Local Bar Hosts NFL Alumni
Charity Event
by: Josh Marks
Green Dog Bar and Grill owners Steve Gregory and Dee Dee Spence had a lot to celebrate last Sunday.
Members of the NFL Alumni’s
“We were already planning on an event for opening weekend and once we heard about the NFL Alumni charity, we called them right away,” stated Gregory.
The prizes included signed NFL memorabilia, tickets to a San Diego Chargers/Oakland Raiders game and field level tickets to an Anaheim Angels game.
Karl Geisler, who played for the Green Bay Packers and
Washington Redskins and is the vice president of the NFL alumni southern
The membership consists of former professional football
players who volunteer to help youth through their charity Caring for Kids. The
proceeds from charitable events help fund programs and institutions such as
Youth of Americas Week, The Children’s Museum at
“It’s very generous on the part of the ownership, Steve and Dee Dee, to share the raffle income. We brought a bunch of memorabilia here for the raffle and all for helping the kids—for charity,” said Geisler.
Marlin Briscoe, who played for the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins’ undefeated back-to-back super bowl teams, was signing copies of his book—The First Black Quarterback.
Briscoe struggled with racism growing up in
“Basically, I was the first black quarterback on all levels of my life and all the way to the pros and it’s kind of a remarkable story,” said Briscoe. “So it’s overcoming adversity, that’s what my book is all about.”
The idea for the Green Dog Bar & Grill came about when Gregory and Spence were bartenders and hosting Monday Night Football parties at their house. The parties became big events and also monotonous so somebody suggested, since Gregory loved football and Spence loved to cook, that they start their own bar and grill.
The Green Dog name came about when Gregory’s oldest daughter brought a Valentine’s Day gift of a green mug with a dog on it.
“Green’s my favorite color and dogs are my favorite animal,” said Gregory.
The neighborhood establishment has been open for two years and is unofficially known as a Jets bar. However, Gregory likes to think about it as more of a gathering place for football fans in general.
“It’s not about the team, it’s not about the Jets bar. It’s a football place and we like the whole getting together aspect of football. I’m a bigger fan of football than I am just one team,” said Gregory.
Gregory and Spence like to emphasize the neighborhood aspect of the bar.
“Everybody working here, they volunteer their time. They are mostly our friends and our family,” said Spence.
The Green Dog Bar and Grill is located at
The next alumni event is the 26th annual NFL
Alumni Charity Golf Classic, which takes place Monday, September 27 at Los
Coyotes Country Club. For more information go to the NFL Alumni Southern