This article originally appeared in the Blotch section of the Fort Worth Weekly's website. To read it on that site :
http://www.fwweekly.com/2016/05/04/sports-rush-food-and-football/
courtesy of Lori Gunter
Would it seem stereotypical to assume tackles, guards, and centers should really love an event that revolves around food?
New Dallas Cowboys center/guard Joe Looney thought the
characterization fit. “You get to eat and have a good time – nothing
better for an offensive lineman,“ he said of Sunday’s 12th Annual Taste
of the NFL event at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys and their co-hosts,
the North Texas Food Bank, bill it as the Ultimate Tailgate Party, and
even the running backs do go there to eat.
“Some great eats and it’s benefiting a great cause“ said newly signed
‘Boys rusher Alfred Morris. “I tried every meal they had except the
pork bellies.”
Morris had heard that the pork bellies were, in fact, superb and
vowed to sample them before leaving. All of the food should taste good,
considering the event books 20 of North Texas’ top chefs to prepare it.
Kent Rathbun of Abacus in uptown Dallas organizes his local brethren to
each prepare a single original dish. Attendees wander from station to
station filling up on the various concoctions.
“Having a good mix of chefs and foods and wines makes the party,” said Rathbun.
Despite the myriad of tasty options, it turns out the Cowboys players
and alums who involve themselves in the event do so for reasons beyond
feeding their own bellies.
“Childhood hunger is near to my heart,” said center Travis
Frederick.”It’s (the Taste of the NFL event) a great way to raise
money.”
Frederick has become a leader among the linemen in supporting the
Taste of the NFL. This year, he even volunteered himself to accompany
some live auction winners on a bowling trip to PINSTACK. His enthusiasm
for the cause inspires his teammates to participate as well.
“He volunteers for everyone to come here. He doesn’t tell us we have to come, but we want to be here for that guy.“ said Looney.
courtesy of Lori Gunter
Four members of the o-line even got to play quarterback
Sunday. During the live auction’s final phase, auctioneer Wendy Lambert
invited the crowd to contribute to an NTFB fundraising goal. The first
twenty or so donors got an autographed football thrown to them from the
stage by Frederick, Jared Smith, Tyron Smith, or Charles Brown. We saw
more spirals than ducks from men whose day jobs often revolve around
helping someone else pass effectively. Some of the donors/receivers even
successfully caught the passes standing on the turf where the Cowboys
play their home games.
The event took place mostly outdoors last year, with food stations
and a stage set up on the plaza just west of the stadium. Weather
concerns moved the 2016 event inside, where chefs, musicians (Downtown
Doug and Jack Ingram played sets), and other VIPs could be sheltered.
The function exceeded its fundraising targets, perhaps allowing the
Cowboys to declare it the first win of the year on their home field.
Those funds will provide nutrition for some important recipients.
“All the proceeds go to our child programs for the North Texas Food
Bank. That includes Food 4 Kids. That includes our after-school
programs,” explained Lora Farris, the food bank’s Senior Manager of
Marketing.
In addition to the good they have done for local youth in need, the
Cowboys can also make the case they have one-upped their biggest rivals.
courtesy of Lori Gunter
“This is an awesome event. At the Redskins, we didn’t do this one,”
said Morris of his former team. “I’m going to give them a call and tell
them to do this one.”
His first call should probably go to the linemen.
Disclosure : An event company associated with the event hired me to produce some videos for it
Rush Olson has spent two decades directing creative efforts for
sports teams and broadcasters. He currently creates ad campaigns,
television programs, and related creative projects for sports entities
through Rush Olson Creative & Sports and FourNine Productions.
RushOlson.com
Linkedin.com/company/rush-olson-creative-&-sports
Facebook.com/RushOlsonCreativeandSports
