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WASHINGTON D.C. (February 15, 2008) - Deployed troops have no
doubt been in fights they'd rather have avoided, but thanks to a
new program, they can now pick their battles, and have some fun
doing it.
"Pros vs. GI Joes" is a California-based troop-support group
that's offering servicemembers deployed throughout the Middle East
the chance to challenge professional athletes on their favorite
Electronic Arts game via Xbox Live.
"(It's) not your typical 'support the troops' nonprofit
organization that packages up all the good stuff that our troops
miss when they're deployed," said Greg Zinone, founder of Pros vs.
GI Joes. "I created (the program) with my wife, who's a staff
sergeant in the U.S. Army and currently serving her second tour in
Iraq, for the simple reason of wanting to give a little something
to our troops that they can only get because they are …
overseas."
At United Service Organizations centers throughout the Middle
East, selected troops will sit in ultimate game chairs and play
their favorite games against their favorite pro athletes back home.
The games will play on a big-screen TV. Two additional sets will
allow for live interaction between the two competitors, Zinone
said.
Matches will be held on a rolling basis as the athletes make
themselves available. Additionally, Pros vs. GI Joes plans to hold
three five-week, cross-country tours that will coincide with major
league sports seasons as well as special-event matches throughout
the year, he added.
"Supporting our troops is a no-brainer," Zinone said. "Pros vs.
GI Joes gives those people that love sports and video games, or
those that just feel that it's a heck of an idea, a chance to do
something for the troops that they … would love to do while, at the
same time, feeling a personal connection."
Pros vs. GI Joes recently became a supporter of America Supports
You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens with
servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
The group hopes to gain some exposure from the affiliation,
exposure they would gladly share with other troop-support groups,
Zinone said. "There are a lot of amazing (troop-support)
organizations out there, and each one deserves all the attention it
can get," he said. "If some of that attention can run through Pros
vs. GI Joes, well, then let it flow!"
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals,
groups and organizations that are helping support the troops,
visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America
Supports You directly connects military members to the support of
the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their
quest to find meaningful ways to support the military
community.
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