UR grads talk fantasy football, vibrant masculinity with Maryland’s governor

Over the course of the last month, two University of Richmond graduates have had the opportunity to get some air time with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. 

Danny Heifetz, ‘17, who co-hosts “The Ringer Fantasy Football Show” for the popular media platform, spoke with Moore during a surprise interview just over a week before the start of the 2024 NFL regular season. 

Moore, a Johns Hopkins University football alumnus, was vocal about needing some advice for his fantasy team, and enlisted the help of Heifetz, along with his fellow Ringer co-hosts, Craig Horlbeck and Danny Kelly. 

“[Moore] played football, and he plays fantasy football, and he literally just emailed us and was like, ‘can you guys help me with my fantasy football team?’” Heifetz said to open the Aug. 30 podcast episode. “And so, we have a governor of a state on [the show] later.”

Throughout the interview, Moore was outspoken about his fandom for his home team, the Baltimore Ravens, and his life before his current role as governor, which he expressed had a lot to do with football. 

“I have literally been an elected official for 19 months, you know what I mean?” Moore said. “I don’t come from a political background, I don’t come from a political family, but what I do know is that Maryland is doing very well, and I’m excited about that, but also, I love football. I came up with football; I played college football; I love fantasy, and I’m the biggest Ravens fan you’ll ever meet. So this for me, for real…this is an honor for me, man, because I pay attention to what y’all are saying and y’all are gonna be all over my fantasy draft board.”

The other more recent connection to Maryland’s governor comes by way of Anthony Polcari, ‘21, or as his social media following knows him more popularly by, “Tony P in D.C.” Moore showcased through a Sept. 20 Instagram post that he was able to spend some time with Polcari.

“Ran into Tony P in D.C. and I’m officially ready to take on the day,” Moore posted following his meetup with the UR grad. 

In the video Moore posted, the two are seen engaging in some of Polcari’s staple movements used in his weekly social media videos, which detail his life as a bachelor living in the nation’s capital. These movements included arm crosses and the pair showing off their outfits for the day, which is part of Polcari’s ritual when it comes to being a spokesperson for what he calls, “vibrant masculinity.”

Polcari has been on quite the run as of late regarding his travels and media appearances. He was a guest on the popular Barstool Sports podcast, “The Yak,” back in August, as well as more recently the Hot 99.5 radio program “Intern John & Your Morning Show,” where he was given a shoutout by television personality and new Wheel of Fortune host, Ryan Seacrest. 

“Just wanted to say congratulations on all of your success,” Seacrest said in a recorded message played for Polcari. “Those suits, looking great on you my friend. Keep doing what you are doing, it is working.”

Polcari and Heifetz catch Moore as he finishes out year two as governor of his home state of Maryland. Despite the current election buzz around the nation, Moore won’t partake in it for two years, as the next gubernatorial election in Maryland does not take place until Nov. 3, 2026. 

Moore has been outspoken in his support of Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. He spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 24, beginning his remarks detailing a phone call he received from Harris following the Francis Scott Key Bridge accident back in November of 2023. 

“One of the first phone calls that I got that morning started with these three words: ‘Gov., it’s Kamala,’” Moore said at the convention. “She said, ‘I know you spoke to the president, and I want you to know we are here with you every step of the way.’”