Ain’t that a Nick
Isles assist Long Island youth benefit tourney
Long Island youth hockey players and coaches, with help from the Islanders, took part in a one-day 4-on-4 house league tournament this week called the Net One For Nicholas Hockey Tournament at Iceworks in Syosset.
The nine-game affair was held to raise money for 7-year-old Nicholas Pedone of Glen Cove, who was diagnosed with Stage III Neuroblastoma in November.
The rare cancer develops from immature nerve cells from various parts of the body, and accounts for
8 to 10 percent of all childhood cancer diagnoses. One in every 100,000 children will be affected by Neuroblastoma this year.
Pedone, a huge sports fan, was a perfectly heathy kid until he started to feel pain in late October. Two days later he underwent surgery to remove a mass as well as his right adrenal gland. After scores of tests, he now is undergoing chemotherapy treatments at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, but his battle is far from over.
With a planned six rounds of chemo, stem cell transplant, radiation and immunotherpy, plus a possible second surgery, Nicholas and his parents have a tough and costly year-and-a-half ahead of them.
The Islanders picked up an assist by donating ice time, as well as items for raffles, ticket vouchers, trophies and medals for all players participating to help raise money for Nicholas’ battle. Several Islanders players have also donated to Nicholas’ cause.
“It’s a tough situation for any child,” John Tavares said. “I know once I heard the story and a bunch of us did, you can’t imagine being put in his shoes. You hope you can make some kind of difference, put a smile on his face and try and contribute to his future.”
For more information or to donate, visit http://www.nicholaspedone.com.
Several to be honored at Munson dinner
CC Sabathia will be joined by Chris Canty, Greg Anthony, Ike Davis, David Phelps and 2012 Olympic gold medal gymnast Aly Raisman as the honorees at the 33rd annual Thurman Munson Awards Dinner on Tuesday night at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
The gala, which remembers the late, great Yankees catcher and captain Thurman Munson, benefits the AHRC New York City Foundation. Sabathia, Canty, Anthony, Davis, and Raisman will receive “Thurmans.” Phelps will accept the second annual Thurman Rising Star Award.
Diana Munson, Thurman’s widow, will attend her 33rd straight benefit, having been involved since its inception, raising nearly $12 million to assist children and adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Thurman Munson Awards are presented for success on the fields of play and philanthropic works off the field.
The AHRC New York City Foundation supports programs that assist children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For tickets or information, call (212) 249-6188.
Jared gets props in Super ad
Giants DE Justin Tuck and former Rutgers player Eric LeGrand join several other high-profile athletes to congratulate Subways’s Jared Fogle for 15 years of his incredible weight loss in a Super Bowl commercial that hits today. The new 30-second in-game spot will celebrate Fogle’s incredible weight loss (245 pounds) and how he has kept the weight off for 15 years.
New Jersey native and baseball phenom Mike Trout will also make his national commercial debut in the spot. Trout is Subway’s newest Famous Fan.
The commercial begins with actor Brian Baumgartner of “The Office” discussing a script and plot twist. Next, Famous Fans chime in building the story and congratulate Jared in an unscripted sequence by the likes of world champion speedskater Apolo Ohno, boxing icon Laila Ali, NASCAR driver Carl Edwards, Redskins QB Robert Griffin III and L.A. Clippers star Blake Griffin.
NFL stars pedal for Play 60
On Friday morning, NFL Hall Of Famer Shannon Sharpe hosted The Flywheel Challenge, an indoor cycling competition to benefit NFL Play 60. Participants in the 45-minute challenge at Flywheel Sports’ pop-up studio at the NFL House included Sharpe, Troy Aikman, Bill Cowher, Matt Forte, Lawrence Tynes, ESPN’s Sage Steele, among others.
More than 20 athletes and VIP’s competed using Flywheel’s on-bike and in-studio technology, which tracks speed, resistance and total energy generated. Aikman and Sharpe neck-and-neck the entire way, but Sharpe eked out a two-point win.
Flacco passed Giant TEST
Before becoming a first-round pick, Delaware QB Joe Flacco received some intimate mentoring from another Blue Hen, and Big Blue alum, Scott Brunner. The Giants quarterback in the early 1980s and TEST Football Academy positional coach took Flacco under his wing to prepare him for his NFL career.
Along with TEST Football Academy CEO Brian Martin, Brunner worked closely with Flacco to transition him to the rigors of the NFL game. Now, Brunner and Martin working with his Mike Flacco, Joe’s younger brother.