Bubba Starling is more than an athlete.
Yes, I know he is an incredible baseball, basketball and football player. Not only can he run the 40 yard dash fast (4.36 - That is faster than I can get down the driveway), he won the Simone award in Kansas City for being the most outstanding Kansas City high school football player. The All American Baseball player projected to be a Top 6 Major League Baseball draftee is more than a sports star.
Bubba Starling as called Gardner, Kansas home. Gardner is a city 30 miles Southwest of Kansas City. His real name is actually Derek but everyone in Gardner calls him Bubba. He got the name from his sis and aunt when he was younger. He is more than a sports star.
He is one heck of a generous kid. Well on his way to becoming a generous young man.
The past year Gardner has been riddled with automotive tragedies. Three Gardner kids died and a few more hospitalized. Bubba on more than one occasion visited kids at the hospitals. He offered get well wishes and signed Gardner-Edgerton stuffed bears. He even talk to other kidos in the hospital. I witnessed the kids who knew him as well as the kids who didn't know at the hospital light up with huge smiles, despite their injuries. One little girl who had been in the hospital for a few months was suffering from severe injuries. I had never seen her happy throughout the weeks I had visited my niece and nephew. The next day after Bubba had come through her hospital wing, she was in the art room designing a card for Bubba. I asked if she knew Bubba and she said, "No, but my daddy showed me an article about him and it made me happy that such a famous person said HI to me."
One day Bubba visited the hospital while most people were warned to stay in. The streets were icy and the city was in a major snow storm. Most kids were probably playing video games. After a routine Saturday practice, Bubba and his family traveled over 40 miles in the bad weather to visit a couple injured Gardner kidos.
In addition to Bubba's kind heart at the hospital, Bubba would pull out a marker after ball games and spend time putting pleasure on little kids faces by signing pictures, Gardner Edgerton memorabilia or balls.
My son played on the freshmen Gardner-Edgerton football team this past year. Between the practices of numerous photographers, ESPN news crews and sports writers, my son would tell me stories aboutBubba. Rather than acting as a prima donna sports star, Bubba would act more like a leader offering pointers and helping out underclassmen. He never raised an antic on or off the field. Matter a fact, Bubbawas very quiet and almost shy at times.
People in sports nations call him "a once in a lifetime athlete." People in Nebraska are hoping to call him their next quarterback and out fielder.
People in Kansas City are hoping to call him their next George Brett.
Bubba's baseball coach says Bubba is the best outfielder in Kansas City and that includes the Royals. Former Husker coach, Tom Osborne, wrote Bubba a hand written letter to Bubba saying that he as the potential to win the Heisman.
People in Gardner call him " a Wonderful Ambassador to Gardner."
Tonight as the MLS draft starts on TV many in Gardner will wonder about Bubba's future.
Will Bubba forgo the instant million dollar signing bonus to play football and baseball at the University of Nebraska or take the millions and go on to MLB? Either way, Bubba, will most likely go down in the history books.
Most people only know Bubba for his athletic ability.
I’d bet most people in Gardner, including his parents are most impressed by the way he conducts himself off of the field....
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