15 sports BATTLE Politicians battle it out BY LIAM LA GUERRE Politicians turned into playmakers for a special touch football game. Queens and Bronx politicians faced off on October 27 in the fi rst ever Battle of the Boroughs Bowl at Monsignor McClancy High School in East Elmhurst. The touch football match was organized to raise money by collecting donations, with all proceeds going to the United Service Organizations (USO) and the Wounded Warriors Project. “At the heart, the core of this little fun outing that we are having is a really serious intent, and that intent is to help our veterans,” said Assemblymember Mike Benedetto, who is chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The lawmakers in attendance ranged from all levels of government, including City Comptroller John Liu, State Senator Mike Gianaris, Councilmembers Jimmy Van Bramer and Peter Vallone Jr., Assemblymember Mike DenDekker and many more. “Off the fi eld and out of the offi ce it’s good to have a personal relationship with your colleagues,” said DenDekker, who helped organize the event. In addition to playing for a good cause, the politicians seriously competed for city bragging rights. “It’s friendly, it’s a fundraiser for our veterans, but its also serious business,” said Van Bramer. “We’re obviously competitive people, we are used to winning. And I am anxious to demonstrate to the people of my district that I can play football even though it’s been 20 years.” In the end, Queens lost to Com- the Bronx, 20-19. mittee. THE COURIER/Photos by Liam La Guerre Queens politicians faced off against their Bronx colleagues in the fi rst ever Battle of the Boroughs Bowl. of the BOROUGHS BOWL
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