Barefooted ex-Viking Tuaolo puts his musical feat on display

Even without any sand, Esera Tuaolo made himself right at home on the Trocaderos Nightclub stage while performing at his CD release party Saturday.

The Hawaii native and former Viking was barefoot. He eschews footwear whenever possible. "You're like the 10th person to notice that," he told me.

"We like that you're barefoot, dude," is what some attending his mini-concert for the self-titled CD "Esera" said to him. "I'm a shorts and T-shirt guy or a shorts and jeans guy," he said. "I'm a Samoan. I wore my first pair of shoes in sixth grade. I'm barefoot whenever I can be, when it's not cold. There's got to be snow on the ground before I wear shoes."

While I was in the balcony shooting video, another party-goer, observing what was in my view finder, thought my camera work was poor because I was focusing on Tuaolo's feet. That was intentional. As you can see at startribune.com/video, I shot the rest of him, too, on stage and backstage, where he pulled around members of his hip-hop dance troupe for a preshow prayer.

His mom, Laki Tuaolo, visiting from Hawaii for Mother's Day, danced up a storm in the balcony, especially when he sang "Tali Mai" -- translated "Wait for me," and sung in their native tongue. Minneapolis Police Department spokesman Jesse Garcia was in the crowd, too, but wasn't observed dancing.

NYT columnist William C. Rhoden feels Tarvaris Jackson's pain as the Vikings continue the surreptitious heavy breathing over QB Brett Favre.

Sunday on ESPN's "Sports Reporters," Rhoden said: "The guy I feel sorry for is poor Tarvaris Jackson. You are thinking 'This is my shot.' They are saying 'We're bringing in this 40-year-old guy' who clearly, anybody who covered the Jets last year, clearly this guy is done. Done! But if Minnesota thinks he's the guy. ..."

Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe added: "And the ethics involved. He stiffed the Jets, he convinced them he was totally and utterly through. I'm not impressed with the way he's handled himself in the last couple years." Ryan also said Favre is on a "vendetta against the Green Bay Packers."

"PTI's" Mike Wilbon said a source told ESPN that if Favre doesn't require surgery on his shoulder, "the Minnesota signing is very much alive. Looks to me whether he does or doesn't [have surgery], he's going to play for the Vikings."

Some time on the bench studying Favre would be good for Jackson, if Brett doesn't start replicating Tarvaris' erratic play. The media cannot out-cloak and dagger Vikings coach Brad Childress on this one unless Chilly really doesn't have Favre -- who has some ESPNers on speed dial -- under control. If Favre comes here, the good news for Jackson is that ESPN's John Clayton may actually learn how to pronounce Tarvaris -- something that Rhoden could help Clayton learn to do in the meantime.

A Komen Twin Cities Race for the Cure exec is not tolerating any criticism of KS95's Moon for over-sharing that pink thong.

"My beef this year with the Walk for the Cure was Moon and Staci from KS95," wrote an e-mailer, who identified himself as Andy Johnson. "Although organizers did their normal wonderful job, Moon was treating it as a complete radio gimmick ... to promote his show. He was high atop a skyjack by the finish line and kept making mention of his pink thong. How is this a celebration of survivors and those who passed? It was awful."

The imagery's awful -- Moon wearing a pink thong over his pants as well as a pink nightgown and robe, but his heart's in the right place. In an e-mail to me Monday, Moon said: "Staci and I are huge supporters of the Race for the Cure. Staci has been cancer-free for five years because of events like this. This year, for every 100 listeners [who] joined our KS95 team, the team got to pick another item for me to wear. Our team chose the thong and several other things that made me stick out like a sore thumb. If we can bring attention to the fight against breast cancer by me wearing a pink robe, dying my hair pink and pink thong, I'm all in."

Johnson would have preferred to hear more from Chris Harder, the Rosemount man who for the 17th year was the announcer reading the names of those being honored off the shirts of participants: "It's very moving to see somebody go by and see their faces as they hear their loved one's name announced over the PA."

Char Plitman, Komen's co-exec director, said, "You know what, Moon is a wonderful man and he does things every year for the survivors. He's just a marvelous, wonderful man. Nobody should put him down. And his partner, Staci, is a breast cancer survivor. She's wonderful. KS95 is one of our largest supporters and sponsors. I don't think there should be anyone complaining about that. They bring in thousands of dollars for us and a lot of goodwill."

As for Johnson's complaints, Plitman said, "Tell this gentleman he's more than welcome to call us."

C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. E-mailers, please state a subject -- "Hello" doesn't count. Attachments are not opened, so don't even try. More of her attitude can be seen on Fox 9 Thursday mornings.