My Blackberry was glued to my ear as I settled into the taxi outside of the Hempstead Long Island Railroad station. Next to me was a student, I figured, his iPod bumping.
Halfway to Hofstra, the driver asked us where we were going. I told the coach on the other end of the phone, I would call him back. Almost in unison, we both said we were going to the football field, for the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge, the yearly all-star game pitting New York City’s best against Long Island’s finest.
“You’re going to watch it?” I asked my fellow passenger.
“No,” he said, smiling. “I’m playing.”
“Yeah? For who?” I asked again.
“New York City,” he said.
My ears perked up. “What’s your name?” I blurted out.
“Jeremiah Kobena,” the Syracuse-bound Cardinal Hayes standout replied.
Wow, I thought. What a coincidence. I was kind of ashamed, too. Sure, I cover PSAL football, not the CHSAA, but how could I not recognize the kid that has had his face plastered all over our site, who is going to Syracuse along with plenty of other city standouts, who was an All-City selection by our staff? I actually apologized.
We got to talking, about the game, about Syracuse and its treacherous winters, about Hofstra not having a football program anymore. Kobena missed the team’s dinner at Outback Steakhouse because he had to take a Regents exam. He said he told teammate Gary Acquah of Mount St. Michael to bring him some food.
“He’ll probably eat it all,” he cracked.
I asked him what was going to happen in the game.
“We’ll win, of course,” he said, and smiled yet again.
Minutes later, the taxi dropped us off – on the wrong side of campus.
We had to find our way to the field, across Hempstead Turnpike. I sprinted across the heavily-trafficked street to avoid oncoming cars as he jogged. Somehow, he got across the street faster. Go figure.
We still couldn’t find the field. He was getting nervous, I could tell, but still remained friendly and jovial. Kobena was late as it was, and the team’s coaches weren’t treating this like an all-star game. Eventually, we found the players’ entrance. I headed to the press box, Kobena to the locker room.
After the memorable game, I was in the parking lot, looking to track down a few players when I saw him again. He smiled and we shook hands.
My taxi compatriot was right. New York City won.