(Courtesy PR Newswire -- 201-946-5591) 

#Annual Outback Steakhouse All-Star Classic Showcases Best 
High School Football Talent From Long Island/New York City#
-----------------------------------------------------------

Canon USA, Chase Bank, the National Football League and 
Other Local Companies Support Boomer Esiason's Fight to 
Cure Cystic Fibrosis 

Free Youth Football Clinics, JetsFest, Madden 'Cruiser',
Halftime Activities And Grucci Fireworks Highlight Day-Long
Events at Hofstra Stadium 

HUNTINGTON, N.Y., June 16/PRNewswire/ -- Boomer Esiason, ex-NFL
quarterback and commentator on Monday Night Football, announced
today the details of the fourth annual Outback Steakhouse Empire
Challenge all-star football game during a press conference at
Outback's restaurant in Huntington, Long Island.  The annual
football classic was created by Esiason to give outstanding high
school football players in New York City and Long Island an
opportunity to showcase their talents on the same gridiron while
raising money and awareness to fight Cystic Fibrosis. 

The game, which benefits the Boomer Esiason Foundation, Gunnar
H. Esiason Scholarship Fund at Hofstra and local youth football
programs, will be played on Saturday, July 3rd at Hofstra
Stadium.  The game will begin at 7:30 p.m.  A series of pre-game
and post-game activities are also planned, including Canon
JetsFest and a spectacular Grucci fireworks display immediately
following the game.  Tickets are $10 per person and are
available at the Hofstra Stadium box office on game day. 

In addition, a number of local companies have teamed-up with the
Boomer Esiason Foundation to underwrite the cost of the football
game and other day- long activities for the entire family. 
Along with Outback Steakhouse, Canon U.S.A., the National
Football League, Chase Manhattan Bank and many others will help
the Foundation raise more than $200,000 from the July 3rd event.
Z-100 and WBAB radio are the official radio stations for the
youth clinics and football game. 

In a recent interview, Mr. Esiason expressed his gratitude for
those companies who have taken an active role in supporting
their local communities. 

"The support these companies have provided to the Boomer Esiason
Foundation is a great example of how corporate America can make
an impact in bettering the communities where employees work and
live," said Esiason. "Their support for the Foundation will be
used to improve the lives of all those afflicted with cystic
fibrosis.  As both a local resident and a parent with a
CF-afflicted child, I'm thankful for companies like Canon, Chase
and Outback who believe that giving back to the community is
critical to their role as corporate citizens." 

"Canon is proud to do its part for the Boomer Esiason
Foundation, and hopes that members of the community will do the
same," said Tim Andree, vice president and general manager for
Corporate Communications at Canon USA.  "The company's
philosophy of  'Kyosei' -- living and working together for the
common good -- is certainly being put into action with our
support of Boomer's annual football event.  Canon's hope is that
together, our efforts with BEF will bring us one step closer to
a cure," Andree added. 

"The Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge is an excellent example
of how the entire community can be brought together, root for
their favorite players and raise money for very worthy local and
national charities," said Ron Duckstein, joint venture partner /
N.Y. Metro area for Outback Steakhouse. "Our involvement doesn't
begin or end with upper management.  All our employees volunteer
and participate in more than 200 community events throughout the
year, including the Outback Challenge," Mr. Duckstein added. 

"Chase Bank has been a supporter of the Boomer Esiason
Foundation for many years," explains Bill Presti, vice president
and business relationship manager for Chase Manhattan Bank.  "As
a locally-based company, it is important to Chase and its
employees to become involved in our communities and support the
efforts of exceptional people such as Boomer whose efforts will
have such a positive impact on thousands of people, especially
children." 

Canon/NFL Youth Football Clinics 

Canon, the Official Camera and Binocular Supplier of the
National Football League, has teamed-up with the NFL to offer
free football clinics to kids ages 6-14 on Tuesday, June 29 and
Wednesday, June 30.  The clinics are designed to give kids
hands-on instruction and the "real-life experience" of a
professional football training camp.  The non-contact clinics
will be conducted by local high school and college coaches. 
Also on-hand to give kids tips and advice will be Boomer Esiason
and former and current New York Jets players. 

All kids participating in the clinics will receive a limited
edition Canon/NFL Youth Clinic T-shirt, an autographed photo of
Boomer Esiason, a New York Jets team photo and more.  The
clinics each day will be held at the New York Jets practice
facility in Hempstead and will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
on both days.  For more information, please call 516-261-7173. 

July 3rd Game-Day Events 

PAL Youth Clinic Hofstra Stadium is certainly the place to be on
July 3rd.  The day begins with a special Canon / NFL Youth
Football Clinic for the local Police Athletic League.  The
clinic will run from 9:00 a.m. -- 11:00 a.m. 

Canon JetsFest (3:00 p.m./Hofstra Stadium) On Saturday, July
3rd, Canon will present JetsFest, a series of interactive games
and drills that test kids' football skills.  As part of
JetsFest, both kids and adults will have an opportunity to kick
field goals, participate in the quarterback passing challenge,
and get timed in the 40-yard dash.  In addition, several
inflatable rides and games will be on-hand for everyone's
enjoyment.  And while you're at it, take a tour of the Madden
"Cruiser," the bus that transports John Madden from city to city
during the NFL football season. 

Canon JetsFest opens at 3:00 p.m. and will be located in the
parking lot near the main entrance to Hofstra Stadium.  JetsFest
will remain open until the start of the all-star football game
at 7:30 p.m.  Admission to Canon JetsFest is free. 

NFL "Pass, Punt and Kick Extreme" Halftime Show During halftime,
the National Football League will sponsor a unique version of
the traditional Punt, Pass and Kick competition.  Called "Pass,
Punt and Kick Extreme," the contest will consist of two teams
who will compete in a relay race while incorporating all the
components of Punt, Pass and Kick. The participants will be
selected from the Canon / NFL Youth Football Clinics. Each team
member will be asked to run the length of the football field,
conducting a series of football skills along the way.  Each team
member must successfully kick a field goal before returning to
the starting line where the next team member will begin. 

Canon/Grucci Fireworks Display (After the Game) Immediately
following the all-star game's award presentation, Canon and
Grucci will light up the sky with a spectacular fireworks
display, providing the perfect end to a day of fun, football and
fireworks. 

Local NFL Stars to Be Honorary Team Captains Boomer Esiason,
Vinny Testeverde, Jumbo Elliot, Rob Moore and Scott Mersereau
are only a few of the NFL players scheduled to appear as this
year's honorary captains for both the All-Long Island and
All-New York City teams. What's more, each NFL player was
selected based on their local roots -- Boomer Esiason (East
Islip H.S.), Vinny Testaverde (Sewanhaka H.S.), Rob Moore
(Hempstead H.S.), Marco Battaglia (Howard Beach H.S.) and Scott
Mersereau (Riverhead H.S.). 

"I have been involved with this annual event since its inception
three years ago," explains Vinny Testaverde, New York Jets
quarterback and a local standout at Sewanhaka high school. 
"Every year the event gets bigger, the talent gets better and
the community's interest in the game grows wider," Testaverde
added.  "I expect this year's game to rate as a true classic
among all-star games." 

The Boomer Esiason Foundation The Boomer Esiason Foundation is a
dynamic partnership of leaders in the medical and business
communities joining with a committed core of volunteers to
heighten awareness, education and quality of life for those
affected by Cystic Fibrosis, while providing financial support
to research aimed at finding a cure. 

The Boomer Esiason Foundation works to ensure that: 

-- The brightest researchers and scientists, who every day come
closer to finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis, have the resources
they need to expand and accelerate their efforts; 

-- Dedicated doctors and caregivers have access to innovative
and effective treatments that ease the suffering and enhance the
lives of the children and young adults afflicted with Cystic
Fibrosis; 

-- People from all walks of life are educated and motivated to
become committed participants in the ongoing battle against
Cystic Fibrosis; 

-- Those directly affected by Cystic Fibrosis are encouraged and
empowered to fully understand this deadly disease and to take
active roles in combating it; and 

-- Students and hospital staff are provided with the financial
resources and educational tools they need to prepare for life's
challenges and to create a legacy of quality healthcare for
generations to come. 

NOTE TO EDITORS: Press Passes for the July 3rd events and
all-star football game can be obtained by calling Lou Desiderio
at 212-527-8811. 

CONTACT: Lee Becker of Boomer Esiason Foundation, 212-527-8803; 
         or Lou Desiderio of The Rowland Company, 212-527-8811 
 
Web site: http://www.esiason.com 

st 06-16-99 11:20 et