BLPA Magazine

VOLUME 1 | ISSUE #1 | JAN 2021
BLPA
Magazine
Couples
THERAPY
You’ll never guess how a beer
league couple spent their
anniversary. (Hint, it involved
lots of beer and one of them
shooting things at the other)
Exclusive Look
INSIDE DEX
Why you can’t miss the next one
Music TALK
A chat with hockey enthusiast and
musician Mark Castillo
6 STAGES
of a Beer Leaugue
BALL PLAYER

1 | BLPA MAGAZINE A LIFESTYLE PUBLICATION FOR THE ADULT ATHLETE
Commissioner’s
CORNER
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Welcome to my world!
I am warning you things get crazy here. In my
world when someone says it’s impossible, it
doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to do it. It means we
should try harder. In my world, there aren’t any limits.
Dream, dream big, then dream bigger and do.
The only prerequisite for admittance here is to love and
respect each other…. You know… the whole don’t be a dick
thing. So welcome…unless you’re a dick.
So what’s this about? Sports. Life. Love. Happiness.
What isn’t it about? Sports have always been my life. Most recently
it’s been mainly hockey, but I’ve probably tried playing almost every
sport out there at some point (spectacularly unsuccessful).
My passion has always been to try to find a way to connect the
world with sport. Sports are a common language. In sport, we can
forget
about all the bullshit happening in the world and just be adult
“athletes” together for a short time. A short time where we are all
together for
the sole purpose of enjoying each other’s company regardless of
sex, race, religion, politics, etc. That’s what this is all about.
A way to bring the crazy world inside my head to you and for you to
share your craziness with everyone else.
Are ya ready? Buckle up and let’s get it!
Nicky
Commish
Table of Contents
01 COMMISIONER’S CORNER
03
05
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Randy Bishop
BLPA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Carolyn Ross, Nashville, TN
07 LOVE BETWEEN THE PIPES
13 MUSIC
15
19
One-on-One with Mark Castillo
THE 6 STAGES OF BEER LEAGUE
Hiting it out of the park in beer league softball
COMING UP NEXT WITH DEX
Including photos from recent draft experiences
22 BROWN TROUT
23
ONE BITE
Everyone Knows the Rules

3 | BLPA MAGAZINE
Staff
SPOTLIGHT
Name: Randy Bishop
Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina born and raised. Now split time between Las Vegas, NV and
Denver, CO.
Beer League Sport(s): Hockey
Nickname: Bish or Bishop
Occupation: President of Critical Facilities Solutions (IT infrastructure)
How did you find The BLPA? Carlo Zaskorski messaged me out of the blue one day regarding Nick
Fleehart maybe wanting to start his own company. Carlo knew that, aside from my constant shit posting
on Facebook, I had a business background. Carlo connected Nick and I. Nick flew to Las Vegas and we
went on our first date to P. F. Chang’s to discuss what quickly thereafter became BLPA and Tournament
Company. Nick had the connections, personality and ideas and I had the investment money and business
background so it was a perfect fit.
Player Card Here
When did you start playing hockey? Played a little as a kid, but as an adult I started inline about 29 years
ago, then converted to ice about 25 years ago.
What made you start playing? I went to my first minor league game when I was about four years old
(Winston-Salem Polar Twins) and instantly fell in love with the game. There weren’t a lot of opportunities
to play in that part of North Carolina back then, but I followed the game as best I could. I got a subscription
to Hockey Digest when I was seven or eight and read anything I could find about hockey. I started playing
inline when I moved to Georgia in the early 90’s. In April 1995, I moved to Colorado and immediately joined
an ice hockey league in Breckenridge.
What beer league do you currently play in? EAHL in Littleton, CO for the Colorado Ice Men, SSAHL in
Centennial, CO for the Sex Panthers and Arvada, CO for the Cavemen.
What is your greatest beer league accomplishment? Starting my own Beer League company. Beyond that
it would be winning at least one tournament and/or league championship (not counting draft tournaments)
every year since 1995.
Favorite Beer? I hate beer, only drink it for the draft chugs (when I’m not chugging moonshine). I drink
whiskey, bourbon and moonshine.
What is your favorite part about playing in a DEX tournament? Meeting new people and making new friends
from all over the country. I also like the fun, low pressure environment to be able to play the game in a way
that is fun but not as serious as my league games.
Favorite places you’ve traveled to: Aruba, Australia, Belize, Vietnam and Nashville always makes the list
because it’s one of my favorite cities anywhere (I used to live there).

BLPA MAGAZINE
A LIFESTYLE PUBLICATION FOR THE ADULT ATHLETE
BLPA Member
SPOTLIGHT
Name: Carolyn Ross
Hometown: I’ve moved 10 times, but I usually claim Cary, NC
Beer League Sport(s): Hockey
Nickname: Carolina Crusher (my dad is the only person I’ve ever convinced to call me that)
How did you find The BLPA? I met Nick Fleehart at a tournament in Canada a few years ago who
proceeded to get me addicted to his draft tournaments.
When did you start playing hockey? I was around 10 years old and started in the boys’ house league
in the Squirt Division. I ended up playing girls’ travel and on my high school boys’ team but was never
competitive enough for real college hockey.
What made you start playing? I lived in Cary, NC at the time; my dad’s company had an office outing to a
Carolina Hurricanes game. I fell in love with the sport the moment I saw a full grown man screaming curse
words at the refs in the middle of a fight. To this day, I still think my dad’s proudest moment was, after years
of taking his kids to see professional sports where I would promptly fall asleep in the stands, watching his
eight-year-old daughter join in and scream “rip him to shreds!” in the first period of the Hurricanes game.
I started skating lessons with my brother the next week and we spent the next year convincing my mom to
let me play with the boys
What beer league do you currently play in? Austin, TX
Fun Fact about yourself: I have skated in 11 countries (and one time skating in Europe, the locals assumed
I was Canadian, which was the greatest compliment I’ve ever received).
Embarrassing Beer League Story: Back when I was a squirt and we had our “player card” photos taken,
my mom ordered a bunch of swag with my face on it. Unfortunately, I thought it was too girly to smile in my
photo, and since I hadn’t perfected the art of the RBF at age 10, my photo came out looking extremely sad.
Later, at the age of 25, my mom came to visit me right after I moved to Charleston, SC. She broke out
some of the old swag and showed up to my Beer League game toting a 6-ft long blanket with my sad
middle school hockey face on it. It was not my ideal first impression for the new beer league team.

BLPA 7 | BLPA MAGAZINE | 8
Love
Between
the Pipes
BY NIKKI THOMSON
At approximately 2:38 p.m. on Sept. 12, 2020, a puck
dropped in the Ford Ice Center in Antioch, Tenn. This
signaled the start of a hockey tournament that would
culminate with five games, a championship banner, a
reaffirmation of marriage and a car crash.
On Monday, September 14th, Ross and I headed home
to North Carolina. The drive was mostly uneventful until
we got just outside of Asheville. The sky opened up and
just as I turned to Ross and said, “Well this sucks,” the
back end of his SUV broke out and we were spinning.
It was the longest hour (30 seconds) of my life. I kept
apologizing to Ross; he kept telling me to hang on to
the steering wheel. He knew we were going over. I just
wanted to survive.
Exciting weekend, right?
Let me back up though, to 1996. I was finishing up
my senior year of college at Roger Williams University
when my best friend decided that I needed to “get out
more” and “meet someone” because I couldn’t possibly
be happy alone. She dragged me out to downtown
Providence under the guise of meeting her boyfriend and
having a few drinks. Little did I know, her boyfriend had
given the same spiel to his Marine Corps brother.
Ross was home on terminal leave from the USMC -
which is a fancy way of saying he had a significant
amount of leave time that he was taking before formally
being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps. His
best friend thought he was bored and that he needed a
distraction, (insert eyebrow raise here), and took him out
for a beer. My best friend and Ross’s best friend quite
literally set us up, complete with the high pitched voices,
false surprised faces and obligatory ‘Oh my gawwwd
what are you doing here?!’ Side note, the correct
answer is not ‘hunting elephants’ apparently. Who
knew?
So yeah, I met my future soulmate at a crowded, stickyfloored,
cheap beer serving, dive bar.
Needless-to-say, our relationship is/was/has been
anything but normal. While my best friend and Ross’s
best friend are no longer together - no worries, they
married other people and are happy - we’ve been
together for nearly 25 years. That’s 22 years of marriage,
one kid, two mortgages, multiple jobs, about 17 address
changes (including a move from Rhode Island to North
Carolina) and thousands of hockey games.
No, we didn’t just go to hockey games; we played them
too. Well, maybe not right away.
Ross started playing hockey when he was four. He
learned to skate and shoot the puck with all the other
little nose miners. Growing up in rural Rhode Island, it’s
what kids did. In high school Ross set aside his skates
and played varsity basketball, football and baseball - and
he was stupidly good at all of them. His high school
didn’t have a hockey team in 1985, although they do
now, so he chose to focus on what was available to him.
I, on the other hand, grew up in suburban Connecticut,
long before Title IX came into existence. There weren’t
many options for a tomboy. I played Little League
Baseball until I aged out and had to switch to softball.
In junior high, I was on the swim team and somehow
managed to be pretty decent at the 500-meter IM. While
Ross was a natural athlete, I tended toward being a
bookworm.
Fast forward a year or so, I came home from work one
night and told Ross that the folks from my office were
getting together in a few nights to play some pick up
hockey. A man of few words, he paused his Metal Gear
Solid game and waited for me to continue. “I really want
to play,” I said. “They want you to come play too.”
“You don’t know how to skate, kiddo.” He always calls
me kiddo.
“Right. So I’ll play goalie! I don’t need to know how to
skate in order to stop a puck.”
Famous last words.
Ross got this weird little smirk but agreed that we’d go to
2nd Time Around Sports and get me some used gear. I
caught in baseball and softball but was still unprepared
for the amount of equipment I needed to wear. Once
I was suited up, I felt like Ralphie’s little brother in A
Christmas Story.
Then, he put me on the ice and I did an admirable
starfish impersonation, spending more time on my ass
then on my skates. My very first game, we lost. Badly.
I stopped counting after the score went into the 20’s.
Rather than being demoralized, I vowed to get better.
I didn’t, at least not right away.
One night, after a pick up game (which we lost, again),
we were leaving the rink and this guy named Mike
stopped us. He was the assistant coach of a newly
established women’s hockey team, Providence Lady
Reds and he wanted me to stick around. Now, women’s
hockey in Rhode Island started to take off courtesy of
Sara Decosta, a local superstar and Olympic hopeful,
who eventually went on to win a Gold Medal. The
team name was paying homage to the former CAHL
team, The Providence Reds. In a funny twist, Ross’s
grandfather played on the Reds back in the day so it
was pretty awesome that I was being asked to join the
modern day namesake.
Joining the Lady Reds was one of the best decisions

9 | BLPA MAGAZINE
Love Between the Pipes, Cont.
I’ve ever made, next to agreeing to marry Ross. Through
them, I got actual goalie training and improved. Ross
was tapped to be a defensive coach. Before you knew it,
Ross and I were team extreme. I played a few seasons
for The Lady Reds then I switched to The Phantoms out
of Massachusetts in the South Shore Women’s Hockey
League. Ross continued to coach and I continued to get
better. So much so, that the men’s leagues back in Rhode
Island started to take notice. It probably had less to do with
my ability and was more about my availability, but it was
a chance for Ross and I to play together, something we
haven’t stopped in over two decades.
On September 12, 1998, Ross and I said I do in front of
nearly one hundred of our closest family and friends. He
became my permanent teammate, no take backs. He’s
my best friend, my coach, my defense and my biggest
champion. We have been playing hockey together for
nearly 25 years. Usually, we’re on the same team. There
was a season or two when we were on opposite sides,
which always made it interesting. Both teams would
spend the preceding week chirping about Thomson versus
Thomson, totally over hyping the situation. Game time,
his team would routinely set him up with scoring chances
because we all knew he could deke me out of my skates.
My response? “If you score on me here you’re not scoring
at home Thomson!” Yes, I belted that out in front of
everyone. No, it never stopped him.
Unfortunately, injuries and age are catching up to us.
We’ve started slowing down, stepping back from playing
hockey every night to now only playing once or twice a
week. We just can’t compete with those young legs. Also,
neither of us wanted to end our “career” on a COVID note;
not playing anymore needs to be our decision, not the
result of a pandemic.
A tournament in Nashville on the same day as our 22nd
wedding anniversary was just too awesome to pass up.
That completely sums up who we are as individuals and as
a couple. I’ve always said, the family that plays together,
stays together. We played five games of hockey in 24
hours and while we didn’t run away with the tournament,
we did land a Championship win which felt really good!
We met so many new people, including a few from North
Carolina, and made so many new friends. That joy would
be short-lived, however.
If you ask me what the first thing I remember after the
accident was, I’d tell you it’s the silence. For a brief
moment, there was a vacuum and I couldn’t hear anything.
Then, chaos erupted around me like someone turned the
stereo on, full volume. Ross was asking me if I was ok
while getting himself out of his seat. We landed on the
driver’s side, so he was trying to keep from falling on to
me. Ever the protector, he popped open his door to check
if there was smoke or fire coming from the engine. Then,
he focused on me, knowing we had time. I couldn’t get
out and the shakes started, rendering me useless. Ross
managed to tilt the steering wheel away from my lap but
I started to panic because I couldn’t move. I remember
telling him, “I’m stuck! I’m stuck!” Ross, my stalwart
Marine, calmly told me to undo my seat belt.
Oh.
Two hours later, we were back on the road in a ten-foot
box truck. Not. Even. Kidding.
There were no cars, SUVs or even a Prius - nothing -
available for rent in the entire City of Asheville so we
ended up at a nearby UHaul. We were still four plus
hours from home and it was still raining and now Ross is
driving us home in what can only be described as overkill.
Honestly, for a hot minute I thought he might toss me in
back with all our gear, and everything that we removed
from his SUV. (Yeah, it was totaled). But, I’m his goalie and
his wife so he’s gotta forgive me, right?
In the end, I rode up front and after the adrenaline and
shock wore off, all was right in our world, even if we were
driving home in a $362 rental that we only got a $30
reimbursement for. And that really says it all, doesn’t it?
Ross is, and always has been, my defense, my champion,
my protector. Doesn’t matter if he’s blocking a clapper or
pulling me out of our totaled vehicle. He takes care of his
goalie, even after 25 years.

13 | BLPA MAGAZINE
Music
1-on-1
MARK
with
CASTILLO
BY CHRISTOPHER SAMPAYO
Having toured the world and braved the ice of men’s
league ice hockey, this man has seen some stuff. Mark
Castillo of Bury Your Dead, Emmure, and Crossfade is a
solid dude, probably someone you want to have your back
on and off the ice. Here are just a few takes from what’s
been an awesome career behind the skins in multiple acts,
and what life away from music in men’s league hockey is
like for him.
First off, thanks for taking the time to answer these
questions. As a fan of both hockey and a lot of the bands
you have been a part of, it’s an honor to interview you.
MC: You got it. I’m not the most interesting man in the
world but I will do my best.
Where are you originally from?
MC: I was born and raised in Philadelphia.
Was hockey always a sport you played from a young age,
or were you drawn to it later in life?
MC: I played hockey as a kid and on-and-off as an adult.
Now, I’m just playing for a couple beer league teams in
Connecticut.
As someone who has had the experiences in multiple
successful acts in heavy music, what is one of your most
personally fulfilling accomplishments?
MC: Some of my favorite personal achievements are
touring with musicians I looked up to. Traveling the world,
doing what I love and doing what I dreamed of growing up
playing drums. I’ve also had the chance to play for many
bands either filling in or being a part of the band that I
loved so that’s a plus. Filling in for Machine Heads for one
night was pretty amazing.
You have been a part of some great bands, if you could
pick and choose your starting line from the guys you’ve
played with, who would you pick; and what position/s would
they play?
MC: I’d play defense alongside Mike Recon of Emmure
and BYD and Recon. My center would be Mat of Bury Your
Dead. He’s a good leader and dad so I’d listen. And my
wings would be Mark Davis from Emmure and Mitch from
Crossfade. Solid line right there.
You must have some fun stories from being on the road.
Any one instance stick out as a, “Man, I can’t believe that
happened,” moment while touring?
MC: There’s a lot of fun stories but the really good ones
you can’t talk about..
What were your teams you rooted for and do you still root
for those same teams now after touring the world?
MC: I’m a Philadelphia sport team fan first. Always have
been, but behind that are New England teams.
Who was your favorite professional hockey player growing
up?
MC: Ron Hextall was my favorite player. I watched him
score a goal and it’s a memory that always stuck with me.
What number do you where and why?
MC: 48 is my number. I like the number 4 and that as well
as 44 were taken so 4 and 4 is 8. That will do. 48
What position do you prefer out on the ice?
MC: I prefer defense because I like the pressure. Plus, I
still get to fire shots from the blue line.
What are your thoughts on the Stanley Cup tournament
this year? Do you think they did a great job keeping it
competitive, fun to watch, and entertaining regardless of
the strict rules and policies in place for player safety?
MC: As for the Stanley Cup, any hockey is better than no
hockey so I say great job!
Where do you see the future of the music industry post
COVID-19?
MC: I think the music industry will bounce back when it is
allowed to. And I think it will come back stronger than ever.
How can you compare men’s league sports to being in a
band?
MC: Comparing the two isn’t too hard. It’s a group of
people you are choosing to be around. You have to work
together to make the dream a reality and when you win you
celebrate together. If you lose you lift each other up. You
travel. You see things together and you look forward to
doing it all over and over.
“
A LIFESTYLE PUBLICATION FOR THE ADULT ATHLETE
There’s a lot of fun stories, but the really
good ones you can’t talk about.
”

15 | BLPA MAGAZINE
A LIFESTYLE PUBLICATION FOR THE ADULT ATHLETE
Stage 1
Generally an athlete fresh out of
college or the minors still has that
higher-level ability that all teams
seek to win league championships.
You’ll hear things like “what range”,
“great hands”, “the ball just jumps
off his stick”, “young legs”. This
person is about two things…
dingers and chicks (or dicks).
Stage 1’s usually don’t have a
pot to piss in so don’t expect any
financial contribution from them.
In fact, you’ll be lucky to ever see
them bring beer or chip in for the
post game wings. No one cares,
especially the Stage 5’s.
The 6 Stages of
Beer League
Man do I love playing sports. I wanted to say competitive sports but
I am getting old. We all are. Sometimes I day dream about how “good”
I used to be. I bet I could throw a ball over that mountain over there. You
know what I mean?
But now that I’m getting wiser and older so I am enjoying sports on a different
level than I used to. Now, it’s way more about the people I play with than how I
actually do in the games. This got me thinking about how players progress through
their athletic career. I present to you the six stages of the Beer League Ball Player.
Stage 2
BY NICKY COMMISH
That mid-to-late 20’s athlete who has
been around the league for a few years
and starting to learn how to play the
“slow-pitch” game (aka – not calling
off everyone on fly balls and not trying
to bounce the ball of the outfield wall
every at-bat).
Stage 2’s still have those “fresh legs”
and may actually have a job now
which is nice. Trouble is brewing here
because they either have or will be
thinking about getting married (see
Stage 3). They may not always want
to, but have the ability to pay their
league fee and can be counted on to
bring beer occasionally as well. These
are good times for both the team and
the player.
Stage 3
Usually in the early-to-mid 30’s
and still have a lot of ability but are
cracking under the strain of life.
Kids need attention and the wife
(or husband) is starting to question
how a one-hour game at 7 p.m.
ends up with you being home at 1
a.m.
Let’s not forget your job. Remember
Stan, one of your customers? You
just went into second base with their
cleats up to break up a double play.
In this stage, you’re stuck between
still having that competitive juice
but realizing maybe… just maybe
winning isn’t everything. This
athlete will commit to the team, pay
the fee and then become generally
unreliable.
He (or she) will commit to the 9
a.m. tournament game on Saturday
morning but their significant other
is onto them. They bail from the
parking lot party and don’t come
back for the 3 p.m. game.
Also note, this is usually the stage
where you quit telling everyone
your batting average or RBI’s from
the last tournament.
Stage 6
Stage 4
Uh oh, what happened to my
“bazooka arm”, my “dinger stroke”?
I know what to do but my body does
not do it anymore? I used to hit the
catcher from centerfield on the fly.
Now, I need a cut-off…. or two.
These are hard times for most
players. You are in your late 30’s
or early 40’s and the crushing
impact of life and aging have finally
taken its toll. You tend to do a lot of
apologizing – “Sorry I couldn’t get
to that routine fly ball”, “Sorry about
not turning that routine double
play”, or “Sorry, about striking out
I’ll bring the beer next game”.
An end and a beginning at the same time. This is the point where it’s finally time
to move to the “old guy” division and say goodbye to the “open” division forever.
Kids are grown, your significant other no longer cares if you are home or not.
You’re now only playing to get out of the house and away from the next episode of
“The Bachelorette”.
The good part about this stage is you get to sit and drink beer with older beer
leaguers like yourself telling old stories about your Stage 1 and 2 days until the
wee hours of the morning. These are good times and your new home until you
decide to hang them up completely. This is the stage you probably fear the most.
However, this stage is also one of everyone’s favorites. You don’t really care about
winning, the cost, or the drama. You’re enjoying the game because you enjoy it
and if you’re lucky you’re enjoying it with kids. You’re getting a chance to show the
kiddos brief flashes of the ability you used to brag about. You know, legging out
that double or laying out for a routine ground ball. You might not be able to walk
without a limp for a few days but damn it, you’ll always be a ball player.
Stage 5
This is the mid-to-late 40’s athlete.
Their Abilities are fading fast and
they know it. They have money and
may even sponsor the team because
that is really the only way they still let
you play.
This person brings beer, food, buys
jerseys, and is usually cooking the
food during tourney tailgates. They
are doing whatever it takes to hang
on to that last fleeting moment of
glory playing with the better athletes.
They used to be that beer leaguer
that wanted the ball hit his way in the
last inning of a close game or who
the team wanted up at the plate in
a big game. Now, they volunteer to
catch or even just be the team to
coach.
They are happy just to be in the
dugout to watch the Stage 1 and
2’s go out there and win it. This is a
particularly bad stage if you still think
you have the tools to play. The minute
you get in the car to drive home, you
know the whole team is scheming
ways to get a new, younger guy on
the squad.
Anyone who has played the game
can fully understand and appreciate
these stages. No matter how good
you are or where you played, you’re
a part of the game. Every player
will progress through these stages
and at a different pace. Hell, you
might have skipped Stages 1 and
2 and started at Stage 3, that’s ok.
Remember the game needs you.
Everything you bring in some way
makes the game incredible.
So please, keep playing for the
game. Play for the love of the game,
play for all the parking lot beers
at midnight, play for all the friends
you’ll make along the way, most of
all play for yourself. You deserve it.

Nick Fleehart
Commish
@TheNickerjones
Kristin Dillenburger
Designer
@D_llface

19 | BLPA MAGAZINE
Coming Up
NEXT WITH DEX
BY NICKY COMMISH
2021 has started off rough for the Draft Experiences.
We’ve had to cancel our events in Philadelphia and
Florida. But never fear, we promise you we will keep
pushing to make the greatest tournaments in beer
league hockey happen.
We have a long list of tourneys in waiting, starting with
Las Vegas in February and Omaha and Ann Arbor in
March. In April, we will show up at Colorado Springs
and burn the place down again. Boston, Denver, South
Carolina, and Austin are all back on the schedule for
2021, plus many more.
With a little bit of luck we will be able to start to get
things back to full speed. Have you not played in a
DEX yet? What’s stopping you? We are waiting for
you!

A LIFESTYLE PUBLICATION FOR THE ADULT ATHLETE
BAD ASS BEER LEAGUE JERSEYS
Brown Trout
BY NICKY COMMISH
...So if you’ve ever listened to the podcast, you’ll know poop jokes are a thing.
They are hilarious! The Brown Trouts.
Are we immature? Yup. Should we grow up? Yeah, probably. Are we going to make a
stand and not promote immature humor themed joke jerseys in the future?
ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY NOT!
So, oddly enough, just like the Sharts (another poop themed jersey), the Brown Trouts
also hail from the San Jose area. It seems like there are some fine, upstanding, hilarious folks in the San Jose area. I’d
very much like to go there and do a live podcast *That’s a hint for the Silicon Valley Beer Leaguers to bring us out*
Let’s poll the readers and see who wouldn’t wear these awesome jerseys. Did anyone here vote no? You should
probably leave. Probably the best thing about these jerseys is they are brown. I don’t have brown Eagle hockey
gloves, so these would give me an excuse.
Think your team’s sweaters should be featured? Tweet us @TheBLPA

23 | BLPA MAGAZINE
Food
ONE BITE
Everyone Knows the Rules
BY GAVIN CELIA
Unless you’ve spent the last six years under a rock,
you’ve heard Barstool Sports “El Presidente”, Dave
Portnoy say this right before he bites into a steaming hot
slice of cheese pizza from one of the hundreds of pizza
joints he’s reviewed.
In March, as the world was gripped by the COVID-19
pandemic, Portnoy started receiving deliveries of frozen
pizzas from all over the country. One of those pizzas was
from fellow beer-leaguer Joe Perrella of Sammy’s Pizza.
So what did Portnoy think of Sammy’s Pizza? 5.3….
Pretty average as Dave’s frozen pizza reviews go.
What did Parella think of the review? He tells
the BLPA that the review wasn’t great, but it’s hard
to replicate the true Sammy’s Pizza experience in a
conventional oven. In their restaurants, Sammy’s
cooks pizzas are cooked at 500 degrees in a brick
oven. Not something most people have access to at
home.
But as the saying goes, any publicity is good publicity.
Since the review, frozen pizza sales have more than
doubled for Paraella which is a welcome increase.
Started by Joe’s grandfather, Sam Perrella, in northern
Minnesota in the 1950’s, Sammy’s Pizza has been serving
the folks of Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota for
over 50 years from their 15 locations. In fact, they still use
the original recipes today.
From the hand-made dough to the freshly made
sausage and beef from local butchers. It’s no wonder that
a few years ago Parella started getting requests for frozen
pizzas from people who moved away but still longed for a
taste of home.
Since then, Sammy’s has shipped pizzas to customers
as far away as Alaska, California and Florida. And now,
one very influential customer in New York.

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