Bill Parcells Hold Press Conference
at Saratoga National

Reprinted with permission from The Saratogian

SARATOGA SPRINGS — With his new job in Florida, Bill Parcells won’t be visiting Saratoga Springs as much as he’d like.“I was always very happy here,” Parcells said Thursday afternoon at Saratoga National Golf Club. “I think Saratoga Springs is a very happy place.”

He’ll make time for one important trip in August though, one day after his new team’s first NFL preseason game. The Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Miami Dolphins is co-hosting the 15th Annual NFL Alumni Charity Golf Classic at Saratoga National as part of the “Caring for Kids” program, a charitable and educational program committed to supporting youth-related organizations and activities throughout the country.

The golf tournament will take place Tuesday, Aug. 12, with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start, and carry on throughout the day, ending with an awards banquet that evening at the golf course. “It looks like it’s going to come to fruition pretty well,” Parcells said of the three-day event that will coincide with an NFL Alumni autograph signing at the Saratoga Race Course Monday afternoon honoring the three-time Super Bowl-champion New York Giants, as well as numerous memorabilia auctions on both Monday and Tuesday.

“I’m just happy to be a part of it,” Parcells said. Even though he is now a Florida resident, the “Big Tuna” still considers himself part of the Saratoga community, and that’s reason enough for him to help out. And he just likes golf.

“I really look forward to being active in the community and helping out any way that I can,” he said. He also said he looks forward to returning to the Spa City when his tenure in the NFL comes to an end, whenever that may be. Coming back to New York brings Parcells to Giants’ territory, the organization where he won two Super Bowl titles and credits much of his success in the NFL.

Other former Giants attending the event are Jesse Armstead, Derek Brown, Chris Calloway and Rodney Hampton, just to name a few. Former New York Jets Mark Gastineau, Emerson Boozer and Rich Kotite will also be in attendance, as well as other All-Pro players like Louis Lipps, Robert Newhouse, Ickey Woods and Earl Morrall, a member of the undefeated 1972 Super Bowl Champion Miami Dolphins.

The NFL Alumni captains will be paired with golf foursomes to play the tournament, with the winning team being determined by a six-team shoot-out Tuesday afternoon. Since he is in a position to do so, Parcells said he feels obligated to help others in the same manner the NFL has taken care of him. “The NFL has been so good to me,” he said. “Now I have a chance to help someone else’s children, so I do it.”

Among those children is J.D. Sinkus, a 4-year-old member of the Center for Disability Services who brought the former NFL coach a special homemade present to show his appreciation for his efforts: an oversized thank you card. The Center for Disability Services is the NFL Alumni Upstate New York Chapter’s primary support organization, having been donated more than $215,000 throughout the past seven years. “It’s pretty neat,” J.D.’s dad, James Sinkus, said. “It’s great to be a part of this.” The Upstate New York Chapter is one of 31 NFL Alumni chapters across the country and has raised more than $600,000 benefiting local charities.

More information on the Tournament