Article on Rossiter brothers from NY Daily News

Sibling revelry drives Rossiters
BY SEAN BRENNAN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Sunday, March 23rd 2008, 4:00 AM

RALEIGH, N.C. - Steve and Patti Rossiter are living the dream, even if it's costing them a small fortune to fill up the gas tank.

The Rossiters - Steve, a retired fireman from Ladder 149 in Bay Ridge, and Patti, a special education teacher on Staten Island - are in the midst of their own version of March Madness as they shuttle from city to city to watch their sons Stephen, a sophomore at Davidson, and Ryan, a freshman at Siena, create March memories.

"It's been an unbelievably proud time for us," Steve Rossiter said as he and Patti drove from Tampa, where they watched Ryan's Siena team shock Vanderbilt Friday night, to Raleigh to catch Stephen's Davidson squad when it takes on Georgetown today. "We were confident both schools would make the NCAA Tournament. But to have them both actually win was incredible."

Stephen, a graduate of Monsignor Farrell HS who scored four points and grabbed four rebounds in Davidson's victory over Gonzaga Friday, said he was trying to find a TV Friday night to watch his brother's game in Tampa, but came up empty. "I couldn't get the game on TV, they were all showing the North Carolina game down here," Stephen said. "So I was switching back and forth from 'Titanic' to that game. But I very briefly talked to him to say congratulations. He was very excited."

Steve and Patti Rossiter decided to take in Siena's first-round game because "we saw Stephen in Buffalo in last year's tournament and so this was Ryan's first one. But we're headed for Raleigh now for Stephen's game," Steve said.

Stephen said his father has become almost a permanent fixture at his two sons' games. "I'd say he's made 80% of my home games and a lot of the road games," he said. "And he makes most of Ryan's games, too, because the MAAC schools are all pretty close to the city. My mom can't make as many games, though, because she works."

But according to Stephen, Patti has her own way of staying involved.

"She started texting this year," Stephen said. "The first time she did it, it took her about 20 minutes to write three words. And she starts using the slang that me and my brother don't even use. She thinks it's a good thing."

The Rossiter brothers now each sit one victory away from heading to Detroit for the Midwest Regional. And while Stephen is hesitant to talk about it, Mom and Dad are ready to gas up the car for another road trip.

"That," Steve said, "would be outstanding."