Tragedy struck June 26 at the second annual Pride Bowl gay flag-football tournament: Jorge Lopez of the Michigan Panthers passed out on the sidelines during the team's game against the New York Pieces Bulldogs and died shortly thereafter.
His exact age was unknown, but tournament officials said he was in his 40s. He played quarterback.
"He passed out cold during the game and died in the ambulance on the way," to the hospital, said Shawn Albritton of the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association ( CMSA ) , which sponsored the tournament, held at Montrose Beach.
"This is so sad; I've never been a part of anything like this."
The game continued while Lopez was on his way to the hospital. CMSA officials informed the Panthers about Lopez's passing during its second game, against the Denver Summit, and the team elected to finish that game.
The Panthers' game against New York was scheduled to start at 11:15 a.m., and the temperature was in the low 80s with little humidity. "It was beautiful weather," Albritton said.
Lopez previously played gay flag football while living in San Diego. He was living in Oxford, Miss.