Destroyers Tackle Hunger
David Grimes
Friday April 22, 2005
If you happened to visit one of the three BD’s Mongolian Barbeque locations around Columbus, you could have had the opportunity to have a similar order, although head coach Chris Spielman gives warning about Pelshak’s grilling abilities. Personally, I wouldn’t doubt a 260-pound man with two swords.
Destroyers’ players, coaches, cheerleaders, the End Zone Energy Team, and WAZU and FSN representatives filled the restaurants to lend support for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Through their "Tackle Hunger" efforts, the Destroyers were able to raise about $10,000 on "Tip the Destroyers Night" on Wednesday evening according to the official Destroyers website. Anyone dining at the Dublin, Easton, or Arena District area Mongolian Barbeques had the chance to win prizes, mingle with the Destroyers organization, and donate money, through tips and purchases, to the charity.
Spielman visited all three spots and thanked the crowd for their support. He also gave a little background of the "Tackle Hunger" campaign and stayed awhile to mingle with any fans that wanted to chat or receive an autograph.
Raising close to $10,000 is great and it was good to see the restaurant visitors donate to a good cause. It was also great to see the 1-10 Destroyers remain upbeat and continue to positively interact and help the community. From the atmosphere that the Destroyers exhibited that evening, no one could not have judged that this is a team going through an eight-game losing skid.
From the visit to the Arena District location, members of the Destroyers helped create a fun atmosphere and were very personable all throughout the eatery. Prizes were raffled away, players chatted with customers at the tables, and the Bombshells and Energy team met with everyone as well. Several players greeted me at the front door and I had TE/DL Jamarr Ward checking to see if I had plenty of meat with my stir-fry. (He must have seen my 6’1, 160 pound frame.) Pelshak helped the chefs grill the foods and did a decent job at learning the trade.
The other half of the credit of creating a fun atmosphere goes to the staff at the Mongolian Barbeque. They were also very friendly and seemed to enjoy having the Destroyers around their workplace. Much to the surprise of "Destroyers Weekly" host and the evening’s emcee Archie, the waitresses drove up the price to $35 for a date with Curt Hunter, Director of Media Relations. Archie jokingly cautioned the bidders that this may be more than Hunter will spend on the winner during the date.
For the double date, a Mongolian Barbeque waiter bid $40 to partner with a Bombshell. Many other visitors that evening received prizes including tickets to one of the games, autographed hats, footballs, and a jersey.
Even though the Destroyers only scored 28 points on the field last week, they scored big points for their continued work off the field especially with their latest "Tip the Destroyers Night" event.
David Grimes has worked as a sports reporter for the Viking Views (North Canton), an editor for The Lantern (The Ohio State University) and was a columnist for the Destroyers here at ArenaFan. After he moved to Columbus to attend college, the Destroyers became an expansion team. Now, after moving to Salem, OH, the Mahoning Valley Thunder became an arenafootball2 expansion team. It seems like Arena Football follows David throughout the Buckeye State.
