensive lineman. Eventually, the coaches relented and the rest was history.

His spot on the all-city team beget his spot on the New York City roster for the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge, where Bromley won the MVP award with a magnificent performance Tuesday night in NYC’s 15-10 win against Long Island at Hofstra. Bromley had two sacks and seven tackles, including three for a loss, as well as two passes batted down. He was nary unstoppable.

“That’s how he was all year,” DeSantis said of Bromley, who didn’t play football before coming to Flushing. … “It’s a tribute to him. He’s just worked his ass off from Day One.”

Somehow, Bromley didn’t have any firm scholarships offers after a senior season that saw him lead Flushing to the playoffs at the highest classification and named to The Post’s All-City first team. Stony Brook showed interest, but Bromley said he never got the feeling that the Seawolves coaches really wanted him. Instead of playing Division I football next year, he’ll compete at New Hampton prep school in New Hampshire.

“I did what [the Stony Brook coaches] told me to do, but it seemed like they didn’t want me at the time,” said Bromley, who is a qualifier. “Hopefully they see this game and think again.”

Rutgers, Syracuse and UConn flirted, but never offered. All of it made DeSantis’ head spin – and he knew why. This was just the Red Devils’ third year competing on the varsity level after the former Bayside assistant resurrected the once-proud program.

“My problem is, I sent film all over the place,” DeSantis said. “I sent it to Division I schools. He went to Division I camps. He went to the Big Man Camp at Rutgers. A lot of those guys recruit, because other guys are recruiting him.”

It would be shocking if the phone calls didn’t come rolling in now. Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason, whose foundation for cystic fibrosis gets the proceeds from the Empire Challenge, was befuddled when told Bromley qualified yet didn’t have any Division I scholarships offers.

“Maybe this game does something for him,” Esiason said. “Hopefully that’s the case, because that kid was unstoppable. He has a great attitude and it seemed like the motor never stopped. I think he sensed – and I can’t speak for him – as the game wore on, the impact he was having was apparent.”

Bromley had a huge sack of Syracuse-bound quarterback John Kinder to help stop Long Island’s final drive. His pressure of Kinder led to a first-half interception by Mario Tull. He lived in the offensive backfield all game.

“Bromley did an unbelievable job in there, man,” NYC defensive coordinator and Tottenville head coach Jim Munson said. “He gave them hell. He knocked down two passes. They couldn’t block him when we had an inside rush.”

The 6-foot-4, 245-pounder wanted to make sure he gave Flushing HS and South Jamaica, his home, a shoutout when he was called up on stage to accept the MVP award. But later, when asked about his future home, he got quiet. Bromley said it wasn’t up to him to decide if college coaches had made a mistake. He’s focused right now on New Hampton.

“After that,” Bromley said, “the sky’s the limit.”

Legendary Fort Hamilton coach goes out a winner in Empire Challenge

Vinny Laino stood beyond the far side of the end zone, where family and friends meet the players. As each New York City player jogged toward him, Laino, smiling broadly, stopped him and shook his hand.

“How about those boys?” he said proudly to no one in particular after New York City’s 15-10 victory over Long Island in the 15th annual Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge at Hofstra.

Laino, New York City’s offensive coordinator for the all-star game pitting the five boroughs best against their Long Island adversaries, was the picture of serenity, a victorious coach moments after his finale.

“What a great win,” he said later. “We won this one with defense – the old fashioned way.”

The Fort Hamilton coach left a winner, after running the Brooklyn powerhouse for 20 years, winning city championships in 2005 and 2006, and finishing with a 150-60 record.

After 15 years as an assistant at Thomas Jefferson, Laino started the football program at Fort Hamilton from scratch. At the outset, Laino joked, the school didn’t have shoulder pads or helmets and kids didn’t know the difference between an out pattern and an outhouse.

But he turned the program into one of the city’s best, the highlight back-to-back city titles. The 2006 team, led by quarterback Jeffrey Legree and running back Antonio Walcott, went 13-0. It included Temple junior Jaiquawn Jarrett and Rutgers sophomore Keith Stroud.

Known for his expert offensive schemes and spread offense, Laino, 55, is revered in city football circles. His teams were known as tough, disciplined and talented, despite routinely low roster numbers in the high 20s and low 30s.

“He just teaches you so much, either about football or life or anything,” said Fort Hamilton’s Nick Fiorito, New York City’s center and place-kicker. “He is just such a good coach, a life coach, a football coach.”

The night was memorable because of the win, but also since his son, Frank Laino, made his high-school swan song, too. Vinny Laino often joked he raised his son under his desk at Fort Hamilton, that he could read a defense before a book.

He surprisingly won the job at quarterback his junior year and led the Tigers to consecutive undefeated regular seasons, the City Championship final in 2009 and semifinals in 2010.

“I feel real blessed,” said Frank Laino, who is headed to SUNY Maritime in the fall. “A lot of kids don’t get a chance to get an extra game. I got an extra chance with my dad.”

He added: “It was a really great experience that a lot of kids don’t get to experience. It had its ups and downs, but it’s definitely a better experience than most kids have.”

Vinny Laino wasn’t having any second thoughts afterward about his decision to retire. He ruled out a return, calling Fort Hamilton “the best job in the world.” Frank Laino thinks his dad will miss the sport at some point, but not now.

“He lives in the moment, so I think he’s genuinely happy,” said Frank Laino, who ran for 14 yards on 14 carries and threw an interception.

Vinny plans to move to the Midwest with his wife, Lisa, and find a new hobby and possibly even a job. He will return to see Fort Hamilton play in the fall, and will attend several of Frank Laino’s games at SUNY Maritime. His last five seasons at Fort Hamilton were memorable: five playoff appearances, the two city titles, and four semifinals berths.

“Great way to finish,” he said. “This win is the cherry on top.”

Fort Hamilton’s Fiorito hits career-best kick in NYC win

06.23.10
By JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

Fort Hamilton’s Fiorito hits career-best kick in NYC win

Nick Fiorito was unexpectedly in uncharted territory.

The Fort Hamilton senior was ready to line up for a 39-yard field goal that would give New York City a third-quarter lead in the team’s eventual 15-10 win over Long Island at the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium Tuesday night. A false start would quickly make the kick 44 yards, a distance Fiorito only connected on in practice.

No matter.

“I was just focused the whole time,” the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Albany-bound kicker said. “That didn’t change my thought or anything. I was just thinking about getting the ball through the yellow posts that’s it.”

It wasn’t a booming shot that flew well through the top of the uprights, but it was good enough. The ball slowly turned end over end and cleared the crossbar to give New York City and 9-7 with 3:18 left in the quarter. The kick was the longest in Fiorito’s career. His previous best was a 35-yarder against Curtis in the regular season.

“He can kick further than that at practice, but you don’t get paid for kicking them in practice,” Fort Hamilton coach and NYC offensive coordinator Vinny Laino said. “You got to kick them in the game. That was just tremendous.”

He said Fiorito, who also plays center, is a tough kid, one that is not easily intimidated and never backs down. His Long Island counterpart Jesse Signa of St. Anthony’s made a living this season on big kicks and had a 30-yarder in the game. Fiorito answered with an important one of his own.

Laino said he will be giving the Albany coaching staff a call to make the case that Fiorito will be good enough to kick for them next season. He also averaged 34.5 yards per punt, including his longest at 51.

But it is the long field goal he will remember most.

“I was just waiting, waiting, waiting and then when it finally went over,” Fiorito said, “I was just so happy.”

Poly Prep star makes lasting impression for last time at Hofstra

Devante Wheeler expected to be making big plays at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium. He just thought he’d be doing it for the Pride.

As it turned out, Hofstra dropped its football program late last year and Wheeler signed with Stony Brook. But the versatile Poly Prep star still made his name in Hempstead with a huge interception in the fourth quarter that completely changed momentum in the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge.

A Long Island bad snap forced quarterback John Kinder to chase the ball into his own end zone and with New York City linebacker Kuaku Duah threatening to force a safety, Kinder slung the ball into the air – right into the waiting arms of Wheeler in coverage.

“My heart dropped,” the cornerback said. “I didn’t know what to do. I tried to get into the end zone, but I was like alright let me just hold onto the ball. We’re on the 2-yard line. You know what? We don’t need a touchdown. I would have loved the touchdown, but I didn’t need it. It’s all about getting that ‘W.’”

Two plays later, NYC quarterback Jordan Rodriguez of Susan Wagner barreled into the end zone and New York City would hang on for a 15-10 win Tuesday in the 15th annual game which benefits the Boomer Esiason Foundation for cystic fibrosis. For Wheeler, it marked his family’s third Empire Challenge victory – first cousins Jeff and David Legree, who attended Fort Hamilton and South Shore respectively, each helped lead NYC to victory in the game.

“I’ve been here for the past five years on the sideline, waiting for my chance,” said Wheeler, a Staten Island native. “I was really happy I was able to make a big play and the ball came my way.”

The interception helped him back up some trash he’s been talking to future Stony Brook teammate and roommate JeVahn Cruz, who had a huge interception earlier in the fourth quarter of NYC’s Frank Laino.

“I’m going to Stony Brook with a little bragging rights for the fall semester,” Wheeler said. “JaVahn Cruz, who caught the interception, thought he clinched the game, but I told him he’s got to buy the toaster, the fridge and the microwave for the dorm room now.”

All kidding aside, Wheeler is happy he’s going to be at Stony Brook and he holds no ill will toward Hofstra. He raved about the Suffolk County school’s academic support system and their competitive schedule – the Seawolves open up against Big East power South Florida in the fall.

The loquacious Wheeler left Shuart Stadium for probably the last time with a parting shot.

“We need to move this game to Stony Brook so people can see Stony Brook, which is all the way out on Long Island,” he said. “Nobody wants to make that [trip]. It’s literally a diamond in the rough. When you go out there, you have the chance to see a beautiful campus.”

Monstrous Bromley wins Empire Challenge MVP

Jason Bromley was beside himself last week. It was the first New York City team practice for the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge and he was an hour late. He got lost on the train coming from his home in South Jamaica to New Utrecht HS in Brooklyn.

“I’m coming into this all-star game for a reason and everybody is gonna be here,” the Flushing defensive lineman said. “It’s gonna be the best of the best. So I felt like me showing up late, it’s gonna put me a step behind everybody. I wanted to show everybody that I was the best lineman there, the best player there – period.”

Bromley worked even harder and his desire showed something to defensive line coach Greg Manos, the head coach of St. Joseph by the Sea.

“The most impressive thing all week was last week he came about an hour late to practice,” Manos said. “He was visibly upset, because he got lost on the train. That said something about his character.”

On Tuesday, he made an even bigger statement about his game. Bromley had two sacks and seven tackles – including three for a loss – to lead New York City to a 15-10 win against Long Island in the 15th annual all-star game at Hofstra University that benefits the Boomer Esiason Foundation for cystic fibrosis. Afterward, the first Flushing player to ever play in the Empire Challenge was named the game’s MVP.

“I came here with a lot on my back,” Bromley said. “I came out there with Flushing on my back. I came out here with all my teammates, being the first from Flushing to make this game. And coming out here and winning MVP, it shows that my school plays too.”

Bromley caused an absolute ruckus on almost every play, moving from defensive end to tackle and back to disrupt the Long Island front. Though it didn’t show up in his stat line, Bromley’s pressuring of Syracuse-bound quarterback John Kinder in the second quarter led directly to a Mario Tull interception. It was just one of many times he was in the offensive backfield.

“Bromley did an unbelievable job in there, man,” NYC defensive coordinator and Tottenville head coach Jim Munson said. “He gave them hell. He knocked down two passes. They couldn’t block him when we had an inside rush.”

He also had one of the game’s biggest defensive plays late. With Long Island just getting into New York City territory on its final drive, Bromley sacked Kinder for a 7-yard loss. Four plays later, the game was over and NYC snapped a two-game losing streak.

“Usually you see a game like this in the fourth quarter and guys are hiding,” Manos said. “We had seven guys chomping at the bit to get in there wanting to make that play. He stepped up and I’m proud of him. It was a pleasure to coach him all week.”

Bromley also caught the eye of the game’s founder, who knows a thing or two about football.

“Bromley was a beast today,” said Esiason, who played quarterback in the NFL for 14 years. “The guy was all over the place. Long Island could not control him. He was just a beast and he made it a long night for the Long Island quarterbacks. … I can tell you he was a force, because the Long Island coaches were telling me that they were trying to run away from him. But when he’s in the middle like that and he has the speed he has, they couldn’t control him.”

Bromley, who will play next year at New Hampton (N.H.) prep school, spoke Monday about hoping to put Flushing on the map. He did just that – coach Jim DeSantis, who resurrected the program five years ago, was in attendance and said his performance was huge.

“Where was he hiding this whole time?” NYC cornerback Devante Wheeler of Poly Prep said. “The kid’s a monster. I’ve never seen him in my life. They say he’s from Flushing. I say, ‘Where’s Flushing?’ He deserved the MVP. He was in the backfield every single play.”

Bromley, who didn’t have any firm Division I offers, was humble after. To him, it was just like another day at the office.

“I set goals every game I go into,” he said. “My goal when I knew about the game, when I got introduced, was to start. Then my goal was to win MVP. I accomplished my goals.”

Tough Timmins maturely dealing with loss, concussion

Timminses are tough. They can fight through anything.

Curtis standout defensive end James Timmins kept repeating those eight words to himself – words his father, James D. Timmins, often spoke.

He told them to himself on his way home from his after-prom party in Wildwood, N.J., after he was informed his father had died in his sleep, at the age of 59, in his West Brighton, Staten Island home June 12. He told them to himself the day after he buried his father and attended football practice five days later. He told them to himself when he couldn’t play in the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge, an all-star game he dedicated to his father, because of a minor concussion he suffered in practice.

Basically, he kept on telling himself those words over the last 10 days, since his father’s tragic passing.

“He’s a trooper. He’s strong like his father, and he’s resilient,” Maura Timmins said of her Rhode Island-bound son, who led the city in sacks with 16, was a first team All-City selection by The Post, and helped Curtis win the PSAL City Championship as a senior.

While the 6-foot-3 Timmins was on the sideline, wearing his No. 53 jersey sans shoulder pads, spikes and pants at Hofstra University yesterday, he felt like a part of New York City’s thrilling 15-10 victory. He helped dump the Gatorade on his coach, Curtis’ Pete Gambardella, and was in on many of the team’s defensive discussions.

Maura Timmins didn’t attend the Empire Challenge because her son wasn’t suiting up, but he called her immediately after. He was excited, almost as excited as if he made the game-winning play or received the MVP.

“We just won in the last two minutes,” he told her. “I’m very proud of the team.”

His Curtis teammate, wide receiver Marcus Spann, said he hardly noticed a change in Timmins. Fort Hamilton quarterback Frank Laino, who is extremely close with his father, Tigers longtime coach Vinny Laino, couldn’t imagine what Timmins is going through. He was even more impressed by how he has handled this life-altering period.

“He’s a mentally strong kid,” Frank Laino said. “To see him out here today and the other day at practice, cheering on his teammates, he proved to everybody what kind of character he has.”

Timmins is hurting – inside. His father has been there from the start, at every football and basketball game. He planned to make the trek to Rhode Island for every game, too.

James D. Timmins ran Elm Park Inn, a popular steakhouse on Staten Island, for 10 years and just recently returned there. He suffered from various ailments recently and died in his sleep from natural causes.

“It’s been real tough,” Timmins said. “He was my best friend. He was at every one of my basketball and football games. We were real close. But I’m glad he’s in a better place now.”

“I wanted to come out and play for him, but I pushed myself too hard,” he added.

During practice on Saturday in 90-degree heat, Timmins went at maximum speed, letting out his emotions the only way he knows how – by hitting people. At one point he felt dizzy and was rushed to the hospital. He hardly remembered anything from the practice, or even that his father had passed away.

When he came to, Timmins realized the best decision was to miss the game. He didn’t want to jeopardize his future at Rhode Island, and it was a move he knew his father would suggest.

“I’m looking at the bright side,” he said. “I’m going to Rhode Island soon. I know my dad will be looking over me.”