Football players from Roosevelt and Garfield high schools kindled both comradery and a healthy rivalry over a three-course steak meal in October at the 10th East L.A. Beef Bowl.
The annual luncheon celebrates players, coaches and alumni as their teams prepare for the East L.A. Classic homecoming game, which was at So-Fi stadium late last month.
Since the first luncheon in 2013, the event has aimed to cultivate a sense of community among players. Students are awarded for outstanding performances both on and off the field, while coaches and alumni recount their experiences and impart words of wisdom for the next generation of players.
Rick Sanchez, organizer of the Beef Bowl Luncheon, said the teams obviously care about winning but the luncheon has shown for the past decade that sportsmanship and camaraderie among the players and alumni matter, too.
Esther Espinosa, former secretary of the Garfield Alumni Foundation and pioneer of the East L.A. Beef Bowl, understands the importance of these community events. Espinosa recalls when high school rivalries were more divisive.
“In my day, the rivalry was so strong, I wanted to resolve that a little bit, make it more harmonious,” she said.
Garfield football coach Lorenzo Hernandez said the luncheon was faithful to this year’s event theme: “Unity in Community.”
Hernandez said the luncheon allows students to connect and sometimes, create lifelong bonds.
“Some kids don’t have that engagement anymore. So when they get here, they’re able to sit down with their ‘rival’ and establish a better relationship. I think that’s one of the things that’s important,” he said.
The luncheon is an opportunity to eat well and rekindle friendships since some of the students attended elementary or middle school together, according to Roosevelt football coach Ernesto Ceja.
“I know some of these youths here don’t get to enjoy dinners like this quality steak and such. But to a lot of these student athletes this is big for them,” Ceja said.
The meal, catered by Stevens Steakhouse, included a vibrant salad with fresh greens and carrots, silky-smooth mashed potatoes, tender steak and a decadent, caramel-drizzled cheesecake.
The act of sharing an exceptional meal “brings us together, because at the end of the day a lot of these students went to school together. Obviously, they had to part ways in high school. It’s a good thing to bring these kids back together. Not only for these kids, but for the families as well,” Ceja added.
Former Roosevelt player Lance Holiday said the Eastside neighborhood bond is shared among the players off the field, despite their rivalry on it: “We’re still part of the same community—the only thing that separates us is the school.”
This story was cross-published on Boyle Heights Beat’s website.
