Boomer & Carton Ready For 'Emotional' True Blue Charity Game
Going to the game? Share your photos on Twitter with the hashtag #TrueBlue!
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- Last month, Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton promised to put something big together for the NYPD after officer Brian Moore was killed in the line of duty, the third such tragedy in five months.
The "Boomer & Carton" co-hosts, with a massive assist from the Yankees, will see it through Wednesday night, when more than 16,000 fans pack the stands in the Bronx to show their appreciation for New York's Finest.
Photos: Boomer & Carton's True Blue Charity Softball Game
"Thank you," Captain Mark Iocco said ahead of the "True Blue" celebrity softball game, which will be broadcast live on WFAN. "You guys put this together. It's a total honor for us. We're truly humbled to see who's involved, and when I hear the names that you guys are announcing, it's truly an honor. This is going to be a great game, it's a great cause, there's going to be a lot of emotion tonight. But as far as playing — we're ready."
General admission is $12 and will include a voucher for a future Yankees game. (For tickets, CLICK HERE.) Proceeds will benefit the Silver Shield Foundation, the NYC PBA Widows' and Children's Fund, and the families of slain officers Moore, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. The use of Yankee Stadium was donated by the Bombers, Modell's will be supplying the equipment, and Carton said half of the concession revenue will also go to the cause.
Every participant will wear a jersey with patches above the heart for the three fallen officers.
"I put it on this morning and I got an incredible sense of pride about what's going on tonight," Esiason said. "The three families of the fallen officers, the slain officers, here in New York will be there representing their lost love ones. I can't imagine how emotional this is going to be tonight, and how great it's going to be."
1st Precinct Ready To Face B&C Celebs
Subscribe to the Boomer & Carton Podcast »
Carton said the response has been "amazing." In fact, so many celebrities signed on that the event had to be split into four three-inning games against the 1st, 84th and 105th Precincts and the Detectives' Endowment Association.
"It's kind of surreal when your phone rings and it's Mayor Giuliani, asking if it's OK if he participates," Carton told CBS2's Chris Wragge -- who will take the field -- and Mary Calvi.
Fans on hand will also get a chance to see N.J. Governor Chris Christie, Hall of Famer Joe Torre, Jets head coach Todd Bowles, St. John's head coach Chris Mullin, Tom Coughlin of the Giants and many, many others.
Carton made sure to give a special shout out to a certain former coach of the Jets.
"I'll say this: A lot of guys leave New York and then they don't always come back, and they kind of lose sight of the fact that they were New Yorkers for five or six years. Rex Ryan is leaving Buffalo in the middle of OTAs," Carton said. "He's flying here on his own dime, driving over to the Stadium, and he's playing second base for us."
But at the end of the day, the NYPD members, families and friends will be the stars of the show.
"We just want to pay homage to them, let them know that we've got their back," Carton said, "because they always have ours."
For more information and to make a donation, CLICK HERE.
