John Fernstrom, who plays Levittown Red Devils football, was featured on the show Giants on Deck on the YES network in October.

Fernstrom, age 10, auditioned with hundreds of children and was chosen to spend the day with Eli Manning from the New York Giants at the Giants training camp in Albany. He said he learned of the Giants on Deck tryouts though the Junior Giants Fan Club. There he was asked a bunch of questions about the Giants team and players.

"They told me I had a great personality and I was very funny, which I am," Fernstrom said. "About two weeks later, my mom received a phone call telling us that I was their first choice, along with five other kids."

Fernstrom, a fifth-grader at Abbey Lane School, said he thinks it was his passion for the team and stories about what Giants game day is like at his house is what won over producers.

"But the best thing was the football joke I told them," he said. "What player on the Giants wears the biggest helmet? The one with the biggest head!"

After driving three hours to reach Albany on Oct. 21, Fernstrom and his parents met with a representative from the Giants and the television crew.

"They had me tape some spots for TV commercials for the Junior Giants Fan Club," he explained. "They told me that I was going to play horseshoes with Eli, so I had to practice, because I've only played like twice in my life."

Once Giants quarterback Eli Manning arrived, Fernstrom asked him all sorts of questions and played horseshoes.

"I'm sorry to say that Eli kicked my butt. He won 11-4. I really didn't care. I got to play horseshoes with Eli Manning from the NY Giants. How awesome was that."

After they were finished playing, Fernstrom gave Manning one of his Levittown Red Devils jerseys and signed it for him. In turn, Manning signed Fernstrom's Giants book bag.

"He said he was going to try and wear it at practice that day if the coach would let him," Fernstrom said.

Fernstrom and the others then ate in the player's cafeteria and he saw one of his favorite players, Tiki Barber. After lunch, the children received VIP passes to watch the team practice.

Fernstrom said that even though Manning is a football quarterback, he can really play horseshoes. Fernstrom said he learned that "nothing is impossible in life and if you dream big, you can accomplish anything."