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Tuaolo Wins Flag
Football Gold By
Ross Forman
Esera Tuaolo, an openly gay former
NFL player, helped lead Team Outsports to a gold medal in the men's
competitive division of flag football at Gay Games VII.
 Tuaolo,
playing inside linebacker and running back, was teary-eyed when
Outsports defeated the New York Bad Apples, 26-13, for the title,
after trailing 7-6 at halftime.
"It was great, an incredible experience," said Tuaolo, who played
for five NFL teams during his 10-year career before retiring in
2000, which included one Super Bowl appearance. "At the Super Bowl,
I couldn't really be myself; I couldn't really share my life with
anyone. But being myself, being free in the Gay Games was totally a
lot better than the Super Bowl."
Tuaolo, who also played volleyball (though did not medal) in the
Games, confirmed he's planning to compete in Gay Games VIII in 2010
in Cologne, Germany.
"Flag football definitely is a sport for the smaller player, the
skill-position players; it's not for the offensive and defensive
linemen," Tuaolo said. "But I still have some quickness."
Tuaolo said his one lasting Games memory was the Opening Ceremony.
"That was amazing," he said.
Tuaolo said his Games' experience was "incredible, phenomenal,
definitely something I wish I had a feeling like while in the NFL."
He said winning gold was simply, "icing on the cake."
"The Outsports team had a lot of great athletes, and we just got the
job done," Tuaolo said. Outsports founders Cyd Zeigler and Jim
Buzinski also played on the team. "After the tournament, a lot of
other players seemed surprised that I would play in the Games. But
for me, it was like, 'Wow! I can't really believe I am playing in
the Games.' "
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