[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Welcome to Cured, a multi part journey inside the mind of Tony "The Big Salami" Gabagool as he makes his way through the the DSFL draft, the DSFL, and beyond. [/div]
Tony has agreed to sit down with us at The Boston Globe to help us understand what makes someone want to take on the violent sport of football, where he finds joy in what he does, and also what he sees as the future for both himself and the sport that he and so many others love.
Tony, we know you have answered this before, but just for our readers that may not have heard of you, can you just give us a brief explanation of whom you are and what your background is?
Of course. My name is Tony Gabagol, I am the starting middle linebacker fore the Palm Beach Solar Bears. I am 21 years old, originally from Newark but I was raised in BC, Canada where we moved because of my father's work. I played multiple sports when I was younger, but football is always what I saw myself playing for as long as possible.
So why football? I understand you were a star soccer player as well. Why would you potentially put your health on the line to play a sport like football?
There are a lot of reasons why. Obviously the money I can make playing football comes into play. But for me, there was no other sport that rivaled what football offered in terms of the challenge. All sports are extremely challenging physically, but football was the one sport that I felt also tested my mental ability in the same way. The amount of formations I have to be able to recognize, the amount of plays I have to know. Understanding my assignment in every situation, and then adding in the other layers of complexity in regards to game management. No other sport is as challenging, and therefore no other sport is as rewarding to play. And of course, I also just love the feeling of hitting someone.
Do you worry about your health? About CTE?
Worry? No, I don't. I understand the risks playing this sport. I have understood it since I was in high school. I would like to think we all understand that. For me, as an adult, it comes down to my choice of spending my life doing something I love. If my life is a bit shorter because of it, then it is what it is. Obviously I would love to see medical advancements made, but if not, I can at least be happy with the life lived.
Okay, let's move on to your draft experience. What was that like? You were a highly touted recruit coming out of high school and out of university. You fell in the draft, some GMS were quoted saying they had some concerns about your character. How have you used that experience to grow into the player you are today?
I had a great draft experience. The prospect bowl was a lot of fun, and winning it was something I won't soon forget. I heard the rumour about character concerns, although why I really believe I fell in the draft was because of the abundance of linebacker talent. I mean, you look at guys like Allen Josh, my teammates Rock Hardshaft & Guy Nikko, Mo Berry, Bode, Slothface, there are just so many talented linebackers out there. Maybe I didn't interview as well as I should have. It doesn't matter, I was drafted in a good spot where I could both start and compete with two of the best linebackers in the league.
I think you may have made some of the other teams regret passing you though, you are third in the league in tackles and seem to be getting better every week. What do you think is the cause of that?
Playing with Nikko and Hardshaft has made my job much easier. The three of us have really grown together. Unfortunately our hard work has not turned into wins for our team, so there is still a lot of work to be done. We really drive each other to get better and better each week, that's why I was so fortunate to come to a team like Palm Beach. We are the youngest team in the league, but I think our youth is going to pay off in year 2, if I am still here.
If you are still there. That brings me to my final question for today. You still have two weeks left, but can you give us any insight on how you are preparing for the NSFL draft? Are you ready to take the next step?
I am really trying to take it one week at a time, but obviously its on my mind. My first priority is trying to help my team end this season on a high note, and maybe get some positive momentum heading into next year. I have been brushing up on my interviewing that's for sure. I don't expect to be the first linebacker taken off the board during the draft, but I hope that my commitment has been noticed by some of the big league GMs. 3rd in tackles in the league is great, but my goal is to be the best. The best teammate, the best player, the best champion. I will be honored to be drafted wherever I go, and I will be willing to come back down and play another year at the DSFL, especially given that I feel like I have unfinished business with the Solar Bears. One thing I will say, the linebacker position in the NSFL is about to get an influx of talent like they've never seen.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Thank you for reading Part 1 of Cured: The Journey of Tony Gabagool, join us for the next installment when we sit down with The Big Salami after his dream of being drafted in the NSFL is realized. This is Gony Tabatool from the Boston Globe reporting. [/div]
Tony has agreed to sit down with us at The Boston Globe to help us understand what makes someone want to take on the violent sport of football, where he finds joy in what he does, and also what he sees as the future for both himself and the sport that he and so many others love.
Tony, we know you have answered this before, but just for our readers that may not have heard of you, can you just give us a brief explanation of whom you are and what your background is?
Of course. My name is Tony Gabagol, I am the starting middle linebacker fore the Palm Beach Solar Bears. I am 21 years old, originally from Newark but I was raised in BC, Canada where we moved because of my father's work. I played multiple sports when I was younger, but football is always what I saw myself playing for as long as possible.
So why football? I understand you were a star soccer player as well. Why would you potentially put your health on the line to play a sport like football?
There are a lot of reasons why. Obviously the money I can make playing football comes into play. But for me, there was no other sport that rivaled what football offered in terms of the challenge. All sports are extremely challenging physically, but football was the one sport that I felt also tested my mental ability in the same way. The amount of formations I have to be able to recognize, the amount of plays I have to know. Understanding my assignment in every situation, and then adding in the other layers of complexity in regards to game management. No other sport is as challenging, and therefore no other sport is as rewarding to play. And of course, I also just love the feeling of hitting someone.
Do you worry about your health? About CTE?
Worry? No, I don't. I understand the risks playing this sport. I have understood it since I was in high school. I would like to think we all understand that. For me, as an adult, it comes down to my choice of spending my life doing something I love. If my life is a bit shorter because of it, then it is what it is. Obviously I would love to see medical advancements made, but if not, I can at least be happy with the life lived.
Okay, let's move on to your draft experience. What was that like? You were a highly touted recruit coming out of high school and out of university. You fell in the draft, some GMS were quoted saying they had some concerns about your character. How have you used that experience to grow into the player you are today?
I had a great draft experience. The prospect bowl was a lot of fun, and winning it was something I won't soon forget. I heard the rumour about character concerns, although why I really believe I fell in the draft was because of the abundance of linebacker talent. I mean, you look at guys like Allen Josh, my teammates Rock Hardshaft & Guy Nikko, Mo Berry, Bode, Slothface, there are just so many talented linebackers out there. Maybe I didn't interview as well as I should have. It doesn't matter, I was drafted in a good spot where I could both start and compete with two of the best linebackers in the league.
I think you may have made some of the other teams regret passing you though, you are third in the league in tackles and seem to be getting better every week. What do you think is the cause of that?
Playing with Nikko and Hardshaft has made my job much easier. The three of us have really grown together. Unfortunately our hard work has not turned into wins for our team, so there is still a lot of work to be done. We really drive each other to get better and better each week, that's why I was so fortunate to come to a team like Palm Beach. We are the youngest team in the league, but I think our youth is going to pay off in year 2, if I am still here.
If you are still there. That brings me to my final question for today. You still have two weeks left, but can you give us any insight on how you are preparing for the NSFL draft? Are you ready to take the next step?
I am really trying to take it one week at a time, but obviously its on my mind. My first priority is trying to help my team end this season on a high note, and maybe get some positive momentum heading into next year. I have been brushing up on my interviewing that's for sure. I don't expect to be the first linebacker taken off the board during the draft, but I hope that my commitment has been noticed by some of the big league GMs. 3rd in tackles in the league is great, but my goal is to be the best. The best teammate, the best player, the best champion. I will be honored to be drafted wherever I go, and I will be willing to come back down and play another year at the DSFL, especially given that I feel like I have unfinished business with the Solar Bears. One thing I will say, the linebacker position in the NSFL is about to get an influx of talent like they've never seen.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Thank you for reading Part 1 of Cured: The Journey of Tony Gabagool, join us for the next installment when we sit down with The Big Salami after his dream of being drafted in the NSFL is realized. This is Gony Tabatool from the Boston Globe reporting. [/div]