A Christmas miracle happened at Baltimore pizza shop when Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy stepped in and delivered a game-changing lifeline to a business on the brink of closure.
Tiny Brick Oven, run by a veteran named Will, was preparing to shut its doors on December 25 after failing to secure a liquor license—a setback that competitors nearby had already overcome.
Portnoy, notorious for his One Bite Pizza reviews, popped into the Maryland eatery to assess its pizza.
During their conversation, Will explained the dire situation, noting that without the license, his business wouldn’t survive beyond Christmas Day.
Barstool Pizza Review – TinyBrickOven (Baltimore, MD) pic.twitter.com/hDqhclD45D
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) December 23, 2024
Portnoy asked, “What happens if this pizza is great and you start getting busy making money, can you stay open?”
Will responded positively, agreeing he could keep the business afloat if the flow of customers improved.
After taking a bite of a slice, Portnoy shared his thoughts, saying, “This is a reheat and very good. Thin, New York kind of style. Like I really like it. There’s no way this place should be going out of business. None.”
Touched by both the pizza’s quality and Will’s enthusiasm, Portnoy declared on camera, “We’re going to have to keep this place open.”
Before finishing his review, Portnoy noticed the box advertised that the restaurant supports veterans with every pizza sold.
Spotting this detail, he headed back inside and asked Will directly, “How much money do you need to stay open for a year?”
Caught off guard, Will struggled to come up with a figure, prompting Portnoy to urge him, “Well, if there was somebody super rich right in front of your face who is in the pizza business and by serendipity he’s like,
‘What do you need to stay open for a year?’ You gotta give him some figure because then he’s going to walk away.”
Will eventually estimated $60,000, explaining this sum, alongside a liquor license, would sustain the business for the next year.
Portnoy extended his hand, sealing the deal with a handshake, and announced his intention to transfer the funds before Christmas.
Overcome with emotion, Will cheered with excitement, thanking Portnoy and exchanging contact information to finalize the arrangement.
After wrapping up his review with a solid score of 7.9 out of 10, Portnoy left the shop, wishing the stunned and ecstatic owner a heartfelt “Merry Christmas.”
Meanwhile, in the world of football, holiday generosity reached new heights with quarterbacks giving incredible gifts to their teammates.
Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals opted for an unconventional yet highly memorable present for his offensive linemen.
“They wanted guns and I was like I don’t know about guns guys… so I was in the weapon mindset”
Joe Burrow bought his o-line samurai swords for Christmas. Dudes rock.
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 23, 2024
Ditching their request for firearms, Burrow surprised them with authentic Japanese samurai swords, presenting each player with unique designs rich in historical significance.
Speaking about the process, Burrow admitted, “I was like, ‘I don’t know about guns, guys.’ And, so, I was in the weapon mindset, and I was like, ‘What’s a cool weapon?’ And Samurai swords, I think, are pretty dang cool. I think guys were excited about it.”
Searching for them was no small task. Burrow relied on his team to locate the swords and ensure they arrived in time for the holidays.
Reactions from the linemen were overwhelmingly positive. “Joe does a great job at buying gifts that are extremely meaningful,” said Orlando Brown.
Another player, Alex Cappa, raved about the thoughtful gift, calling it his favorite present to date and relishing the story behind it.
Matt Lee summed it all up, saying, “When I’m 45 and someone asks me, ‘What’s the story about that?’ I’ll end it with, ‘And Joe Burrow gave it to me.’ And that might be the coolest part.”
🎁
From: @DangeRussWilson
To: The offensive line pic.twitter.com/eFXiVZfy4f— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 24, 2024
Not to be left out of the holiday spirit, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson treated his offensive linemen to a luxurious combination of gifts that included a $10,000 Airbnb voucher for anywhere in the world and a customized Louis Vuitton duffel bag in Steelers team colors.
Over on the West Coast, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy gave his linemen a more practical gift—five Toyota Sequoias and five Toyota Tundras, making sure his teammates had plenty of horsepower for whatever the new year might bring.