Welcome to the final interview of Cured, a journey through the career of Colorado Yeti great Tony "The Big Salami" Gabagool. We at the Boston Globe have had the honor of interviewing him through different stages of his career, through his ups and through his downs. Tonight, the evening before his final game, the Season 24 Ultimus, he agreed to sit down and give us some thoughts on his storied career with the Yeti, and what the future holds for him, and for the team he leaves behind.
Tony, thank you for agreeing to sit down with us once again. The last time you sat down with us was under much different (yet similar) circumstances. The league was going through an expansion, and you were left unprotected by the Yeti, and felt like there was unfinished business. Luckily you were able to stay on the team, and the following year helped Colorado finally get over the hump. Tell us about that whole process.
Well yeah, we kinda covered a lot of what I was feeling at the time. But I can say now, after the fact, that I absolutely did not want to leave the Yeti. I knew we had something special brewing, and I wanted to finish what I started. I understood the leaderships position to leave me unprotected, especially as Mo was still at his peak at that point, but I definitely made it known that as soon as I became a free agent, I would want to come back to the place that I consider home. 10 years in one city will do that to you Gony.
Once the draft happened, the Yeti ended up protecting me quite early on, and I knew I owed it to them to work my ass off the next year and do what I could to bring home the cup. And baby, that's what we did. It was a culmination to everything up to that point. I am so proud of this team. When me and Mo came in to the league in s15, the Yeti had little success and no cup to show to that point. I feel that we helped change the culture of the team, and it took a while. Our first three years in the league we weren't even in the dance, but I am proud to say we haven't missed the postseason in our last seven years. Hopefully I get to retire on top tomorrow.
Yes, tomorrow is huge for you and your team. Not many players get to retire on top. How do you feel about the prospects for the game?
I like our chances. We have played tough all year and our young guys have really been playing their balls off. The other guys are good though, really good. If we don't bring 100% they will walk all over us. And at the end of the day, on any given Friday, who knows what's going to happen. I wish them health but I hope we win.
How is it to be playing without your partner in crime?
Mo? Oh he will be out there in spirit. And also he will be out there on the sideline. And in the locker room after the game. He already hired a Mongolian bbq chef to be there. I told him I would just bring the muffalettas, but you know him, always having to be the center of attention. No, I love the guy. He and I had our best years together and we will be best friends for life. He always gets free muffalettas when he comes by the deli.
Yes, stories like you and Mo are what makes this league so much fun to watch. How do you feel your career has gone? Were you able to be as successful as you intended?
When I set out on my journey, I had one goal, to win the Ultimus. To have done that, and to have the opportunity to do it again, that is all I could ask for. I have never been the most flashy player, but I hope that when people look back on my career, they can see I had determination and grind, and always put the team first. I am happy to retire as the Yeti career tackle leader, and to retire as a top 10 tackler and playoff tackler (although with the expanded seasons that will surely not last). I hope that I made my mark here, but the most important thing to me has always been winning. I have been a competitor my whole life and just on that metric I think my career has been a success.
What is next for Tony?
Well, I may be retiring from the ISFL, but I am not stopping working. My Italian deli chain, Tony's Big Salamis have been doing very well and we are starting to expand beyond the midwest. I am going to focus all my energy into that as well as my charity helping feed hungry communities throughout the nation, Tony's Little Big Salamis. My family is proud of what I have been able to accomplish and I just hope that I am able to leave a positive impact on this country as we definitely need it right now. And as a side note Gony, the future is bright in Colorado. The winning will continue, I will enjoy being able to watch as a fan and maybe next year when the Yeti return to the Ultimus I will bring muffaletas for the whole locker room.
Thank you for reading the final segment of Cured: The Journey of Tony Gabagool. This has been Gony Tabatool from the Boston Globe, reporting.
Tony, thank you for agreeing to sit down with us once again. The last time you sat down with us was under much different (yet similar) circumstances. The league was going through an expansion, and you were left unprotected by the Yeti, and felt like there was unfinished business. Luckily you were able to stay on the team, and the following year helped Colorado finally get over the hump. Tell us about that whole process.
Well yeah, we kinda covered a lot of what I was feeling at the time. But I can say now, after the fact, that I absolutely did not want to leave the Yeti. I knew we had something special brewing, and I wanted to finish what I started. I understood the leaderships position to leave me unprotected, especially as Mo was still at his peak at that point, but I definitely made it known that as soon as I became a free agent, I would want to come back to the place that I consider home. 10 years in one city will do that to you Gony.
Once the draft happened, the Yeti ended up protecting me quite early on, and I knew I owed it to them to work my ass off the next year and do what I could to bring home the cup. And baby, that's what we did. It was a culmination to everything up to that point. I am so proud of this team. When me and Mo came in to the league in s15, the Yeti had little success and no cup to show to that point. I feel that we helped change the culture of the team, and it took a while. Our first three years in the league we weren't even in the dance, but I am proud to say we haven't missed the postseason in our last seven years. Hopefully I get to retire on top tomorrow.
Yes, tomorrow is huge for you and your team. Not many players get to retire on top. How do you feel about the prospects for the game?
I like our chances. We have played tough all year and our young guys have really been playing their balls off. The other guys are good though, really good. If we don't bring 100% they will walk all over us. And at the end of the day, on any given Friday, who knows what's going to happen. I wish them health but I hope we win.
How is it to be playing without your partner in crime?
Mo? Oh he will be out there in spirit. And also he will be out there on the sideline. And in the locker room after the game. He already hired a Mongolian bbq chef to be there. I told him I would just bring the muffalettas, but you know him, always having to be the center of attention. No, I love the guy. He and I had our best years together and we will be best friends for life. He always gets free muffalettas when he comes by the deli.
Yes, stories like you and Mo are what makes this league so much fun to watch. How do you feel your career has gone? Were you able to be as successful as you intended?
When I set out on my journey, I had one goal, to win the Ultimus. To have done that, and to have the opportunity to do it again, that is all I could ask for. I have never been the most flashy player, but I hope that when people look back on my career, they can see I had determination and grind, and always put the team first. I am happy to retire as the Yeti career tackle leader, and to retire as a top 10 tackler and playoff tackler (although with the expanded seasons that will surely not last). I hope that I made my mark here, but the most important thing to me has always been winning. I have been a competitor my whole life and just on that metric I think my career has been a success.
What is next for Tony?
Well, I may be retiring from the ISFL, but I am not stopping working. My Italian deli chain, Tony's Big Salamis have been doing very well and we are starting to expand beyond the midwest. I am going to focus all my energy into that as well as my charity helping feed hungry communities throughout the nation, Tony's Little Big Salamis. My family is proud of what I have been able to accomplish and I just hope that I am able to leave a positive impact on this country as we definitely need it right now. And as a side note Gony, the future is bright in Colorado. The winning will continue, I will enjoy being able to watch as a fan and maybe next year when the Yeti return to the Ultimus I will bring muffaletas for the whole locker room.
Thank you for reading the final segment of Cured: The Journey of Tony Gabagool. This has been Gony Tabatool from the Boston Globe, reporting.