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by ADVANCE STAFF REPORT
Some call it a friendly rivalry. Some might suggest leaving out the "friendly" part.
But you'll never doubt the intensity when the members of the NYPD Finest and FDNY Bravest football teams put down their guns and hoses for a day and face off in the annual Fun City Bowl.
The biggest game on the schedule for either team, both of which participate in the National Public Safety Football League, was held at Giants Stadium in 2002 and Monsignor Farrell HS in 2003.
This year the 32nd annual edition moves up the Hudson River for a 5 p.m. start on Saturday at the United States Military Academy's Michie Stadium.
The FDNY would like to follow up on last year's success, when it stopped the NYPD's nine-year winning streak with a 35-7 victory. But the NYPD still leads the series 21-10.
There's a little extra on the line as well, as the winner will advance to the NPSFL Championship game, which will be played on June 5. The FDNY followed its win against the NYPD last season with a 38-37 win against the LAPD Centurians for the title.
Staten Islander Tom Meagher kicked the game-winning extra point in that thriller, and though he's not with the team this season, his brother Matt, a former Farrell soccer standout, has taken up the kicking duties. He's one of many Islanders who will play in the game, including the FDNY's Joe Gnerre, Rob Gnerre, Joe Monferrato, Frank Abbatermarco, Anthony Abbatermarco, Frank Campagna, Mike McAuliffe, Steve Murphy and Tom Narducci and the NYPD's Randy Littrell, Tito Romero, Anthony Curran (offensive coordinator, Ed Brittain, Joe Fraimant, Matt Hellman, Ed Gardner (GM) and Mike Jioia (head coach).
Tickets for the game are $10 and can still be purchased at www.bravestfootball.com. A pre-game tailgate party featuring music and family entertainment is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., also with a $10 charge.
If you can't make it up to West Point, you can follow the Internet broadcast of the game at www.shawnwoodproductions.com. Keep an eye on your television listings as well, as Time Warner Cable will broadcast the game on tape delay next week.
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