Future of Fandom

AUGUST 2016 | MODERNWELLNESSGUIDE.COM

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An Independent Supplement by Mediaplanet to USA Today

Future of Fandom Patriots star Rob Gronkowski opens up about the role positivity plays in inspiring kids, recovering from injury and more.

IMPROVE your grilling chops with tips from the barbecue pros

BROWSE more stories online, including a breakdown of the best college matchups to tailgate

2 | MODERNWELLNESSGUIDE.COM | IN THIS ISSUE

MEDIAPLANET

Boston Strong Relive the trip to Foxborough that brought a young boy with leukemia face-to-face with his heroes. Page 7

Quality Grilling It pays to pay for quality.

HPBA outlines what to look for to make your next game day gathering flawless. Page 6

Master Tailgaters Dish Their Favorite Pre-Game BBQ Tips

It’s His Year Why the current era of analytics suggests Aaron Donald is the best defensive player in the NFL. Online

Whether you’re in the kitchen or warming up in the parking lot, there’s always a play to improve your pregame cooking. From safety and faster clean-up tips to the power of Sunday shrimp, here’s tips and tricks for members of the National Barbecue & Grilling Association.

Prep all of your food ahead of time before the game.

Bring plenty of rubber food safe gloves to keep your hands clean while you’re loading up the grill...

MEAT MATTERS 1

TIPS 1 Make sure you

extinguish your grill properly. It should be cool to the touch and the spent charcoal ashes emptied into a metal container.

Store your LP tank in the car in a secure and upright position.

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“ Don’t forget to double bag your trash before you head off to the game. You don’t need to marinade your floor mats.”

Mark Lambert, Sweet Swine O’ Mine Distributing

Kevin J. Kolman, Weber’s Grill Master

DON’T MISS IT

I Am BBQ 2017—The NBBQA ­­­Annual Conference and BBQ Bash Where River Ranch in

Fort Worth, TX When March 29 - April 1 Tickets nbbqa.org Tweet #IAMBBQ

NOTE TO SELF 2 Freeze water 1 Check whether the chicken is cooked by using a white paper towel. Do this before any

sauce is applied. If the juice of the cooked chicken is showing a pink tint on the paper towel then, it is not done! If the juice is clear, you’re ready to eat.

Kell Phelps, National Barbecue News

2 Bring along pre-marinated shrimp to grill onsite to make some new friends at the tailgate. Make the sauce ahead of time and have it handy in a plastic squeeze bottle. Spread the grilled shrimp and sauce into some endive leaves for a great appetizer.

Harry Soo, Slap Yo’ Daddy BBQ

3 I am a big fan of letting my meat marinate in plastic bags in my cooler. Once we arrive at the tailgate, it has marinated for the perfect amount of time and is ready to cook.

Tuffy Stone, Coolsmokebarbecue.com

bottles for your cooler. Keep your food and ingredients cold without everything getting soggy. Then after you have done all your cooking you have cold water to drink instead of a cooler full of dirty water.

Malcom Reed, Killer Hog

Pay close attention to food safety when you are away from refrigeration and running hot water.

Keep food below 40°F or above 150°F. Label your coolers so people won’t keep opening the meat cooler when they are looking for a beer.

Meathead, Amazingribs.com

Publisher Gabe Seidman Business Developer Caitlin Wade Managing Director Luciana Olson Content and Production Manager Chad Hensley Senior Designer Kathleen Edison Designer Celia Hazard Copy Editor Sean Ryan Production Coordinator Tiffany Kim Contributors Carrie deGuzman, Chris Hoffer, Stuart Meyer, Craig Renfro, Cindy Riley, Jill Smits Cover Photo Crashletes / Shandrew PR All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today.

KEEP YOUR FEED FRESH. FOLLOW US @MEDIAPLANETUSA

EMAIL CONTENT INQUIRES TO EDITORIAL@MEDIAPLANET.COM

PLEASE RECYCLE AFTER READING

SOURCE: NATIONAL BARBECUE & GRILLING ASSOCIATION

SOUND DEFENSE

4 | MODERNWELLNESSGUIDE.COM | SPOTLIGHT

MEDIAPLANET

Gronk’s Positivity Powers More Than His Effort on the Field Many people know him as the superstar tight end for the New England Patriots, but Gronk is much more than an iconic football player.

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h ether you think of him as the best tight end in the NFL, your number one fantasy football pick or just a colorful, occasionally shocking character, football fans have an opinion on Rob Gronkowski. Depending on which team you root for, or how closely you’re paying attention, the Rob Gronkowski that exists off the field may surprise you.

A player for the kids Gronk has been teamed up with ProCamps youth football camp for several years, and he says he takes pride in being a role model. “It feels good to be looked up to and to be able to provide a positive influ-

ence,” he beams in typical Gronk candor, adding, “I might be helping the next athlete in his or her career, which is a great feeling.”

In addition to the camps Gronkowski often visits Boston-area children’s hospitals. He’s also a longtime Make-A-Wish athlete.

It’s a role he’s enjoyed growing into over these past few years: “The best moment is seeing kids just being kids—eager, chins up and having fun at my camp. At their age, positive memories can make all the difference in who they’ll become.”

Modeling positivity If you follow sports news, you’ve probably seen stories about Gronk dancing, partying and generally having a good time. It comes as little surprise, then, that he credits

that positive attitude and ability to have fun with the big impact he seems to make wherever he goes.

“I like to keep a positive outlook on and off the field,” Gronk contends. “Having a positive attitude has kept me going this far, and it’s the only way to succeed in the long run.”

Things aren’t always rosy, of course. The Patriots star has had to recover from multiple injuries through the years—some of them seemingly career-ending. He says he’s learned recovery requires hard work, and advises others recovering from injury to stay disciplined, keep up with physical therapy and remain as mentally tough as possible.

“You can beat this injury,” Gronk says. “And tomorrow is another day closer to proving that.” ■

PHOTO: COURTESY CRASHLETES / SHANDREW PR

By Jill Coody Smits

Š 2016 Pepperidge Farm, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

6 | MODERNWELLNESSGUIDE.COM | TIPS & TRICKS

How to Host a Fumble-Free Tailgate Party

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ith the kick-off to football season upon us, fans nationwide are preparing their tailgate checklists and equipment for the pre-game festivities. In fact, almost 1 in 6 of all U.S. grill owners tailgated in the past year.

If you think you’re ready for some grilling, stick with this advice:

Do you want to be the champion grillmaster? Here are some tips to help you go the extra yard and make your tailgate an unforgettable part of the game.

Draft the best picks When picking the right grills, smokers or accessories, use your first- and second-round draft picks wisely.

Always choose quality, premium products to get the best return on your grill team investment.

Equipment check Make sure your equipment is working properly before the party kicks off. Call in the backups and refuel

with charcoal, wood chips or a propane tank. Be sure to brush up on the safety guidelines for your grill.

Pre-game prep Prep and marinate meat before the crowd arrives. Mix dips, cut up fruit and chop veggies so everything is grill-ready by mealtime.

Go the extra yard Score big by offering to bring an

extra grill to the party. There are plenty of easy, portable options like a tailgate grill that attaches to your vehicle, a portable grill with a push-button igniter, or a small smoker. You can make parking lot pizzas with an oven tailgater.

The two-point conversion Smoked or grilled meat may be the MVP, but to score points with all your fans, use a grill stone to

grill up sides, desserts or veggie kabobs to keep sauces and marinades from slipping through the grates. Use a pizza oven to whip up a few pies for an appetizer that everyone will love. n

By Carrie deGuzman, Senior Manager of Communications, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

Porta-Party.

Get the party started and keep it going strong with a Honda Generator. You’ll enjoy quiet, fuel-efficient power, plus legendary Honda reliability. From RVing, camping and tailgating to home backup and jobs around the house, a Honda Generator is your portable party machine.

Find your perfect tailgating partner at gen.honda.com.

Please read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment and never use in an enclosed or partially enclosed area where you could be exposed to odorless, poisonous carbon monoxide.

Connection of a generator to house power requires a transfer device to avoid possible injury to power company personnel. Consult a qualified electrician. ©2016 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

PHOTO: COURTESY NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

INSPIRATION | MEDIAPLANET | 7

The Patriots Fulfill a Young Fan’s Ultimate Football Fantasy

By Cindy Riley

Riding in a limousine to Gillette Stadium is an experience Gabriel Aljalian will never forget.

When Gabriel Aljalian told the Make-A-Wish foundation he wanted to play football with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, he didn't know how the day would go. But having battled the

Watertown, Massachusetts. “He was very tall, and picked me to be the center to throw him the football. He gave me high-fives and a hug. He also handed me the football we were playing with and said, 'Here, keep it.'”

“Gronk was very tall, too,” adds the resilient seven-year-old. “And Brady made Coach Belichick do push-ups, which was so funny.”

toughest of opponents, Gabriel was more than ready to seize the opportunity of a lifetime.

“I felt surprised and good,” recalls Gabriel, who lives with his parents and younger sister, in

Refusing to punt Diagnosed with leukemia in November 2012 at the age of three, Gabriel stayed strong throughout his ordeal, enduring years of oral, IV and spinal chemotherapy treatments. Meeting his idol last fall gave him the chance to just be a kid.

“It was really, really, very, very cool,” says Gabriel, who makes signs to decorate the family's living room during football season, and often pretends to be the superstar signal caller. “I throw my football everywhere, and I like to celebrate touchdowns.”

More than just a game Mom Natasha says that, during his darkest hours, her son always clutched a pigskin for support.

“Treatment left him tired and weak,” she says. “Football was a way for him to be a 'normal' boy. When his wish was granted, it was incredible. He was smiling, confident and strong—a totally different child.

Other than his initial surprise when he saw Tom Brady standing right in front of him, he had no reservations playing with Brady, Gronk or the other Patriots players who came down to the field. "As his parents, we didn’t know what to expect, but Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island and the Patriots organization really made our little boy’s dream come true.”

Looking to the future Natasha says her son is doing well, as he prepares to enter second grade. The new school year also means the official start of NFL action, and Gabriel is confident his team will play in Super Bowl 51. “They will win,” he predicts. “At least, I hope.” ■

GAME DAY IS COMING

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