Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago

February 5, 2011
Starks is Super
 
Niagara Gazette

NIAGARA FALLS It doesnt seem that long ago we were cheering on Niagara Falls High School football star James Starks as he piled up yardage in our very own backyard Sal Maglie Stadium.

A few years later, the backyard moved a bit, but Starks crowned his college years by setting a University at Buffalo career rushing record with 3,140 yards.

The community winced when Starks then projected to be a possible second- or third-round pick in the NFL Draft went down with a shoulder tear and missed his entire senior year at UB.

Suddenly, his future in football seemed in jeopardy.

But the man affectionately known in his hometown as Buck persevered and refused to give up on his dream.

The end result is something Hollywood couldnt have scripted any better.

The Green Bay Packers took a chance on Starks in the sixth round and, after the 24-year-old spent most of his rookie season out with a torn hamstring, he scored a breakout performance in a Dec. 5 game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Then came the playoffs and Starks really started to shine.

Today, the kid from Niagara Falls will have finished his transition from our backyard to the greatest national stage as the starting running back in Super Bowl XLV when his Packers battle the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Win or lose, Starks is a champion in our view. Hes given this city something it sorely needed a gridiron hero and something positive to cheer for again.

Whether youre a football fan or not, you cant help but smile thinking about Starks story. Not only has Young Buck overcome every obstacle thrown his way, but hes done so with a poise and maturity thats beyond his years.

In an interview with the Niagara Gazette before the NFC Championship game, Starks sheepishly admitted hes become a source of pride here in his hometown.

It shows youre doing something more than playing football, he said. Youre touching peoples lives, giving people hope.

People that dont believe you can go to the NFL, I came from the same place you are, and Im living my dream. As long as you put your mind to it, you can do anything.

Were all wishing Buck the best of luck.


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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (10m) : new site, text editor gooder even on phone
beast (46m) : Oh yes, sometimes they make using a cellphone tough. I just wanted to make sure it was the correct article, & thank you for pointing it out.
jdlax (2h) : I can't believe one of my teams went out and wablammo just up and acquired one of the best players in the world overnight
dfosterf (6h) : I do very much appreciate when Beast and others pick up my slack 😊
dfosterf (6h) : I accept Beast's admonishment regarding my failure to link stuff I reference. I simply never learned to link from my cell phone.
beast (7h) : That's not what your she said 😌, she said keep going 😏
Mucky Tundra (10h) : Anything over 4 hours means he needs to get to the hospital
Mucky Tundra (10h) : Someone might want to check on Hafley and make sure his erection has gone down
Zero2Cool (12h) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
Zero2Cool (12h) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (12h) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (12h) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (12h) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (14h) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (14h) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (14h) : umm... what?
wpr (14h) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (14h) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (14h) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (14h) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (14h) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (21h) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : If you hear rumors about Packers sign or trade, won't happen. Not how they work
dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table
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