Bull, Maddox square off in BBQ Challenge

Former Phillies Garry Maddox and Greg Luzinski were at Citizens Bank Park yesterday to announce the 10th annual Stephen Starr-Garry Maddox BBQ Challenge.

Fifteen city restaurants, along with a division of non-professional cooks, will compete to win World Series tickets — and bragging rights.

“Garry and myself are in constant rivalry, so I would say that we tie every year,” said Luzinski, who owns Bull’s BBQ inside the ballpark. “A tie’s all right. I just don’t want to lose, or I’d never hear the end of it.”

Proceeds will be donated to the Youth Golf & Academics Program, a foundation Maddox founded to prepare K-8 children in urban neighborhoods for academic life by providing constructive after-school activities. “If you look across the nation, or even from a global perspective, this is a need that hasn’t gone away over the years,” said Maddox.

But he doesn’t expect to take home a prize: “This is the 10th year, and I haven’t won my own contest at this point, so I’m not going to win,” he said. “But it’s very competitive and a lot of fun.”

The event is open to the public, who are invited to sample the entries, and includes prizes for best chicken, ribs and chef’s choice. The barbecue will be blindly judged by a panel of local food celebrities and Phillies alumni.