Give & Go: Long Island Pizza and Fish Stories with Joey Spallina

Long Island pizza and fish stories with Syracuse’s latest No. 22.

What did you think of your dad (Stony Brook women’s coach and then-New York Lizards
coach Joe Spallina) dressed as a wizard on our May 2013 cover?

I was blown away. It was all about how he was making a bunch of trades with the Lizards. I was like, “You’re a wizard with this stuff.” I remember my mom showing me pictures of it.

Have you ever solved a Rubik’s Cube?

No, but my cousin Rocco can do it in like 12 seconds.

What’s your favorite venue to play other than the Dome?

Koskinen. That was sick. A historic place to play.

Long Island pizza or bagels for the rest of your life?

Pizza. It’s so hard to get good pizza anywhere else.

What’s it like being the oldest of five siblings?

I’m an Uber. I’m a counselor. I’m a workout buddy. It’s awesome. It’s a jack-of-all-trades type of thing. I’ve gotta be able to do it all, from watching “Rudolph” with Liv and waking up at 5 a.m. to work out with Brett and Jake.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I consider myself the best fisherman in my house. Caught a 44-inch, 30-pound striper two summers ago.

OVERTIME (from Ava Angello)

Do you have any game day superstitions?

I have to stand at the 50-yard line barefoot for five minutes before warmups to collect my thoughts. A lot of box guys do that to connect with the floor.

DOUBLE OVERTIME (from @joespallina)

Who is your favorite coach of all time?

My dad, 100 percent, but also [Pat] March. We just started a new thing where we meet once a week for breakfast and watch film.

Pose a question for our next subject.

What’s your pregame meal?