Wed. January 25, 2006
BRIAN WALKER
Age: 41
Hometown: Chicago ( Lakeview )
Grew up in: Owosso, Mich.
High Scool: Columbia Central ( Brooklyn, Mich. ) ; class of 1982.
College: Hillsdale ( Michigan ) ; class of 1986.
MBA: Marketing from Keller Graduate School of Chicago.
Works in: Higher education and marketing.
Status: Parter, Mike Demetria.
Gay Games sports: Football and softball.
Also plays: basketball and tennis ( doubles, often teaming with Will Ward )
It’s a Fact: Enjoys reading, especially history, current- and international-affairs books.
It’s Also a Fact: Enjoys the arts, such as plays, museums and cultural events.
He’s cooking: Enjoys entertaining and often cooks meatloaf.
Favorite restaurant: Ping Pong
For Fun: Plays Texas Hold ‘Em about once a month.
Hobbies: Commercial Aviation. Owns a plane and has a pilot’s license.
Brian Walker started playing football as a high school sophomore, and threw up after the first day of practice. He immediately questioned whether it was the right sport for him.
But Walker returned to the field the next day and has been entrenched in football action ever since.
He earned a scholarship to play tight end for Hillsdale College, and went there despite several offers to play college basketball. And as a senior, the Hillsdale Chargers won the NAIA National Championship.
Walker is still making lifelong football memories, and winning championships. In August, for instance, he played for the Chicago Flames, which won the Competitive Division title in the annual Gay Super Bowl, played in San Diego.
Next stop on the football gridiron: the 2006 Gay Games.
“It’s kind of hard to focus on the Gay Games at this point, since they’re still months away, but I’m sure when 2006 kicks off, the excitement will start building. I’m really excited that the Games will be held here in Chicago,” said Walker, a blocker for Charlie’s Ale House, a Competitive Division team that finished in second place in CMSA’s fall flag football season.
“We were on a mission to win the Gay Bowl in San Diego, and we did just that. Some of the guys on the team didn’t play a lot, but, when they came in, they came through. That’s what makes that win, and that team, so enjoyable, so memorable.”
The Gay Games will, likely, be the next title defense for the Flames—and Walker knows the competition will be “stacked and packed,” especially since players don’t just have to play for teams from their respective cities, or even their home states. The top Gay Games flag football teams will be from Boston, Los Angeles, San Diego and Washington, D.C., among other places.
“You can’t be a player in the Gay Games, or even just know someone who’ll be part of the Gay Games, and not be excited,” said Walker, who will be making his Games’ debut in 2006. “That week ... well, I know I’m not going to get a lot of sleep. I know it’ll be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many people, quite possibly myself included.”
When Walker does in fact hang up the cleats, he might not leave the field completely. Walker might become a referee, as he’s done in basketball. Walker spent 14 years officiating high school and college basketball in Illinois and Texas. “I give a lot of credit to those who officiate,” he said. “When you ref, whatever sport it is, you have to be tough and be able to accept criticism.”
Ironically, Walker is not a sports diehard. At least from a fan stand-point. He simply cheers for good plays as opposed to particular teams. Walker has, though, coached high school football in the past in Michigan.
Walker was named the Sportsmanship Award-winner for the Competitive Division this fall, an honor that was “very important” to him, particularly because the social aspect of CMSA action is “more important, most important” to him than the on-field play.
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